Kitchen

Choosing a new kitchen faucet largely depends on existing plumbing. The process of changing a faucet is relatively easy when you have the proper tools. There’s three important details you should look out for when you begin shopping. Faucet Holes. Not every kitchen faucet and sink design is compatible with each other. Start by looking at your kitchen to determine the pre-drilled faucet mounting holes available. Even if you’re buying a completely new faucet and sink, you’ll still want to pay attention to the amount of holes. If there’s a mounting plate underneath your faucet, look under the sink to see how many holes the mounting plate covers. There’s usually one to four mounting holes, if there are three then two are for the handles and one for the spout. A fourth hole will be for an accessory such as a soap dispenser. Corner mounting holes may call for a longer spout to reach the opposite side of the basin. A pull-down spray nozzle is a great option for these kinds of sinks. Check Water Lines. Make sure your new faucet is compatible with the water supply lines. Note the size of the existing water line and shut-off valves under your sink. Most valves should have the size etched onto them. If you’re unsure of the water lines, measure them with a measuring tape. Many newer faucets come with 3/8-flex lines, if the water shut-off valves are 1/2-inch you’ll need to change the valves before installing the faucet. It’s usually a good idea to replace the shut-off valves when installing a faucet since an old valve may fail when you need to shut off the water for leaks or other repairs. Consider the Finish. An out of place plumbing fixture can break the entire aesthetic of a kitchen. Match the faucet with other accessories such as the dishwasher air gap, built-in soap dispenser and sink-hole covers. For example a shiny chrome finish will look out of place against a matte brushed nickel finish. Take it a step further and consider the other accessories in a kitchen such as cabinet drawer pulls and appliance finishes. Source: the Spruce

Designing a kitchen to fit your lifestyle, taste and needs is no easy feat. There are elements that make a kitchen shine, while others can cause more stress later on. Here is the most important thing to do when decorating your kitchen as well as a major mistake to avoid. Attention to Detail Designing a kitchen is all about small touches. Select items that are both beautiful and functional. Usually these can be simple and inexpensive. For instance, glass dispensers or attractive dish towels can complement your style. It’s all about elevating your everyday essentials, making things easier to find and better-looking. Place your sea salt in a pottery bowl, or put your olive oil and vinegar on a cutting board. Plants are also a great way to make your kitchen shine. Warm up the space with plants or flowers and even faux stems which can bring a bit of the outdoors in. Textiles and patterns can bring a layer of softness to a typically hard-surfaced place. Your kitchen is full of counterspaces and cabinets which can be contrasted by a soft and colorful runner. It brings a design flair to an otherwise entirely functional space. Don’t Go Too Trendy Be careful to avoid trendy big ticket items. Ask yourself an important question: will you still love this and can’t do without it in 10 years from now? Your appliances, countertops and floorings are big investments that can’t be easily replaced. If you want to incorporate trends, find items that are easily replaceable and can reflect the same look you’re going for. Bold colored appliances, funky tiles and experimental pieces are best avoided. They will look dated over time and can limit your design options in the future. Try to keep the built-in elements neutral and simple, it’ll be less costly to update an accessory or piece of art than a stove. Colors aren’t the only element that should stand the test of time. Materials and finishes should also make sense for your lifestyle. Don’t make the mistake of purchasing marble counters if you don’t plan on staying on top of the maintenance. You don’t need to completely alter your aesthetic to get the look you want. Try quartz instead of marble! Source: the Kitchn

While there is no rule book on how to put a cheese board together, there are a few guidelines you can follow on how to prepare an interesting and flavorful selection of cheeses for your next course. Utilize this as an elegant appetizer or a cleansing palate in between courses. The choice is yours on how sophisticated you’d like the plate to be. Selecting Cheeses Any cheese plate should have diversity in terms of style, selection, appearance and flavor. Some prefer to differentiate cheeses by hardness and texture. For example, offering a blue, a hard cheese and a soft cheese. The hardness or softness is determined by the amount of moisture present. A hard cheese is generally more gritty, sharp and salty like a Pecorino. A semi-hard cheese will be somewhat smooth with small granular texture such as classic cheddar and gouda. A semi-soft cheese is higher in moisture which keeps them soft and pliable such as mozzarella. Finally, a soft cheese is anything spreadable like brie. These cheeses are practically paste and often sold in cups. Storing Cheese Limit storing cheese as much as possible. Purchase them at their peak ripeness and eat them the day you buy them. Since most of us don’t have access to cheese caves with optimal conditions, store cheese in a vegetable drawer in a fridge. There is typically more moisture there. Wrap hard and semi-hard cheese in wax paper or plastic wrap. Be careful not to store these for long periods of time as the plastic can lead to spoilage. A semi-soft cheese can be wrapped in butcher or wax paper, leaving the rind open so the cheese can breathe. You may need to store blue cheese or other “smelly” cheese in a separate container as the mold can spread to other cheeses. Serving the Cheese Set the cheese out early to allow it to come to room temperature. Harder cheese should be pre-cut beforehand to make it easier to enjoy. Add a few compliments to the plate such as flatbreads, toasts, crackers or rye. You can also add dried and fresh fruits like apricots, plums, pears and dates. Nuts are also popular options for their meaty and woody flavors to contrast the aromas of hard and blue cheeses. There is no standard for how a cheese plate should be developed. Let it reflect your tastes and the event its accompanying. Source: Simply Recipes

