If you have a pantry filled with canned goods, you should definitely take a look at their expiration dates. Canned goods can often last for many years, making them an ideal resource for individuals who are stockpiling for the future or in case of emergencies. Unfortunately, a canned good does expire over time and can be incredibly dangerous to consume after its expiration date. If something canned is only a month or so past its expiration (more…)

Sometimes, you just want a quick hot meal that can be ready in a few minutes. Even if you do not have any pre-packaged food lying around, you may find that your microwave can still come in handy! Take a moment to learn how to microwave a potato.

Start by puncturing the unpeeled potato with a fork several times. This prevents the potato from exploding in your microwave and creating a mess.

Cover a microwave-safe dish with a paper towel and set the potato (more…)

There is nothing more delicious than a batch of cookies or a loaf of bread just out of the oven, but unlike store-bought items, they do not have the preservatives that allow you to keep them in storage for long periods of time. So, how do you keep them fresh? Here are a few tips:

1. Avoid the fridge if possible. Most breads, cakes and cookies should not be kept in the refrigerator as the cold air will only dry them out. Instead, try storing them in an air-tight container (more…)

Freezing food is a great way to save money on groceries. Unfortunately, improper freezing techniques can cause freezer burn, which affects the taste and texture of the food. Freezer burn occurs when moisture in the food evaporates, causing dry, empty pockets in the outer layers. Freezer burn appears as light brown or white splotches on meat and other frozen foods. While food with freezer burn won’t harm you, it can prevent you from enjoying your meal.

The best way to prevent freezer burn is to remove as much air as (more…)

The best way to reduce food waste is to freeze your leftovers if you won’t be eating them within a few days. You can also save money by buying food on sale and freezing it until you’re ready to use it. Unfortunately, however, freezing food can result in freezer burn if it’s not properly wrapped.

Freezer burn is caused by the evaporation of moisture in the food, leaving behind dry pockets in its outer layers. Freezer burn appears as white or (more…)

Very few things will bring out the flavor of food as much as a well-balanced marinate. From grilled vegetables to a slow-cooked brisket, the marinade is key when it comes to making the entire meal as memorable as possible. For many cooks, once the marinade has been made the first question that comes to mind is how long the food should be marinated.

When marinating any food that can spoil, especially raw meats, any marinade longer than a few minutes should be done in the refrigerator or another (more…)