How to Choose a Knife Set

Have you ever prepared a meal from scratch and not used a knife or two? It’s unlikely. Knives are undoubtedly the most important and a most used kitchen utensil. When you have a good set of kitchen knives, or cutlery, you will find that preparing meals is much easier and more enjoyable.

Did you know that a good quality knife set has the potential to last you a lifetime? Granted, a set of knives with such superior quality will not be inexpensive. However, you get what you pay for with kitchen knives. You should always buy the best set you can afford. In the long run you will spend less money because you will not need to replace your knives every couple of years.


TIP: Buying knives in a set is generally less expensive than buying several knives individually.

A high quality knife set from a major manufacturer usually includes all the basic knives along with a knife block or holder for storage.  If you need to purchase more specific knives in the future to complete the basic set you’ll be able to do that.  If you lose or break a knife you also have the option to have the knife replaced or purchase a new one. Many manufacturers, such as CUTCO offer lifetime guarantees on their knifes.

Most knife sets will contain the following knives:

Chef’s Knife - Has a triangular blade that ranges from 6 to 12 inches long. Used for slicing, dicing and chopping. This is the knife that is used the most when preparing meals. Also called a cook’s knife.
Paring knife  - Has a blade that is approximately 3 inches long and is about 3/4 of an inch wide. Probably the second most-used kitchen knife. Used to peel apples and other fruits and vegetables. Also used to slice, dice, and chop foods too small for the chef knife.

Serrated knife - Long knives are used to slice bread without mashing it. Shorter paring knives are used for slicing tomatoes and other soft fruits and vegetables.
Utility knife - Has a blade around 6 inches long. Smaller than the chef knife and can be used for many purposes in the kitchen.
Just the four knives above can make up a good starter set. There are also a multitude of specialty knives that can be added over time.

Chefs and serious cooks normally choose fine edge knives due to the weight and feel. The blade is very sharp which allows for precision cutting. Fine edge knives will require some maintenance however, such as steeling.
Knives that never need sharpening are a good choice for most people who cook for themselves and their families on a daily basis. Knives that never need sharpening will not make the same precision cuts as fine edge knives, but they retain their sharpness over time. These knives are excellent if you are seeking basic quality at reasonable prices.

The type of steel used in knife blades is one of the most important factors in choosing a knife set. The majority of knives are manufactured with a blend of high carbon stainless steel that will resist rust and corrosion. The tang is the part of the knife in which the metal is attached to the handle. The best knives will have a tang in which the metal extends to the end of the handle. Knife blades are normally tapered at the edges to allow for easier sharpening.

In purchasing a knife set, you will need to know the difference between stamped and forged. Forging is the process of taking a heated piece of metal and grinding it into the shape of a blade. Stamped blades are cut from a single sheet of metal and pressed into a blade. Forged knives are generally heavier than stamped knives, giving you better quality.

Quality knives are balanced and feel good in the cook’s hand. The knife should be easy to handle and feel solid. A good knife should feel like an extension of your hand and allow adequate space between where your fingers grip the knife and the surface on which you are cutting.

http://www.cutleryguide.com/how-to-choose-a-knife-set

How to get your dishwasher cleaning properly

Choosing a Kitchen Table

Compared to several years ago, there are hundreds of different styles of kitchen tables, all of which suit different purposes for different familes. Choosing your kitchen table should depend on an array of factors, including the size of your family, the uses of the table and the style of your kitchen. Simply driving to the nearest furniture store and looking at the available selection on the showroom floor may seem overwhelming, so it helps to do your research in advance. What type of table are you partial to? And what size table will you need for your kitchen? First, measure the length and width of the nook in which your kitchen table will be placed. You'll want to leave at least 2.5 feet on all sides of the table to allow for chairs and room to move. Some people prefer to extend this space to three or four feet; it depends on how often you will use your kitchen table. Next go online and look at the different styles. Are you looking for a glass table or a wood one? Would you like a tile or marble finish? Should the table have extra leaves for seating guests? You can also look at the other colors and styles in your kitchen. Would a heavy oak table complement the décor, or would something lighter and roomier be more appropriate?

