For questions about preparing food for cooking or about removing the results of cooking that food.
36
votes
6answers
4k views
How do you clean a cast iron skillet?
I have a seasoned cast iron skillet, and I don't want to mess up the seasoning when I'm cleaning it. What do I use and what don't I use to get it back to clean?
I've heard not to use soap and to ...
19
votes
5answers
5k views
Cure for burns from hot peppers / capsicum oil?
So, I foolishly ignored advice about wearing gloves while handling hot peppers. I thought since they were "just" anaheim peppers I'd be fine... I was wrong, and I repent.
Does anyone know of a way ...
22
votes
5answers
10k views
How can brown stains be removed from pots and pans?
I haven't been cooking for long — recent college grad — so I'm doing a lot of experimentation and making a lot of rookie mistakes. One of them is shown here for your viewing pleasure:
...
6
votes
6answers
9k views
How to clean a clogged Misto oil sprayer/spritzer?
I use a Misto oil spritzer. You fill it up with oil and pump it up and spray a pan with it.
It's gotten clogged up so that it just squirts a steady stream of oil (not a spray).
Any ideas how to ...
17
votes
4answers
2k views
How do you properly clean a cutting board and knife to prevent cross contamination?
I have one very nice cutting board that I like to use with my chef's knife. Because I only use this single cutting board and chef's knife, if I have a recipe that calls for cutting raw meat as well ...
16
votes
4answers
464 views
Is there any way to remove stains (e.g. from curries and pasta sauces) from plastic containers?
I like using microwaveable plastic containers to bring my lunch in as they are my lighter than the Pyrex/glass versions. However, reheating my food up creates unsightly stains.
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Gummy residue from baking spray/oil
I'm sure everyone's seen this - that brownish stuff left behind when you grease an area of a baking dish that gets left exposed to the heat. Soap doesn't bother it too much, and it likes to gum up my ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How to look after non-stick cookware so it lasts?
Over the course of the last 4 years I think I seem to have been working my way through non-stick pans at a ridiculous rate, I think I'm on my 3rd frying pan and 4th wok - or something of that nature.
...
5
votes
1answer
971 views
How to remove smell from plastic lid?
A set of Ikea glass jars are used for home counter top food storage. One of them was temporarily used to store bars of soap. Now it is wanted back in the kitchen. The plastic in the lid is retaining ...
12
votes
6answers
9k views
How do I remove turmeric stains from metal/plastic cookware?
As much as I value tumeric for its rumoured cancer-battling qualities, I find its tendency to stain anything it comes into contact with (including 'stainless' steel) discouraging to the point that I ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
How to keep my stainless steel skillet clean
I have a KitchenAid skillet that I love. But I can't seem to get it cleaned easily.
It looks much like this one, but with a brushed exterior and the bottom of the interior is grooved or ribbed.
For ...
16
votes
3answers
19k views
Is it normal to see flames inside my self-cleaning oven?
I spilled some sauce, cheese, and pepperoni in the oven last night while trying to transfer some homemade pizza from the pizza peel onto the pizza stone, so I decided to clean it today.
I wiped the ...
17
votes
4answers
832 views
How to wash vegetables without running water?
I live in a subtropical climate where most people cook vegetables, rather than eat them raw, so when making green salads, I must be careful to ensure that everything is clean. I have seen ...
5
votes
7answers
3k views
What is the proper way to maintain a can opener?
I bought a hand crank can opener (Oxo) because of the good online feedback and only use the "shake" dry approach. It quickly developed rust in between the metal. If I invest the time and scrub, I can ...
5
votes
6answers
1k views
How should I clean anodized cookware?
I'd been bought an anodised wok as a birthday present a couple of years back, but recently, when using a honey/mustard marinade, I managed to burn some of the excess marinade, and now can't seem to ...
0
votes
2answers
4k views
How can I clean dark non-stick pots (e.g. Calphalon)?
We have Calphalon non-stick cookware and it seems, after 5 years, not to want to get clean. Even the best scrubbing leaves kind of a hazy look on them. Additionally, the exterior of our most used ...
