Putting a loaf of bread in the refrigerator seems like a simple way to make it last. Mold can take over bread left on the counter, so moving the loaf into a cold space can buy more time before those spots appear. The catch is that mold is not the Continue Reading
7 Household Items You May Want to Stop Using Once You Know What Happens to Them Over Time
Some household products do not stay in the same condition in which you bought them. Heat, knife cuts, repeated washing, worn coatings, and years of use can change their surfaces or increase contact between food and the materials beneath them. That Continue Reading
Stop Wrapping Baked Potatoes in Foil if You Want Crispy Skin
Wrapping a potato in foil before baking keeps steam close to the skin, which works against the crisp shell many people want from a baked potato. The potato contains plenty of water, and that moisture turns to steam as the center cooks. Leaving the Continue Reading
Instead of Roasting Parboiled Potatoes Right Away, Freeze Them First
Parboiled potatoes do not have to go from the saucepan straight into the roasting pan. Adding a freezer step between boiling and roasting can help create the rough, dry surface needed for a crisp exterior while the center stays soft. The method Continue Reading
Don’t Put Washed Lettuce in the Fridge Until You Do This
Washing lettuce before storing it can save time when you need it for a salad or sandwich, but putting damp leaves straight into the refrigerator creates another problem. Water left between the leaves can collect during storage, leaving lettuce soft, Continue Reading
10 Creative Custom Gift Box Ideas for Bakers, Cooks, and Foodies
Finding the right gift for someone who loves spending time in the kitchen can be surprisingly challenging. Bakers, home cooks, and foodies often have strong preferences when it comes to ingredients, tools, flavors, and cooking styles. A generic gift Continue Reading
Don’t Toss the Turkey Carcass, It Can Become the Broth for Leftover Soup
Turkey leftovers do not end with sliced meat packed into the refrigerator. The carcass can become the base for the next meal before it heads to the trash. A turkey wild rice soup recipe from Lively Table uses the bones to make broth, then brings Continue Reading
Don’t Add Flour to Potato Soup, Use What’s Already in the Pot to Thicken It
Potato soup does not need flour, a roux, cream cheese, or heavy cream to get a thick base. Part of the cooked potatoes can do that job without adding another ingredient. This five-ingredient version cooks russet potatoes in broth until Continue Reading
Don’t Make Ant Bait Too Strong, The Ants Need Time to Carry It Back
Ant bait works differently from a spray that kills insects on contact. Foraging ants need to reach the bait, eat it, then return to the colony with some of the food. A boric acid mixture that kills them before that trip can work against the reason Continue Reading
Don’t Stir the Whipped Topping Into Pudding Shots, Fold It In Instead
Pudding shots need enough structure to hold alcohol while staying thick enough for a spoon. Vigorous stirring after whipped topping enters the bowl can knock out air and reduce the volume that helps support the mixture. These tiramisu pudding Continue Reading