kitchen appliances

Real Life Microwave Hacks

It’s not just for reheating leftover pizza- the microwave has some pretty nifty hacks that you can use to make your life easier. Here is a list of the best hacks we found.  Peeling Garlic Got Easier  Peeling garlic is daunting, however, you can put the garlic in the microwave and heat it up for 15 seconds. The heat will release the moisture from the garlic clove which gets trapped between the skins and loosens it. Once you take it out, the skin just slide off. Get More Juice from Your Citrus Fruits If you need help getting the most juice out of a lemon, lime or other citrus fruit throw it into the microwave for about 10-20 seconds so that the pulp inside becomes soft and you can juice it with ease. Tear-free Onion Chopping Save your eyes from the horrible stinging sensation you get when chopping onions. Ever wondered why that happens? Well, when an onion is cut with a knife, its cells release volatile sulfur compounds that cause tearing. The trick is to trim off the ends with a knife and heat the onion for about 30 seconds before chopping away. Bring Stale Bread Back to Life When your bread or bagels stale simply wrap in a moist paper towel (not soaking) and pop in the microwave for 20-second increments. The moisture from the towel will soak into the bread to make it taste fresh again. Preserve Fresh Herbs If you want to preserve herbs well, wrap them in a paper towel and heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds allowing them to dry out. This may make them last longer in the refrigerator. To completely dry the herbs continue to microwave in 15-30 second increments until the herbs. Soak Lentils or Beans Overnight All you need to do is place your uncooked beans or lentils in a bowl filled with water, add a pinch of baking soda and microwave them for about 10 minutes. Allow them to rest for 30-40 minutes, after which they are ready to be cooked. Make Frothy Milk for Your Coffee The next time you’re craving a fancy frothy café au lait just make it yourself. A microwave and a mason jar are all you need. Fill the mason jar with as much skim or 2% milk as you’d normally use in your coffee, cover and shake it vigorously to get the frothing process started, then pop it uncovered in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then voila! Silky, frothy warm milk. A DIY Heating Pad for those Cold Nights Make your heating pad at home in two minutes! Pour rice into a sock then tie a knot at the top of the sock. Put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Reheat as needed. Steam Clean the Microwave We’re sure with these hacks your microwave will be working overtime.  So while you’re at it, steam clean it with some lemon water. Place a bowl of water with freshly squeezed lemon juice into the microwave and set the timer for 5 minutes or until the water boils, let it sit in the microwave for 3 minutes so the steam can loosen any food stains. Remove the bowl then wipe your microwave clean.

Quick Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen Appliances

Clean your kitchen appliances faster with these quick cleaning tips for your kitchen appliances, show your appliances a little cleaning love, and they’ll look and work as good as new. Clean Your Refrigerator The space behind your refrigerator is notoriously filthy. Dirt, pet hair, and a host of other stuff can build up beneath and behind the refrigerator. This can block the appliance’s motor and coils and restrict airflow. To clean, pull out the refrigerator and mop up whatever you find. Part of my spring cleaning ritual. Is to vacuum the refrigerator coils behind the fridge, which will put less stress on the motor and prolong its life. Here’s how to clean the inside of a refrigerator the easy way. A little soapy water or an equal parts water and white vinegar solution will clean and shine the inside of your fridge. Wipe down shelves and crispers weekly, or whenever you spot a spill. Remove fingerprints on stainless steel exteriors with a damp cloth.  Clean Your Dishwasher  You wouldn’t think of cleaning a dishwasher since its job is to clean but it also needs a good cleaning; In fact, as often as your shower or sink. Sanitizing the dishwasher can be done quickly. To eliminate mold and bacteria run the dishwasher on the hottest, and longest cycle with white vinegar. This will sanitize and loosen food and soap scum. You should wipe around the edges of the door, around the gasket and check the drainage area as well.  Clean Your Microwave Sauce and food splatter inside the microwave constantly and all that buildup is unsightly and gross to cook with. Fortunately, there is a simple solution, the best way to clean microwave messes is to fill a microwave-safe container with water, microwave it until the water boils, and let it sit for a few minutes while steam loosens any caked-on food. Then simply wipe it clean.  Clean Your Kitchen Stove and Oven   Stove-tops are hot spots for oil splatters and food spills, so it’s best to clean it often. The key to cleaning your stove-top is to be quick. Before the bits of food cook onto the surface wipe them away immediately, careful not to burn yourself. If splatters sit for a few days soak with an equal parts mix of vinegar and water or use dish soap and water for built-up grease. Now that the stove-top is clean, you can take care of your oven and it’s quite simple nowadays because most ovens have self-cleaning options. While this feature does a good job of by itself there are a few spots it doesn’t reach. You can wipe them up built-up grime with vinegar or soapy water around door hinges and frames and the space between double ovens.

