Kitchen

Wood utensils have been used for centuries and are still one of the most common tools found in kitchens today. Wood is great to prevent scratching pots or pans, and won’t react chemically with hot food. Here are the few do’s and don’ts when it comes to handling your wood utensils. DON’T put the wood utensils in a dishwasher. The intense heat and steam will make the wood crack. DON’T let utensils sit in water for prolonged periods of time. DO wash the utensils in hot soapy water fairly quickly after use. DO pat the utensils dry with a cloth and let them air dry. DO rub with a slice of lemon and let air dry for any strong flavors that have seeped into the wood. DO apply a mineral oil every once in a while to the wood to prevent it from drying out and cracking. Source: Apartment Therapy

Since a kitchen gets so much use day in and day out, it’s no surprise that it’s usually the biggest selling point in a home. A kitchen remodel gets expensive fast, so it’s even more incentive for a potential buyer to love the kitchen right away. Those looking to sell their home should be conscious of the design elements that may ultimately affect the sell price. Here’s three to avoid. Open shelving. An open shelf is a great concept in theory, but can be a lot more hassle for homeowners. While it does open up a space, the dishware placed on it can easily gather dust. If a potential buyer doesn’t have the means to close off the shelves, it could have them feeling overwhelmed to constantly maintain the look. Dark cabinets. These are very big commitments to homes. A white kitchen will usually sell faster than a dark blue one. A darker kitchen with dated hardware can feel old, and especially unattractive to millennials. The cost to repaint kitchen cabinets will hit a lot harder than a simple wall recolor. Intricate millwork. A younger buyer prefers transitional looks, where lines are clean and geometric. Simplicity is the key here. A neutral kitchen with light countertops and brass hardware is typically a good option. Source: the Kitchn

If you’ve been hard at work cleaning your blender, the last thing you want to see is a cloudy surface that just doesn’t go away. The minerals from fruits, produce and leafy greens can cause a film on your container which may leave you feeling like your blender is still dirty. Here’s how to get that blender back to crystal clear. What You’ll Need: Baking soda Water Bowl for mixing Scrub pad Distilled White Vinegar Instructions: Create a paste of baking soda and water. You want it to be thin enough to be spreadable, but not so thick that it will stick to the interior without dripping. Spread the paste all around the inside in an even coat. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then take a scrub pad and scrub the container. Take your time with this and work in small sections. Rinse out the paste a few times to flush out all the baking soda. If the cloudiness remains, fill the container with a cup of white vinegar and water. Pour the cup of white vinegar and fill the rest with warm water. Let this sit for several hours or overnight. Rinse clean and enjoy your crystal clear blender again. Source: the Kitchn

Taking care of your kitchen may not be as obvious as you think. Your granite countertops or other natural stone surfaces require regular sealing. Leaving counters unsealed will result in etching and staining, especially from dark-colored greasy spills. Sealing ensures protection and leaves them with a reflective sheen to elevate your entire kitchen. Here’s a test you can perform to see if your counters need sealing. Drip a small amount of water on your surface and check on it again in half an hour. If the water is still beaded up at the surface, your counters are sealed and safe. If the water stays splotchy or seeps into the granite with visible dark spots, it’s time to seal. Sealing a counter is simple and more like cleaning. You’ll spray it on the counter and leave it for a minute or two, and buff it into the counter with a soft lint, free rag. Source: Apartment Therapy

Your cast iron pans need special attention when it comes to maintenance. There are many novice mistakes you can make like using a lot of dish soap when cleaning them. Here are some of the best tips to get the most out of your cast iron, no matter your experience level. Clean With a Nylon Pan Scraper You’ll need some scouring power when taking off burnt bits from your pan. Be careful not to use any harsh products like steel wool, which can damage your skillet. Opt for nylon pan scrapers which can take the bulk of stuck-on residue. Use a stiff brush and hot water afterwards. Boiling Water Simply pour a cup of fresh water onto a skillet and turn on the burner. Boil the water for a minute or two to clean it. After you pour out the water, carefully wipe the hot skillet with a paper towel, then pour a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Rub it around with another paper towel so it’s ready for the next time you need it. Water, Salt and Olive Oil First, rinse your pan with warm water and sprinkle a few shakes of table salt onto the surface. Then, add a couple spoonfuls of olive oil and rub the pan with a clean paper towel. Rinse out the salt and wipe dry. If your oven is still warm, place your cast iron inside to keep it seasoned properly. Bring Oil to its Smoke Point To get the most out of your oil, spread it on your pan after you clean it and heat the skillet until it smokes. Once the oil reaches its smoke point, it will begin making long-chain molecules to leave you with a well-seasoned pan. Source: The Kitchn