Next, consider the uses for the kitchen table. Unlike the dining table, kitchen tables are often used for a variety of purposes: homework, crafts, conversation, etc. Will you be worried every time the kitchen table sustains a water mark? What if the kids spill paint or accidently color it? And will you be doing heavy crafts that might result in scratch marks and scarring? For a sturdy table, you might want a marble or tile finish that can sustain heavy use and won't show unpleasant marks. This might also extend to the legs of your kitchen table.
The size of your kitchen table will depend on how many people you will need to seat. Small, round tables are cozy and comfortable for a two-person family, but a four+ member family might require a long, rectangular table. Also consider whether or not you like to place centerpieces on the table or whether you serve large meals. Lastly, make sure that the table "goes with' the rest of your kitchen. A light, airy atmosphere might require a table that is small, in class or marble or tile. A darker kitchen with dark wood molding might be better served by a heavy oak table. You can also use place settings and chair upholstery to accent your table and the kitchen around it. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/47838/choosing_your_kitchen_table_pg2.html?cat=30

Clean Kitchen Cabinets

Fingerprints, food smudges, and greasy buildup can leave your kitchen cabinets looking dingy and dull. The longer you wait to clean them, the harder it becomes. Find out how to restore your cabinet's luster in just a few simple steps. Here's How: 1.Regular Cleaning: Exterior Most cabinet types, including metal, plastic laminate, painted wood, and vinyl cabinets, can be cleaned with a solution of dish soap liquid and warm water. This simple and mild solution is enough to get food smudges, dust, and mild grease build-up off of your cabinets. Rinse thoroughly with another clean cloth, before drying with a final cloth. 2.Heavy Duty Cleaning: Exterior For heavy build-ups of grease and dust, your best bet is a commercial cleaner designed to be used on wood kitchen cabinets. My favorites are cleaners with orange oil. They have a way of breaking down the thick grime that can accumulate on cabinet surfaces. Be sure to read the instructions before using, and test first in a hidden spot. 3.Interior Cleaning Empty each cabinet, beginning with the top most one. Remove shelf lining if necessary. Wash the interior of the cabinets with warm water and a mild detergent. If the interior cabinets have a lot of crumbs and residue, it may be a good idea to vacuum the cabinets out after they've been emptied, before wiping them down. Rinse with another clean damp cloth. Wipe dry with an additional cloth. 4.Cleaning Cabinet Contents Wipe down dusty cans and containers with warm water and dish soap on a dampened cloth. Throw out any items that have expired. Leave the cabinets open for a 1-2 hours to fully dry, before replacing the contents of the cabinet. Tips: 1.An all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean cabinets too, but it's important to test cleaners in a hidden spot to make sure that they won't damage your cabinet's finish. http://housekeeping.about.com/od/kitchenideas/ht/kitchencabinets.htm

Video: How to Clean Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Don't Put Fruits in the Fridge

Most people like fruit. Fully ripened fresh fruit is naturally sweet, refreshing and delicious. Everyone should eat some fruit each day.
The National Cancer Institute suggests eating two fruits and three vegetables every day. Fruits are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

One serving of fruit is 1/2 cup chopped fresh, 3/4 cups of fruit juice or 1/2 cup canned fruit. One apple, or an orange or a banana is a serving too.
Most fresh fruit is picked for shipment to supermarkets before it is ripe. Many people do not buy fresh fruit unless it is already ripe. But green or under ripe fruit can be ripened at home.


Some fruits will ripen outside the refrigerator, but some will not. Some fruits that you can ripen at home are listed below.
  • Avocados
  • Papayas
  • Bananas
  • Persimmons
  • Cantaloupe
  • Honeydew melons
  • Mangos
  • Nectarines
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Pineapples
  • Tomatoes

Speed up the ripening by placing fruit in a large paper bag.
Punch several holes in the paper bag.
Make sure the fruit is in a single layer. Do not stack pieces of fruit on top of each other
Fold the top of the bag over.
Leave the bag on the counter top while the fruit ripens .
Check the fruit every day to see if it is ready to eat.
When it is ready, eat what you like and refrigerate the rest.
Most fruit will ripen in 1-2 days. The coolness of the refrigerator will keep the ripened fruit fresh for several days.

