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How to Use a Dutch Oven: A Guide for Beginners

August 6, 2020 by Mandy

Have you been wondering about getting a Dutch oven? These versatile cooking pots can cook anything from sourdough bread to chicken stew, so they’re a great addition to your kitchen cookware. Even if you’re a novice chef, you can create some amazing dishes if you know what you’re doing.

Ready to get cooking? Keep reading to learn how to use a Dutch oven!

What Are the Types of Dutch Oven?

There are several types of Dutch ovens, so spend some time researching which one is right for you. Stainless steel dutch ovens tend to be easier to clean, but seasoned cooks say that they don’t keep their heat — an essential part of the cooking process — as effectively as other types.

Cast iron is a favorite among avid cooks because of its weight and ability to retain heat. You will have to clean it and season it regularly, however, and there is the possibility that flavors from a previous dish will impact the next dish you create. If you’re baking bread after a series of fish stews, this could be a bad thing!

How To Use a Dutch Oven

One of the big advantages of a Dutch oven is that it can be used on the stove and in the oven. You can sear your meat at a high temperature on the stovetop to start a recipe. Then you can slide it into the oven with all of the other ingredients to cook at a lower temperature.

The thick walls of Dutch ovens ensure that these pots will keep in the heat. That makes them ideal for any sort of slow-cooking process. Use them to braise meats so that they’re perfectly tender. Put together a tasty casserole dish and know that it will cook slowly and evenly in a Dutch oven.

You can also take Dutch ovens camping! They are the perfect multi-purpose pot to place over the coals the next time you are out in nature — just be sure to use a cast-iron version when doing campfire cooking. Find some tasty recipes for your wilderness adventure at www.easycampfirerecipes.com.

Accessorize Your Dutch Oven

Cooking with a Dutch oven will be even better with a few accessories. Since the lids on these pots are so heavy, it can be helpful to have a lid lifter. You’ll keep your hands safe from burns!

Another necessity is a cleaning brush. It’s important to care for your Dutch oven, and regular cleaning will keep it in good shape for a lifetime of cooking. You can also look into getting a scraper to remove those pesky bits of food that get stuck on the bottom.

And if you’re cooking outdoors a lot, consider adding a trivet to your list. A trivet gives you a way to elevate the Dutch oven during cooking — and when you’re done cooking.

Start Cooking

Knowing how to use a Dutch oven opens up lots of culinary possibilities. While the name and weight of these pots can seem intimidating, they are very user-friendly and they will elevate your cooking game!

When you’re ready to find some fresh lifestyle tips, check back with us for more articles!

Filed Under: Cooking Tagged With: cook, dutch oven, utensils

Kitchen Talk: A Guide to the Different Types of Knives and Their Uses

February 24, 2020 by Mandy

Do you know the purpose of a cleaver, or why you’d pick a serrated knife over a chef’s knife? Do you tend to grab the same knife no matter what you’re doing?

With the influx of high-tech innovations, more people grow up not knowing about the different types of knives and their uses than ever before.

The problem with this is that using knives outside of their intended purpose leads to blunt edges and warped blades. You’ll end up needing replacement knives more often than you and your budget might like.

Want to learn the differences between all the knives? Listed down below are all of the knives you’ll ever need, so keep reading to find out more!

Chef’s Knife

Although there are many types of knives out there, there are only a few that are essential to any kitchen. The chef’s knife is one of the most important and most versatile.

The blade is a wedged shape, coming to a point at the end, allowing you to anchor the knife on the cutting board as you chop your food. The long blade makes it intimidating to novice chefs, but it’s far safer to use a sharp and large blade than a blunt one.

Although a chef’s knife has a variety of uses, you shouldn’t use it for butchering purposes or opening any kind of packaging.

A chef’s knife is perfect for slicing, chopping, and dicing anything from vegetables and fruits to meat and fish.

Steak Knife

Of all the knives in this list, this is perhaps the most common and easiest to understand. We often use these knives as cutlery, though the knife has other uses besides cutting through cooked steaks. It’s also great for cutting up the more delicate varieties of vegetables.

Modern steak knives often come with a serrated edge to aid in the slicing of meats, which is where this thin blade excels.

A steak knife is perfect for slicing and cutting cooked meats, or slicing up delicate vegetables and salads.

Paring Knife

With a small blade and a sharp pointed tip, a paring knife is great for any activity that requires finesse.

It’s a good sidekick to the chef’s knife. Any time you feel your chef’s knife is too large for the job, grab a paring knife. Its similar shape and smaller size make it easy to use for delicate jobs or smaller-sized foods.

A paring knife is perfect for peeling vegetables and fruits, slicing small pieces of softer food, or mincing ginger and garlic.

Serrated Knife

Although it’s one of the more intimidating knives, a long serrated blade is a must-have for a balanced kitchen.

This knife’s most common purpose goes hand-in-hand with its other common name: bread knife. If you’ve ever tried to cut through a loaf of bread and ended up squashing it instead, then it’s time to find yourself a serrated knife. The long but thin blade and serrated edge make it a breeze to slice through any kind of bread product.

It’s also great for gripping and slicing through slippery surfaces, such as tomatoes or peppers. If the blade is thick enough, it’s even able to slice through melons with no problem.

This knife works best when used with a sawing motion so that the teeth of the blade have ample space to grip and cut through the material.

