Kitchen Gear Explainers: How It Works, in Plain Terms

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.

Is there a good way to cook a hamburger on a cast iron skillet? Yes: get a pre-seasoned cast iron skillet hot, lay the patty down without moving it, and let the iron's heat retention build a browned crust before… How do I translate a baking recipe for box mixes for cast iron skillets? Match the batter to the skillet you own, preheat the pan, and adjust the bake time and temperature to the depth of the iron, using the… What skillet pan should I use for making spring roll wrappers? A flat, low-rimmed pan with an even base works best, and a crepe pan is built for exactly that job. How do you use a pressure cooker for frozen chicken? Cook the chicken from frozen under pressure with a liquid in the pot, then confirm it reached a safe internal temperature before serving. Does double-frying French Fries in an air fryer make it crispier? Double-frying can add crispness, but an air fryer changes the second fry into a hot-air finish, and the result depends on the machine's published temperature range… Is leaving a Teflon rice cooker on overnight dangerous? No maker in this guide states that leaving its rice cooker on overnight is dangerous, and none of the five picks publishes a maximum continuous keep… How does a typical electric rice cooker work? A typical electric rice cooker heats a covered inner pot to cook rice in measured water, then drops to a low keep warm setting once the… How do you determine if canning is safe? Canning is safe when the food's acidity matches the method: boiling water bath for high-acid fruits, jams, pickles and salsa, pressure canning for low-acid vegetables, meats,… Is it really necessary to avoid using soap on a cast iron skillet? No. Modern dish soap will not strip a properly seasoned skillet, and the makers of the skillets in our guide describe hand washing with warm water… Can pressure canning be replaced by water bath canning? No. Water bath canning is only for high acid foods, and low acid vegetables, meats, poultry and seafood need the pressure canner the USDA recommends. How do I convert slow cooker recipes to a pressure cooker with different cooking times? Cook the same dish in a fraction of the slow cooker's time, but treat the conversion as a starting point and adjust liquid, size and timing… Why does the Instant Pot use pressure while steaming? An Instant Pot uses pressure to raise the boiling point of water, so steam gets hotter than it can in an open pot and food cooks… Why does the grate of my charcoal grill keep rusting? Charcoal grill grates rust because moisture, ash and bare or worn metal stay in contact between cooks, and most makers publish no rust warranty for the… How do you remove garlic smell from a refrigerator or ice maker? Clear the odor at the source first, then absorb what is left in the air and in the ice path, because a smell that has reached… What’s the difference between a French oven and a Dutch oven? A French oven and a Dutch oven are the same pot: a heavy lidded vessel, usually enameled cast iron, and the two names describe the same… Why are stoneware and Dutch oven items exempt from bacteria? They are not exempt from bacteria. What enameled cast iron and glazed stoneware offer is a non-porous, easy to clean surface, and the makers of the… How do I stop oatmeal from sticking to the sides of my slow cooker? Grease the insert, keep the heat low, and stir once or twice, because oatmeal scorches where the pot wall runs hotter than the porridge. When should you put a dry cloth over an electric rice cooker? A dry cloth over the lid is a folk trick for catching steam and speeding the warm-up, and no maker in this guide publishes a cloth… Does using a larger slow cooker than called for by the recipe make a difference? Yes, capacity changes how a recipe behaves, and the maker figures show how far apart the picks sit, from 6 quarts to 8.5 quarts. Why is my focaccia undercooked when using an air fryer? Focaccia browns on top before the center sets because air fryers move hot air fast and heat from above, so the crust dries and colors while… Is cooking with an air fryer similar, nutritionally, to baking? Both methods cook food with hot air, so the nutritional outcome is close, but an air fryer moves that air fast and browns the surface more,… Does the Philips Air-fryer work as well as a standard deep-fryer? No, and the difference is mechanical: an air fryer moves hot air around the food, while a deep fryer submerges it in hot oil, so the… What to look for when buying a rice cooker? Look at capacity in cooked cups, the pot coating and whether it is removable, the control type, and the wattage the maker publishes. Will meat cook inside of a rice cooker? Yes, meat can cook in a rice cooker, but only the