Month: January 2022

In a world of air fryers, sous vides, instant pots and blenders, it’s easy to look past the functionality of a traditional microwave. While you may be tempted to get rid of your microwave altogether, here are a few reasons why it still has a place in your kitchen. Healthy Dinners. Microwaves often have a negative relation to unhealthy and bland frozen microwavable dinners. Microwaves are much more useful than that. You can use your microwave to make a tender baked potato in just a few minutes. You can also steam veggies with very little cleanup. It can help get dinner on the table without turning on an oven. Oatmeal is a classic microwave meal, ready in just a few minutes. Safety. You may have come across myths claiming microwaves are dangerous or add toxins to food. However, studies have shown microwaves are better at retaining nutrients in food compared to other methods such as roasting at high temperatures. There also have been no studies to claim microwaves cause cancer in humans. One important thing to remember is to skip out on plastic containers. These containers can contain BPA which can get in food when heated. Choose glass containers instead. Other Valuable Uses. Microwaves are a quick and easy way to heat up items for home remedies. Warming up a small towel in a microwave can help alleviate certain pains or aches when applied for a heat press. There’s also special heatable bags that can be used to help alleviate chronic migraines. Much quicker than relying on other methods like an oven. Source: the Kitchn

Cooktops are not without their dangers. From overcooking and accidental burns, you can be putting yourself at risk without even realizing it. Here’s what you need to know and why you should be safer in the kitchen. Glass stove tops are becoming increasingly popular for their sleek and seamless appearance. These cooktops match popular kitchen decor and style while also being easy-to-clean. One downside to a glass stovetop is they can crack if you’re not careful. A sudden shift in temperature from cold to hot can create damaging effects. For example, think of putting a hot pan under cold water, this creates steam because of the temperature shift. It can also cause warping in pans because it moves from a higher temperature to a lower one. A stovetop is no exception to this. Avoid putting a hot lid face-down on a glass stovetop. A hot lid on a stovetop can create a seal between the two surfaces. The hot air gets trapped as it rises creating a push-and-pull effect which can damage the surface and even break under added pressure. This can also occur with cold lids as well, it all depends on the difference in temperature. Check your stovetop regularly to ensure it is cooking consistently and there are no electrical problems. If you find any issues it’s a good investment to seek out a service professional to avoid unnecessary risks. Source: the Spruce