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Using metal and glass baking pans require you to make a few changes to your baking routine, especially when it comes to oven temperature. Learn about oven temperature differences when using a metal or glass baking pan with help from a two-time winner of Food Network's Cupcake Wars in this free video clip.
Cupcake frosting using a pastry bag may require some getting used to, especially if you don't use this method a lot. Get cupcake frosting tips using a pastry bag with help from a cupcake artist and baker in this free video clip.
Frosting cupcakes with a homemade pastry is one of the most important parts of your art. Frost cupcakes with a homemade pastry with help from a cupcake artist and baker in this free video clip.
Aluminum is a material commonly used to make baking sheets because it is lightweight, inexpensive and durable. Over time, your aluminum baking sheets may become dull and stained looking as the aluminum forms a protective but ugly layer of aluminum oxide. You can prevent this layer from building up and staining your cookware by using the appropriate cleaning methods to remove it.
The Wagner Manufacturing company began making cookware in 1891 in Sidney, Ohio. Today, collectors prize Wagner cast iron frying pans, Dutch ovens and bakeware for both its beauty and durability. You can find Wagner cookware at garage and estate sales, thrift stores, antique stores and from online dealers. Dating Wagner cast iron can be tricky, but several clues can help you arrive at the approximate date your cookware was manufactured.
For home beer brewers, there is a frequent debate over the merits of aluminum and stainless steel brewing pots. The pot used to create your homemade beer can influence the quality of the finished product. Each material has both pros and cons that should be considered before deciding which pot will best fit your individual needs.
Some product reviewers use the term gemstone cookware to describe cookware that has a nonstick surface reinforced with gemstone crystals. Online merchants sometimes use the term to describe microwave cookware made with a compound that enhances its durability. Nonetheless, manufacturers of such items don’t promote their products as "gemstone" cookware.
As any adventurous cook knows, part of the fun of cooking is trying new recipes, finessing old ones and using clever cookware to ensure chef-quality results. In this regard, Le Creuset’s Dutch oven more than fits the bill, especially if your taste buds are set on a juicy pork tenderloin. The enameled, cast-iron cookware is wide enough for you to brown the tenderloin on your stovetop before slow-cooking it and locking in the flavor and juiciness for mouth-watering results.
You can make a cake stand right at home using paint, candle holders, vases and plates. Learn how to put together a nice do-it-yourself cake stand made from paint, candle holders, vases and plates with help from a craft expert in this free video clip.
Cleaning and glazing an industrial food cake pan requires you to follow a few basic steps. Clean and glaze an industrial food cake pan with help from a cleaning expert and national lecturer in this free video clip.
There are several reasons a wok may need restoration: a wok that isn’t used for a long period of time may rust, and a wok that is improperly cleaned won’t keep food from sticking to it. But a good-quality wok shouldn’t just be thrown away; its age is actually one of its benefits, and once properly cleaned and seasoned, your wok will be like brand-new. That deep black patina on a wok actually imparts flavor, and it’s an essential ingredient in Chinese and Thai cooking.
Linen is one of the oldest woven fabrics – the Egyptians shrouded Ramses II's body in it. As a material, it is known for its strength and sheen, ranging in color from tan to gray. If you would like to darken linen, there are two options. You can simply soak it in a tannin mixture, or use a tannin mixture followed by an alum solution and a dye bath. Whichever method you choose, the new color will freshen your fabric.
Enamel-coated iron or steel cookware is generally easier to maintain than cast iron because it does not rust. Although enamel forms a very hard cooking surface, it can chip when used incorrectly or when it becomes old. Chipped enamel cookware poses a health risk because enamel chips can end up in food.
While many people enjoy eating perfectly prepared bacon, there are considerably fewer who are able to consistently produce an end product of porcine perfection. Instead of using outdated techniques that feature turning off the kitchen smoke detector as the first step, learn the best way to cook flat, crispy bacon that comes out right every time.
Dutch ovens are thick cast-iron cooking pots used to slow cook stews and meats to perfection. While modernly associated with camping, Dutch ovens were originally a household necessity, fitting perfectly over the fireplace for all-day slow cooking. If you have a Dutch oven with a D-ring, you can make a stand for cooking on the campfire or in your fireplace.