Father’s Day Gifts for the Man Who Loves to Cook

Hey Family, Father’s Day is coming up. Yey! Sure, typical Father’s Day gifts generally get the job done – think golf clubs, tool set and even a stylish tie – but what about the dad who enjoys spending time making magic in the kitchen. Don’t forget him. Give him the tools he needs to succeed, whether he’s baking for the big game, preparing a meal for the family, trying out a new recipe or seeking to master the perfect steak. Reaching one’s fullest potential in the kitchen requires the right equipment, so put the best gear in his hands (or on his counter) and up his culinary experience with these ideas from Cosmo Appliances. From a Portable Induction Cooktop Burner to a Sous Vide Cooker turn his Kitchen countertop into a versatile powerhouse, give your food-savvy dad what he needs to up his culinary game. For more Father’s Day gift inspiration, visit cosmoappliances.com. A Super Range for a Super Dad Dad deserves tools as bold and innovative as his culinary creations. Featuring Gas or Dual Fuel Ranges that combine modern styling with high-performance cooking technology. Dad will appreciate the authentic professional appearance with a robust profile. With high performance sealed burners that deliver exhilarating precision while the convection oven provides consistent heat for perfect roasting, baking, and broiling. These one-of-a-kind Ranges are sure to take his culinary prowess to a whole new level. Chef on the Go For those warm summer weekends, camping is a fantastic activity that provides hours of enjoyment and a welcome opportunity to connect with loved ones and nature. After a day full of outdoor activities, Dad will want to prepare something easy, simple and very fast. Upgrade your camping cuisine with a portable Induction cooktop. Thanks to induction technology, electromagnetic currents generate heat from within the metal in the cookware for extremely fast and even heating. Boasting impressive safety features unlike burners with flammable and combustible vapors, our system remains cool to touch until cookware is placed on it. It’s sleek, compact design allows him to enjoy cooking anywhere he goes. Personal Pasta When its your dads turn to cook he’ll be looking to put his personal touch on dinner, so give him the ability to make his perfect meal with a Cosmo’s Sous Vide Cooker. Gadget savvy dads and foodie dads alike love sous vide cooking because its science meets cooking, making it super cool. Dad can cook a variety of foods sous vide, including seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables, desserts, and even infused alcohols and kinds of vinegar. Sous Vide Cooking with Cosmo achieves fail-proof results, with steak cooked medium-rare from edge to edge, tender, juicy chicken breasts, and ribs with meat falling off the bone. It’s just what a Dad needs to bring something fresh and new to the table. Gifts under $20 for Dad Cookie Master Does dad love to bake? then we can bet you he hates the post bake clean-up. Let’s talk cookies stuck to the pan or new pans that already have rust on them…eww! Dad will love our baking mat and pan and the fact that it is commercial grade, durable and easy to clean! The mat is BPA free and made of food grade silicone. Cosmo’s nonstick baking mat will turn any surface into a non-stick healthy baking alternative; with even heat distribution he’ll bake like a pro without the need for butter, grease, or cooking sprays. Shop here King of the Grill For many dads, summer is synonymous with outdoor grilling and barbecues. Get dad a pair of Cosmo Silicone Kitchen Gloves perfect for Barbecue grilling and much more. Not all gloves are created equal. When handling hot food, rearranging coals and grill plates he needs a heavy duty pair of insulated BBQ gloves. Our exceptional pair of silicone gloves is designed for cooking lovers with protection and comfort in mind. They’re the most versatile kitchen tool for baking, cooking, and grilling, and can be used inside the kitchen for baked goods, by the grill for barbecuing chicken, frying a turkey, or even the fireplace! Dad will enjoy maximum protection while wearing these heat and cold resistant gloves. Shop here