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Chef-Approved Tips for Cleaning a Cast Iron Skillet

July 7, 2016 by

The trusty cast iron skillet is a mainstay in any home chef’s kitchen, but it’s also one of the most confusing items when it comes to its care. Should you wash it with water? Try a salt scrub? These chef-approved tips will show you exactly how to clean your cast iron skillet properly — and tell you which techniques you should never use!

  • Never use soap. No matter what you do, never soak your skillet in soapy water. This removes the natural, nonstick coating that comes from frequent use and oil absorption.
  • Clean it while still warm. This makes it much easier to remove food particles.
  • Use a stiff brush. Using a stiff brush made of natural materials that won’t melt, run the skillet under hot water and give it a good scrubbing. This will remove food without stripping it of its natural oils and seasonings.
  • Sprinkle on salt. To remove particularly built-up food particles, sprinkle coarse Kosher salt on the surface of the pan. Scrub it dry, and then run water over the surface to remove the salt.
  • Dry. Dry your pan using a clean towel or by letting it sit on the stove on low heat.
  • Season. Finally, apply a light coating of oil or shortening to lock in that lovely seasoning.

How To Clean and Season an Old, Rusty Cast Iron Skillet [Apartment Therapy]
Cleaning and Seasoning a Cast-Iron Skillet [Real Simple]
How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet [The Kitchn]

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Did You Know These Foods Are Rich in Antioxidants?

May 19, 2016 by

You’ve likely heard about the health benefits of antioxidants, but do you know where they come from? If you’re one of the many people who would say that they aren’t entirely sure how to get that daily dose of antioxidants, these antioxidant-rich foods are great places to start.

  • Raisins. Dried fruits, like raisins, contain well over 2,000 total antioxidants per serving.
  • Blueberries. These sweet, plump berries have more antioxidants than a whopping 40 other types of fruits.
  • Strawberries. One of the next best berries is the delicious strawberry, which helps to protect your body’s cells.
  • Plums. Plums contain more than 4,800 antioxidants per serving, and dried versions offer even more.
  • Oranges. Oranges are rich in the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin. It helps to lower your risk for arthritis.
  • Spinach. That’s right—some veggies contain antioxidants, too. Spinach is packed with the types that promote healthy eyes and prevent blindness.
  • Brussels sprouts. This tasty vegetable is becoming increasingly popular, which is a great thing because it is packed with isothiocyanates antioxidants that help to prevent cancer.
  • Beets. Pink beets not only look pretty on top of a salad, they also deliver a hearty dose of antioxidants.
  • Eggplant. Eat eggplant to take in the antioxidants that protect against plaque buildup in the arteries and prevent cancer.

20 Common Foods With the Most Antioxidants [WebMD]
Which Antioxidant-Rich Fruits and Vegetables Should You Be Eating? [Reader’s Digest]
8 Foods Rich in Antioxidants [FitDay]
10 Antioxidant-Rich Foods [Food Network]

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How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

March 17, 2016 by

Even if you drink tea every day, you may not be brewing it properly. Don’t sweat it, however; simply read up on these simple tips for brewing the perfect cuppa.

  • For hot teas, such as black tea, you’ll want to first bring cold, filtered water to a boil to ensure the best possible taste. Add the tea bag to the cup first, and then gently pour the now-boiling water on top of it, using wide circular motions. Let the tea brew for three to five minutes, no more, and then serve with milk, sugar or by itself.
  • For large batches of iced teas, bring one quart of cold water to a rolling boil in a pot or kettle. Remove it from the stove and add eight to ten tea bags, depending on how dark you like your tea. Let it brew for three to five minutes, and then immediately pour it over a large quantity of ice cubes. You’ll also want to pop the whole thing in the refrigerator to get it completely cold.
  • For green tea, there is an entirely unique process. Because this tea is much more delicate, it can easily burn. Once the water starts boiling, you’ll want to let it sit for about 10 minutes to cool off. Then, pour it over the tea bag and let it brew for just one minute before serving.

How to Steep Hot Tea [The Republic of Tea]
Tea 101 [Teavana]
Brewing Tea [Tea Association]
Make a Perfect Brew [UK Tea & Infusions]

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Safety First! Read These Tips Before Preparing Raw Meat

November 5, 2015 by

Lean meats are a healthy part of any nutritious diet, but it’s very important to handle them properly to avoid illness. Be sure to follow these important tips for buying and preparing raw meat.

