easy, delicious, real food recipes

One of the most valuable, still fewer concern parts of your home is your ultimate kitchen. Everything you consume, either directly or indirectly, has been referred by your kitchen.

Your kitchen is an integral part of your daily meals. As all activities of your kitchen are directly related to your body, you just cannot ignore the safety and cleanliness of your kitchen. There are possibilities of some critical diseases if you don’t pay enough attention to the proper cleanliness of the kitchen and its appliances. So it is very important to keep the place clean regularly.

Let us see how you can clean some important appliances in your kitchen.

Clean your Refrigerator

If someone asks you that which is probably the dirtiest part of your appliances, the answer is simple! It is the backside of your refrigerator. It’s the most ignored part of not only your kitchen but also your home. It’s the abode for cockroaches, insects, and germs.

The refrigerator contains vegetables, milk, soups, eggs, curry, cold drinks, etc. It is also important to clean your fridge; both inside and outside, regularly.

How to clean?

1. Cleaning of items inside the refrigerator:

• • First of all, switch-off the connection of your refrigerator. Then make your refrigerator empty by plucking items inside it.
  • Remove all shelves, drawers and all other removable items from your fridge and collect them all near the sink where you can easily clean them.

• • Now, first of all, wash all the gathered items by hand and water. Then apply dish soap over them. Some items may need brushing, sponging and scrubbing too!
  • Be cautious while washing a clod glass shelf. Never apply hot water over them. The sudden change of temperature could cause harm to the glass. Rather, wash them with cold water. Let it match the room temperature and then washing it is a good idea.
  • Use hot water along with ammonia in the ratio of 1:5, if there is a heavy spill or stain and wait for some time for the soaking the combination before scrubbing the item.

• After washing the items, let them dry completely. Once again, rub them with a dry, clean cloth before inserting them back into the fridge.

2. Cleaning inside of the refrigerator

• Rub the whole surface with clean cloth or sponge.
• Never use a strong fragrant soap inside the refrigerator as your food items could easily absorb that smell.
• Clean inside of your fridge with one of the following solutions:
• Mix baking soda with a quarter of hot water. It needs 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Mix 1 part of vinegar in 3 parts of hot water.
• If there is a major stain; apply a part of white toothpaste over it. It serves as a cleanser with a nice fragrance.
• Never forget t clean the inside area such as shelving space and open space of the doors of your refrigerator with the help of any solution described above.
• Dry off all shelves with the help of dry cloth before placing them inside their respective places.
• Clean the gasket with the same solution of water and vinegar.
• Wipe off all bottles, jars, baskets and other essential storage items and then put them carefully inside the fridge.

3. Cleaning of the exterior of the refrigerator:

• First of all, wipe off all exterior of the fridge that includes the front side, backside, adjutant sides, and top side of your refrigerator.
• Pull off the refrigerator in the forward direction. Clean all sides by using a good cleaner.
• Don’t wipe the backside of your refrigerator if there is the coil mounted. It needs other treatment to clean that part.

4. Cleaning off the back of the refrigerator:

• • You need to have other treatments while cleaning the backside of your fridge. There are condenser coils and fan blades. It is one of the most ignorant areas of cleaning when you think of your kitchen. They are usually covered with dust, stains, debris, and hair. First of all, you need to unplug the refrigerator from power source. Gently remove dust particles from the coil with the use of coil brush. Never use any sort of liquid solution to clean the coil. To clean the fan blade, use the damp rag along with coil brush.

Cleaning your Coffee Machine

To save clogging of your machine from the dirt and stains, you need to remove them by cleaning your machine thoroughly. Make a solution of two parts of water and 1 part of vinegar. Pour that solution into a water chamber and insert a coffee filter and mix that solution into the machine. After that, rinse the water chamber and run clear water twice after it. It will help to remove vinegary taste of your coffee machine.

Cleaning of your Microwave

There are few items you can use in the cleaning of your microwave:

1. A bowl filled with water with a mix of white vinegar in the ratio of 75:25.
2. Specially designed microfiber cloths
3. A lemon is sliced into the two parts.

Procedure:

• • Before cleaning your microwave, read all the instructions given in the user’s manual. It is advisable because you can take decisions according to special instructions/s given in the manual as the procedure of cleaning needs to be carefully done. It gives you an insight if there is a need to use additional material while cleaning or whether the items we are using are feasible to your microwave or not.
  • Detach all plates and removable parts from your microwave. Collect and wash them one-by-one according to the instructions given in the user manuals.
  • Pour the bowl of water mixed with vinegar in your microwave.

• • Start microwave for 4-5 minutes. See if inner walls are steamed up enough.
  • Take a microfiber cloth and wipe out the inner side of your microwave smoothly. Be cautious as the bowl and the mixed water of vinegar may be hot at that time.
  • After the heating up of the microwave, the dirt inside the microwave will be loosened by vinegary steam.

• Now, chop your lemon into two parts and that two parts of lemon(half-half) should be microwave for 1-2 minutes.