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home. However, there are dangers lurking that can make you sick. Some of these can lead to digestive upset, but others can be more lethal to those with compromised immune systems. Take a look around your kitchen to see if any of these items could be the culprit. Food Handling. How you handle food in the kitchen is a crucial health hazard. If handled incorrectly bacteria can multiply rapidly, leading to foodborne illnesses. Foods should be brought to the proper temperature needed to kill bacteria. Leftovers should be stored at the correct temperatures and never left on the counter for extended periods of time. All fresh produce should be washed before eating or used in recipes. Cross contamination between raw and cooked foods can be as simple as using the same plate. It’s best to keep these separated as much as possible, and never wash raw meat in the sink. Wash your hands frequently when moving through various cooking steps. Kitchen Towels. Fabric towels are essential in a kitchen and a great way to cut back on the use of paper towels. However, the danger comes if you are not washing them frequently leading to cross-contamination. Use separate towels for cleaning, food preparation and hand washing. Wash these towels in hot water after use. Cutting Boards. A cutting board makes food preparation easier and protects kitchen countertops. Using separate cutting boards for meats, fruits and vegetables is a necessity, otherwise cross-contamination can lead to severe health consequences. Wooden cutting boards should be washed after every use with hot, soapy water. Never place these in a dishwasher because they can be damaged. Sponges. Due to their porous structure, sponges are great at absorbing spills but also providing a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. Sponges should be washed in hot, soap water and placed in a spot with proper air circulation to dry. If a sponge has a peculiar smell after cleaning, discard it instead. These odors can be signs of bacterial growth. Source: the Spruce

There’s nothing worse than dedicating your time and effort to baking bread only to have it ruined by an old, inactive yeast. If you’re looking to stock up on yeast but unsure of how long it’ll last, here’s how to store it so you can count on it the next time you need to make dough. How Long Yeast Lasts Dry yeast that is sealed and unopened will last about 2 years. Chilling extends its life which is why it’s best to store in a refrigerator or freezer. You should always check the best-before-date on the bag before purchasing it in the store. An opened active and instant dry yeast will last four months in the refrigerator and up to six months in the freezer. A fresh yeast, also known as compressed yeast, will last up to two weeks in the refrigerator and should not be frozen. How to Store Open Yeast Keep it Airtight. Air will shorten the lifespan of yeast. If the yeast is in an open envelope, fold down the top and seal with tape, a paper clip or rubber band. If it’s in a bag, press as much air as possible out of the bag, then seal with tape or rubber band. You can also transfer the yeast to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Label the yeast before storing with the date it was opened or the use-by-date. Source: Simply Recipes

Dish soap is great for many purposes beyond cleaning dishes. It cuts through grease and leaves things squeaky-clean. However, there are a few things you should never do with dish soap. Here are a few. Mix with Bleach. Cleansers are powerful on their own, but can be toxic when combined. Never mix your dish soap with bleach, ammonia or any cleanser. Wash Cast Iron. While you can technically wash your cast iron with soap, you generally shouldn’t. If you are going to do it, you shouldn’t be doing it too often. Instead opt for oil and salt. Put it in the Dishwasher. It may be tempting to put dish soap in a dishwasher when you run out of dishwasher detergent, but don’t! They both clean dishes, but the formulas are completely different. The dish soap can harm your dishwasher or leave you with a bubbly mess. Put it in the Washing Machine. The same rule applies, dish soap is not formulated to work in a washing machine. It can lead to more suds than your machine can handle. Wash Your Car. Your car’s paint is strong, but dish soap can actually weaken it. A harsh cleaner can strip away the finish leaving it vulnerable to chips and dullness. Use a specialized car clean instead. Wash Your Face. Generally you should cut down on the contact with dish soap. Gloves are a great choice for washing dishes. Dish soap should definitely not go on your face. Source: the Kitchn

If you’re looking to update your kitchen backsplash, glass tile installs just like ceramic tiles but with a more luminous and colorful aesthetic. It’s widely available at many retailers, making it an easy DIY project. Glass vs. Ceramic Ceramic tile is the traditional material for backsplashes. If it’s a glazed ceramic, the tile has a glass-like surface and is just as washable, durable and stain-resistant as glass tile would be. The grout in a ceramic tile backsplash has to be sealed and regularly maintained for stain-resistance. As for aesthetics, a ceramic tile will be more opaque with all of it’s color on the surface. Glass on the other hand is translucent and light penetrates the entire tile. This light will reflect off the tile and the wall behind it. It will give it more visual depth and overall a water shine or glow. Types of Glass You can obtain glass tiles in just about any color you can think of. They’re also created in many interesting shapes beyond the popular subway tile pattern. You can achieve a more luxurious feel with long, slender tiles, or a vintage look with round and octagonal mosaic tiles. Glass tiles can feature intricate surface designs and be either sheen or matte. Pair these with other tiles made of stone, porcelain or other materials for endless visual possibilities. Tips for Glass Backsplashes Choose the backsplash color after you’ve selected the other room finishes. You can then incorporate shades that complement your wall color or countertop. Lighter tiles work better in smaller areas. The reflected light will make the space feel larger. Mosaic glass tiles are mounted on mesh backing, making them easier to install. Buy extra tiles in case you need to fix any broken ones later on. Source: the Spruce