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Kitchen Tips

8 Kitchen Life Hacks that work.

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8 Kitchen Life Hacks

8 Kitchen Hacks that work.

Life Hacks for the kitchen.

Everyone loves a shortcut. What’s not to like? It saves you time, and effort. Win, win. Shortcuts in the kitchen can be tricky though. Some work, some don’t. Here are 8 Kitchen Life Hacks that work. They will save you time while performing some of the most common tasks in the kitchen.

1. How to Keep apples from turning brown:

All you have to do to prevent the apple slices from turning brown is pour a little ginger ale, or lemon-lime soda over the slices to prevent them from turning brown, and let them soak for about 10 minutes or so. Rinse the slices and store.

The oxygen in the air is what causes fruits and vegetables to turn brown after you slice them. The citric acid in the ginger ale or lemon-lime soda is an ant-oxidant which will prevent the browning effect. Your kids will appreciate the non-brown apple slices
.

Check out this video from Mr Food Test Kitchen as he shows you how to do this hack.

2. How to slice cherry tomatoes:

Many recipes and salads call for cherry tomatoes. The problem is they are so small, and slicing them is time-consuming. Here is the easiest way to slice them in bulk. Place your cherry tomatoes on a plate, or plastic lid.

Cover them with another plate, or plastic lid, making sure there’s about a ¼” of space between the plates using a sharp knife, slice horizontally between the plates. Voila, all your cherry tomatoes are sliced.

 

Check out this video from Chowhound to see how to do this hack.

3. Peeling garlic cloves:

I love using garlic in my recipes. The flavor is just out of this world. The problem is, the cloves are such a pain to peel (removing that papery covering). Here is a quick and efficient way of peeling 20-30 cloves at the same time.

Separate your garlic cloves from the bulbs and place them in a metal bowl. Cover the bowl with an equal size metal bowl. Shake vigorously for about 20-30 seconds. The papery covering on the bulbs fall right off. No joke, you have to try this hack.

Check out this video from Tasty as they show you how to do this hack.

4. Non-stick method for Grilling fish

One of the healthiest foods to eat is fish. Grilled salmon (or any other fish of choice) is a quick and healthy addition to your dinner or lunch menu. The problem I used to encounter when grilling my fish is that it stuck to my grill. Even on a low flame, I always seemed to end up with chunks of my fish on the grill. That is until I found out about this simple hack to prevent the fish from sticking to the grill.

Slice a lemon in 3 or 4 slices (scale to the size of your fish). Place the lemon slices on the grill (medium flame) for about 2 minutes. Place your fish on top of the lemon slices and grill. Flip your fish to grill evenly. You will see that the fish does not stick to the lemon slices, and it lends a nice flavor to your fish as well.

Check out this video from Tesco as they show you how to do this hack.

5. Easy way to peel a boiled egg

 I’m going to tell you about 2 different ways to peel a hardboiled egg.

The first method is for your own consumption, and when I explain you will see why it’s only for personal consumption. 

  • Boil your eggs in a saucepan for about 12 minutes. Add a tsp of baking soda to the water to reduce the ph. After the eggs are boiled, add a few ice cubes to the pot. You then take your egg and gently tap the top of the egg on a countertop, do the same with the bottom, and remove about a fingernail-size piece of shell from both the top and the bottom. You then blow from either end of the egg where you removed the shell. The egg will easily separate from the shell (whole). No peeling necessary. I say this is for personal consumption because your mouth will come in contact with the egg. You don’t want to serve an egg that your mouth touched to guests.

Check out his video by Tim Ferris as he demonstrates this hack.

  •  After boiling your egg in a saucepan for 12 minutes (don’t forget to add a tsp of baking soda), Remove the eggs. Place 1 egg in a small pot, or jar, cover with a lid or plate. You then shake the pot, or jar with the egg inside vigorously for about 10-15 seconds. The shell comes right off your egg. Amazing hack!

Check out this video from TheBargainHound as she demonstrates this hack.

6. How to Keep pots from boiling over

Pot on a stove

Pot on stove

I hate when I’m cooking pasta, or any other dish that requires boiling water, and my pot boils over, making a mess of my stove that requires additional clean up, arghhh!!!!

The best and most simple method of preventing this from happening is simply placing a wooden spoon over the top of the open pot. The heating process of the water creates bubbles. The wooden spoon pops the bubbles and keeps your pot from boiling over, and most importantly, prevents the mess that comes with it. Winning!!!!!!

7. Making a grilled cheese sandwich in a toaster.

This is an old college trick we used to employ in the dorm to make a quick grilled cheese sandwich without having to break out a frying pan. (We were in college, who had time for that?)

Simply place your toaster on the side. Place a slice of bread with cheese and toast, until your cheese is melted, and your bread is toasted. It doesn’t get any easier than that!!!

Check out this video from ChrissyTheSpecialOne as she demonstrates this hack.