• The combination of the juice of the microwaved lemon and vinegar will kill off germs generated from the dirt, and loosen up anything that is badly carbonized inside the microwave. Moreover, the lemon will add the exotic fragrance to your microwave.

Oven Cleaning Process

Although modern ovens come with the self-cleaning options, there are some few spots where self-cleaning doesn’t work out. For example, gunk located near door hinges and frames, and space between double ovens.

You can easily clean the above parts of your great toaster oven by wiping them with vinegar or a solution of detergent-mixed water.

Cleaning of stovetop

Pull off knobs, burners, and hood vents. Soak them all in the bucket of hot, soapy water for 2-3 hours. Then scrub them all. Repeat this process if you feel it necessary.you can use the cloth and little water/soap steps to clean portable induction cooktops also when cooking outside or inside the kitchen.

Wipe off all the materials with a dry and clean cloth and place them all in their original place.

Your dishwasher cleans all your utensils and cleans its upper body every time in the process of cleaning. But, have you noticed its bottom part? Have you checked the drain for debris? Have you wiped the gaskets and seals?

It is advised to deodorize it by placing the bowl of any of the following:

Lentils are a nutritious powerhouse that can easily be used in many dishes. They are full of fibre, protein and other essential vitamins, making them a perfect addition to a balanced diet.

A lentil curry can refer to any curry that includes lentils. It is difficult to define the term because it could refer to any type of lentil. But it can also be any other curry that has lentils. Lentil curries can also include many different kinds of curry. Even an ordinary curry recipe could become one with the addition of some type of lentils.

How to Freeze Lentil Curry?

Freezing Dal or cooked lentils is easy. Just follow these simple steps.

Make sure your lentil curry is cool before freezing. If you are making a lot of curry and need to speed it up, divide it into smaller pieces.

1. 1. You can place the cooked lentil curry in freeze-proof plastic containers, glass jars, or bags. Consider the size of your portions and how long it might take to freeze large batches.

1. 1. For the lentil curry to expand in the freezer, leave at least half an inch around your containers’ tops.
   2. You should squeeze any air out of freezer bags. This will prevent freezer burning and prolong the life of your curry.
   3. Before you place the lentil curry in the fridge, be sure to label and date it. This will help you ensure a consistent stock rotation in your freezer.

Freezing Lentil Curry with Silicone Molds

This is a great way to use large silicone molds and ice cube trays to freeze lentil curry.

Cook and Cool: Let the lentil curry cool to room temperature for at least an hour after it is cooked to your liking.

Fill the Tray: lentil curry can be added to the silicone mold or ice tray, and you can then portion it according to your preference.

Flash Freeze: Let the ice cube tray cool in the freezer for at least two hours before setting it up.

Seal and pack: Seal the Ziploc bags with the frozen lentil curry cubes. Before sealing them, squeeze out any extra air.

Label and Freeze: Before storing the bag in the freezer, add a label that includes the amount of lentil curry and the best-before date.

How to Defrost Dhal/Thaw Lentil Curry?

It is best to freeze lentil curry overnight in the refrigerator. It will allow it to thaw for a long time without becoming contaminated with foodborne bacteria.

You may need to defrost a larger portion. We recommend that you wait at least 48 hours before making lentil curry.

You can freeze small portions of lentil curry in your microwave with the same defrost settings.

Can You Freeze Lentils?

Lentils are a nutritious food rich in protein and fibre.

You can combine this healthy food with many dishes or replace unhealthy ingredients with lentils.

Because it is rich in protein, lentils are a good option for a healthy diet.

Cooking lentils can take a lot of time and is not a good fit for your busy lifestyle.

Dried and cooked lentils can be kept fresh in the fridge for up to six months. You should freeze canned lentils within two months to preserve their flavour.

How to Cook & Freeze Lentils?

We recommend that you cook lentils before freezing them. This will make them more useful once they are thawed. Lentils do not require long cooking times or soaking like beans. Brown lentils and green lentils, however, take between 30 and 35 minutes.

These steps will help you cook and freeze lentils.

Start by washing the lentils well to remove any debris or stones. Then, cover the lentils with half an inch of cold water. Simmer the mixture for about 20-30 minutes. The type of lentil that you use will affect the cooking time.

When boiling the lentils, make sure you keep an eye on them. If necessary, add water to keep them covered. After they have been cooked, strain them. You know they have been cooked perfectly when they aren’t too soft or too hard. If you have the time, let the strained lentils sit on the filter for longer to remove as much moisture as possible. Too much water can make them sticky once they are frozen.

It doesn’t matter if you call it meat sauce or ragu Bolognese; the combination of meat, tomatoes, and pasta is deeply satisfying. A true Italian Bolognese sauce requires more than just ground beef and a jar of marinara.

What is Bolognese?

Bolognese is a popular recipe that evolved. The dish developed due to the return of American soldiers from Italy following World War II and the arrival of waves upon arrival of Italian immigrants to the United States.

Bolognese is a sauce made from ground beef and tomatoes on this side of the Atlantic. Similar versions are also very popular in Germany and other European countries. This dish is not available in Italy.