If you want to fry spaghetti squash all you'll need is an empty pan and a free stove top. Fry spaghetti squash in a pan on the stove top with help from an experienced cooking teacher in this free video clip.
A cast iron skillet is one way to fry great, juicy hamburgers at home. Learn how to fry juicy hamburgers in a cast iron skillet with help from a professional chef in this free video clip.
Safety issues surrounding Teflon and other nonstick coatings have caused concern among consumers that their nonstick cookware might be unsafe, particularly if the surface is scratched or flaking. Additional questions regarding the safety of overheated nonstick cookware are especially relevant to woks, because they're typically used over high heat. Protect your health by making an informed decision about using -- and disposing of -- your scratched nonstick wok.
Most dishes, pots and pans can safely be cleaned in dishwashers. However, those not approved for dishwashers may suffer discoloration or stains.The intense heat the dishwasher uses to clean the dishes, combined with the caustic dishwasher detergent, can tarnish aluminum pans. The surfaces of aluminum pans are simply too delicate to withstand the environment of a dishwasher.
Lasagna is one of those meals that everyone in the family enjoys, which is good because not only is it easy to make but it freezes well, so dinner is always ready at a moment's notice. Whether preparing and freezing prior to baking or sticking leftovers in the freezer for use at a later date, there are only a few precautions that need to be remembered for a delicious meal fast.
Woks are traditional Chinese pans used for stir-frying dishes of meat and vegetables. They are characterized by sloping sides and a deep, wide opening. Woks that are made of steel or iron need to be tempered -- also referred to as seasoning or curing -- before using due to the porous nature of these metals. Tempering a wok creates a slick, glassy surface for food to glide off of rather than stick to. It also protects the pan from rust.
Stringers are stair supports that typically attach to the side of the staircase to strengthen the overall construction so the stairs won't collapse. The stringers connect stair structures to each other so weight on the stairs distributes more evenly instead of one stair section having to bear all the weight at one time. Staircase construction should always be done carefully to ensure a long lasting job and to prevent accidents. Calculating the size and length of the stringers is the more challenging process but the actual securing of the stringer to the staircase just requires a few basic tools.
Even the most careful cooks have occasional spills and boil-overs, resulting in blackened range-top burner pans. It’s important to clean up these spills as soon as you can. Baked-on grease and food debris not only look bad, but those dirty burner pans can make your stove less efficient, too, according to the Maryland Energy Administration. While burner pans with blackened, baked-on areas absorb heat, a clean, shiny surface reflects the heat where it can do the most good -- the bottom of the cookware.
Burning a casserole has the potential to not only ruin your dinner, but damage your casserole dish as well. Depending on the type of food and the severity of the burn, it may take more than elbow grease to save your casserole dish. If you have already soaked and scrubbed the casserole dish to no avail, then consider a different approach by utilizing the cleaning power of items you already have in your pantry and laundry room.
The gauge on a pressure cooker or pressure canner monitors the pressure inside the cooker or the canner. An accurately working gauge will tell you whether the pressure is reaching unsafe levels. If the pressure gets too high, the safety valves or gaskets open and release the built-up steam to relieve the pressure. If the pressure is too low, the food won’t cook properly, and in the case of canning, the improperly processed jars could harbor dangerous bacteria. To prevent these types of problems, take your pressure canner/cooker to your local extension office for an annual check up. If the…
You will not find a granite stovetop on a conventional stove. However, some old-fashioned, wood-burning stove models have granite stovetops or top plates. Granite is a heat-resistant, natural stone formed under heat and pressure, so heat will not affect the surface. Once the flame gets going in the wood-burning stove, its granite stovetop gets hot enough to cook on. The same cookware suitable for ceramic cooktops are also suitable for granite. Pay special attention to how and when the pots are used on a hot granite cooking surface.
If a pressure cooker or canner's metal weights break, an epoxy glue designed to bond metal to metal and to resist high temperatures can repair the part. The weights on appliance's vent increase the steam pressure inside by 5 to 15 pounds. As pressure increases, the temperature inside the cooker or canner rises. If the pressure weight is missing pieces, the temperature drops, altering processing times and making home canning and pressure cooking less safe.
