Lush Food & Drink

Explainers

Explainers

How kitchen gear actually works, answered in the first two sentences and backed by the figures our guides already publish.

Each explainer takes one question a buyer types into a search box and answers it with the published numbers from the products we have compared, then links to the guides that go with it.

Where do I locate the thermometer in my Weber charcoal grill? On the Weber Summit Kamado S6 the thermometer is built into the lid, so it reads the air temperature inside the dome rather than the temperature… Can a charcoal grill maintain a constant high temperature? Yes, if the grill is built to hold air settings steady: insulated kamado bodies and sealed hoods let charcoal hold a set temperature, and the makers… What controls the pressure in a MultiCooker? In an electric multicooker, pressure is raised by boiling liquid in a sealed pot and held in check by a pressure regulator, a lid lock and… Is pressure canning weeks after regular canning safe? Yes, provided the food was held safely in between and the low-acid items are processed in a pressure canner at the start, not weeks later. How does Ball mason jar size affect canning processing time? Jar size changes processing time mainly through heat penetration and the number of jars a canner holds, and the makers of the canners and jars this… Does any blender also do up-down shaking movement? No. None of the five blenders compared here is described by its maker as shaking ingredients up and down, and one maker states the opposite: the… Can a blender be used to make emulsified sausage? A blender can bring the meat and fat together into a smooth paste, but it cannot hold the paste cold the way a bowl chopper does,… Can exposure to carbon dioxide spoil a lactic fermentation project? No. Carbon dioxide is the gas lactic fermentation produces, and the risk comes from oxygen, not from CO2, so the job of a lid or water… Can You Make Sous Vide Steak in a Pressure Cooker? No. A pressure cooker cannot hold the steady low water temperature that sous vide cooking requires, and only one pick in our pressure cooker guide lists… Why should one always use the same kind of coffee for an espresso machine? Keeping one coffee and one grind setting lets you judge the machine's own settings instead of chasing a new variable with every bag. Can You Make Popcorn in a Pressure Cooker? No, a sealed pressure cooker is not a safe or workable way to pop popcorn, and none of the pressure cookers in this site's guide list… How long do you have to cook adzuki beans in a pressure cooker before they’re edible? The makers of the pressure cookers in our guide do not publish a cooking time for adzuki beans, so no exact figure can be given from… How do I make a French Vanilla cappuccino with an espresso machine? Brew a shot of espresso, stir in French vanilla syrup, then top with steamed milk and a layer of microfoam from your machine's steam wand. Should bubbles be forming only in the center of the pot when simmering in a Dutch oven on a gas burner? A ring of bubbles at the center is normal on a gas burner, because the flame concentrates heat in one spot and cast iron spreads it… Does beef or pork stew require a Dutch oven? No. A Dutch oven is a good tool for beef or pork stew, but the stew does not require one; any heavy pot with a lid… Can an enameled Dutch oven be used for stir frying? Yes, an enameled Dutch oven can be used for stir frying, but its high sides and weight make it less agile than a skillet or wok. Why do you warm a Dutch oven up before baking bread? Warming a Dutch oven before baking bread creates a hot, sealed environment that drives oven spring and sets a crisp crust. How can a Dutch oven reach 400°C on an electrical stove? A Dutch oven cannot reach 400°C on an electrical stove because the makers of the Dutch ovens in this guide publish oven-safe limits of 500°F, which… How do you get fish smell out of a cast iron skillet? Scrub the pan with warm water and a flat utensil, dry it completely on the stove, then heat a fresh layer of oil into the iron… What can deform or bend a stainless steel skillet? Heat, physical force and thermal shock are the usual causes, and the maker's published construction details tell you how much of each a pan can take. What temperature should a crock pot slow cooker cook at? Most makers do not publish a cooking temperature for their slow cookers, and the ones that do publish a low and high figure rather than a… Can a crock pot go bad? A slow cooker can fail or become unsafe, but the crocks in this site's guides are ceramic fermentation vessels, and their makers publish care limits rather… Is it safe to put fresh hot soup in a glass mason jar? It depends on the jar and on how fast you heat and cool it: sudden temperature changes are the risk, and the makers of the jars… What is the external operating temperature range for a Crock-Pot or other slow cooker? None of the five slow cookers in our guide publishes