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Liquid Measure Volume Equivalents ›
Dry Measure Equivalents ›
Miscellaneous Cooking Tips ›
Miscellaneous Food Storage Tips ›
Ways to use your Microwave you might have never thought of ›

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• To slice meat into thin strips, partially freeze and it will slice easily.
•  A roast with the bone in will cook faster than a boneless roast -  the bone carries the heat to the inside of the roast quicker.
•  For a juicer hamburger add cold water to the beef before grilling(1/2 cup to 1 pound of meat).
•  To keep cauliflower white while cooking -  add a little milk to the water.
• Microwave a lemon for 15 seconds and roll it between your hands or on the counter and you will double the amount of juice you get when squeezing.
• Microwave garlic cloves for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off.
• When slicing a hard boiled egg, try wetting the knife just before cutting. If that doesn't do the trick, try applying a bit of cooking spray to the edge.
• Rescue stale or soggy chips and crackers: Preheat the oven to 300F. Spread the chips or crackers in a single layer on a  baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes. Allow to cool, then seal in a plastic bag or container.
• A dampened paper towel or terry cloth brushed downward on a cob of corn will remove every strand of corn silk.
• No "curly" bacon for breakfast when you dip it into cold water before frying.
• Use a gentle touch when shaping ground beef patties. Overhandling will result in a firm, compact texture after cooking. Don't press or flatten with spatula during cooking.
• A jar lid or a couple of marbles in the bottom half of a double-boiler will rattle when the water gets low and warn you to add more before the pan scorches or burns.

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Miscellaneous Food Storage Tips

• The best way to store fresh celery is to wrap it in aluminium foil and put it in the refrigerator--it will keep for weeks.
• You can keep fresh asparagus fresh longer by placing the cut side down in a large mason jar. Add about and inch or and inch and a half of water. Place a plastic storage bag over the top on the Asparagus to keep the tops moist and store in the refrigerator.
• Store unused flour in the freezer for a longer shelf life.
• Marshmallows won't dry out when frozen.
• Place green fruits in a perforated plastic bag. The holes will allow air to circulate while retaining the ethylene gas that fruits produce during ripening.
• Store freshly cut basil on your kitchen counter in a glass with the water level covering only the stems. Change the water occasionally. It will keep for weeks this way, even develop roots! Basil hates to be cold, so NEVER put  it in the refrigerator. Also, regular cutting encourages new growth and healthier plants.
• Cheese won't harden if you butter the exposed edges before storing.
• If you need only 1/2 an onion, save the root half. It will last longer.
• Hulling Strawberries has never been easier. Push a drinking straw through the bottom of the strawberry to pop out the stem. 

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Ways to use your Microwave you might have never thought of:

• It peels vegetables: Winter stews call for peeled tomatoes but meticulous peeling is a drag. After washing and cutting tomatoes in half, place them cut-side down in the microwave and heat for five minutes until the skin has shrivelled around the edges. Then, gently slide them off with a fork or even your fingernails. 
• It warms bath towels: Place a slightly damp towel in a large Ziploc bag, and then pop them in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Not all plastic bags are microwave-safe so check the box first. 
• Get gum off your clothes: Warm one cup of vinegar in the microwave for a minute or so, then dab it on the gum with a clean cloth until it's gone. 
• Sooth menstrual cramps: You can always use a heating pad if you have killer period cramps but if you don't own one, fill a large cotton sock with a mix of grains or lentils and sew the open end closed. Pop it in the microwave for two minutes, then place on your abdomen. Sweet relief! Since beans have a low water content, place a glass of water in the microwave so the water will produce friction, absorbing the radiation and helping to warm the towel. 
• It even sterilizes soil: Before planting seedlings, sterilize your soil to remove bacteria so your seeds thrive. Spread about 400g of soil on a flat, non-metal dish, and then heat on high until the soil starts steaming. Make sure the soil is thoroughly stirred so the heat dissipates throughout. You'll have to experiment with how long you cook it but heating for 90 seconds will at least reduce the amount of bacteria.
• Drying herbs: Keep thyme and oregano fresh by drying them out in the microwave. Just wash, then lie them out on a paper towel, heating in 30 seconds blasts until they're dry. 
• Cook scrambled eggs and bacon: Make an easy breakfast with barely any clean up. Mix eggs and a tablespoon of milk in a microwavable bowl and stir. Cook on full power for a minute. Remove and stir. Now heat in 30-seconds blasts (stirring after each blast) until you have a solid scramble. When cooking eggs, make sure the internal temperature of the microwave is 160 degrees. While you're stirring the eggs in between heating, stick a thermometer in there to test the temperature. For the bacon, simply place a few strips on a plate and nuke for two and a half minutes. 
• Freshen up packaged food: Don't toss stale crackers and cereal. Pour on a plate and zap in the microwave for 30 seconds.

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