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.

How should a section of cast iron piping be replaced? Cut out the failed section, join new cast iron with shielded couplings or hub-and-spigot joints, and support the new pipe so the joints carry no load. What types of rice are appropriate to use in a rice cooker? Most rice cookers are built around white and brown rice, with smaller programs for glutinous rice, oats and grains, and the maker's manual is the authority… Does the starting temperature of the water matter when using a rice cooker? Yes, it can matter, but none of the rice cookers in this site's comparison publishes a water temperature specification, so the effect is governed by the… Are there dangers to using solid fuel on a propane grill? Yes: solid fuel burns hotter and dirtier than a gas burner, and a propane grill was not built to contain it, so the risks are heat… Do foil packets on a charcoal grill get any flavor from the smoke? Yes, but only a little: a sealed foil packet keeps most smoke out, so the food inside steams in its own juices rather than taking on… What additional uses are there for a food dehydrator? Beyond jerky and herbs, a dehydrator can dry fruit leather, vegetables, yogurt, flowers, pet treats and mushrooms, and some models add presets and a keep warm… Is there a hand blender with a metal coupling connection? No hand blender appears in this site's published comparison, and none of the five countertop blenders it covers states a metal coupling connection in its published… Which is a better option for making dosa batter, an Indian mixie or a US blender? A US blender with a tamper and a wide, heavy jar is the closer match for dosa batter, because an Indian mixie's wet grinder style action… Is pouring hot stock into a blender safe? It depends on the blender and the jar: a vented lid and a jar rated for hot contents reduce the risk, but a sealed jar of… How do I get uniform bubbles in simple Dutch oven bread? Shape a tight surface, proof seam side down, score once, and bake in a heavy lidded pot that traps steam, because even bubbles come from even… How does water behave in Dutch oven baking? A Dutch oven traps steam from the dough, keeping the crust moist early in the bake and then letting it dry and brown once the lid… Does cast iron have a coating from the manufacturer? Bare cast iron usually ships with a factory seasoning of oil, not a synthetic coating, while enameled cast iron ships with a glass enamel layer. Is it safe to use a cast iron skillet over a chimney starter? Yes, a cast iron skillet can sit over a lit chimney starter, and the makers of the skillets in this site's guide list campfires and grills… How do you recover a cast iron skillet with melted fiber on it? Let the pan cool, scrape off the fiber with a flat utensil, wash by hand, dry it fully on the stove, and re-oil the cooking surface. Should a roast be covered in liquid in a slow-cooker? No, a roast should not be fully covered in liquid in a slow-cooker; the liquid should come partway up the roast, and the pot should be… What temperature is the warm setting of a PC550 slow cooker? The PC550 is not one of the five slow cookers compared in our guide, and this site has not published a warm setting temperature for it. When do you add vegetables to a slow cooker? Add dense vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and onions at the start, and add tender vegetables such as peas, spinach and zucchini near the end so… How do you make a specific taste more obvious in a slow cooker? Build the flavor you want to taste in layers, add the loudest ingredients late, and keep the lid on so aromatics stay in the pot instead… Does a pressure cooker really cook food evenly? Yes: a pressure cooker cooks evenly because sealed steam surrounds the food at a uniform temperature and pressure, and the makers describe even heating in their… Is it possible to make pork belly very soft with a pressure cooker? Yes. A pressure cooker can make pork belly very soft, and the makers of the cookers in our guide publish the capacity and power figures that… How much water should you use when cooking pasta in an Instant Pot? An Instant Pot needs only enough water to come partway up the pasta, not a full pot of boiling water, and the exact amount depends on… Is it practical to boil drinking water in a pressure cooker? It works as an emergency method, but the pressure cookers this site compares are built and sold for canning and cooking, not for purifying water, and… Is rice vinegar bad for my non-stick rice cooker? Rice vinegar is acidic, and acid can dull or degrade a non-stick coating over time, so it is best kept out of the inner pot and… How do I get stable and long lasting high temperatures in a charcoal grill? Build