4 New Year's Resolutions for Anyone With a Kitchen

Whether you are a home cook, a professional culinarian, or a master ‘microwaver’, here are FOUR New Year’s Resolutions everyone with a kitchen should make (and stick to) in 2023!

?1. Sharpen your knives regularly ??

?It is incredibly easy to injure yourself with a dull blade. An unsharpened knife requires more pressure when cutting, increasing the chances of it slipping out of your grip and causing a serious wound. Moreover, dull knives make slicing difficult and yield uneven cuts. To avoid kitchen accidents and to ensure precise cuts, sharpen your knives at least twice a month.

Are you looking to replace your old knives with better-quality, professional-level tools? Check out options at Chefs' Toys, a TriMark Company ’.

?2. Clean correctly ??

?It’s easy to grab a sponge and liquid soap when facing a pile of dirty dishes, but this go-to method can cause damage to some of your favorite kitchen items. To preserve the functionality of different materials, you need to clean differently!

For example, washing cast iron with metallic scrubbers and dish soap can cause it to lose its utility. Next time you need to clean a skillet, scrub with coarse salt, briefly rinse with warm water, lightly coat with oil, and wipe down with a paper towel. Some cooks avoid washing cast iron altogether but instead use a salt and oil scrub to remove bits of food to prepare their pan for its next culinary adventure!

Stay tuned for more kitchen cleaning tips!

?3. Practice good storage methods ?

?When food spoils in the refrigerator, we lose hard-earned money and expose ourselves to foodborne illnesses, which is not on our bucket list this year! Storing perishable food items in the fridge doesn’t have to be challenging.

To reduce food waste and save yourself from unpleasant odors, be sure to follow the recommended storage tips below.

1. Store leftovers on the top shelf along with dairy products, which should be closer to the back of the refrigerator.
2. Move raw meats, eggs, and fish to the middle.
3. Keep fresh produce at the bottom.
4. If you have humidity-monitoring drawers, check to ensure that fruits and vegetables are stored accordingly.
5. Don’t think you’ll eat it by the expiration date? Extend shelf life by freezing!

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4. Challenge yourself with new recipes ??

?To some, cooking is a flavorful adventure full of possibilities. To others, it feels like a burdensome and complex chore. This year, challenge yourself by attempting a new recipe or two! You can start by elevating your go-to dishes (staples that you know how to cook). Plain scrambled eggs can be turned gourmet with cheese and vegetables! By 2024, your cooking skills will have reached a new height, and the kitchen will be your new comfort zone!

Disclosure: This is not professional advice. Using best judgment is advised when working in the kitchen.