All Questions
423 questions
65
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Why does plastic never dry properly in a dishwasher?
Whenever I get tasked with unloading the dishwasher, I'm always amazed at the amount of water that's still stuck (always in droplets) to our plastic kitchen utensils and storage containers.
We have ...
- 2,717
62
votes
15
answers
22k
views
Best way to remove fruit flies from your kitchen
I have a confession to make.
I was lazy, I didn't think it would cause any harm, but it did.
And now they are back. The fruit flies have taken over my kitchen, and I need help fighting them.
Story: ...
- 1,086
59
votes
9
answers
23k
views
How do I wash the "pokey" side of a box grater?
I have this box grater, and one of the sides is "non-directional" (not sure what this is called) -- that is, the pointy "blade" things are on every side of the holes:
Close-up:
The fibers you see ...
- 2,186
47
votes
7
answers
31k
views
How do you clean a seasoned 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 ...
- 962
39
votes
3
answers
84k
views
Dishwasher safety - "top shelf" vs. "bottom shelf"
The instruction manual for some of my kitchen equipment says "Dishwasher safe (top shelf)".
What difference is there between what an object on the top shelf of a dishwasher experiences, and what ...
- 3,606
37
votes
12
answers
162k
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:
My ...
- 1,065
35
votes
12
answers
9k
views
Is there any cleaning utensil that is comparable to fingernails?
As you know, sometimes the best scraping tool in the kitchen for cleaning up is your own fingernails.
The only thing I know of that compares in terms of effectiveness is metal, but you shouldn't use ...
- 621
35
votes
5
answers
43k
views
Can a pizza stone be fixed after soap has been used to clean it?
We bought a pizza stone from a thrift store (so at least it was cheap). Unfortunately we cleaned it with soap before reading up on how to clean them. I know, rookie mistake.
Is there any way to fix ...
- 603
34
votes
12
answers
19k
views
Why not put knives in the dishwasher?
What is it about the dishwasher that harms knives?
The only reasons I've found are:
You could get cut... I personally have a greater change of getting cut by trying to wash them by hand.
The blades ...
- 10.9k
32
votes
4
answers
242k
views
Is it normal to see flames inside my self-cleaning oven?
I spilled some sauce in the oven, so I decided to clean it today.
I wiped the bottom and glass door, but the rest of the stuff was crusty and stuck to the bottom of the oven. I started the cycle and ...
- 432
28
votes
11
answers
4k
views
What is the best way to clean a grater?
A grater is a very useful instrument in the kitchen and it's fun to use. You can use it for a lot of food: cheese, citrus fruit peel, nutmeg, all kinds of vegetables, etc.
But cleaning a grater is a ...
- 13.4k
27
votes
4
answers
16k
views
What are the benefits and drawbacks of washing dishes in hot water?
When hand-washing dishes, it seems commonplace to wash dishes in hot water.
This LifeHacker article about washing your hands in hot water versus cold water points out that:
It's certainly true ...
- 397
24
votes
10
answers
10k
views
Cleaning out coffee pots and thermoses
Is there a commonly available cleaning solution I can use for coffee pots and infuser thermoses for coffee and tea?
I have a number of these that are starting to show coffee stains and particle ...
- 551
24
votes
6
answers
18k
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 ...
- 1,530
23
votes
5
answers
9k
views
What exactly is this residue and how do I clean it off?
I have a grill pan with some cooking residue on it. I'm not exactly sure which food caused it (usually oven cook chips, pizza or grill sausages, burgers, sometimes mackerel) but something left this ...
- 333
23
votes
6
answers
24k
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 ...
- 10.9k
22
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What is the point of washing produce in cold water?
You can find tons of tips online saying you should always wash your produce. What is the point of it though? I mean with some hard produce, say carrots you can obviously give them a good scrub with a ...
- 323
22
votes
3
answers
65k
views
Pots and Pans in the dishwasher
Settle a longstanding feud in our household for me: is it safe to put pots and pans in the dishwasher?
Assume we have both stainless steel and various non-stick pans. Assume we have frypans, sauce-...
- 8,912
22
votes
1
answer
4k
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?
- 7,950
21
votes
13
answers
97k
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 ...
- 725
21
votes
6
answers
84k
views
Why can't this ice cream scoop go in the dishwasher?
I have an ice cream scoop that is labeled with something like:
Do not immerse in water hotter than 140 °F / 60 °C. Do not wash this item in the dishwasher.
What is the real reason for ...
- 321
20
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Bleach in cast iron pan, safety concerns?
Someone used a solution of bleach and water (probably 1/10 ratio) on my cast iron, they were letting it soak in this solution. When I noticed I immediately rinsed it off multiple times, scrubbed it (...
- 343
20
votes
4
answers
12k
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 ...
- 4,274
20
votes
15
answers
114k
views
The best way to clean a French Press coffee maker
I have been using a French Press coffee maker for quite some time now, and I have tried a few methods for removing the spent coffee grinds from the vessel. It is always a bit of a chore to this in an ...
- 301
19
votes
9
answers
178k
views
How do I get rid of bugs in rice?
Can you please suggest to me how to prevent rice from getting very small black coloured insects, they are really irritating us by spreading total house and bothering my little kid a lot. I am from ...
- 191
19
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Removing turmeric colour from mortar and pestle
We have a large granite (I think) mortar and pestle, and while keeping it clean generally doesn't seem too difficult, I have absolutely no idea how to avoid it staining when it's used with turmeric ...
