Ten surefire kitchen tips
07-05-07 Tore & Luke's, 2083 Rand Rd., Palatine - Slice of Calabrese-style sausage pizza at Tore & Luke's in Palatine - - JOHN J. KIM ~ SUN-TIMES
Article Extras
Tips that will serve you well in the kitchen:
† Reheat leftover pizza on a preheated baking sheet at 450 degrees until the cheese melts. The high heat is the secret to making the crust crisp again. Whatever you do, skip the microwave, which makes crust tough and chewy.
† Revive a day-old loaf of bread by spraying it lightly with water, wrapping in foil and placing it in an oven at 350 degrees until it’s heated through.
† For even results, slice decorative goat-cheese rounds from a log by using a piece of dental floss pulled taut between your hands.
† Use a wooden skewer to clean out the nooks and crannies of kitchen appliances like a stand mixer or food processor. Wrap a damp cloth around the tip to tackle sticky corners.
† After working with fresh chiles like jalapenos or serranos, press your fingertips into the cut end of a halved lime to tame the oils that can lead to a burning sensation.
† When a recipe calls for a buttered baking dish, use a pastry brush for less mess and to distribute the butter evenly.
† Prepare soups and stews the day before you plan on eating them or make enough for leftovers. The extra day gives ingredients time to come together for flavors to develop and intensify.
† Melt crystallized honey by submerging the container in a pot of hot water removed from the heat.
† Need an extra trivet? Use disposable wooden chopsticks lined up in neat rows to protect any surface.
† If you don’t have a sifter, use a food processor or blender to sift flour when called for in baking recipes.
Scripps Howard News Service