  1. Purchase only high-quality meats. When shopping for steak, chicken, fish, or other meats, always look for the Safe Food Handling label on the package. Also, use your own discretion to examine meat before purchasing, and be sure that it’s wrapped tightly and packaged in a bag away from other foods.
  2. Store meat safely. Meat must remain at a cold temperature until you’re ready to prepare it, so store it in your refrigerator and put it in the refrigerator’s meat bin if possible. Fresh meats should be used within three to four days, while meats like sausage and ground beef should be used within two days.
  3. Keep yourself (and your counters) safe. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling raw meat. It’s also important to only use cutting boards and utensils for meat to avoid cross-contamination.
  4. Cook meat completely. Be sure to defrost meat in the refrigerator or the microwave; never let raw meat sit on the countertop to defrost. Once it’s time to cook your meat, use a food thermometer to see that ground meats reach at least 160°F and that beef and pork reach 145°F.

Food Safety: How to Handle Raw Meat [Beef Retail]
Keeping Your Meat Safe [Home Food Safety]
Meat [FoodSafety.gov]
Safe Food Handling: What You Need to Know [FDA]

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Craving Potassium? Load Up on These Superfoods!

September 17, 2015 by

Filling your diet with the proper amount of potassium prevents against fatigue, hypertension, and increased blood pressure, and it also helps to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance throughout your body. If you’re unsure of which foods to eat in order to take in enough potassium, these two recommendations can help.

  1. White beans. These lightly textured, creamy beans are packed with fiber and protein, and they’re also incredibly rich in potassium. White beans contain approximately 1,189 milligrams of potassium per cup, which can easily be obtained through eating a bowl of chili, making a simple bean salad, or just eating white beans as a side dish with any meal.
  2. Leafy greens. If you thought that leafy green vegetables couldn’t possibly be any healthier, their potassium levels will make you think again. On top of their wide assortment of vitamins and minerals, greens also contain an impressive amount of potassium. For example, just one cup of Swiss chard contains 961 milligrams of potassium, which is more than double the amount in a banana. Beet greens also contain around 1,300 milligrams in a cup, while spinach has approximately 839 milligrams.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Potassium [Healthaliciousness]
15 Foods That Are High in Potassium [Health.com]
Foods With More Potassium Than a Banana [Huffington Post]
Potassium and Your CKD Diet [National Kidney Foundation]

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How to Prevent Cross-Contamination in the Kitchen

June 18, 2015 by

Cross-contamination in the kitchen occurs when you use the same tools and cutting boards to prepare things like raw meat or eggs that you use to prepare fresh produce or cooked foods, contaminating the food you eat with the bacteria from these raw items. To avoid cross-contamination, follow these safety tips.

  1. It starts at the grocery store. Although cross-contamination is usually thought of in the kitchen, it can also happen before you even get your foods home. When shopping at the grocery store, be sure to package raw meats tightly in plastic and put them in a separate bag from other groceries. Also make sure that your carton of eggs doesn’t contain any broken eggs that could leak on other foods.
  2. Use separate cutting boards. One of the most important ways to prevent food poisoning from cross-contamination is by using different cutting boards for meat and other items. Properly label each board, and never cut fresh vegetables, fruits, or breads on the cutting board that you use for meat or eggs. Also, clean your meat cutting board thoroughly and replace it often.
  3. Cook safely. When cooking, never use the same tools to flip raw chicken that you use to stir-fry vegetables, as this can spread bacteria from the raw meat. Throw away any marinades that meat was once soaking in, and always serve cooked foods on a clean, new plate.

Safe Food Handling: What You Need to Know [FDA]
Separate To Keep Food Safe [Home Food Safety]
Cutting Board Safety [Home Food Safety]

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Easy Ways to Introduce More Calcium to Your Diet

May 21, 2015 by

Dairy products are usually cited as the main food sources of calcium, which can be difficult for those who are lactose intolerant, vegan, or simply dislike dairy. Luckily there are a number of non-dairy sources of calcium that aren’t as well known, and many of them are quite surprising. Here are a few of the best.