8. Keeping bread fresh 

bread

Loaf of bread

If you’re like me, you enjoy a fresh loaf of bread from the bakery. There is nothing like a fresh bread for breakfast. The problem is how do you keep it fresh after you have your initial slice or 2. This is a simple and easy way to ensure your bread stays fresh for days or even weeks after you first slice it.

Slice the loaf in even slices. Place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then place the cookie sheet in the freezer until the bread is completely frozen. Then remove the bread from the freezer and place them in an airtight freezer bag. Your bread will remain fresh for you to use whenever you are ready.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed and try out these amazing kitchen hacks. They will definitely make your life in the kitchen a little bit simpler and save you time. Happy Hacking!!!!!

5 Simple Tips To Kitchen Safety

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Kitchen Safety Tips

Tips to Kitchen Safety

5 Simple Tips to Kitchen Safety

Cooking brings so much joy to so many people, that during our haste to prepare our favorite meals, we tend to forget to take the proper steps to ensure that our kitchen is a safe and protected environment. The kitchen is filled with many hazards, and if proper precautions aren’t taken, the consequences can be quite severe. Let’s make sure our cooking and baking endeavor is a fun and SAFE experience for all. These 5 simple tips to kitchen safety will ensure that your kitchen and home remain safe.

1. Fire safety.

Fire

Fire Safety

Cooking-related fires are the leading cause of all home fires in the US according to the NFPA. This is usually caused by unattended cooking. I know that life gets in the way of doing our everyday chores, such as cooking and cleaning. It is easy to get distracted by a doorbell, a phone call, or your kids requiring your attention while we tend to these chores. You cannot afford to become so distracted that it becomes a safety hazard to your family and your home. You must also be careful in regard to the clothes you wear while cooking (no loose-fitting clothes.). Make sure curtains, oven mitts, and plastic utensils are kept away from the stove while cooking.
If a fire starts while you are cooking, and it begins spreading, please leave the house and call 911. Do not try to extinguish the fire at the risk of your, and your family’s safety. In the case of a stovetop fire, if possible, use the lid for the pot to cover and extinguish the flames. If the fire starts in the microwave or toaster, unplug the appliance. DO NOT throw water on a kitchen fire, because fire needs oxygen to spread.

Fire preventive aids for the Kitchen.

  • Smoke detector
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Baking soda (You will need a lot)

 

2. Safeguard sharp objects.

Safeguard Sharps

Safeguard Sharp Objects

  1. Please make sure you are taking every precaution to safeguard sharp objects, such as knives, forks, cleavers, and scissors. Sharp knives should be stored in a wooden knife block. Most knife sets come equipped with a block for storage. Some knives are sold with sheaths to protect from accidental cuts and punctures.
  3. Glass objects (drinking glasses, bowls, dishes) can also be a kitchen hazard, if not stored properly. These should be kept on the higher shelves in your cabinets. Make sure children never have easy access to these utensils. Children are curious sometimes, so you should educate your children on the dangers of sharp objects in the kitchen.

3. Watch the children.

Children in the kitchen

Watch the Children

Always be diligent in the kitchen if children are around. While it’s a great experience teaching a child how to cook, it comes with a certain risk. The kitchen can be a dangerous place for the little ones if you are not keeping an eye on them while as you prep and cook.

Do not get distracted by the cell phone, the radio, or the TV while children are present in the kitchen when you are cooking. Be sure they stay at least 3 feet away from the stove while it is on. Stove burns are a common household injury for children, and with the 3 feet rule, you can drastically reduce the odds of that happening to your child.

Please let your children know, that the kitchen is not a playground, and if they are not careful, an accident can occur. My mother used to cook with 1 eye on the stove and the other on the kids. I adopted the same practice when I had kids. Be that eagle eye for your kid’s safety.

 

4. Electrical Hazards.

Electrical Hazard in the Kitchen

Electrical Hazards

You should always ensure that all electrical appliances in your kitchen is functioning properly. Be sure you make scheduled maintenance appointments for your major appliances, like the Refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher. You should always check your power cords to make sure they are not overheating or frayed. When not in use appliances should be plugged out. Obviously, the refrigerator doesn’t fall into that category, but other appliances like the microwave, toaster, electric can opener can all be plugged out when not in use. This also saves a little on energy costs, even though the appliance is not turned on, it is still drawing electricity from the outlet. Please also remember never to stick metal objects like knives, and forks into a toaster while it is operating and plugged in. This can cause a fatal shock, so please avoid doing that at all costs.

 

5. Wash your Hands.

Wash Hands Please

Wash Your Hands

This last tip is so important but sometimes overlooked by some people. It is paramount, to wash your hands frequently while cooking. You don’t want to transfer germs from touching other objects around the kitchen to your food. The cross contamination can make you and your family ill. You must make sure you wash with a gentle hand soap and warm water. I do it every 10 minutes while I’m cooking (I may be a bit of a germ-a-phobe when it comes to cooking). As the saying goes, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”

 

Stay Safe While In the Kitchen

If you follow these 5 simple tips to kitchen safety, I guarantee you will have a better kitchen experience, knowing that you are taking precautions and steps to ensure you and your family’s safety.