The kitchen is usually a wonderful place, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it's easy to make mistakes that could turn it into a hazardous environment. There are hot surfaces to burn you, sharp objects that can cut you, and if you don’t pay attention, your food will burn to a crisp, and may even start a fire. This is why I’ve gathered together this advice from expert chefs and home cooks, who learned from their mistakes and hope you won’t repeat them. |
|
1. Never try to catch a falling knife. Instead, take a step back to make sure it doesn’t fall on your foot. 2. Never add flour or starch to hot liquids. It’ll end up forming clumps that are very difficult to clean. Instead, mix them in with cold or lukewarm liquids before adding them to heat. 3. Never use wet oven mitts. Wet fabric conducts heat much better than dry fabric. The same goes for towels. 4. Never put a hot glass dish or container on a wet surface. Doing this can cause the glass to shatter due to the temperature difference. 5. Never use a knife to scrape food off a cutting board. It’ll dull the knife’s edge and ruin it. |
|
6. Baking powder and baking soda are not interchangeable. They’re not the same thing, so trying to substitute one for the other can ruin a whole dish. 7. Wash your hands after preparing hot peppers. Your eyes will thank you for doing so. 8. Don’t try beating egg whites when there’s yolk. This simply doesn’t work, so save yourself the frustration. 9. Never stir rice while making it, unless you’re making risotto. Good rice needs to remain unstirred. 10. Never put good, sharp knives in the dishwasher. The high temperatures damage the metal and blunt the edge. A good knife should be hand washed only. |
11. Never cut into a steak straight after you have cooked it. Give it some time to cool down and seal in the fluids. 12. Never use the same knife to cut vegetables and meat, unless you’re going to wash it in between. Uncooked meat contains a lot of bacteria, and you don’t want it on your vegetables. The same thing goes for the cutting board. 13. Never dip your finger in food to taste it or check if it’s hot. Our fingers are swarming with bacteria and microbes you don’t want in your food. Use a metallic spoon instead. 14. Never ever allow your children to cut hard things with a dull knife. You may think it’s safer for them to use a dull knife, but it’s actually more likely to lead to injury. 15. Never use metallic utensils on a non-stick surface. Metallic cutlery scratches and ruins the coating. |
|
16. Never chop food in up/down motions. Only use a sliding motion to prevent damage to the blade and yourself. 17. Never open the oven door if you see fire inside. Fire needs oxygen, and opening the door gives it a fresh supply. Instead, let the fire die down on its own. If the fire doesn’t die down, call the firefighters. Got your own tips? Share them with us in the comments below. |
The Science Behind the Good Taste of Leftovers
Do you feel leftover food tastes different? it's not just in your head. Here's the science behind it, and which foods make the best leftovers.
6 Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Barbecue
A few common mistakes to avoid if you want to get that perfect flavorful home barbecue.
6 Cuts of Meat to Stay Away From
While this often comes down to personal taste, there are a few cuts that are generally worth skipping - find out which ones and why.
Chef Reveals Her Great-Grandma’s Cooking Tips
Pastry chef Ann Reardon reveals some of the hacks used by her great-grandmother almost 100 years ago. Some of them are quite surprising...
Why Contact-Lenses and Water Should NEVER Mix
Eye-health experts stress that showering with your contact lenses still on could lead to irreversible damage!
12 Tried and True Cooking Tips
Even if you are an experienced cook, learning a new hack could prove super useful and time saving. Here are 12 such golden tips.
10 Tips to Make the iPhone User-Friendly for Seniors
Use these tips to make the iPhone easier for the seniors in your life.
11 Reasons Why Garlic Is a Gardener's Best Friend
Not only is garlic extremely tasty, but it is also very effective in the garden. Check out its uses here.
These Useful Vintage Tips from the 1900s Still Work Today!
Not everything changes over time, which is why these vintage solutions to everyday problems are still as useful today as they were in the 1900s!
Bring Stale Bread Back to Life with This Genius Trick
If you ever have a crusty loaf that has gone stale, follow these tips and it will be as good as new in next to no time.
WARNING: These 6 Habits Are Damaging Your Teeth!
When brushing our teeth and going about our daily lives, we make mistakes that can damage them. Here are 6 of such mistakes.
Bacteria Time Bomb! 10 Household Items That Need Changing
You wouldn't believe the amount of harmful bacteria these common household items store, and what what a short lifespan they actually have!
Click to See Unbelievable Uses for These Household Items
Click to learn more! We've collected Ba-bamail's best list of tips and alternative uses for things you've got lying around the house.
Imitation Foods Aren’t All Bad – Here Are 6 Safe Options
Imitation foods aren’t always bad. Some of them are actually good, while some are avoidable.
Book Recommendations: 10 of the Best Reads for Dog Lovers
If your best friend is a dog, then you’ll this list of the best book about dogs.
