27
votes
Accepted
Can I (or should I) re-roughen the interior of a ceramic mortar?
Potter and maker of ceramic mortars here.
Should You: whether or not a mortar actually becomes smooth enough to affect grinding inside depends a lot on what kind of ceramic material the mortar is made ...
- 65.6k
13
votes
Do stainless steel sauce pots wear out and how can I tell if it needs replacement?
I have a couple of those of the same vintage that are just fine.
Sometimes the copper coating on the bottom wears away but these are generally long lasting quality cookware.
Not sure about your ...
- 1,356
9
votes
Accepted
What's happening to the coating on the OUTSIDE of my roommate's non-stick cookware as we wash it?
Are you SURE they were advertised as dishwasher safe? If so, contact the manufacturer because they were lying. It is, in fact, the bare metal you're looking at— those pans are made from aluminum which ...
- 3,063
7
votes
How to smooth a wooden rolling pin
Woodworker and cook here. Here's something that might work (without having seen the actual problem). You'll need some 220, 320 & 400 sandpaper, alcohol and shellac (which is food safe). Create a ...
- 171
7
votes
Microwave door blew open when boiling water-vinegar mixture for cleaning
I presumed the door just blew open rather got blown off and you were referring to the glass that held the mixture rather than the glass window in the door. I am unsure where the soap fits into your ...
- 2,756
7
votes
Restored Pasta Boards
I would not use board oil on a pasta board.
Sand it down (if necessary), give it a good scrub with salt/lemon and let it dry completely.
The board works because it gets used and is a little rough so ...
- 20.5k
6
votes
What type of lubricant should be used on oven door hinges?
Although they don't get as hot as the interior of the oven oven hinges are exposed to a significant amount of heat, so you should pick a lubricant which isn't going to burst into flames when exposed ...
- 77.9k
6
votes
Kitchen knife rust after one day of use?
This happens a lot when the knives are more carbon steel vs. stainless steel. I have many Japanese knives, and this happens when I don't immediately wipe off the blade after washing, or when cutting ...
- 1,366
6
votes
Do stainless steel sauce pots wear out and how can I tell if it needs replacement?
The age of your pot shouldn’t affect if your pot needs scrubbing on its own, but the longer you have it, the more chances that you’ve had to damage it.
If you’ve scratched up the surface, that might ...
- 82.1k
4
votes
Microwave door blew open when boiling water-vinegar mixture for cleaning
I'd be most worried about the door latch and/or interlock being damaged, increasing the risk of microwave exposure if the door came open while running or the microwave didn't cut out when you opened ...
- 45.8k
4
votes
Accepted
What is this rust-like stain on my aluminum pot, and how do I clean it?
This will be from an electrochemical reaction between the can (mostly iron I think) and the water and possibly the aluminum (a better chemist than me would be able to tell you).
Aluminum has a ...
- 16.9k
4
votes
What should I do to repair the surface of this cast iron pan?
Personally, I would strip it and start over -- you have some serious caked burnt oil and charcoal on that, and the seasoning is never going to "even out". And probably use different ...
- 65.6k
3
votes
How to smooth a wooden rolling pin
Got a lathe? Without one, about anything you try will distort roundness. That'll cause problems. I'd try fine sand paper on the rough spot, but be prepared to buy anew. Rolling pins are best examined ...
- 11.8k
3
votes
Accepted
Blotches on my cast iron pan
Honestly, it looks to me like oil that hasn't fully dried/burnt. If you put it on a hot hob whilst dry for a couple of minutes it'll be easy to check. If it blackens, you're fine
- 341
3
votes
Accepted
Advantages/disadvantages for limescale cleaning methods?
Methods I know about:
Vinegar
potatoes peels
citric acid
Coca-Cola
baking soda
Each of them is actually better for different types of kettles.
for glass where lime is quickly visible or where ...
- 4,109
2
votes
What are the dos and don'ts regarding cleaning a bamboo cutting board?
Please don't use the coconut oil you use for cooking to condition your wood/bamboo cutting board. It will attract bacteria and go rancid. They do make specially processed coconut oil for cutting ...
- 51
2
votes
Can I descale/decalcify my coffee machine without a special product?
Descaler products for coffee machines contain sulfamic acid which is stronger than citric or acetic acid, plus corrosion inhibitors which prevent it from attacking metals. You don't have to buy a ...
- 541
2
votes
How do you protect a pizza peel?
Walnut oil does not go rancid. It dries fast and has been used for wood preservation since centuries. It's pretty expensive but hey, how much do you actually need?
- 21
2
votes
Knife sharpening equipment
1) This is advice on going the waterstone route. Let someone familiar with oilstones fill in on oilstones.
In general, look for a waterstone of a brand that is well known in knife owner's circles. ...
- 15.3k
2
votes
How to clean a copper kettle?
Lemon juice or diluted vinegar (say 1:1), a rag and patience. Gentle and light scrubbing. Rinse afterwards and dry thoroughly.
The bad news is that it is not going to last very long. Even if you are ...
- 2,756
2
votes
Accepted
Cleaning 'cement' from grill
If it is just steel then a stiff brush ought to do it, or steel wool. I'd be tempted to hose it down a few times, the water ought to loosen the ash before sponging it off. If there are coatings on it ...
- 77.9k
2
votes
How to maintain my knife? What am I missing, and what am I doing wrong?
I would suggest professionally sharpening your knife and then buy a new steel (steel or ceramic — some manufacturers recommend one over the other for their knives) and use the steel every time either ...
- 5,154
2
votes
Accepted
What kind of whetstone for sharpening a nylon edge?
I'd use fairly fine wet/dry paper taped to a hard flat surface, probably used wet. You could move to a finer grade to finish. This will keep it nice and flat.
Or you can shave/whittle the edge with ...
- 45.8k
2
votes
How to maintain my knife? What am I missing, and what am I doing wrong?
After 30 years of faffing unsatisfactorily with just about every solution known to humanity - whetstones, pull-throughs of various sorts, wheels, diamond edges, v-shaped 'scrapers', steels, specific ...
- 29.9k
2
votes
Accepted
Is exposed copper pan safe for frying fish?
It is not safe. You should have that pan retinned, after which it can provide you with many years of safe use, as well as restoring its original beautiful appearance.
Exposed copper can we dissolved ...
- 65.6k
2
votes
Accepted
What should I do to repair the surface of this cast iron pan?
I suspect that you're not being brutal enough when cleaning the pan after each use, allowing deposits to build up over time. You should always scrape aggressively. You want a thin, tough layer, and ...
- 32k
1
vote
How to maintain my knife? What am I missing, and what am I doing wrong?
I recently bought an electric knife sharpener. The one I got has three wheels: coarse, fine, and "strop". This is a sharpener in the sense that it literally cuts a new angle/edge on your knife, it is ...
- 978
1
vote
How to maintain my knife? What am I missing, and what am I doing wrong?
myklbykl's suggestions to get the knife professionally sharpened and consistently use a honing steel are good. Here are a few more knife maintenance tips:
You say you wash the knife after use. It is ...
- 4,884
1
vote
Can I substitute...whole wheat for all-purpose flour for baked goods?
Whole wheat has more gluten/protein than all purpose flour. This causes the baked goods to have a "stronger/tougher" consistency which may be appreciated in breads, where we want to chew on them, but ...
1
vote
Microwave door blew open when boiling water-vinegar mixture for cleaning
I'd just clean it out with Formula 409 as usual, a scrub and rinse with water, towel dry, and see if it still boils a coffee cup of water in a minute or two. If so, you should be good to go.
I don't ...
- 11.8k
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