Food Tips & Ingredient Ideas

Romaine lettuce has approximately three times the vitamins A and C as iceberg lettuce.

When freezing fresh berries, first place them on a cookie sheet 1/4 inch apart and freeze. When frozen, place in freezer bags.

Peppers can be frozen without blanching. Just cut as desired and place in freezer bags.

Wrap the bases of fresh asparagus spears in wet paper towels, store in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

To soften brown sugar, place the sugar in an open container in the microwave with a cup of water beside it. Microwave it on high for 2-3 minutes, checking it each minute.

If you are using cream cheese or whipped cream icing on a cake, it must be stored in the refrigerator.

Store leftover turkey in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze for up to two months.

Romaine lettuce has approximately three times the vitamins A and C as iceberg lettuce.

Always remove the stuffing from your stuffed turkey or chicken within two hours after roasting and promptly refrigerate or freeze separate from the meat. It can be refrigerated for three days or frozen for two months.

A great low-cal/low fat snack is cinnamon graham crackers and Philadelphia brand cheesecake flavored cream cheese! It tastes just like cheese cake!(but much easier)
Submitted by Wendy G.

When you have to slice meat into thin strips, put it in the freezer for 1/2 so its firm enough to slice a knife through.
Submitted by Mical H.

To crush nuts without a mess, put them into a plastic Ziploc bag and pound away.
Submitted by Mary S.

When icing a cake dip your knife into some milk and this will make the icing spread smoothly and easily on the cake.
Submitted by Alex S.

To keep rolls hot longer in a roll basket, place aluminum foil under the napkin.

Potatoes cooked in their skins retain nearly all their vitamins and minerals.

A ripened pineapple, when thumped on the side, will have a dull thump.

One medium orange yields approximately two to three tablespoons of orange juice. Three to four medium oranges yields approximately one cup of orange juice.

Put an onion in the freezer for about 5 minutes and it will reduce the tears!
Submitted by Denise W.

Cholesterol free foods must have less than 2 milligrams of cholesterol and 2 grams or less of saturated fat per serving.

Store potatoes in a cool, dark, slightly humid and well ventilated place.

Freeze an unfrosted cake in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw completely before frosting.

To remove food stains from your hands or cutting boards, cut a potato in half, run it under cold water and rub it on your hands or boards.

One cup of uncooked rice equals three cups of cooked rice.

To hull strawberries easily, use a drinking straw. Place the straw on the point of the strawberry and push it through to the top.

One lemon yields approximately two and a half to three and a half tablespoons of lemon juice.

Two and a half to three pound broiler-fryer yields about two and a half cups of diced meat.

When buying fresh beef, look for beef that is firm to the touch, cherry red colored with no brown or grayish blotches.

Light or lite foods must have one third fewer calories than a comparable regular product.

To remove center of head of lettuce, place the core of lettuce on counter and slap the top of the lettuce, the core of the lettuce will pop out.
Submitted by Margaret G.

Wrap green tomatoes in newspaper and store in a cool, dark place for the tomatoes to ripen.

When removing the silk from cobs of corn, wet a paper towel and brush downwards on the cob.

Thaw frozen bread in a brown paper bag for five minutes in a 325 degree oven.

Spin the water out of your salad using the spin cycle on your washing machine.

Don't thaw food on the counter top, food should be thawed in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead.

To make wine vinegar, leave the cork out of a bottle of wine to let air in. Let it stand for a few weeks. The air will oxidize the wine into vinegar.

Being from potato country, take it from me, always start your boiled potatoes in cold water when cooking them. This keeps them mealy. Especially important for potato salad.
Submitted by Sharon L.

Store cottage cheese in its original carton upside down. It will stay fresh longer.

When marinating raw meat, place it in the refrigerator. Throw out the marinade from the raw meat unless you plan on using it. If you use it, boil for several
minutes to destroy any bacteria from the raw meat.

To cook less tender cuts of beef, use a moist heat method such as simmering, stewing or slow cooking.

Fresh strawberries will last longer in an air tight container in the refrigerator unwashed.

For one cup of cracker crumbs, you will need 28 saltines, 14 graham or 24 round crackers.

One pound of all purpose flour equals three and a half to four cups of unsifted flour.

An average clove of garlic equals 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Eight ounces of uncooked spaghetti yields four cups of cooked spaghetti.

When thawing a frozen turkey, use its original plastic wrapper in the refrigerator. Place the turkey on a tray in the refrigerator and allow 5 hours per pound. Or use the cold water and cover the turkey with cold water, changing occasionally. Allow 1 hour per pound.

Store eggs in their original carton in coldest part of the refrigerator, towards the back. Use by the best-before date.

Flavored butters go great with fresh baked breads! Try mixing fresh herbs, @1tablespoon to a stick, into softened butter. Let it sit a while for the flavors to meld. These butters can be frozen to use at a later date also.
Submitted by Elisa C.

Freeze buttermilk (whoever could use an entire quart! [one of those hardly-ever-use items]) in one cup increments for convenient use within three months.
Submitted by Marilyn N.

Bake fish on top of celery and onions. This will add to the taste and keep the fish from sticking.

To freeze eggs, crack them and beat together with a pinch of salt. You can freeze egg whites with no salt. Pour in an airtight container and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator and use within one year.

When freezing fish and poultry, place the fresh meat on a tray and place in the freezer until frozen. When frozen, remove from the freezer and place in freezer bags returning to the freezer.

Before leaving on a picnic, fill a thermos with boiling water and drop in frankfurters. They will be completely cooked by the time you're ready to eat them!