Once the enamel coating of your Dutch oven becomes tainted with stains from burned-on food, it's not necessarily a permanent change. Some discolorations will disappear from the cookware with the right cleaning method. Others may cling in the form of a patina. For stubborn stains you can't remove, accept them. They serve as a testament to your Dutch oven as a well-used implement in your kitchen.
Whether you’re a constant short-order cook or a weekend kitchen warrior, you might have given your porcelain cookware a run for its money. And now it shows, in the form of some stains or blemishes. As you look around your house for a remedy, who could blame you for reaching for a bottle of bleach? Sodium hypochlorite, the active ingredient in bleach, is a great stain lifter for many tasks, including the laundry. But think twice before using it on all shades of porcelain cookware.
A Frigidaire range with a cast iron top provides you with a durable cooking surface that lasts a long time and lends a country or old world appeal to your kitchen. Although cast iron is a strong material, it requires specific care to maintain its condition and ensure its longevity.
DuPont began manufacturing Teflon-coated pans in the early 1960s. Teflon refers to the nonstick coating on pans that makes the cookware easy to cook with and clean. Teflon pans are safe for cooking as long as you use them properly. The chemicals used to make the nonstick coating can deteriorate when you expose the cookware to high oven temperatures. Placing a Teflon-coated pan in the oven that is not oven-safe can cause damage to the appliance, pan and your health.
A wok spatula is used for stirring food in a wok and scooping it out. It may be made from a variety of materials, but is usually metal and bowl shaped, allowing you to more easily scoop food from the wok. A wok spatula cannot be made by hand and people fashion their own wok spatulas from a variety of materials or buy handmade wok spatulas made by craftsmen.
Placing your pumpkin pie on a cookie sheet helps catch any drippings if your pie spills over. Unfortunately, you are left with a burnt-on mess on your cookie sheet. While it may take a little elbow grease to get rid of the burned pumpkin, the cleaning agents you need are probably hidden right in your kitchen cabinet.
A porcelain frying pan is not 100 percent porcelain. The base of the pan is metal, usually iron, steel or aluminum, which is coated in a porcelain enamel to prevent the metal from reacting with food. The porcelain is usually simple to clean, but the pan can rust quickly if the enamel is cracked. Exterior cracks need repair as soon as they occur to ensure that the pan stays in good shape for as long as possible.
It can be tricky to make stir-fry at home that rivals the meals you get at excellent Asian restaurants. These restaurants use high heat that allows cooks to fry meat and vegetables in just minutes while also removing excess moisture from the food. A wok burner is the answer to stir-fry cooking problems caused by insufficient heat.
Spinach can be pan fried in a very specific way. Learn how to pan fry spinach with help from the owner of a variety of food businesses in this free video clip.
Bamboo steamers are a traditional cooking method, used for centuries to prepare a variety of Asian dishes. The steamers are inexpensive and because they require no oil, they are useful for cooking healthy, low-fat foods, including pot stickers. A form of dumplings, pot stickers are filled with an endless combination of ingredients, including shrimp, chicken, beef and/or vegetables. Pork makes a savory and nutritious filling. Pork is especially rich in phosphorus, potassium and several forms of vitamin B. For the best flavor, use fresh pork with no seasonings added.
Experts suggest stainless steel cookware over nonstick for most uses, according to the Consumer Search website. However, the Cook’s Illustrated website recommends using nonstick pans when you need to prepare foods that commonly stick and delicate food items that break easily, such as eggs and fish. Ingredients prepared in a nonstick pan require less butter or oil to brown, and nonstick pans are easy to clean. What is hidden in the core of your pan is perhaps even more important to the outcome of your dish than the interior surface of the pan because the material used determines how heat…
Shaped pats of butter are a refined detail that never goes unnoticed. While you can use a mold to shape the butter into a rose shape, the low-profile design of a mold does not yield a presentation as striking as a piped butter flower. Piping butter is similar to piping frosting, but it is more heat and, subsequently, time sensitive. You must work quickly to shape the butter before it becomes too soft and unmoldable. Piping the butter onto a chilled surface helps you maintain the shape as you add petals.