an external operating temperature range, so the figure is not available from the makers' specifications. Can you start a recipe on low and finish on high in a slow cooker? Yes. Switching from Low to High partway through is a normal way to use a slow cooker, and several makers build the setting into the controls. Does an Instant Pot actually save time? The makers of the pots this site has compared publish no figures on cooking time, so the question cannot be settled from their specifications. Can quick cook brown rice be cooked in an Instant Pot? Yes, quick cook brown rice can be cooked in an Instant Pot, but the timing and liquid come from the rice package or the appliance maker,… Is there any advantage to cooking beans in a pressure cooker, besides saving time? Yes, pressure cooking beans can improve texture, reduce certain antinutrients, and make the cooking process more predictable, though the published specifications for the cookers themselves do… How do I choose a pressure cooker for legumes and beans, and which setting should I use? Pick a cooker with a dedicated bean or grain program and enough quart capacity for the batch you cook, then use that program or a manual… What are the benefits, if any, of using a pizza stone in a toaster oven? A stone in a toaster oven can even out the heat under a pizza and pull moisture from the base, but only if the oven's cavity… Can one use a toaster oven to bake cakes and cupcakes? Yes, a toaster oven with a bake function can bake cakes and cupcakes, provided the pan fits inside the cavity and the oven reaches a baking… How do you safely bottle or “can” BBQ meat drippings? Cool the drippings, skim the fat, and store them in a clean, airtight glass bottle in the refrigerator, because home canning of fat and stock is… Are the Keurig K-Cups safe? This site has not compared Keurig K-Cups or any coffee pod, so it cannot answer the safety question from published figures. Can You Put Whole Eggs in a Blender? Yes, you can put whole eggs in a blender, but the shell should be cracked and discarded first. Why blend soup in a blender if you can use a stick blender? A countertop blender gives you a sealed jar and a lid, so hot soup stays contained while the blades run at the bottom, and the jar… Does wear and tear limit the usefulness of a Dutch oven? Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens wear in specific ways, and the makers' published figures show what the pot is built to handle before those limits matter. How do you cook chicken cutlets in a cast-iron skillet? Dry the cutlets, heat a pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet over medium heat with a thin film of oil, and cook them through in a single layer, turning… Can you safely use a cast-iron grill pan as a heat diffuser? Yes, a cast-iron grill pan can sit between a burner and a pot as a heat diffuser, but only if you accept the tradeoffs in heat… Can onion based recipes such as bolognese be cooked in a slow cooker? Yes. A slow cooker can cook a bolognese or any onion based sauce, and the models in our slow cooker guide publish capacities and settings that… How much black garlic to substitute for regular garlic in a slow cooker? Use about one clove of black garlic for every two to three cloves of regular garlic, added near the end of the slow cook so its… How do I use a slow cooker for cooking meat without it turning into soup or stew? Keep the meat above the liquid line, use a large enough pot, and choose a setting that holds a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil. Is it ok to cook beef from frozen in a slow cooker? Yes, you can start beef from frozen in a slow cooker, but the cut, the size of the piece and the cooker's settings decide whether it… Why do slow cookers have such a gap between the heating unit and the crock pot? The gap is a deliberate air space that lets the outer housing stay cooler than the stoneware and lets heat reach the pot gradually rather than… Can the duration of the whistle determine if food inside a pressure cooker is cooked? No. A whistle or steam release tells you pressure has built, not how long the food has cooked or whether it is done. Why does a recipe call for more liquid in an electric pressure cooker than on a stovetop? An electric pressure cooker needs a minimum pool of liquid to build and hold steam, and it loses little of that liquid during cooking, so recipes… Does the fullness of a pressure cooker affect its performance? Yes, the amount of food and liquid in the pot changes how the cooker comes up to pressure and how evenly it cooks, though makers publish… What dish is improved by a pressure cooker? A pressure cooker improves dishes that normally take a long time to cook, such as stews, soups, beans, and rice, by cooking them faster and more… Are bare screw-heads on air-fryer food-safe? Yes, exposed screw heads inside an air fryer basket are generally safe to cook around, because the screws are stainless or coated steel and food contact…