Quickly refrigerate the fruits listed below. They do not ripen any more after they have been picked.
  • Apples
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Cranberries
  • Grapes
  • Pomegranates
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Tangerines
  • Watermelons
  • Oranges
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Blackberries
  • Gooseberries

When you select fruit at the grocery look for fruit that is not bruised. The skin should not be torn or cut. Look for fruit that is firm but not rock hard.
Special Treatment for Bananas Bananas are always picked when they are green. They do not need any special care to ripen. They go from green to yellow in a few days. The brown speckles on bananas are called "honey spots." When a banana has honey spots, it is very sweet and ready to eat. Bananas can be stored in the refrigerator after they ripen too. The skin will turn dark brown or black but the banana inside will be fresh.

Eat a variety of foods every day. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits are naturally low in calories, fat and sodium.
Remember that old saying "an apple a day will keep the doctor away?" According to the National Institute, this is good advice.

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/thriftyliving/tl-ripefruit.html

Tips for Cleaning Kitchen Floors


Overview

Kitchen floors can be difficult to keep clean. They get more traffic than almost any other area in the home. Food is often dropped on the floors, and hot, humid conditions make the floors stick. Learn a few tips for cleaning your kitchen floors to make the job a little easier.

Clean Often

Sweep the kitchen floor at least once a day, and mop every other day. Clean up after spills as soon as they occur. Detail the floors, using hot, soapy water and a cloth, once a month to remove any stuck-on grime.

Clean Faster

For daily mopping, use a quick-mop system, such as Swiffer. Pour a regular mop solution and hot water into a spray bottle, spray the floor, then use the quick-mop to clean up the water and accumulated grime.

Use Vinegar

Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 gallon of hot water to cut through sticky spills and stuck-on food, and make your floor shine. Hand cleaning the floor with the vinegar solution works better than doing so with hot water, and can take the place of the monthly deep cleaning.

Cleaning Wood Floors

When cleaning wood floors, use the least amount of water necessary, and dry immediately. Rinse the floors with water after washing to remove any residue left from the soapy mop water, and leave your floors looking cleaner.

Warning

Some kitchen floors, such as linoleum and wood, may be reactive to vinegar. For these floors, stick with a regular mopping solution. Use diluted vinegar for spot cleaning and dry immediately.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8478025_clean-kitchen-floor-pinesol.html

How to Clean Your Fridge: Five Steps


Clean Your Fridge: Step 1

Crank up the coolness a notch or two. Because you'll have the door open during parts of the cleaning process, this will prevent the fridge for getting too warm, ensuring that you can safely put everything back in when you're done. Remove all the food, and perform a "freshness audit," throwing away anything sketchy. This is a good time to check labels for expiration dates, especially on infrequently used products that may have spoiled.

Clean Your Fridge: Step 2

Remove all the shelving, crisper drawers, or anything else that lifts or pops out. Be especially careful with any glass, of course. Using a clean soapy rag, wipe out the entire inside of the fridge, rinsing frequently. Because the food is stored in this compact space, you don't want to use any strong chemical cleaners - no 409, no PineSol, no bleach, etc. If you wouldn't clean off your dining plates with it, then don't use it to clean your fridge! Be sure to get the top, bottom, sides, and all the crevices (butter bins, egg holders, etc.).

Clean Your Fridge: Step 3

Create a water and vinegar mixture (1 gallon of water with 2 cups of vinegar will be plenty potent), and wipe of the innards of the fridge again to make sure you've gotten rid of any soap suds. The vinegar-water solution is a nice safe way to get it feeling and smelling clean without using harsh agents unsafe for food.

Clean Your Fridge: Step 4

Repeat the steps above for any shelves, drawers, etc.: first wipe with soapy water, then do a rinse-wipe with the vinegar water before reinserting back in the refrigerator. Replace all the food promptly and turn the dial back down to a normal cooling setting. Add a fresh opened box of baking soda to help collect future odors.