a deep bed of lit charcoal in an insulated, well-sealed grill, then control the fire with airflow rather than fuel, which is how kamado makers… What cooking techniques can be used on a barbecue? A barbecue can grill, sear, roast, smoke, bake, braise, steam and air fry, depending on the equipment and the heat source you set up. How does one thoroughly clean the silicone seal from a multicooker’s lid? Remove the seal, wash it by hand in warm soapy water, rinse, dry completely, and re-seat it in the lid. What makes coffee grinds sink in a French press? Grounds sink because water soaks into them and they are denser than the brew around them, and a coarse, even grind settles more predictably than a… When should you heat oil in a Dutch oven? Heat the oil once the pot is on the burner and warming, before you add food, and keep the heat moderate because enameled cast iron holds… What causes Dutch oven flavor? Flavor in a Dutch oven comes from the pot trapping steam and heat so browned meat, aromatics and long simmering concentrate rather than evaporate. How did rust appear on my cast iron in a matter of minutes? Rust appears within minutes when bare cast iron is left wet or air dried, because the iron surface has no protective coating and moisture reaches it… Does a black interior cocotte or Dutch oven such as Staub cause accidental burning of ingredients or fond? A dark interior makes browning harder to read by eye, so fond can scorch before you notice it, but the color itself does not change how… Could a cast iron skillet change its ways and be kosher for a vegan? A cast iron skillet can be kosher for a vegan kitchen, but the pan's history and its seasoning decide what steps are needed, and the makers… How do you clean and season a cast iron pot? Clean a cast iron pot with hot water and a stiff brush, dry it fully on the stove, then rub a thin layer of cooking oil… Is a convex surface normal in a cast iron skillet? A convex surface is not normal in a cast iron skillet; a flat cooking surface is the standard, and none of the makers in our guide… What accounts for Dutch oven price variation? Price differences track the capacity, the published weight, the enamel and the oven rating a maker states, not one single spec. Is it safe to prepare a crock pot recipe the night before? Yes, assembling the ingredients in the crock the night before and refrigerating it is safe, provided you keep the insert cold until you start cooking. When cooking pulled pork in a slow cooker, should the meat be submerged in liquid? No. The meat should sit above the liquid, not under it, so it braises in steam rather than boils. Can a Slow Cooker Meatloaf Get a Browned Crust? A slow cooker alone will not brown a meatloaf, but some models let you sear or finish the loaf under a hot element or in the… How do you bake whole potatoes in a slow cooker? Wrap each potato in aluminum foil, set it in the slow cooker, and cook on high until a knife slides in with no resistance, usually several… Why use a pressure cooker for collagen to gelatin conversion? Heat and moisture turn collagen into gelatin, and a pressure cooker raises the boiling point of water so that conversion happens faster than in an open… Does cooking in a pressure cooker destroy nutrients? No. Pressure cooking generally preserves more vitamins than boiling because food spends less time in water and in heat. Is an aluminum pressure cooker reactive, and will it give off flavors? Bare aluminum is a reactive metal, so acidic and strongly colored foods can pick up a metallic taste and darken in an uncoated aluminum canner, while… Can canning be achieved with vacuum sealed bags? No. Vacuum sealing removes air from a bag, but canning is a heat process that sterilizes food in a sealed jar, and no vacuum sealer or… Can microwave safe glass vessels be used in an electric oven? No, microwave safe glass is not automatically safe for electric oven use; the maker's oven-safe claim is the one that matters. How do you cook waffles intended for freezer-then-toaster? Toast them straight from the freezer in a slot toaster or toaster oven, following the maker's box for time and heat, and skip the microwave if… How do you remove commercial seasoning from a skillet? Strip the factory seasoning with hot water, a scouring pad and a mild abrasive, then reseason the bare metal yourself. What are the differences between a Dutch oven and ceramic casserole? A Dutch oven is a heavy cast iron pot, often enameled, that goes from stovetop to oven, while a ceramic casserole is a broader category of… Can deglazing a cast iron skillet remove the seasoning? Deglazing can strip a thin or unevenly built seasoning, but a well established layer of polymerized oil on a cast iron skillet generally survives a splash…