Tips for the Home and Kitchen...

[kadesma]

Originally Posted by Andy M.

Cover the burned on food in the pot with ammonia. Cover it and leave it outdoors overnight. (the smell of the ammonia will be very strong indoors) Next morning, it should clean up pretty easily.

You can also pour white or any vinegar in a burnt pan with stuck on residue add some water, and bring to a boil, let it go checking every few minutes to see what has loosened up...
after about 15 min, everything usually comes off with a scouring pad and just a little elbow grease.
kadesma

[kadesma]

Pet hair on sofa, chairs, on you???? Put on one of those rubber gloves you use to wash dishes and that protects your hands, lightly moisten it and run it over the chair or sofa,,PET HAIR on glove Same thing with your cloths!
kadesma

[Haggis]

Con your girlfriend (or significant other) who loathes cooking to do the washing up if you cook.

Works for me :).

[Dove]

DAIRY SELL-BY DATES ARE FLEXIBLE


According to Sharon Maasdam a home economist for The Oregonian in
Portland. if the sell-by date on your milk jug is today's date and
there's still half
a gallon left, you don't need to throw it away. Milk should keep about a
week after the date on the container. Dairy products in general often
keep
beyond their sell-by dates, but only if the products are properly stored.

If your dairy products are spoiling before the date on the containers,
your
refrigerator may be too warm. The ideal refrigerator temperature is 40
degrees or lower. You can test it by placing an appliance or refrigerator
thermometer in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes or so, then
adjusting
the refrigerator setting.

When a dairy product develops an off-flavor, throw it out. Do not use
it in
baked products and other recipes, because you'll be able to taste the
spoiled flavor.

To ensure the longest shelf life of your dairy products, follow these
tips:

Dairy products should be among the last items you add to your cart at the
grocery store.

Milk's shelf life will be shortened by a long ride home in a hot car.
Milk
will also lose freshness if it sits on the dinner table for an hour or so.

Some refrigerators have handy in-the-door storage shelves for gallon
jugs,
but milk doesn't stay cold enough there. Instead, keep it on an interior
shelf.

Buttermilk tastes best if used by the sell-by date on the carton,
although
it usually keeps two weeks past that if refrigerated properly.

Beyond that, it can become too bitter to drink. Actual spoilage can
appear
as off-odors or as a grayish liquid on top. It can be frozen; use
within a
month or two for best quality.

Sour cream maintains good eating quality for two to three weeks after the
sell-by date. As long as it looks and tastes all right, it's safe to eat.
Sour cream should be discarded if you see mold spots, pink or green
scum, or cloudy liquid on top. Freezing is not recommended because it
causes
separation.

Cream stays fresh for about one week after the sell-by date. Whipped
cream
can be frozen in dollops on wax paper and then packed in a container.
Unwhipped cream also can be frozen, but the volume will be less when
whipped.

Cottage cheese keeps about five days after the sell-by date. Taste is an
indicator of freshness. Do not use if mold appears. Cottage cheese
becomes
grainy if frozen, but it's not noticeable if mixed in a dish such as
lasagna.

Butter that has been opened will have the best flavor if it's stored in a
covered dish and refrigerated in the butter compartment. Both opened and
unopened butter may be kept on the refrigerator shelf for a month
after the
sell-by date. Flavor is an indication when it no longer is usable: It
will
develop a strong, rancid taste. To freeze, wrap in foil or place in
freezer
bags. Butter keeps well four to six months at 0 degrees or lower.

Brick cream cheese should be eaten by the "best when used by" date on
the package for best flavor. Once opened, don't use it if mold appears
or it has
a sour flavor. It can be frozen up to two months, but plan to use it for
cooking, instead of as a spread, because the texture becomes crumbly.

Whipped cream cheese can be frozen up to six months. Soft cream cheese
does not freeze well.

Although packages still say "once opened use within seven days," research
has found the flavor is still good up to 15 days. That change soon
will be
stated on cartons.

[callie]

Thank you, Dove, for this helpful information! Especially about which products can be frozen and which can't.

[jpmcgrew]

A burnt pan boil a little water and add baking soda boil about 20 minutes and it will lift the burnt stuff.

Also I would like to fine alternate uses for kitchen gadgets and appliances such as a waffle maker to make grilled cheese or panini sandwich and so on.

[kitchenelf]

Also, when things are burned onto a pan I will, while it's still hot, deglaze the pan with water - it works like a charm!!!! Even my stovetop grill pans.

[Haggis]

Similar to my tip I always have a kettle of boiling water ready when I make a caramel. Soon as the caramel is out of the pan I pour the water in to keep the residue liquid, otherwise its a pain in the behind to get it off.

Same for flans and creme caramels after you unmould them.

[jpmcgrew]

Hi,Dove

Heres my 2 cents on dairy keep milk on the bottom shelf its colder on the bottom as cold air sinks also if you buy ultra pasteurized it also lasts longer however it does not seem to last as long in really humid places.Lasts a long time where I live as we average about 20% humidity and I think organic ultra pasteurized milk lasts even longer.Its more expensive but if you dont use it much it saves money because it keeps so long.

[callie]

hubby drinks whole milk and i drink skim milk. my skim milk seems to keep lots longer.