You didn’t know that you were making some common errors with frequently used kitchen appliances such as microwaves, dishwashers, blenders, etc. Check out these mistakes and how to fix them right away.
1. Toss Ingredients Into Your Blender In Wrong Order
This is a mistake when using kitchen appliances that many people are making. There’s a reason your blender keeps stalling after every few seconds the order of your ingredients makes a huge difference. Start with your liquid base or yogurt, then layer ingredients from smallest to largest, keeping the toughest pieces, such as ice, at the top. The liquids will let the blades run smoothly without catching on to the hard ingredients. You’ll never make a smoothie the same way again!
2. Using Square Containers In Your Microwave
The corners of rectangular containers usually attract more energy than other areas, leaving the food in those spots overcooked. A round container will allow food to reheat more uniformly.
3. Close Your Oven Door When Broiling
Leaving the door of your oven closed when broiling can make heat and steam build up. Venting the steam lets your food develop the crustiness you’re going for, and letting the hot air out ensures the heat stays concentrated on the top instead of effectively baking the entire dish.
4. Sprinkle Salt Before Microwaving Food
Microwave energy is drawn to salt, so a seasoned top will send too much heat to the outer layer of your food, leaving it dry. Add salt after heating or mix it into your dish beforehand to avoid dryness.
5. Never Change Your Toaster’s Setting
The type of bread you’re toasting affects how hot you should set your toaster. While white and sweetbreads heat quickly, heavier ones like rye take more time. Even slices from the same loaf might need a different setting after a few days. Once bread starts to dry out, you might need lower heat for the less fresh slices, which don’t take as long to toast.
6. Lift The Lid Of The Slow Cooker
Opening the lid of your slow cooker lets the heat out and messes up the cooking time, so resist the temptation to take a quick look or stir it until there’s less than an hour left of cook time. As long as your pot is between half and three-quarters of the way full, your dish should cook up just fine.
7. Use Your Blender And Food Processor Interchangeably
Blenders have dull blades but powerful motors, while food processors have sharper blades and weaker motors. Use a blender for anything that needs to be super smooth with an even consistency, like smoothies, drinks, and creamy soups. But when working with hard foods like nuts and garlic, pull out a food processor, which is ideal for recipes with a chunkier texture, such as pesto.
8. Don’t Organize Your Plates In The Dishwasher Correctly
A University of Birmingham study found that the best spot in your dishwasher depends on the type of mess your plate has. The middle of the machine gets the strongest spray of water, which makes it best for carb-based stains like potatoes or tomatoes. On the other hand, the detergent is at its highest concentration at the edges, where it flows back down like a waterfall, making it the most effective spot for protein-based messes like eggs, which need more time to soak.
9. Never Adjust Your Stand Mixer
Stand mixers are built at the right height, but after years of wear and tear, their beaters might end up out of place. There should be a space for the thickness of two sheets of paper between the tips of the beaters and the bottom of the bowl. If yours is misaligned, lift the head and turn the screw on the neck to the left to raise the beater, or to the right to lower it.
10. Run The Disposal with Hot Water
This mistake is popular in every kitchen. Garbage disposals aren’t as tough as you might think. The hot water in your sink can get up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). Water that warm can cause the food being put down in the garbage disposal to melt and turn into a thick paste, which in turn causes the garbage disposal to clog up. When rinsing the food off your plates and into the garbage disposal, use cold water. Then, when it’s time to wash your dishes, switch the water to hot.
Let’s fix these mistakes when using your kitchen appliances.