- 365
19
votes
5
answers
10k
views
How to take care of Silicone cookware
I am starting to collect various piece of Silicone cookware. I would like to find out how others keep their silicone cookware clean or if they try.
I put my Silicone cupcake tray into the dishwasher ...
- 487
18
votes
14
answers
6k
views
How can I separate the lid from a can that has a pull-tab/ring without flinging food everywhere?
When I try to separate the lid from a can that has a pull-tab, the moment the lid separates from the can, the lid flings food everywhere. It's not always a lot, but it goes far because the lid has so ...
- 461
18
votes
5
answers
4k
views
How to clean up after kneading dough?
I've been making my first steps in baking recently. I usually knead the dough in the same large bowl I mix the dough in to minimize the mess but it's still a pain to wash the bowl and any sponge I use ...
- 344
18
votes
6
answers
83k
views
How do I fix improperly seasoned cast iron pans?
I'm quite new to cooking as a whole.
A few months back I bought a set of VonShef cast iron pans. When seasoning them, I unfortunately made two errors. First, in my naïveté, I used vegetable oil as ...
- 181
18
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Cleaning a Sieve
Is there a better way of cleaning a sieve, other than stabbing at it with a brush, in a manner such as this ?
I can't help but think there must be....
- 343
18
votes
4
answers
31k
views
Can I clean enameled cast iron with steel wool?
I've got a new enameled cast iron skillet that I've been cleaning with stainless steel wool along with a standard dish rag.
It occurs to me that scratches in the enamel might eventually cause ...
- 678
17
votes
8
answers
23k
views
How should I clean my propane grill?
My propane grill needs to be cleaned, how should I go about doing so?
- 2,638
17
votes
5
answers
5k
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.
- 629
16
votes
6
answers
16k
views
how often is cleaning done in a professional kitchen?
Today I saw Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares. Regardless of the alleged nature of "reality", he said that fridges at his London restaurant are cleaned twice a day. Is that excessive or in line with ...
- 1,502
16
votes
2
answers
39k
views
What's the best way to remove melted plastic from a glass cooktop?
We have a glass/ceramic electric cooktop (standard, not induction). A couple nights ago one of us bumped the knob and turned it on without noticing. This caused a plastic bag touching the electric ...
- 65.6k
16
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why do chefs insist that cleanliness is next to godliness?
From what I've heard and seen, chefs seem to be very concerned that the area that they are working in is kept spotless. For instance, when cutting up veggies, they are careful to keep everything on ...
- 2,197
16
votes
6
answers
127k
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 ...
- 3,218
15
votes
15
answers
33k
views
Can I boil milk unattended (and still keep the pan clean)?
Many recipes call for first bringing milk up to boil.
I normally boil 1 quart (1 litre) of milk in a 3-quart stainless steel heavy bottomed pan:
use low heat
keep scraping the bottom of the pan ...
- 1,457
15
votes
13
answers
62k
views
How should I clean my metal mesh tea strainer?
I have one of these teeli tea strainers, and it's wonderful. It's a very fine metal mesh basket with plastic frame. I've had it for perhaps 10+ years and it's still working well after brewing ...
- 2,831
15
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Removing long-term residue from teflon
Over time, teflon manages to become coated by polymerised oils, similarly to the intentional seasoning on an iron pan. This tends to make the pan just too sticky for such as fried eggs.
I have tried ...
- 29.9k
14
votes
14
answers
46k
views
How do you remove the stickiness from reusable plastic container or lid?
I have a blue plastic lid for my glass Anchor container. I noticed that the lid is very sticky to the touch from both sides. I've cleaned it thoroughly with soap but the stickiness is still there. ...
- 631
14
votes
8
answers
42k
views
How do I eliminate a lingering smell of fried food?
Some great friends of ours cooked us an amazing meal in our home three nights ago. The meal included gourmet french fries cooked in a home use deep fryer. While the fries were outstanding the ...
- 2,638
13
votes
4
answers
7k
views
I get black flecks on my butter when I grease my pan
I recently bought a Teflon-coated pan and have been using it without cause for concern, but while greasing it tonight I found the butter stick I used came away with grey flecks / residue.
I typically ...
13
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Does the inside of a lid used to cook rice or steam vegetables have anything besides water on it?
After cooking rice or steaming vegetables the inside of the lid used to cover the pot has water droplets on it - is it just water or do elements of the food make the lid "dirty" and require ...
- 303
13
votes
16
answers
108k
views
How to clean scrambled eggs from a pan?
As an example, I made eggs using Gordon Ramsay's Perfect Scrambled Eggs, at the end the pan ends up having a layer of eggs attached to the bottom and sides that is very difficult to wash (not a ...
- 231
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is it safe to only rinse visible residue from container if I then refrigerate the container?
I like to eat off silicone containers. I've noticed that if I rinse them right away after eating, there will be basically no visible residue left on the surface.
Now let's say that, err, I had a ...
- 183
13
votes
6
answers
5k
views
What are some recommended methods of cleaning wooden cutting boards?
Supposedly, wooden cutting boards should not be submerged in lots of soap and water because too much moisture leads to rot. How can one optimize for cleanliness while also caring for the board?
- 539
13
votes
5
answers
195k
views
Cast iron pan has black residue on it
I have a small cast iron pan which I am working with, trying to make sure I understand seasoning/cleaning before moving on to a larger one. I seasoned with flaxseed oil (4 light coats, hour in the ...
- 389
13
votes
7
answers
12k
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 has a brushed exterior and the bottom of the interior is grooved or ribbed.
For now, I run cold water on it when ...
- 233