16
votes
1answer
800 views
Why clean a pot (used to cook rice) with cold water?
Some people have told me that it's better to clean a dirty pot (used to cook rice) with cold water, rather than the hot water I use for all the other dishes. What would be the purpose of this?
16
votes
4answers
2k views
Why is the dishwasher not recommended for my All-Clad MC2 line of pot and pans?
I just looked on the All-Clad website (faq 7 and faq 13). It says that because the MC2 has a brushed aluminum alloy exterior, it mush be hand washed. Why is the dishwasher bad for it?
It's just soap ...
11
votes
4answers
289 views
How do you efficiently clean a leek?
I've often found dirt deep within a leek, under several layers. Going through it all can be a very tiresome process. Is there any trick you can use to clean a leek, without cutting it up and ruining ...
7
votes
3answers
371 views
How to wash pesticides from fruit skins?
We eat many fruits and veggies at home and I am concerned about the amount pesticides on fruits like strawberries. Is washing the fruit effective enough? Does a thorough wash vs. a quick rinse make ...
7
votes
2answers
417 views
Do chillis impregnate a wooden chopping board?
After chopping away at a chilli earlier today (well, 10 minutes ago) I then went through my normal ritual of scrubbing my hands to remove what traces the chiles leave on my fingers.
And it made me ...
6
votes
1answer
245 views
Does soap kill germs?
This accepted answer about knife cleaning seems to presume that soap sanitizes:
...in household use soap is required to sanitize your knife blade.
However, a cursory search seems to undermine ...
6
votes
3answers
591 views
Why are stone ware and dutch oven items exempt from bacteria?
As I am doing the dishes, I come upon my wife's stoneware "pans". These pans, I am told, do not need soap. "Just like a dutch oven". In fact, soap will ruin them.
Now I did this with dutch ovens ...
6
votes
6answers
3k views
How to clean an electric kettle?
I have an electric kettle that I clean by scrubbing the insides with plain water. I was wondering if there was a better way to clean it. I remember hearing somewhere that you can clean a coffemaker by ...
5
votes
1answer
324 views
Knife cleaning: safe to do without soap?
Knife Skills Illustrated: A User's Manual suggests that knives can be cleaned with hot running water alone. "With sufficiently hot water, soap should not be necessary." Is this safe? What if I am only ...
5
votes
3answers
493 views
How to wash lettuce
What's the best way to wash lettuce while keeping it crisp? I've been soaking the lettuce head in water and then trying to shake the water off the leaves afterwards, but it doesn't work very well.
4
votes
2answers
525 views
How do I clean this silicone tray?
I use this silicone muffin pan to cook things in the oven. It's supposed to be non-stick, but actually food sticks to it quite a lot.
Often I can just scrape dried food off with my fingers, but it's ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is a thorough way to clean my dish rack?
I have a Simple Human Dishrack. It was kind of a splurge when I bought it. We were swayed by the good reviews. The rack does not have the typical open wire design, as you can see in the link above. ...
3
votes
3answers
434 views
How to take care of glazed earthenware?
I got a traditional gyveche (гювече) as a gift, and since it would be hard to replace here, I intend to take good care of it.
For those who don't know it, a gyuveche is an earthenware pot intended ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Overheated stainless steel stock pot
So my roommate forgot about his boiling water and burned one of the pots pretty bad. The bottom is a dark brown/gray with colored spots underneath (electric range).
What are some household remedies ...
3
votes
2answers
452 views
What is the best way to clean an electric fryer?
I have a Rival RCF15 fryer. I lost the manual and can't find a copy online. It has a fixed metal reservoir for the oil. It has a removable basket. I remember the manual saying something about not ...
2
votes
5answers
189 views
Any cheap ways to clean restaurant stainless steel fridge?
so I know they have antibacterial solution to clean, but what can I say its expensive. Currently we use water+soap solution but its not working well. I am looking to clean the inside of ...