A serrated knife is perfect for slicing bread of all types, slicing slippery or waxy foods, or carving through melons.

Santoku Knife

Although a santoku knife looks similar to a chef’s knife at first glance, it has a straighter and shorter blade. Instead of anchoring the point and chopping at the food, a santoku knife requires a more precise touch. You’ll need to use up and down motions to get the best cuts from this knife.

The shape of the blade makes it easier to get very thin slices, which is why many Japanese chefs love it for making things like sushi. The holes along the flat of the blade make it so that food doesn’t stick to the side as much, allowing for quicker chopping sessions.

A santoku knife is perfect for getting thin and precise cuts of vegetables and fruits or slicing through sticky fruits and meats.

Boning Knife

This curved blade often comes with a bit of flexibility, which aids in its primary purpose of removing meat from bones. The extra bit of flexibility makes it easier to follow along the curves of the meat’s bones, while still retaining a sharp edge. A stiffer boning knife works well when the bones you’re working with don’t have any kind of curve to them.

Despite its name, it’s important to remember that a boning knife isn’t meant to cut through bone, only the meat going around the bone.

A boning knife is perfect for separating all types of meat and fish from its bones.

Cleaver

If you’re looking to hack your way through bones and thick cuts of meat, then this is the knife you need in your kitchen. It has a strong and thick blade paired with a hefty weight that lets you chop right through all sorts of foods.

It doesn’t work well to slice through anything since you need to use the weight of the blade to get the most out of the knife. A cleaver works best when you raise it above the food and give it a good and careful whack.

A cleaver is perfect for chopping through bones, joints, thick meat, pumpkins, and squashes.

Knowing the Different Types of Knives and Their Uses Makes You a More Confident Chef

With the help of this list, you’ll have no trouble knowing which knife is the right one for the job. Using the right knife at the right time not only makes cooking easier but also extends the life of your knives.

So, instead of grabbing any knife out of the drawer next time, use your newfound knowledge of the different types of knives and their uses. It’ll make a huge difference in your kitchen and your cooking.

If you’re looking for even more tips to improve your culinary skills, don’t forget to check out the rest of our cooking section!

Filed Under: Cooking Tagged With: cooking, home, kitchen, knives, utensils

Kitchen Companion – The Ultimate list of What You Need in Your Kitchen

January 3, 2018 by Mandy

Source: Shutterstock

A builder is nothing without his tools, and the same goes for cooking. To simply and efficiently prepare delicious, home-cooked meals, you need to invest in the right cookware. By adequately equipping your kitchen properly, you’ll be able to whip up meal after meal with increasing ease. Here are seven items without which  no budding chef should be.

Knives

This is one of the most crucial and frequently used items in the kitchen. A proper set of knives can achieve a wide range of cooking functions. By cutting your own produce and meats, you can save significant costs by avoiding the pricier, precut and prepared alternatives. It is critical to always use the appropriate knife for the job and ensure you keep them well sharpened. This will keep you safe from knife related injuries.

Cutting Board

Cutting boards are used almost every time you cook, so it is imperative to find one you love and that you can clean easily. Most boards are made of plastic or wood. Wood intrinsically has an antiseptic element to it, which means it naturally fights microbes. However, plastic can take more punishment and cleaned in the dishwasher, which makes them more convenient. Ultimately, it comes down to your preference, but you’ll need a durable surface on which to cut your ingredients.

Cast Iron Skillet

This could be the heaviest pan in your kitchen, and for a good reason. These skillets will last you a lifetime. Cast iron is naturally nonstick and easy to clean once you learn the routine. They are also extremely versatile and can do everything from cooking vegetables or eggs to creating the sear on the perfect steak. They are definitely worth the workout you’ll get by handling these substantial skillets.

Can Opener

This one may seem trivial, but can you imagine trying to open a can without a can opener like in olden times? Whether you select a handheld or electric, being able to open cans easily can invite a wide assortment of non-perishable foods to stock your pantry. Making a casserole? Throw in some canned corn. Burritos tonight? Prise open a can of black beans and save you the trouble of the required overnight soak. You definitely want to have a can opener easily accessible in your kitchen.

Colander

You may think that a colander’s sole purpose is for draining pasta, which it does very well, but this bowl with holes can also be used to rinse vegetables and rice or keep other food from racing down the sink. Ok, it may not be too exciting, but it definitely comes in handy for those pasta nights.

Spatula

Next on the list is an old SpongeBob favorite. This scraping tool is used to lift foods from the pot or pan without crumbling or destroying the item. Until you’ve perfected the art of pancake tossing in the air, a spatula is going to be your best friend for flipping and frying. If you have opted for cookware with nonstick Teflon, be sure to use plastic or silicone spatulas to avoid scratching your pans and reducing their lifespan.

Shears

Granted, knives can do the job of most kitchen cutlery, but the convenience of kitchen shears is just too good to leave off the list. You can cut everything from herbs to pizza with these scissors, turning mundane chopping tasks into an arts and craft project.

With these essentials in your kitchen, you can take on a host of recipes that can feed even a large family. Whether you are a novice in an apron or an experienced chef, be sure to keep these items on hand for your next kitchen creation.

Filed Under: Cooking, DIY/Home Tagged With: accessories, cooking, home, house, utensils

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