You work hard day after day to save the money that you need so that you can have the best of everything that you want and can afford! We all want the best of everything as it is just human nature to want the best of everything. If you are like me, the kitchen is your favorite place in the house and you love to cook just like me and that means that you also want to get the best kitchen knives possible for your culinary adventures. Along those lines you will also want to learn how to take care of those knives so that they will last a lifetime. kitchen knives are tools like any other tool you can use and they have a specific purpose, also they require a certain amount of maintenance and care to stay in top performing condition.
Here are some straightforward simple tips that will allow you to have your best kitchen knives give you a lifetime of service.
1. Do not cut anything on a surface that is not designed to be cut on. An unsuitable surface can damage your knives primary cutting edge. Use a proper kitchen cutting board only. A hard rock maple cutting board is the best.
2. When you are done with your cutting and chopping chores make sure that you wash your kitchen knives in hot soapy water and hand dry them with a lint free towel or cloth. Many people just throw the knives in the dishwasher and this is the worst thing you can do to your kitchen knives. The phosphates from the dish soap and the heat from the dishwasher itself will dull your knives primary cutting edges and destroy the grips of your knives as well knives guaranteed! Wash by hand only and be careful!
3. Don't use any kind of abrasive powder or any type of scouring pad on your knives. There is absolutely nothing that can't be cleaned off of your knives by hot water and liquid soap and a sponge or wash cloth. The abrasive powders and pads will only succeed in scratching the surface/profiles of your knives and in turn the abrasives will dull your primary cutting edge as well.
4. Most knives today are made of stainless steel of different varieties, but "stainless" only means that a knife will "stain-less." No knife is totally stainless or stain free. knives will discolor and/or tarnish with time if not cleaned and maintained properly especially after cutting acidic foods such as lemons, peppers, and tomatoes. This discoloration can be treated with a good quality metal polish and lint free towel or cloth to bring the original shine and luster back to your knives.
5. A sharp knife is safer then a dull knife so don't let your best kitchen knives go dull or blunt. Learn how to sharpen your knives with one of the many ways that a knife can be sharpened such as bench stones/whetstones, electric knife sharpeners, guided sharpening systems and carbide sharpeners. Keeping your knives sharp means they never get dull. The army used to teach that "A knife is your best friend." Your kitchen knives are your best friends in the kitchen. Keep them sharp!
6. Don't try to cut frozen foods with your kitchen knives. Defrost your food in the microwave first. don't be impatient! Never try to use your kitchen knives to cut bone. Your knives are used for cutting and chopping. If you need to cut bone then get a meat cleaver. Trying to cut bone or frozen foods will only dull and chip your blades and you don't want to do that to your best kitchen knives.
7. IMPORTANT: Keep your knives out of the reach of your children and store them in a safe and secure place like a locked kitchen drawer or in a knife block or magna bar high enough from the floor and counters to prevent your children from reaching them. Make sure that when you are done using your knives that they are secured. I prefer a kitchen drawer with a lock on it and blade guards on each of my knives. I know this can be a bit of a hassle, but we are talking about the safety of our children
Jumat, 17 Desember 2010
Top Tips Make Life Easier in the Kitchen
The kitchen is often called the heart of the home but to the creative cook, it's more like a studio where artistry takes place. Whether it's keeping foodstuffs fresh or picking out the right gadgets for delicious cooking, a kitchen is a place where art and love combine in fabulous meals.
Here are some of the most popular kitchen tips from cooks everywhere. Some of them may be familiar, but good things always bear repeating. From "kitchen witches" to keep pots from boiling over to storing potatoes, apples and onions, every cook needs a little help now and then.
* When the budget is tight and the milk is past its expiration date, add a pinch of salt to the milk and it will keep longer. Salt will slow the rate of bacteria growth that sours milk.
* Store brown sugar in the freezer and it won't harden. If it already has, however, give it a brief zap in a measuring cup in the microwave. Just a few seconds should warm up the molasses in the sugar and cause it to soften. Be careful not to burn the sugar, though.
* Wild rice will keep 3 to 4 months if frozen. Stored in the refrigerator, wild rice will last only about a week.
* When a whole can of tomato paste is too much for the recipe, try this trick: Spoon the leftover paste onto a piece of waxed paper (not plastic wrap!). Top this with another sheet of waxed paper and freeze it. Once frozen, peel off the waxed paper and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. Smaller amounts of tomato paste are now available without waste. Another option is to store small amount of tomato paste in an ice tray and pop them out when needed.
* Always turn meat with tongs during grilling. Using a fork pierces the meat and allows the juices to escape, resulting in tough, dry meat.