  1. Nuts and seeds. Healthy snacks like nuts and seeds don’t just quell your hunger, they also provide you with a beneficial dose of calcium. Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, and chestnuts are some of the most calcium-rich nuts, and they taste great in salads or on their own. Seeds like tahini, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are also wonderful sources.
  2. Green vegetables. As if you needed another reason to eat your veggies, many greens are very high in calcium. In fact, it’s much easier for your body to digest vegetables like broccoli, kale, and spinach than it is to digest milk.
  3. Tofu. Everyone’s favorite meat substitute isn’t just a great source of protein, it’s also filled with healthful calcium. Many brands of tofu are fortified with a calcium sulfate, which can easily be found on the ingredient list.

18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium [Greatist]
18 Surprising Dairy-Free Sources of Calcium [HuffPost]
Surprising Calcium Sources for Dairy Haters [Reader’s Digest]

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Today’s Imponderable: Why Can’t Oil and Water Mix?

February 19, 2015 by

You’ve likely heard the expression “like oil and water,” and you may have even witnessed this strange phenomenon firsthand if you’re an avid baker. Although it is fairly common knowledge, do you really know why oil and water can’t mix?

The main reason why these two liquids can’t mix is because they’re too into themselves—literally. Water molecules are very attached to one another and though they usually mix with other liquids, they’ve met their match with oil, which is also very attached to its own molecules. In more scientific terms, water molecules are polar in nature and can only dissolve other polar molecules. Because oil is non-polar, it cannot dissolve in water. This causes the two liquids to almost seamlessly separate, and the oil then floats on top because it has a lower density than the water.

In nature, you can observe this phenomenon on water birds or animals like beavers. Their oily coats and feathers repel water, which keeps them warm and dry in the winter!

Why Oil and Water Don't Mix [Science Project Ideas]
Why Oil and Water do not mix? [Let’s Talk Chemistry]
Mixing Oil and Water [Science Experiments for Kids]

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If You’re Running Low on Eggs or Vinegar, Try These Substitutes Instead

November 20, 2014 by

When you’re running short on ingredients, you might have to get creative in the kitchen. There are a few well-known replacements for some common ingredients if you don't have everything you need on-hand. Here are four cooking substitutes for when you're in a pinch in the kitchen.

  1. If you're missing eggs: It might seem impossible to replace this unique ingredient, but you can do so with half a banana mashed with 1/2-teaspoon baking powder.
  2. If you're missing mayonnaise: If you’re whipping up a summer salad and find you're short on this condiment, substitute one cup of sour cream, yogurt or cottage cheese pureed in a blender for one cup of mayo.
  3. If you're missing vinegar: Don’t give up if you're running low and the recipe calls for 1/4 cup of white vinegar. You can use 1/4-cup of apple cider vinegar or 1/3-cup freshly squeezed lemon juice instead.
  4. If you're missing soy sauce: You won’t have to stop in the middle of your stir-fry to run out and by more soy sauce. Just use four tablespoons Worcestershire sauce mixed with one tablespoon water.

Top 3 Ingredient Substitutions [All Recipes]
Ingredient Substitutions [University of Nebraska]
Baking Ingredient Substitution Table [Joys of Baking]

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Clever Uses for Mayonnaise Outside the Kitchen

June 19, 2014 by

You might think that you need to cut out mayonnaise in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle. While that may be true when it comes to your diet, mayonnaise has a number of creative uses in other parts of you life. Here are some of the most helpful and creative ways to use mayonnaise.

  1. Fix cracks in wood furniture. It seems unlikely, but mayonnaise is a great tool to fix cracks in your older furniture. Smear it over the crack and let it sit for a few days, and the oils will cause the wood to swell and fill in the space where the crack used to be.
  2. Condition your hair. You can splurge on the priciest hair mask at the beauty supply store, but few things work better than regular old mayonnaise. Coat your hair in mayonnaise and let it sit for a few minutes under a shower cap before thoroughly rinsing.
  3. Remove crayon stains from walls. If energetic children mark up your walls with their crayons, let mayonnaise soak on the stains for a few minutes and they’ll wipe right off.
  4. Clean tar off of your car. Smear mayonnaise on any parts of your car that are covered in tar, sap, or other sticky substances. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe the area with a clean cloth.

20 Uses for Mayonnaise [All You]
11 Home and Beauty Uses for Mayonnaise [Reader's Digest]
9 Surprising Non-Cooking Uses for Mayonnaise [Every Day]
10 Unexpected Home Uses for Mayonnaise [Wise Bread]

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