Avoid costly habits in the kitchen
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Bad habits in the kitchen can cost you money.
Consumer Reports Shop Smart Magazine put together a list of some money-savings do's and don'ts.
Let's start with the dishwasher.
You put so many things in the dishwasher that you might be tempted to clean your kitchen cutting knives that way. Jody Rohlena with Shop Smart says that's not a good idea because the high heat of a dishwasher can damage them.
"The high heat can make the metal and the plastic come apart. So you really want to take the time to wash them in some soapy water and dry them carefully afterward," she said.
Non-stick pots and pans are really convenient and they can help use reduce the fat in your diet. But remember, they're different from regular pots and pans. If you aren't careful, you could ruin that non-stick finish.
"Do not use those pre-packaged coating sprays. Those are not really good to use," said Rohlena.
Instead, she says, use some butter or olive oil. Or put some olive oil in a mister bottle and spray it on that way.
"It's much safer, much better for the coating and that pan, so it will last a long longer," Rohlena said.
You also need to keep an eye on the heat when you use non-stick pots and pans.
"It's really better not to make those non-sick pans get too hot because again that can be damaging to the surface and can potentially release some toxic fumes. So you definitely don't want to do that. Use more of a medium to low heat or even medium to high, but not a super-high head with a non-stick pan," said Rohlena.
When you're done cooking, don't put hot pots, pans and baking sheets under cold water in an attempt to cool them down quickly.
"And that's not good either, because if there's a coating on top of that pan, the cold water really is jarring to it over time," Rohlena said. "It can cause the pans to warp and crack. So all of these tips are designed to help you keep your things in good condition longer, so you don't have to go out and replace them."
Shop Smart has this advice: let the pan cool before removing stuck-on stuff from the bottom. For stubborn food, add a little water to the pan and warm over low heat, carefully scraping up any browned bits.
You can find more kitchen tips in the June issue of Shop Smart.
Consumer Reports Shop Smart Magazine put together a list of some money-savings do's and don'ts.
Let's start with the dishwasher.
You put so many things in the dishwasher that you might be tempted to clean your kitchen cutting knives that way. Jody Rohlena with Shop Smart says that's not a good idea because the high heat of a dishwasher can damage them.
"The high heat can make the metal and the plastic come apart. So you really want to take the time to wash them in some soapy water and dry them carefully afterward," she said.
Non-stick pots and pans are really convenient and they can help use reduce the fat in your diet. But remember, they're different from regular pots and pans. If you aren't careful, you could ruin that non-stick finish.
"Do not use those pre-packaged coating sprays. Those are not really good to use," said Rohlena.
Instead, she says, use some butter or olive oil. Or put some olive oil in a mister bottle and spray it on that way.
"It's much safer, much better for the coating and that pan, so it will last a long longer," Rohlena said.
You also need to keep an eye on the heat when you use non-stick pots and pans.
"It's really better not to make those non-sick pans get too hot because again that can be damaging to the surface and can potentially release some toxic fumes. So you definitely don't want to do that. Use more of a medium to low heat or even medium to high, but not a super-high head with a non-stick pan," said Rohlena.
When you're done cooking, don't put hot pots, pans and baking sheets under cold water in an attempt to cool them down quickly.
"And that's not good either, because if there's a coating on top of that pan, the cold water really is jarring to it over time," Rohlena said. "It can cause the pans to warp and crack. So all of these tips are designed to help you keep your things in good condition longer, so you don't have to go out and replace them."
Shop Smart has this advice: let the pan cool before removing stuck-on stuff from the bottom. For stubborn food, add a little water to the pan and warm over low heat, carefully scraping up any browned bits.
You can find more kitchen tips in the June issue of Shop Smart.