Nobody likes flakes of teflon in their scrambled eggs. If your cooking habits are less than gentle, consider investing in scratch-resistant cookware. Although they are often harder to clean and maintain, scratch-resistant pots and pans are durable and less prone to scratching than teflon. To reduce the chances of scratching any kind of cookware, avoid scraping it with metal utensils, and only use abrasive sponges when absolutely necessary.
Kern is an international corporation that manufactures cooking supplies and utensils. One item the company manufactures is a pressure cooker. These cookers function the same way as any other pressure cooker: by sealing the lid and cooking food quickly with internal pressure. These cookers are made up of a few components, so every once in a while problems may arise. Most of these problems can be identified and resolved in a matter of minutes, however.
Paella is one of Spain's signature dishes, a festive celebration in one pan. It consists of medium-grain Spanish rice, similar to the more familiar Italian arborio, simmered with saffron and a variety of aromatic vegetables. Seafood, chicken, chorizo and various other ingredients are commonly added to increase the dish's appeal. Paella is cooked in a special pan, also called a paella, that resembles a shallow wok. If the correct pan is not available, paella can also be prepared in any wide-bottomed pan, such as a Le Creuset Dutch oven.
The value of non-stick cookware is well-established, but what is less clear are the procedures you need to follow to maximize its benefits. High heat can cause non-stick surfaces to blister, flake and smoke. Blistering and flaking ruin the non-stick surface and present the risk of ingesting potentially harmful substances. Smoke releases toxins into the air.
Since their introduction in the early 1990s, electric pressure cookers have allowed cooks to experiment with different cooking styles such as steaming and braising. Though electric pressure cookers may be viewed by some as an unnecessary appliance in the kitchen, others see them as essential tools for quick and delicious recipes. Knowing what features to look for will help you sort through ratings and reviews when selecting an electric pressure cooker.
Cast iron pipes are very durable and designed to last for many years. However, while cast iron is tough and heavy, it does corrode over time. Oxidation occurs when water and oxygen interact with the iron to form a coating of rust over the pipe. The rust will eventually spread through the iron if it is not removed and will cause holes and a general weakening of the pipe. Cleaning corroded cast iron pipes requires a lot of effort but the process helps the pipes look better while it also keeps them in better condition for a longer period of…
Seasoning your wok refers to the process of burning oil into it repeatedly. Eventually, the oil layers form a coating that protects your wok from rust and makes it non-stick. An improperly seasoned wok, or one that was never seasoned at all, may develop rust. You can fix a rusty wok, but if the rust is inside the wok, any seasoning you have already done will go to waste and you will have to start over.
Any cookware with wooden parts, including cast iron skillets with wood handles, is not oven safe. Wood in a closed oven won't burst into flame until temperatures climb over 800 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Newton Ask a Scientist website, but wood creates a different fire hazard at lower temperatures well within the range of a conventional even. At broiling temperatures, wood emits combustible gases that can suddenly ignite. At baking temperatures, wooden grips might split, making the cast iron cookware unsafe to handle.
Since 1963, Calphalon has been manufacturing cookware, first for the food service industry; then in 1976, the company entered the retail arena. Among the pots and pans the company makes are sauciers and Dutch ovens. Though the two products look alike in overall appearance, there are subtle differences between a saucier and a Dutch oven. Understanding the differences will help you select the right cookware for your needs.
Homes built before the 1970s and 1980s usually have old, cast iron sewer pipes -- unless the home has been renovated. If the pipes are cast iron then the drain plug at the end of the pipes is also cast iron. The plug is a cap that fits over the end of the pipe to allow access to the sewer line. You can remove the cast iron drain plug and clean it if needed.
From a type of crepe to the French equivalent of the Belgian waffle, the galette assumes many forms. Whatever your preferred recipe, the waffle iron that prepares your galette requires periodic seasoning. Seasoning the iron prevents your batter from sticking to the grids and then tearing when removed. Using proper technique to season the iron ensures that every inch of the grid surface receives an effective nonstick coating.