A Clever Trick For Keeping Your Favorite Snacks Fresh
This video will show you a simple trick that will keep your very perishable snacks fresh.
10 Poisonous Flowers Every Gardener Should Know About
Flowers add an array of color to your garden, but some of these are actually quite toxic. Here are 10 of that you should be aware of.
This is How You Should Be Storing Your Groceries!
This fantastic guide will help you store all your groceries in the smartest way possible.
32 Tips and Tricks for Beginners to Sewing
In the following video, we've carefully curated 32 essential tips and tricks to ease your entry into the world of sewing.
What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?
These graphology tips will help you figure out what your handwriting says about you.
These Winter Skincare Solutions Are Utterly Genius
The winter can take its toll on your skin, but that doesn't mean that you can't rectify problems quickly and easily. Find out about these 10 genius solutions.
Safe & Natural Recipes to Add Scent to Your Home
Forget those fake, unhealthy air fresheners and chemical-packed scented candles. Make your own natural scents and keep your home fresh.
Life Tips: How to Take Back Control from Unbearable People
Are selfish people driving you up the wall? This handy guide will help you to identify a selfish person, and show you how to effectively deal with them.
These Sleep Secrets Are Only Known to a Few...
What are the things that will help make your sleep better?
Can One Determine Personality Traits Off Fingerprint Types?
Dermatoglyphics, the study of fingerprints, is so precise that someone's personality type can be determined simply by looking at their fingerprint patterns!
Use This Tip to Slice Onions Safely, Easily & Beautifully
Slicing onions using only a knife is very difficult - and quite dangerous too. But with this amazing tip you'll keep your fingers safe and the slices perfect!
We All Have Aspirin - And Here Are 9 Things to Use It For
Aspirin is about as pedestrian a pill as you can think of - or so you might think! In reality it has loads of surprising uses. Here are 9 of the best.
If You’re Taking Apple Cider Vinegar, You Must Know This
There is a right and wrong way to take apple cider vinegar, and doing so incorrectly may not just be ineffective, it could be harmful to your health.
11 Things You Should NEVER Dump Into the Kitchen Sink
Even a garbage disposal won’t be able to handle these 11 things, so make sure to toss them directly into the trash instead of the kitchen sink
These 10 Fantastic Life Hacks Will Make Your Life Easier
These life hacks will allow you to get things done quicker and generally make your life easier. Watch this informative video now.
Scent Your Home with this Simple 3-Ingredient DIY Diffuser!
I never knew making your own home diffuser can be this easy!
You Won't Be Old AND Vulnerable After Reading This
Just because you're elderly, it doesn't mean that you're incapable of defending yourself. Read this complete guide to find out exactly what you should do.
Relieve Itching With These 7 Useful Natural Tips
Here's a look at a few great home remedies that can work wonders to calm itchy skin.
14 Little Known Ways to Save on Gas While Driving!
If you take heed of these 14 easy pieces of advice, you will end up saving hundreds of dollars each year on gas.
Thriving After 50: A Guide to Making Friends in Later Life
Making friends in your 50s can be an uphill task for many. These simple tips will make it easy.
Cola Has Many Surprising Uses Other Than Drinking It
Cola may be a popular drink, but here are 19 other ways you can use it.
The Best Plant Milks For Every Task
Different plant milks work best for various tasks, which can be tricky. This culinary guide will help you choose the best ones for you
10 Nifty Uses for Cooking Spray You Never Thought Of
I bet you never thought of using cooking spray in these alternative ways...
Is Your Dryer Getting Slow? These Tips May Help!
There are a number of common reasons why a dryer might stop working efficiently. Here are 5 of them!
DIY: 6 Methods for Removing Scratches from Eyeglasses
If you wear glasses or know someone who does, you've probably heard them complain about scratches. Now you can fix these scratches with the following 6 tips!
How to Choose, Cook and Prepare a Perfect Steak!
Most of us want to know how to cook the perfect steak, and now, thanks to these fantastic guides, we can!
7 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Maintaining Your Car
Seven mistakes we make with the car that cost us money.
Cleaning With Baking Soda Can Really Damage These Surfaces
Even baking soda isn’t universal, and using it to clean certain surfaces, like wood, marble, and glass, can damage them...
6 Handy Ways to Open a Bottle WITHOUT a Bottle Opener
Want to enjoy your bottle of beer but can't find the bottle opener? Don't worry. Try these clever hacks.
A Better Kitchen: 20 Tips You Can't Afford to Miss
How to make your kitchen one of the EASIER rooms in the house? Just check out these 20 tips that'll make your kitchen a much nicer place
These Are The Financial Secrets of This Billionaire
When it comes to making money, you have to listen to men like Warren Buffet - they really know what they are talking about.
Here's How You Should be Washing Your Dark Clothes
When it comes to washing dark clothes, you've got to be careful. Here's how to wash your dark clothes without ruining them!