Best Kitchen Appliances

By Mark Andrew Woodcock Like marmite, it appears people either love or hate the idea of using a gas BBQ. Unlike marmite however, most people who hate them haven't actually tried to cook on one. Here are a few pointers that might help you to make your mind up. What's to hate? There really is nothing quite like the smell of a good old charcoal bbq. As the meat begins to cook the fumes mix with those from the charcoal. Maybe it's the reminiscent factor but this seems to complete the BBQ atmosphere. Obviously, gas BBQ do produce some cooking smells but it's fair to say it's not quite the same. For those of you who have tasted meat cooked by an experienced bbq hand, you may very well believe that charcoal BBQs produce tastier food. The charcoal flavoured smoke infuses the meat which is why charcoal bbq food has that distinctive BBQ flavour. You can also add herbs to the coals so that they too infuse the meat. This wouldn't be advisable on a gas BBQ.

Vegetables are plants that are used as food. They should be eaten everyday because they are a very important source of vitamins, mineral substances, water and roughage. In order to get the best value from vegetables, they should be stored, prepared and cooked carefully so that the food value is preserved. If possible, buy vegetables soon before using them so that they do not become stale. This is particularly important for green vegetables, as vitamin C is lost if the vegetables are allowed to wilt. If vegetables are grown in the garden, do not pick them until just before they are required. Green vegetables can be kept fresh for a while if they are kept loosely rolled in old newspaper or brown paper and put in a cool, airy place. They will keep crisp and fresh in a refrigerator if they are kept on the lowest shelf in the refrigerator, where the temperature is not low enough to freeze them. Root vegetables should be kept in a well-ventilated vegetable rack or basket in a c

By Douglas Hoover Solar Ovens are becoming the number one most popular survival tool available today. Camp stoves require fuel, gas or propane, and you can run out. They use the energy from the sun and you not only save money, you help save the environment, The USFA's National Fire Data Center estimates that outside grills cause more than 6,000 fires, over 5 fatalities, more than 170 injuries, and $35 million in property loss per year. Gas grills alone cause over 2,700 fires, 80 injuries, and $11 million damage. Most of the gas grill fires and explosions were caused by gas leaks, blocked tubes, and overfilled propane tanks. Solar ovens are safe as there are no burning charcoal or exposed open flames used as a heat source. No gas, no flames, no danger! Not only are there zero emissions, we have found the sun oven to be very forgiving. You will find you can cook at a higher temperature with less time or a lower temperature with more time. Meat cooked in this appliance

By James Riordon If you are thinking about buying an induction or range then you should be aware that you need to use magnetic cookware, also known as induction cookware. Induction cooking cookware is just like any other pot or pan except that there needs to be iron in it to work. Most cookware bottoms are layered, the more layers a cookware has means the higher quality, better cooking and a higher price. When they make induction cookware they just use a layer of iron or an iron disk that is sandwiched in between the stainless steel layers of the pan bottom. Any cast iron skillet or enamel coated iron pot will work fine as long as the bottom is completely flat. A simple way to test your cookware at home is to place a magnet to it and if it sticks then you already have induction cooking cookware. If you have never used an induction cooktop before and want to try it first, pick yourself up an inexpensive portable induction cooktop for under $200 and try it out. You can a

By Shanna Ohmes Buffalo spaghetti squash is one of my favorite recipes for using spaghetti squash. I love spaghetti, but I prefer a low-carb alternative to the white flour and whole grain noodles. Spaghetti squash fits right in, and I get all the beta-carotene goodies with it. Winter squash is a superb food for the winter months. The buffalo, or bison, is a lean meat, a healthy alternative to feedlot beef. In this recipe I use a jar of organic spaghetti sauce, but sometimes I make my own sauce with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and Italian spices. Here's what you'll need to make Buffalo Spaghetti Squash: 1 spaghetti squash 1-1/2 lbs buffalo, ground 1 jar organic spaghetti sauce 1 can tomato soup or sauce Step 1: You'll need to bake the spaghetti squash first. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and the stringy fibers. Save the seeds to roast for a snack! Place the squash flesh side down in a cake pan with about 1" of water. Bake in

By Keri M. Ice cream makers vary pretty widely as to just how much work is involved with using them. With many machines, you have to freeze a part of the machine. You have to mix your ingredients together in a separate bowl, usually using an electric mixer or a stand mixer. Then you have to reassemble your machine, add the already mixed ingredients and turn a crank to keep the ingredients moving as they freeze. After that you have to take the machine apart again and wash all of the part along with the bowl and mixer. The whole process can take two and a half hours or more for a single batch. Other machines are electric and therefore are a little less work to use. You do still have to freeze part of the machine and mix up your ingredients separately. The advantage with these machines is that you don't have to turn a crank to keep the ingredients moving while they're freezing. These machines have a small motor that does the churning for you. You just press a button