Five Amazingly Helpful Tips for the Kitchen

 

Thank you stumbleupon for giving me these amazing kitchen tips!Trust me, everyone can learn something from these. And if you knew all of these tips already, I am very impressed with the cook you have become. Congrats!For most people out there, I think this will blow your mind. 

 

1.Never put citrus fruits or tomatoes in the fridge. The low temperatures degrade the aroma and flavor of these persnickety fruits.

 

Ok, I have been putting tomatoes in the fridge for as long as I can remember. No more! They will be sitting in their own bowl on my counter top so I can taste and smell the "amazingness" that are tomatoes!

 

2.Before you chop chili peppers, rub a little vegetable oil into your hands and your skin won’t absorb the spicy chili oils.

 

Now, I am not sure if I have sensitive hands or not, but every time I cut poblano peppers, my hands are literally on fire all night. This only happens with poblano peppers. I am fine with jalapenos and other hot peppers. The last time I cut poblanos I spent hours sticking my fingers in cups of milk, nail polish remover and Vaseline.You would be surprised what it says can help burning finders online. Now, it does not seem very safe to cut a pepper with slick hands, but if you were in the amount of pain I was you would chance it.

 

3.If you aren’t sure how fresh your eggs are, place them in about four inches of water. Eggs that stay on the bottom are fresh. If only one end tips up, the egg is less fresh and should be used soon. If it floats, it’s past the fresh stage.

 

So, in my earlier cooking years I had no idea eggs had expiration dates. Yup,they sure do. There is an expiration date on the carton, but if you don't want to go by that use this test! Yes, I tried it. Yes, it worked. 

 

4. Before making popcorn on the stove or in an air popper, soak the kernels in water for 10 minutes. Drain the water, then pop as normal. The additional moisture helps the popcorn pop up quicker and fluffier with fewer “old maids.” 

 

I don't know about you, but Toby and I started popping our own popcorn recently. There are a few reasons why popping your own popcorn is better than using bagged. 

• You control the ingredients. Do you know how many chemicals are in microwaved popcorn bags? Yuck. 

• You can make them as healthy or as unhealthy as you want. Extra butter anyone?

• It is way cheaper than buying bagged popcorn. Buy a large canister and brown paper bags. Done. tons of servings for under $5.

Toby and I actually like the half popped kernels, but sometimes you just don't pop the kernels enough and you have alot of duds or "old maids." Nothing against old single women, but I am going to try this to get more popped kernels and fluffier popcorn.

 

 5. Don’t store your bananas in a bunch or in a fruit bowl with other fruits. Separate your bananas and place each in a different location. Bananas release gases which cause fruits (including other bananas) to ripen quickly. Separating them will keep them fresh longer. 

 

Now I am sorry, but this is genius. I will give you $5 if you knew this tip. I put everything I buy at the market in a fruit bowl and come back in a few days and  the fruit is over ripe. Now granted, bananas are fairly cheap to buy, but some fruits are not. I am totally doing this. However, I hope i don't misplace any bananas in my kitchen.