If you find yourself replacing your kitchen cabinets any time soon, consider good storage that goes beyond volume. Not all cabinets are providing the intelligent, strategic storage that makes a kitchen work at maximum effectiveness. Here are some of the essentials to bring out your kitchen’s potential. Drawers and Sliding Shelves These drawers are the ultimate storage space for a kitchen for several reasons. They offer an ergonomic design since they pull out towards you, removing the need to squat or reach up high. Anything can be stored in these cabinets and they can be stacked one on top of the other. A drawer will always bring clean lines which fits any kitchen design such as traditional, farmhouse or contemporary. Trash Pull-Out Remove the trash bin from the side of the island and hide it behind a door in your cabinetry. Ideally you should have two bins–one for trash and another for recycling. A double trash unit only takes up 18 inches of space and is available with soft-close mechanisms. Many trash units are short enough to fit into a base cabinet with a top drawer. Vertical Dividers These dividers are great for storing many large, flat objects like cutting boards, cookie sheets or baking pans. They are often placed in the upper portion of tall cabinetry or can fit in narrow base cabinets, 9 to 12 inches wide. Use these dividers to compensate where a drawer stack isn’t practical. Spice Pull-Out Spices will accumulate in your kitchen over time. When spices are stacked behind each other, it can be difficult to organize and find what you need. A great solution is a 12-inch-wide pull out cabinet fitted adjacent to your cooking surface. Tiered shelves are the best to store larger jars where you can view everything at once. Source: The Spruce

A kitchen doesn’t always come as we’d like it to. Remodeling a kitchen can solve many problems with functionality or design. When planning a kitchen remodel, here are some of the potential issues you should consider. Functionality and Service Zones The kitchen could be considered one of the most functional spaces of a home. Focus on the functional areas such as prep areas, cooking, refrigeration and dishwashing. While aesthetics are important, the functionality should always come first. An ideal kitchen remodel is one where major features aren’t moved. You can save yourself a good deal of money and headache if you leave major appliances where they are such as vented range hoods, the sink or dishwasher. Moving these appliances brings on new technical issues with electrical outlets, wiring or plumbing. Instead, move features that are more simple such as a refrigerator or cabinetry. Skip the Island Kitchen islands are on trend, but it actually isn’t as valuable as you may think. Before opt-ing for an island, ask yourself if your kitchen has the space needed. It takes a rather large kitchen for an island to work as intended. Trying to force it in could leave the rest of your areas cramped and harder to navigate. Invest in Quality Countertops Your kitchen counters are an essential part you will be using day in and day out. It’s worth the extra cost to invest in materials like granite, quartz, laminate or solid-surface. A countertop is one of the largest visual elements in a kitchen, it’s best to get this part right. It’ll also play a valuable role if you ever need to sell your home. Looking for more from Cosmo? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Source: The Spruce

Garbage disposals are essential to any kitchen to quickly grind down solid food waste. When you turn on the disposal a spinning disc turns rapidly, forcing waste against the outer wall of the grinding chamber. This turns food into tiny bits which can then be washed down. A common misconception is that disposals have sharp blades. Avoid Putting This in a Garbage Disposal Not everything’s meant to go into a garbage disposal. Putting tough or fibrous food scraps, potato peels, grease or oil can cause clogs and jams. Hard objects should be tossed in a garbage can instead. Garbage Disposal Troubleshooting Most of the time, a garbage disposal malfunctions when it’s jammed. This doesn’t require an entirely new unit, but ignoring it could cause the unit’s motor to burn out. A clog can occur when the wrong kinds of food go down the garbage disposal. Clogs can be in the disposal itself but usually they appear in the drainpipe downstream of the disposal. There are plenty of garbage disposals on the market that can be as simple or as detailed as you’d like. Models can include stainless steel grinding chambers or extra insulation for sound reduction. Decide on what kind of garbage disposal fits your kitchen best. When it’s time to install, be sure you understand the basics of plumbing and electrical wiring. Most homeowners can have a disposal installed within a few hours. Source: The Spruce

Everyone knows olive oil is great for flavor and health benefits when cooking. But did you know that olive oil can be used in many other ways around your home? Here’s a pro tip, keep some oil in a spray bottle. In the Kitchen Protect Wood. After washing your wood cutting boards, salad bowls and utensils, apply a light coating of olive oil. This will nourish the wood and prevent any cracking or discoloration. Let the oil sit on the wood for about five minutes and then buff with a soft cloth. Stops Sticking. If a recipe calls for measuring cups or spoons, place a bit of olive oil on beforehand to easily release sticky foods like honey, peanut butter and mustard. No more hassle or messy clean-ups. Shine Stainless Steel. Your appliances can easily be brought back to life with a dab of olive oil on a soft cloth. Rub it into the appliance to prevent streaks, water spots, tarnish and corrosion. Make sure to buff with a soft cloth afterwards. Around the House Squeaky Doors. A few drops of olive oil will silence a squeaky hinge. Try a few spritz on doors, cabinets, appliances or car doors. Water Rings. If wood in your home has small scratches or water rings, apply oil on a soft cloth and then buff with a dry cloth. Make a furniture polish with one-fourth cup olive oil, four tablespoons of distilled white vinegar and two teaspoons lemon juice. You can store this in a refrigerator to use weekly, just give it a good shake before applying. Revitalize Plants. Help the ferns and palms at your home stay lush year-round with olive oil. Add two tablespoons to the base of the plant about once a month. Source: The Spruce