People Who Love To Eat
Are Dependably
The Best Individuals
-Shireen Anwer
HAPPINESS IS HOMEMADE
Mind Blowing Tips & Inspiration daily!
Things You Should Stop Storing in the Fridge
For most of us, fridge space can be hard to come by (especially these days, as we’re trying to stock up on enough food to last us at least two weeks). One way to save space: Pull out the stuff that doesn’t actually need to be in there. Here are three things you should stop storing in the fridge — and where to stash them instead. While these items aren’t giant space-hogs, they’ll at least help you make room for, say, a few hard-boiled eggs.
Things You Should Stop Storing in the Fridge
1. Batteries
There’s lots of conflicting information about whether the fridge is the best spot for batteries. The idea comes from the fact that batteries should be stored in a cool place. But, according to the Energizer website, they should be in a cool, DRY place. And refrigerators are not especially dry. “It’s not necessary to store batteries in a refrigerator,” the website says. Instead, keep them in a drawer that’s away from your stove and dishwasher.
2. Coffee
Condensation in the fridge is your coffee’s worst enemy. Keeping beans in the fridge might seem like a way to preserve their freshness, but moisture created by condensation will ruin the flavor. Plus, the beans will likely absorb the flavor of surrounding foods in the fridge. Opt for room-temperature, dark, and sealed storage instead.
3. Nail polish
Storing nail polish in the fridge will extend its life — as long as you leave it in there for weeks at a time. If you use it often (taking it out and letting it come to room temperature and back), then it really makes no difference. Instead, store your most frequently used stuff in a drawer or basket.
Got anything else to suggest? What are some other items that people should take out of their refrigerators? Leave your ideas in the comments below!
5 Things You Should Never Do with a Kitchen Sponge
Raise your hand if you use kitchen sponges? What they lack in longevity, they make up for in convenience and effectiveness. Not to mention, they’re handy for more than just washing dishes. We’re fairly certain these clean-up workhorses will always have a place in our kitchens. As with any tool, be it a spatula or a scrub brush, sponges should be cared for properly. Mostly that means avoiding these common mistakes.
Five Things You Should Never Do With Sponges.
1. Don’t microwave your sponge
2. Don’t disinfect your sponge at all, for that matter.
It turns out disinfecting a sponge might actually be counterproductive. A study from Scientific Reports found that trying to disinfect your dirty sponge will only kill some of the bacteria on it, leaving the strongest strains behind on the sponge, which then colonize to create even more pathogenic bacteria. Meaning, you’ll end up spreading germs around on the plates you’re trying to clean.
3. Don’t use your sponge longer than a week
The only solution to the gross-sponge problem, given the alternatives, is routine replacement. Because you’re not going to be disinfecting it, swap out your frequently-used sponge once a week and your rarely-used sponge every two weeks. If it becomes smelly or takes on a grayish tint, you’ll want to swap it out right away, as those could be signs the sponge is harboring bacteria.
4. Don’t use it to soak up meat juices
Because sponges can harbor bacteria, you do not want to use one to wipe up meat juices and then to clean your dishes. In this case, it’s really best to use paper towels and a disinfectant cleaner.
5. Don’t use it for mixed jobs
You also probably don’t want to use your dish sponge to wipe down your counters or handle other messy jobs. It’s best to keep one sponge for dishes and only dishes. If you’re storing more than one sponge around your sink, consider cutting the corner off the dish one so that you can always tell which one is which.
Got anything else to add to this list? Leave your ideas in the comments below!
How To Clean a Nonstick Pan
I’ve had this one little nonstick pan for past three years. It’s the perfect size for toasting garlic in olive oil to eat over spaghetti, my favorite budget meal. Now, I’m more likely to use it in the morning to fry an egg. And after more than a decade of use, it’s still mostly nonstick, although I can see some signs of wear — a few scratches from the occasional metal-edged utensil (whoops!), some chips along the edges from tossing it into the cabinet (whoops again!). We have some newer nonstick pans in our arsenal, but I still come back to this one most of the time.
For the most part, I never used metal utensils on it. I always hand-washed it, and I always waited until it was totally cool before cleaning it. I should have actually been oiling it, like a cast iron skillet, but it’s never too late. In fact, I just started and it already seems to be working!
Steps To Clean a Nonstick Pan
Wait for the pan to cool: Let the pan cool completely, as putting a hot pan in cold water can warp it through thermal shock.
Scrub the pan: Squirt the dish soap onto your sponge or brush and gently rub the surface in a circular motion. Never use an abrasive scrubber or one made of metal because it can scratch the coating. And don’t use a harsh cleanser (like oven cleaners, bleach, or liquid household cleaners used for floors or porcelain) to clean the pan because that can damage the surface, too.
Don’t forget the outside of the pan: Repeat for the outside of the cookware.
Rinse: Run the pan under the water to rinse off the soap and see if you’ve got any remaining residue left.
Tackle burnt spots: If some stubborn spots remain, sprinkle a little bit of kosher salt onto the area, add a splash of water to make a paste, and use your sponge to gently dislodge it. Be careful not to scrub too hard, as you don’t want to scratch the coating. Then rinse and dry the pan.
Season the pan: To condition the pan once it’s dry, rub the surface with a dab of vegetable oil (less than a teaspoon)and a paper towel, then use another clean paper towel to wipe off the excess.
Notes:
- To dry your nonstick skillet, either let it sit upside down on a dish rack or use a clean cloth to dry it by hand.
- If your nonstick pan is extremely scratched, flaking, or no longer actually seems to be nonstick, it’s time to get a new one.
