The holidays bring with them festive gatherings and delicious foods, all part of the merriment of celebrating with friends and family. No get-together would be complete without the menu items and favorite recipes that you look forward to savoring. But, as you gather your kitchenware together to begin to build these savory and sweet favorites, you think that perhaps some of your cookware and kitchen accessories have seen better days. How do you assess when it’s time to replace your kitchenware? Here are a few tips:
Rust? Not always a problem…
While you pile your pots and pans on the counter for inspection, it may seem logical to trash any piece that is covered in rust. While it’s true that any non-stick pans or stainless-steel knives you may have in your collection that are covered in that orange dust should probably go the way of the dinosaurs, the same is not true for the cast-iron members of your kitchen ensemble.
Cast-iron cookware last forever. Period. See a little rust on the pan or pot edge? This means that it was probably not seasoned properly before use. Grab a piece of wire-sponge and scrub the rust away, then rinse. Dry the surface and, using a paper towel, rub a thin layer of olive oil on the surface of the pan. Voila. The perfect, lifetime pan option.
Need a Straight Answer?
Do your kids long for cookies at Christmas? Is your Easter bread the answer to your family’s culinary prayers? Love to bake pies for Sunday dinner? If your answer is a pastry-loving yes, then your baking pans need not only be pristine in their shine, but in the level of their surface. Even the most fastidious baker, after years of use, will end up with warped pans and tins. Replace your bakeware when it’s uneven in its surfaces or shows signs of wear.
Save Time and Ease Work with the Right Tools
Sharp knives are a vital part of any kitchen, but it can be difficult to know when there’s not one more good sharpening left in your favorite carving utensil. Depending on how often you use them, a good set of knives can last for years. Here are a few specific things to watch for when it’s time to replace them:
- Difficulty cutting meat evenly. A good carving knife should easily cut a straight path through your steak, turkey or ham. When it comes off the knife, even after a sharpening looking like shavings, it’s time replace your knife. Dull knives are safety hazards so don’t put off replacing an old knife too long.
- Sharpening breaks off pieces of knife. You may have noticed that your knife edge is uneven. This can come from use, but more often comes from excessive sharpening. Even if you knife stays intact after sharpening, if you find you’re sharpening more than carving with the knife, it’s time to replace it.
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