Who Knew? 10,001 Household Solutions by Bruce Lubin

Author:Bruce Lubin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

SEND CUKES TO THE COUNTER

Surprise! Cucumbers will last longer at room temperature, whereas keeping them in the fridge will accelerate their decay.

Berry Bath to Beat Bacteria

Get rid of any mold spores lurking on your berries or greens by rinsing them well in vinegar water before putting them in your fridge. After discarding any berries that show even a bit of mold, put 3 cups cold water and 1 cup white vinegar in a large bowl or salad spinner. Immerse the berries, and swish around for about a minute. Drain the berries, then rinse with clean, cold water until any trace of vinegar aroma or taste is gone. Spread out rinsed berries on a clean cloth or paper towels, and pat and roll lightly with towels to dry them well.

The Gentlest Way to Dry Berries

Berries need to be rinsed, but they taste (and keep) best when they’re dry. Here’s the best drying technique: Set a dry dish towel on the counter, stretched out lengthwise. After rinsing the berries, place them in the center of the towel. Then fold the towel in as you would a formal letter. Take an end in each hand to hold the towel loosely, then tilt the package gently back and forth to roll the berries dry.

Bring Berries Back

Berries gone soft but not moldy or rotten? Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and stick in the freezer for 20 minutes. They’ll be firm enough again to serve with ice cream or yogurt.

Refrigerate Raisins

Raisins will last for several months at room temperature if they are wrapped tightly in plastic or stored in a plastic bag. They will last even longer (up to a year) if you place the plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Wrap Bananas Right

Bananas are almost as bad as berries when it comes to how quickly they can go from perfect to overripe. It often seems like the blink of an eye! But you can make your bananas last longer without brown spots by simply wrapping the stems in plastic wrap. Why it works: The stems are the hot spot for ethylene gas emission, which brings on the browning. Contain the stems and you minimize the spread to the rest of the banana. Simple and smart!

Keep Figs Fresh Longer

Figs are fragile—they bruise and spoil quickly if left to bump against each other in a bowl or bag. So treat them like another fragile food: eggs. Place figs in an empty egg carton to protect their personal space and help them stay fresh to enjoy longer.

Raisin Rejuvenation

Sad-looking raisins? To plump them up to perfection, place them in a small baking dish with a little water, cover, and bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Or pour boiling water over the raisins and let them stand for 10 to 15 minutes, then drain.

Tip-Top Tomatoes

For the best storage, keep tomatoes stem-side down in a cool place on your counter. Because they’re fairly delicate, placing tomatoes upside down thwarts air from entering through their stems, which accelerates ripening.

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