Category: Kitchen Tips

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Here’s Every Type of Pepper You Need to Know

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When my husband and I were stationed together on the island of Guam, we came across a pepper known only as a “boonie pepper.” It was so hot that 1/2 of a pepper in a big pot of chili was enough to light even the most dedicated Texan on fire. I often wish it was available more widely. The heat rating on ranks right on up there with a Carolina Reaper.

There are thousands of different types of peppers, so how do you choose the right one? To make it even more confusing, one pepper variety may have one name when it’s fresh and another when it’s dried. For example, that fresh poblano in your queso fundido is the same pepper as the dried ancho in your chicken mole.

As for heat, you certainly can’t substitute a Scotch Bonnet for an Anaheim and expect the same results!

This guide to need-to-know pepper varieties will help you navigate grocery stores and farmers markets so you’ll pick just the right pepper for your dish—whether you’re looking for mild, medium or flaming hot.

guide to peppers_heat graphic_1200x1600
Sydney Watson/Taste of Home
Continue reading “Here’s Every Type of Pepper You Need to Know” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

You’ve Been Opening Jars Wrong Your Whole Life, According to TikTok

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Conquering stuck jar lids ranks right up there with cleaning out the dishwasher filter as one of our most despised kitchen tasks. There’s something about a fragile glass jar and a lodged-on lid that immediately adds an extra layer of stress. This is not to mention the fact that the time we spend fighting with an overly stubborn lid could be much better spent making dinner or dessert.

Whether you’re one of the 54 million adults in the U.S. with arthritis or simply ended up with a jar with a locked-on lid, it’s a frustrating predicament. For this reason, there are countless products ranging from under-cabinet openers and pricey electronic models to knife-knocking strategies and the viral hack of squeezing the lid between your hands. (By the way, we tried the latter method and weren’t able to get this to work.)

We’re convinced that there has to be a better way than shelling out $60 for a new appliance or struggling to make that squeezing strategy work. Turns out, there is. And you most likely already have what you need in a kitchen drawer right now.

Allrecipes

Posted in Kitchen Tips

14 Secrets for Keeping Cold Food Fresh All Day Long

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

There’s nothing more refreshing than a cold bite of pasta salad on a hot day, but when it’s 80°F in your backyard, the heat might threaten to wilt your outdoor buffet—and even cause things to spoil. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends leaving food out for no longer than two hours without refrigeration. That might feel hard to do at an outdoor event, but we know over a dozen ways to keep food cold all day long.

So go ahead! Prep that gorgeous fruit salad or a cold pasta salad, and use these tricks to maintain your meal’s freshness, no matter how long your party lasts.

Taste of Home

Posted in Kitchen Tips

What Is Vinegar?

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

You probably have at least one bottle of vinegar in your cupboard. It may not seem too exciting to some people, but vinegar easily one of the most important ingredients in any kitchen. The tangy, acidic liquid has been used for over 10,000 years for food preservation, cooking, medicine, and cleaning, according to the Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Whether it’s in sauces and dressings or household cleaners, vinegar is one of the most versatile pantry staples.

Here’s everything you need to know about this powerful, multipurpose ingredient and its many varieties.

delish

Posted in Kitchen Tips

How to Tell If Your Eggs Are Actually Fresh, According to Experts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

We’ve all been there. You open the fridge, ready to make a morning scramble, reach for the egg carton, and suddenly pause. Are these eggs still good? When did I even buy them? And more importantly, how am I supposed to tell if they’re spoiled just by looking at the shell?

If you’ve ever wondered the same, you’re not alone. The good news: there’s a quick, reliable test that can help you decide whether to crack the eggs or reach for a yogurt parfait instead. Read on to learn how it works.

How To Tell if Your Eggs Are Fresh

If your eggs make you stop and question their freshness, test them using the “bowl test,” say experts from Eggland’s Best, a popular egg brand. “For the ‘bowl test,’ fill a bowl with water and carefully drop the egg into it. If an egg is fresh, it will immediately sink to the bottom and lie flat on its side,” the company says. Then you’re all set to get cracking on that omelet, frittata, or soufflé

Allrecipes

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Stop Making This Dangerous Mistake With Your Slow Cooker

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Slow cookers are almost foolproof. If you don’t have the energy or the time to spend hours cooking dinner, this kitchen appliance can save the day. Whether you’re making a dump dinner, a stew, or a roast, slow cookers can nearly do it all. 

Slow cookers tend to be very durable, too. My family bought one decades ago and we’ve never replaced it. While all appliances experience some wear and tear over time, proper care can prevent damage and lengthen their lifespans. One mistake you might be making with your slow cooker involves the lid’s locking mechanism, which some models have. Here’s what you need to know.

Continue reading “Stop Making This Dangerous Mistake With Your Slow Cooker” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Pineapple, And They All Swear By This Method

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

True, canned can come in clutch for many of our favorite pineapple recipes, like Pineapple Pie, Pineapple Casserole, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Hawaiian Pizza. But in certain drinks, desserts, and dinner recipes, nothing can compare to the vibrant, tangy, sunshine-y flavor of fresh pineapple.

When it comes time to get your fresh fix, we have great news: “Pineapples are available in the U.S. year-round due to supply from overlapping geographies,” confirms Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm). 

That said, if you’re seeking the best of the best, Edgar Cordero, pineapple farmer and general manager of Maui Gold Pineapple in Hali’imaile, Maui, Hawai‘i adds that “peak season for pineapples is generally March through July, when growing conditions in Hawai‘i, Central America, and Mexico are ideal. During these warmer months, pineapples typically reach peak ripeness, resulting in sweeter, juicier fruit on store shelves.”

You’ll find the most flavorful pieces of this tropical fruit during spring and summer. However, if you use these farmer cues for how to select the best of the bunch, you’ll be highly likely to cut into a flavorful pineapple any time of year.

Allrecipes

Posted in Kitchen Tips

Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

I’ve always joked that adding bacon to a recipe is just plain cheating. Its mixture of saltiness, smokiness, and flavorful fat can take an ordinary dish from ho-hum to holy moly! (This Brussels sprouts recipe is a good example.) Of course, it’s also delicious on its own, whether for breakfast or as a crunchy snack. 

Bacon’s high fat content is what makes it so irresistible, but it’s also the reason it can quickly turn rancid. Spoiled bacon will ruin not only your meal, but possibly your day if you get a case of food poisoning. Here’s how you can tell if your bacon is safe to eat and also how long you should expect it to last.

Continue reading “Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs” →
Posted in Kitchen Tips

I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

During summer road trips with the family, and sometimes just while driving to a more rural part of town to golf together, my Dad would drive us past row upon row upon row of corn. As a native Iowan, “knee-high by the Fourth of July”—a Midwestern saying about how tall farmers hope their corn to be by Independence Day—was a phrase about as common as declaring that something is “a piece of cake.”

As you might guess, fresh corn was a true sign of summer since I was born and raised in the heart of the Midwest. In my opinion, Dad’s charcoal-grilled corn needed nothing but a few shakes of salt to be the perfect side dish. This was something my family would enjoy about once per week during fresh sweet corn season, which spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day in most parts of the country, according to Dana Peters, a Barney, Georgia-based produce and floral field inspector at Whole Foods Market (who grew up on a small family farm).

Continue reading “I Asked 3 Farmers How to Pick the Sweetest Corn, and They All Swear By This Method” →