* Spray plastic storage containers with vegetable cooking spray to keep them from being stained by spaghetti sauce, chili or any tomato-based sauce.
* A quick spritz of vegetable cooking spray on a measuring spoon also makes it easy to get honey off. If you don't have cooking spray, a drop or two of cooking oil or a quick rub with a dab of margarine will work as well.
* Remove burned food from a skillet by covering the bottom of the pan with water and adding a drop or two of dish soap. Bring this mixture to a boil on the stove, and burned-on food should be easy to remove.
* Always clean the grill thoroughly before firing up the barbecue. Not only is a dirty grill unappetizing, it could harbor bacteria and will definitely affect food's flavor. Use both a scraper and a grill brush to remove any burned-on food, and rinse thoroughly. To avoid having to do such heavy cleaning again, spray the grill with nonstick cooking spray before starting the barbecue. Food will be much less likely to stick this way.
Here are some of the most popular kitchen tips from cooks everywhere. Some of them may be familiar, but good things always bear repeating. From "kitchen witches" to keep pots from boiling over to storing potatoes, apples and onions, every cook needs a little help now and then.
* When the budget is tight and the milk is past its expiration date, add a pinch of salt to the milk and it will keep longer. Salt will slow the rate of bacteria growth that sours milk.
* Store brown sugar in the freezer and it won't harden. If it already has, however, give it a brief zap in a measuring cup in the microwave. Just a few seconds should warm up the molasses in the sugar and cause it to soften. Be careful not to burn the sugar, though.
* Wild rice will keep 3 to 4 months if frozen. Stored in the refrigerator, wild rice will last only about a week.
* When a whole can of tomato paste is too much for the recipe, try this trick: Spoon the leftover paste onto a piece of waxed paper (not plastic wrap!). Top this with another sheet of waxed paper and freeze it. Once frozen, peel off the waxed paper and store in a plastic bag in the freezer. Smaller amounts of tomato paste are now available without waste. Another option is to store small amount of tomato paste in an ice tray and pop them out when needed.
* Always turn meat with tongs during grilling. Using a fork pierces the meat and allows the juices to escape, resulting in tough, dry meat.
* Spray plastic storage containers with vegetable cooking spray to keep them from being stained by spaghetti sauce, chili or any tomato-based sauce.
* A quick spritz of vegetable cooking spray on a measuring spoon also makes it easy to get honey off. If you don't have cooking spray, a drop or two of cooking oil or a quick rub with a dab of margarine will work as well.
* Remove burned food from a skillet by covering the bottom of the pan with water and adding a drop or two of dish soap. Bring this mixture to a boil on the stove, and burned-on food should be easy to remove.
* Always clean the grill thoroughly before firing up the barbecue. Not only is a dirty grill unappetizing, it could harbor bacteria and will definitely affect food's flavor. Use both a scraper and a grill brush to remove any burned-on food, and rinse thoroughly. To avoid having to do such heavy cleaning again, spray the grill with nonstick cooking spray before starting the barbecue. Food will be much less likely to stick this way.
Brown Rice Cooking Tips
rice is the choice of food for many, in fact it is the staple food in a lot of different cultures. However many people prefer the white rice to the brown rice. The main difference in the two types of rice is the mode of processing. The white rice is more finely processed than the brown rice. The white rice takes a longer time to be processed whereas the brown takes a shorter time. The brown rice is milled partly or not milled at all.
Just as the processing varies, so does the cooking method. It's a common mistake for people to assume that you can cook the brown rice in a similar version as the white rice. Many people find it difficult to cook the brown rice and so prefer not to purchase it. However here are some tips that will help you while cooking the rice:
The first step would be to clean It. You should run clean water through it until it's totally clear. Next, boil the water that you are going to cook your rice in. The amount of water to use is very important. The ratio should be one cup of rice to one cup of water. It's very important to ensure that the water boils before adding the rice.
After adding it to the water, you should cover the cooking pot. Then, adjust the heat to low for approximately 20 minutes and let it cook. After 20 minutes you can remove the pot from the heat but still keep the lid on. Then leave the pot unattended for 15-20 minutes to allow the rice to finish cooking and absorb the rest of the water.
The 2 most important factors in cooking rice are: the water to rice ratio and putting the rice in the water after it has actually boiled.
cooking the rice so that it is almost perfect comes with time. So do not give up after the first time, because cooking brown rice takes a little bit of practice.
Just as the processing varies, so does the cooking method. It's a common mistake for people to assume that you can cook the brown rice in a similar version as the white rice. Many people find it difficult to cook the brown rice and so prefer not to purchase it. However here are some tips that will help you while cooking the rice:
The first step would be to clean It. You should run clean water through it until it's totally clear. Next, boil the water that you are going to cook your rice in. The amount of water to use is very important. The ratio should be one cup of rice to one cup of water. It's very important to ensure that the water boils before adding the rice.
