Public opinion reflects new stance
Meats can easily reach a temperature that enables bacteria to start growing. Alternatively, place it in the microwave on a defrost setting, in the fridge, or in cold water.
If you plan on eating fruit and veggies right away, it's better to leave them at room temperature. But keeping them in the fridge can extend shelf life, so it's a good option if you don't eat these foods very regularly.
You should be doing this at least once a month. This way you avoid the spreading of bacteria and, consequently, food contamination.
Sponges are a haven for bacteria. They're probably one of the dirtiest things in your kitchen, so it's important to replace them often.
Place frozen foods and foods that need to be refrigerated in the fridge as soon as you get home.
When was the last time you gave your sink a proper clean? While soap and water might do the trick, using a disinfectant won't hurt.
How often do you use that fancy gadget you bought? There are plenty of kitchen utensils that we need, but others, not so much.
Storing meats on the top shelf of your fridge is not ideal. You want to place them on the bottom shelf. This way, if juices spill, they won't get all over your other foods.
Grab a large plastic bottle, cut both ends and fill it with plastic bags. Secure it (upside down) to the inside of a cabinet door, and you have a nice recycled plastic bag dispenser!
Placing your fridge next to a wall can be problematic, especially when you can't fully open the door and pull out the shelves.
Aggregate your condiments and things such as salt and pepper in one place. This will save you space in the pantry and it will be more practical.
A kitchen cart can be really useful when it comes to saving space, and it's a lot cheaper than buying more cabinets!
A microwave can take considerable space on you counter. Instead, place it on a shelf, or hang it on the wall.
Gaps are annoying–stuff falls through them, they get dirty, etc. Grab some transparent plastic tube from the hardware store and fill the gaps in your countertops.
We use a variety of products to remove grease off the filter, but there's a simple solution: a water-based degreaser. You can buy one at your local auto parts store. Just sink it, and it will come out sparkling clean!
If you think dishwashers are always clean, think again. Food residue accumulates in some areas, compromising the machine's performance.
These are a much greener alternative to paper towels.
Place half a lemon in a bowl with water. Boil it for a minute and leave the door closed. The steam will do its work. All you have to do is to wipe it with a cloth afterwards.
Utensil holders are great space savers. Just hang your kitchen utensils instead of storing them.
These can smell sometimes. You can start by cleaning under the splash guard. Dropping in orange or lemon peels might also help.
Coffee can be used for a variety of things, including removing bad odors in your kitchen.
If you don't want to buy new sponges all the time, you can disinfect them. Two minutes in full power is usually enough to kill the bacteria and germs. But you can always do it twice, just to make sure.
Try damping a sponge or cloth in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds beforehand. It will be hot, so don't forget to wear gloves!
Like kitchen utensils, these can take up a lot of space in your cupboard, so hanging them is a great solution.
Sometimes a spray and a microfiber mop can get the job done just a well.
Slice a lemon in half, place it at the end of the faucet in a plastic bag, and secure it with a rubber band. Wait a few hours, and voila!
If you cook on a regular basis, it's advisable that you sharpen your knives two to four times a year.
In a perfect world, our kitchen would be spotless, we would have plenty of space, and it would smell wonderful too—all the time! But we don't live in a perfect world. Things get messy, we run out of storage space, and we repeat mistakes over and over again. The good news, however, is that it doesn't have to be this way.
In this gallery, you'll find a number of common mistakes most of us are guilty of. But we're not here to point fingers–we're here to help you! Click on to find out how.
Common kitchen mistakes you should stop making
How often are you cleaning your dishwasher?
LIFESTYLE Kitchen hacks
In a perfect world, our kitchen would be spotless, we would have plenty of space, and it would smell wonderful too—all the time! But we don't live in a perfect world. Things get messy, we run out of storage space, and we repeat mistakes over and over again. The good news, however, is that it doesn't have to be this way.
In this gallery, you'll find a number of common mistakes most of us are guilty of. But we're not here to point fingers–we're here to help you! Click on to find out how.