Clean Your Fridge: Step 5

While you may be done with this inside of the refrigerator, there are still some additional tasks at hand:
Clean the exterior of the fridge with whatever is appropriate for the surface (409, stainless steel cleaner, etc). Get the top, front, sides, and even the bottom of the doors.
Wipe out the grooves where the door meets the fridge frame. That suction-y rubber zone tends to get grimy. Use more soapy water followed by vinegar water.
Take a duster to the coils on the back of the fridge.
If you're really ambitious, move the whole unit and clean the floor underneath.

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3922392470449307753&postID=2245858435169864098

How to Organize Your Kitchen and Spice Up the Storage

When you organize your kitchen, you are creating an invitation to linger for good food and conversation. After all, your kitchen is the heart of your home and you want friends and family to feel comfortable to help themselves—without the embarrassment of a chaotic mess!


To help you organize your kitchen, identify why you need to tackle this project:

•Are you having trouble locating utensils, spices, or container lids?
 •Do you want to reduce the number of duplicate items? (Really, how many juicers do we need?)
 •Do plastic containers tumble down when you open the cupboard?
 •Do the kids have trouble finding snacks?

To solve these dilemmas, you want to organize your kitchen in a way that creates a natural flow that accommodates your kitchen activities. Think of your kitchen as four corners: The Dish Storage Corner, the Food Preparation Corner, the Food Storage Corner, and the Cooking Corner.

Ways to Organize Your Kitchen

 1.The Dish Storage Corner
Are your everyday dishes scattered around the kitchen? Maybe the glasses are by the refrigerator, the silverware by the stove, and the cereal bowls next to the sink? If this is your situation, you know how aggravating it can be to unload the dishwasher! Instead, simplify your dish storage by creating a Dish Storage Corner. This is a grouping of your everyday glassware, dishes, silverware, dish towels, and detergent—as close to the sink and dishwasher as possible. This will make unloading the dishwasher or hand washing the dishes all within reach!

Additional Dish Storage Center Tips:

 ◦Keep dish detergent and scouring pads stored under the kitchen sink. A cleaning caddy or sliding utility basket keeps items organized and convenient.
 ◦Dish towels can be stored in a nearby drawer, or in a container under the sink.
◦You probably only use one set of dishes, glasses, and utensils. If so, get rid of duplicate sets. Or, place them in another storage area outside of the kitchen.
 ◦Stack plates and bowls of different sizes in separate piles so you don’t have to lift the bowls to get to the plates.
 ◦Place glasses of different heights into rows front to back, rather than short glasses in front and taller in back.
 ◦Decorative shelves are ideal for displaying beautiful serving bowls, dishes, baskets, and vases.
 ◦Keep extra serving platters, tablecloths, place mats, serving utensils, candlesticks, breadbaskets, etc. in a separate buffet in the dining room or other area. Since these aren’t everyday items, the kitchen is not a wise location for them, unless of course you do have the space! If you have this extra space, designate an out-of-the-way cupboard for these items.

2.The Food Preparation Corner

How many times have you tried to make a nice meal, but found it a real challenge because the counter you use is too small to adequately handle all the preparation? You can solve this sticky situation by designating a Food Preparation Corner. This should be a big corner or the longest available counter, between the sink and the stove or the sink and the fridge. This should give you plenty of room to cut, chop, mix, season, slice, and dice your favorite ingredients.
 Use the cupboards above and below this countertop to store regular food preparation supplies such as spices, mixing bowls, knives, cutting boards, measuring cups, spoons, blenders, mixers, and plastic wraps. With all of these supplies in one corner, your supplies will be more convenient and food preparation will be quicker.

Additional Food Preparation Corner Tips:

◦If you don’t have enough space in these cupboards, you could utilize a microwave cart, butcher’s block, or island to store your extra supplies.
◦Use door-mount spice racks.
 ◦If you have multiple containers of the same type of spice, consolidate.
 ◦For cookbooks, add a shelf on or above the counter.

