#kitchen-tips

#kitchen-tips

You probably already know that it's generally not a good idea to expose plastic - like food storage containers, for instance - to high temperatures. After all, it can cause chemicals in the plastic to leach into your food. It probably shouldn't come as a huge surprise, then, that it's also a bad idea to use plastic wrap under very high heat. This is because plastic wrap melts very easily when exposed to high temps,

They're also a good source of fiber, are jam-packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and even have anti-inflammatory properties. But their peels tend to keep many of us from reaching for them all that often at the market. Sure, they're cute with their brown fuzz, but how do you actually peel them effectively and quickly enough that it's just as easy as eating any other fruit? The answer lies in a kitchen tool you might not expect: The balloon whisk.

Ground turmeric is simple. They need three things to survive: darkness, dryness, and a very tightly sealed container. That's it, really - after you've got it home, put it in an airtight jar or tin, then stuff it in a drawer far away from your cooking zone where temperature can fluctuate wildly throughout the day. Just doing this, and the spice will maintain its brilliant sunset hue for one to two years instead of fading to a depressing beige just weeks after.

Giada De Laurentiis is a seemingly never-ending source of genius cooking hacks, as per her TikTok account and other social media platforms. One of her best tips involves making your own salad dressing from scratch rather than grabbing a store-bought version that's overrun with preservatives and stabilizers. In an Instagram video, De Laurentiis shares her recipe for homemade vinaigrette which includes the special ingredient of lemon and oregano salt.

You can leave the butcher shop with perfectly tenderized meat that you didn't have to lift a finger to achieve by simply asking the butcher to do it for you. With recipes like tacos, cheesesteaks, stir fry, and other dishes that typically use tough cuts of meat like flank, skirt, and chuck steak, tenderizing is necessary. It can also be a bit of a pain to tenderize steak and other meats at home, but it's something any good butcher would be happy to do for you before even leaving the shop.

Spend any time in a professional kitchen and you're going to see carbon steel pans being used all the time. They're less common in home kitchens, although they are becoming more popular and with good reason. Made from roughly 99% iron and 1% carbon, carbon steel pans develop a patina with use and are incredibly versatile. Think of them like lightweight cast iron: able to stand up to numerous cooking tasks, and one that develops a natural nonstick layer that improves over time.

When you slice into an onion, you break into its cell walls and unleash sulfuric compounds into the air. One of them turns into a gas that reacts with the moisture in your eyes to create sulfuric acid, which triggers the familiar flood of tears. Like all enzymes, the one responsible for this chain reaction (alliinase) requires just the right conditions like a neutral pH and a temperature of about 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Many of us likely rinse our broccoli by holding its flowering crown under running water in our sinks, like we're holding a bouquet. That's considered the top of this veggie, after all. However, you actually want to hold broccoli upside down. The running water should hit the stem and make its way into all of the nooks and crannies of the head.

"The biggest culprit in the kitchen is moisture, and it can sneak in faster than you think," Smith says. "Never measure spices directly over a steaming pot or pan. Steam will enter the container, create condensation, and cause clumping, mold risk, or flavor loss. Instead, spoon the amount you need onto a plate or into your hand, then add it to your dish. Also, make sure your measuring spoons are completely dry before dipping into any jar."

The wattage indicates how much power a microwave exudes, and therefore, how quickly it cooks food. To account for the variability in microwave wattage strengths, which can vary from 600 to 1,700 watts depending on the appliance, microwave oven wattage is typically included on cooking instructions for packaged frozen and ready-to-heat foods. Still, the microwave wattage and associated cooking times listed can vary from brand to brand, as well as the type of food.

To effectively eliminate fruit flies, you can create a simple trap with apple cider vinegar, dish soap, and a jar, capitalizing on their attraction to organic materials.

When frying food at home, you just have to embrace the mess, from the grease splatters on your stove to the big potful of oil left over after cooking.

Fridge organizers help in keeping track of what you have and what needs restocking. Investing in clear storage containers makes the organization simple and effective.

Adding tea leaves to the pickling liquid maximizes the crunch factor of homemade pickles by containing tannins that inhibit enzymes causing cucumbers to soften.

Overmixing a fruit salad leads to broken fruits, releases juices prematurely, and creates a soggy salad. The goal is to maintain distinct textures and appearances.

This hack basically opens and closes the holes in the plastic cover as the jar turns, which helps any clumps of powdered spices to fall out.

Coffee grounds not only eliminate odors but also leave behind a subtle coffee aroma, making them a clever and inexpensive home deodorizer.

Using an empty pasta sauce jar for iced coffee provides an eco-friendly, leak-proof solution that keeps your drink secure while minimizing waste.

Buying replacement lids means you don't have to say goodbye to your favorite glass containers or spend money on an entirely new set.

Appliances simply don't live forever—especially with lots of wear and tear. Even the best air fryer has a lifespan that is influenced by brand and maintenance.

Mason jars are versatile kitchen items for storage and meal prep, but caution is required when microwaving as not all jars are safe for it.

From refrigerators and dishwashers to ovens and microwaves, choosing appliances designed to use less energy pays off in more ways than one.

I used salted butter whenever unsalted is called for. I believe a whole stick of salted butter only contains about a quarter teaspoon of salt.