After adding it to the water, you should cover the cooking pot. Then, adjust the heat to low for approximately 20 minutes and let it cook. After 20 minutes you can remove the pot from the heat but still keep the lid on. Then leave the pot unattended for 15-20 minutes to allow the rice to finish cooking and absorb the rest of the water.
The 2 most important factors in cooking rice are: the water to rice ratio and putting the rice in the water after it has actually boiled.
cooking the rice so that it is almost perfect comes with time. So do not give up after the first time, because cooking brown rice takes a little bit of practice.
Allergy Free Cooking Tips
While the thought of cooking allergy free foods may seem challenging, daunting or even unappetizing, in reality can be great fun. The food does not have to be boring and tasteless because it is lacking some of the staple ingredients, which unfortunately are common allergens such as wheat, dairy, shellfish, soy, corn, peanuts, tree nuts, just to name a few.
In fact, you have a chance to become creative as you substitute another ingredient for what the recipe normally calls for. So, if you had an allergy to cow's milk, you would find a substitute. You might consider goat's milk, soy milk, or milk made from other nuts such as almond. There is also coconut milk as a possibility. The decision is up to you, based on your tolerances and personal preferences. You may find the recipe is even better with the substitute ingredient.
If you do not want to experiment with your traditional recipes, you will be happy to know that allergy free cookbooks are more readily available now than in the past, as are the foods. Whereas a few years ago, you may have had to order online, you may be able to pick up food items at your local supermarket.
To further give you encouragement and motivation, keep in mind that you will be eating much healthier. You can seek out cookbooks in bookstores online that are tailored to your specific needs. You can also find a variety of recipes online by doing a Google search. Using less processed foods, more natural and organically grown ingredients can only benefit you.
cooking exclusively with foods that are for you allergy free also enable you to monitor your diet more closely and have a greater awareness of everything that you consume. After all, before you had the allergy you probably would not even look at the ingredients of the foods and products that you consumed.
Now that you have the awareness, you are likely seeking out alternatives, which may spur your cooking creativity. If you are avoiding gluten, then you will pleased to know you can bake some of your favorites with rice flour or garbanzo bean flour. You may find that instead of your morning oatmeal, quinoa is tasty and satisfying.
In fact, your allergies may be a blessing in disguise for you are now forced to go outside of the traditional spectrum of foods. In so doing you will find new foods that are fun, exciting and tantalizing to the taste buds. You will find a wide variety of many different healthy foods to choose.
Imagine eating restaurant style meals that you make right in your own kitchen and no one can tell the foods are for a person who suffers with a food allergy. Yes, it is possible!
In fact, you have a chance to become creative as you substitute another ingredient for what the recipe normally calls for. So, if you had an allergy to cow's milk, you would find a substitute. You might consider goat's milk, soy milk, or milk made from other nuts such as almond. There is also coconut milk as a possibility. The decision is up to you, based on your tolerances and personal preferences. You may find the recipe is even better with the substitute ingredient.
If you do not want to experiment with your traditional recipes, you will be happy to know that allergy free cookbooks are more readily available now than in the past, as are the foods. Whereas a few years ago, you may have had to order online, you may be able to pick up food items at your local supermarket.
To further give you encouragement and motivation, keep in mind that you will be eating much healthier. You can seek out cookbooks in bookstores online that are tailored to your specific needs. You can also find a variety of recipes online by doing a Google search. Using less processed foods, more natural and organically grown ingredients can only benefit you.
cooking exclusively with foods that are for you allergy free also enable you to monitor your diet more closely and have a greater awareness of everything that you consume. After all, before you had the allergy you probably would not even look at the ingredients of the foods and products that you consumed.
Now that you have the awareness, you are likely seeking out alternatives, which may spur your cooking creativity. If you are avoiding gluten, then you will pleased to know you can bake some of your favorites with rice flour or garbanzo bean flour. You may find that instead of your morning oatmeal, quinoa is tasty and satisfying.
In fact, your allergies may be a blessing in disguise for you are now forced to go outside of the traditional spectrum of foods. In so doing you will find new foods that are fun, exciting and tantalizing to the taste buds. You will find a wide variety of many different healthy foods to choose.
Imagine eating restaurant style meals that you make right in your own kitchen and no one can tell the foods are for a person who suffers with a food allergy. Yes, it is possible!
Kamis, 16 Desember 2010
Food Safety - Common Guidelines to Follow in Your Home
food safety guidelines are implemented to ensure the safety and suitability of food items for human consumption. This includes proper handling, storage and preservation. Most countries implement a set of food safety standards for restaurants and food service industries to follow. Some of these are extremely basic, and can be easily followed at home.