3.The Food Storage Corner
Does this sound familiar “Where are the chips?” “I can’t find the peanut butter!” It can be a real ordeal finding all the supplies to make a midnight snack if the munchies aren’t organized. The Food Storage Corner is where you keep all the food, ideally using the cupboards and/or pantry next to the refrigerator. This includes canned goods, boxed goods, bottles, jars, and bread products. With all your food together in the same area, it will make preparation and clean-up a snap!

Additional Food Storage Corner Tips:

 ◦Add extra shelves between the current shelves to utilize the extra air space.
◦Add wire racks that stand on shelves to add more storage capacity.
 ◦Add a lazy susan or plastic turntable to keep items within easy reach.
 ◦Organize your food by category.
 ◦Give canned or boxed food that you haven’t used within a year, to a charity organization (as long as they haven’t expired!)
4.The Cooking Corner
It’s important to be comfortable cooking in your own kitchen, but when pots and pans are out of reach and utensils are unorganized, it’s enough to make you boil over! Organize your kitchen supplies in The Cooking Corner—located near the stove and oven. These cupboards and drawers are for storing pots and pans, bake ware, cooking utensils, and pot holders.

Additional Cooking Corner Tips:

 ◦Store heavy pots and pans in deep, lower cupboards.
 ◦Use ceiling or wall pot racks.
 ◦To save valuable space, nest pots and pans by their type (saucepans, frying pans, etc.) Group all the lids with a lid organizer or in a plastic container.
◦For plastic containers used for leftovers, keep the lids together with a plastic lid holder.
◦Use a maple rack to store trays and baking sheets upright in a cabinet.
With this four corner system, you’ll be able to organize your kitchen sensibly for those who cook and those who enjoy the good cooking!
http://www.home-organizing-ideas.com/organize-kitchen.html

How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets

Organizing kitchen cabinets can provide a huge impact for simplifying your life in the kitchen. Here are some easy organizing tips to organize your kitchen cabinets.



The kitchen is, most often, the most used room in the entire home. It is used for meals, getting snacks and drinks, and sometimes to congregate. The kitchen is also the most important room of the home to keep clean. Because of this, organizing your kitchen makes a big impact to the entire household, and organizing kitchen cabinets is an ideal first step to organizing your kitchen.
Analyze the Kitchen Cabinet Storage Space

Activities performed in the kitchen are pretty standard: stove top cooking, baking, preparing food to cook, cleaning dishes, and sometimes being social, eating, and paying bills. To analyze the use of your kitchen cabinet storage, do the following:
 •Write down the activities you do in your kitchen
 •Next to each activity, write down which tools you use to perform each task.

Plan How the Kitchen Cabinets Will Be Used
Think “centers”: look at the activities that were written down and then designate the location where these activities will be performed. For example, designate the ‘food preparation center’, the ‘dish washing center’, ‘baking center,’ the ‘social center’ and so on.

Now, reference the tools used in these areas (which were previously written down). Assign these tools closest to their respective center. You can use a post-it note on the cabinet door or you can draw your cabinets on a piece of paper and then label the drawing. For example:
 •The cabinet closest to the coffee center can have the coffee cups, coffee, filters, sugar, and creamer
 •The cabinet closest to the baking center can have the flour, sugar, muffin cups, cookie cutters, and so on.

Note: while this is being planned out, keep the items that are used most frequently in the easiest place to access.

Get Kitchen Cabinet Organizers
After the upper cabinets and base cabinets have been designated with a purpose, kitchen cabinet organizers need to be purchased to avoid clutter from aimlessly collecting again. Items like lazy susans, tiered shelves, cup and plate racks, spice organizers, and pull out drawers make a huge difference in corralling, dividing, separating, and simplifying the storage of items.

Take Everything Out, Purge, and Put Back
This is where the actual physical work begins. If time is an issue, take a 'baby step' approach: work on one cabinet at a time. First take everything out of the cabinets, get rid of anything that is expired or anything that will never be used, and then have the cabinets prepared with the organizers that will keep your kitchen cabinets organized. Put everything back into the kitchen cabinets, paying attention to leaving frequently used items easiest to access, efficiently using the cabinet organizers, and designating a home for everything.

http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-organize-kitchen-cabinets-a116127