makers' published features tell you which models are set up for it, and none of… Can you make orange juice with a blender? Yes, a blender will turn peeled orange segments into a drinkable juice, though the result is thicker and more pulpy than pressed juice because the blades… What is the use of different blender speeds? Different speeds let you match blade force to the job: low speeds fold and stir thick or chunky mixtures, mid speeds puree and emulsify, and high… What are the differences between coffee made with a French press or an espresso machine? A French press steeps ground coffee in hot water and strains it through a metal mesh, while an espresso machine forces hot water through a packed… What’s the difference in baking bread in a loaf pan vs. in a Dutch oven? A loaf pan shapes a loaf and holds it upright, while a Dutch oven traps steam under a heavy lid and bakes bread in a round,… Would a cast iron pot work well for chili? If so, why? A cast iron pot can work well for chili, and the reasons come down to how the material holds and spreads heat rather than to any… What are the advantages and disadvantages to using a griddle instead of a cast-iron skillet? A griddle gives you a wide flat surface and even, controllable heat for batches of pancakes or bacon, while a cast iron skillet gives you deep… Is it still possible to make cast iron skillets as good as the old ones? Yes. Makers still cast iron skillets in the same shapes and weights as vintage pans, and some publish a smoother cooking surface than other current brands. Why is a pressure canner needed when canning? A pressure canner is needed because low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, poultry and seafood must be processed at temperatures above boiling water to be safe,… What are the benefits of fuzzy logic in a rice cooker? Fuzzy logic lets a rice cooker adjust cooking time and temperature on its own instead of running one fixed program, which is how makers describe steadier… What should I look for when choosing a Dutch oven? Look first at capacity, oven-safe temperature, cooktop compatibility and published weight, then at lid design and interior enamel, because those are the figures and features makers… How do you clean and maintain cast iron lids? Wash a cast iron lid by hand in warm water, dry it completely right away, and rub a thin layer of cooking oil over the iron… Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot? No. A Crock-Pot is a brand of slow cooker, so every Crock-Pot is a slow cooker, but not every slow cooker is a Crock-Pot. Is it ok to leave a slow cooker unattended? Yes, for the models whose makers describe set-and-forget cooking, provided you follow the maker's stated settings and keep the appliance on a stable surface. Why would a pressure cooker shorten a braise time? A sealed pressure cooker raises the boiling point of the liquid so the braise cooks hotter than an open pot can, which shortens the time meat… Why heat soup in a blender? A blender can turn hot ingredients into a smooth soup in the jar itself, and some models are built to hold heat while they work. How do you clean a burnt cast iron pot? Scrub off the burnt layer with hot water and a stiff brush, dry the iron completely on the stove, then re-oil the cooking surface so it… Is there a difference between a Convection Oven and an Air Fryer? Yes: an air fryer is a small convection oven that moves air fast in a tight chamber, while a convection oven is a full-size oven with… How do you keep dust and cat hair off cast iron pans? Store the pan covered or in a closed cabinet, wipe it down before each use, and keep the cooking surface seasoned so hair and dust lift… Can you can items using a deep fryer instead of a pressure canner? No. A deep fryer cannot be used for pressure canning, and none of the pressure canners compared here is a deep fryer. How do you grill a perfect burger? A perfect burger comes from high, steady heat, a clean grate, and a quick sear that leaves the inside juicy. The equipment you use sets the… How important is RPM in a blender? RPM matters, but only one blender on our compared list publishes a figure for it, so it is a weak way to compare machines. Why Are Most Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens Only Rated to 400 or 450 F? Because the rating follows the weakest part of the pot, usually a resin lid knob, and the maker's caution about thermal shock to the enamel, not… Is a Cast Iron Skillet Suitable for Vegans? Yes, the pan itself is iron and the only animal-derived element it could carry is the factory seasoning fat, which the makers in our guide either… Can a Rice Cooker Make Amounts Much Smaller Than Its Rating? Yes, a rice cooker will cook far less than its rating as long as the rice-to-water ratio stays the same, though only two makers on this…