Temperature
Proper temperature is crucial in maintaining food safety. Be sure to maintain proper temperature when storing raw food items and uncooked meat. Extreme heat spoils certain types of food, making them vulnerable to contamination. food that is exposed to bacteria and microbes become breeding grounds for food-borne diseases. A person who accidentally eats spoiled food is likely to get poisoned or experience gastrointestinal cramps. In worse cases, the person may get severely ill.
Maintaining proper temperature is still necessary, even after the food is cooked. Be extra careful when reheating precooked food. Be sure to reheat cooked food that has been left to cool before serving. Improper heating can cause diarrhea, an upset stomach, dyspepsia or other digestive problems. There are 2 basic rules to remember when it comes to temperature and food safety. Be sure cold food is kept cold, and warm food is kept warm. These basic food safety rules will help ensure food contamination is kept at bay.
Contamination
The goal of food safety is to keep food suitable for consumption, and prevent water-borne and food-borne diseases from spreading. Hence, cross-contamination is one of the most crucial food safety factors to address. Never place cooked dishes in a container that held raw meat, and vice-versa. Wash chopping boards and knives after each use. You may use warm soapy water for added measure. A surface can get contaminated with bacteria and harmful organisms once it is exposed to raw meat. The risk of contamination is very likely if you use the same knife and chopping board for vegetables and meat.
Storage
Leftovers should be given the same attention as uncooked items when it comes to storage. Many people overlook this food safety guideline, and end up with spoiled food that could have been used if only they were stored properly. Keep leftovers in an airtight container before storing them in the freezer or refrigerator. Freezer bags may come in handy when storing leftover food. This keeps the food from getting spoiled and makes them safe for future use. Proper freezing and food safety techniques make leftovers last for at least a day or two.
Preparation Area
A well-maintained preparation area is an essential aspect of food safety. Clean cookware and tools are less likely to get contaminated with harmful organisms and bacteria. Dust, mold, and debris can easily accumulate and settle in untidy kitchens. Bits of leftover food can also attract insects or mice, which may carry harmful diseases. This is almost as damaging as cross-contamination. Cleaning your kitchen is recommended before food preparation. Make sure kitchen counters, stove tops, cookware, utensils and tools are bacteria-free by disinfecting and sanitizing them regularly.
Temperature
Proper temperature is crucial in maintaining food safety. Be sure to maintain proper temperature when storing raw food items and uncooked meat. Extreme heat spoils certain types of food, making them vulnerable to contamination. food that is exposed to bacteria and microbes become breeding grounds for food-borne diseases. A person who accidentally eats spoiled food is likely to get poisoned or experience gastrointestinal cramps. In worse cases, the person may get severely ill.
Maintaining proper temperature is still necessary, even after the food is cooked. Be extra careful when reheating precooked food. Be sure to reheat cooked food that has been left to cool before serving. Improper heating can cause diarrhea, an upset stomach, dyspepsia or other digestive problems. There are 2 basic rules to remember when it comes to temperature and food safety. Be sure cold food is kept cold, and warm food is kept warm. These basic food safety rules will help ensure food contamination is kept at bay.
Contamination
The goal of food safety is to keep food suitable for consumption, and prevent water-borne and food-borne diseases from spreading. Hence, cross-contamination is one of the most crucial food safety factors to address. Never place cooked dishes in a container that held raw meat, and vice-versa. Wash chopping boards and knives after each use. You may use warm soapy water for added measure. A surface can get contaminated with bacteria and harmful organisms once it is exposed to raw meat. The risk of contamination is very likely if you use the same knife and chopping board for vegetables and meat.
Storage
Leftovers should be given the same attention as uncooked items when it comes to storage. Many people overlook this food safety guideline, and end up with spoiled food that could have been used if only they were stored properly. Keep leftovers in an airtight container before storing them in the freezer or refrigerator. Freezer bags may come in handy when storing leftover food. This keeps the food from getting spoiled and makes them safe for future use. Proper freezing and food safety techniques make leftovers last for at least a day or two.
Preparation Area
A well-maintained preparation area is an essential aspect of food safety. Clean cookware and tools are less likely to get contaminated with harmful organisms and bacteria. Dust, mold, and debris can easily accumulate and settle in untidy kitchens. Bits of leftover food can also attract insects or mice, which may carry harmful diseases. This is almost as damaging as cross-contamination. Cleaning your kitchen is recommended before food preparation. Make sure kitchen counters, stove tops, cookware, utensils and tools are bacteria-free by disinfecting and sanitizing them regularly.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)