Today’s authentic Italian Bolognese uses minced flank steak instead of ground chuck. It also has milk, and beef broth and simmers for hours to achieve a complex flavour. It is not possible to mix a jar with sauce in ground beef.

Can you freeze bolognese sauce? 

Yes, you can freeze it so you can enjoy it later. The bolognese sauce freezes well and can last for up to three months. Either freeze the sauce and pasta together or the sauce by itself.

People often make large batches of Bolognese to freeze to save time and keep dinner light during busy weeks.

How do you freeze Bolognese sauce?

Let’s look at how to freeze it.

Step 1 – Preparation

Allow the beef sauce to cool down before freezing. If the sauce is at room temperature, it’s best to store it immediately. However, hot or warm sauces should not be stored directly in the freezer because they can increase the temperature.

For the first 2 hours, refrigerated food should remain between 120 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and then 70 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit for the following four hours. Let the sauce cool to room temperature for at least 2 hours before storing it in the refrigerator.

You can also put the sauce into a container and place it in a large bowl of cold water. The cooling process will be accelerated if you stir the sauce frequently. Once your sauces are cool, you can put them in the fridge or freezer.

Step 2 – Find the right container.

Next, identify the type of container. Sauces and other foods should not be stored in glass containers. The food inside could expand during freezing, which can cause the container to crack. Instead, you should use plastic containers.

Step 3: Proper Storage

Instead of storing large quantities of sauce, consider how you will use them once they are thawed. Divide them before freezing. You can freeze a small amount of sauce in an ice tray or small freezer bags if you only require a little.

This saves space and helps you reheat individual portions more quickly. You can avoid freezer burn by removing excess air from the container or choosing a container allowing small air movement.

How do you defrost Bolognese Sauce?

There are many ways to freeze Bolognese sauce. Depending on how quickly you need it, there are many options.

• Refrigerator Method

The fridge is my first and most preferred method.

To thaw, place the frozen sauce in the refrigerator. It is best to keep the sauce cool and not at room temperature. This prevents harmful bacteria from growing.

To maintain a consistent consistency, you can freeze your frozen sauce overnight.

• • Warm Water Method

If impatient, place the bag or container in a bowl with warm water. Think of Goldilocks. Not too hot, but not too cold. Just right. It can sit for anywhere from thirty to forty-five to five minutes. It will take longer, depending on the size of your portion. If you had listened to me and divided the sauce into smaller pieces, we wouldn’t have this problem.

• Microwave Method

Microwave the sauce for quick and easy thawing. After you have removed the frozen sauce from the bag or container, place the Bolognese into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover it with a paper towel.

Yes, you can freeze cheese sauce for up to 6 Months. The sauce will not lose its flavor even though it may split during thawing. Stir the sauce in the heat to bring it back together. To preserve the flavor and texture of cheese sauce when freezing, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

This is because, as with all dairy products, the quality and texture of cheese sauce depend on how it is frozen.

Different Types Of Cheese Sauce

Below we have listed the different types of cheese sauce available in the market:

Bechamel Sauce

Bechamel sauce is one of the most important sauces. It is a white sauce made with dairy. It is versatile and is the base for many other French sauces. Although it is not a cheese sauce, it is the base for many kinds of cheese. 

You make it by whisking warm milk into a rudimentary roux, a thickening agent, by adding flour and butter. It is then simmered with onion, bay leaf, cloves, and a pinch of nutmeg. It is well-known for its creamy texture.

Mac and Cheese Sauce

Also known as a white cheese sauce or Mornay sauce, it’s more commonly called mac and cheese. Although this may sound like a common dish, its origins are French. This recipe is similar to making the bechamel sauce. However, you can also use Emmental, white Cheddar, Gruyere, and parmesan cheeses.

Cheddar sauce

A variation on the classic bechamel sauce, cheddar sauce is a staple in English cuisine. The recipe replaces Gruyere with Cheddar, as you might have guessed. This sauce is often used for lasagnas and casseroles. This sauce is great with both fish and vegetable dishes.

Four-Cheese Sauce

This sauce is made by slowly stirring in grated cheese. You will typically use parmesan cheese, mozzarella, and provolone. You will find the perfect balance of flavors with this combination of cheeses. 

Although you can experiment with different cheeses, such as cream cheese, blue, and Cheddar, this combination is more effective at freezing. This sauce is great for pasta, steamed vegetables, and steaks. However, some people use it to add flavor to baked potatoes.

Fondue

A Swiss dish made with melted cheese, fondue may be one of the most popular cheese sauces. Fondue gained popularity in the 20th century, and it has become a classic form of cheese sauce. The cheese in the pot gradually melts when heated over a flame or candle. 

It then becomes a delicious dipping sauce that everyone can enjoy. This sauce can be enjoyed with bread, garlic, croutons, cured meats, roasted potatoes, carrots, and other steamed veggies. We have another article about the best fondue cheeses.

Nacho Cheese Sauce

Nacho cheese sauce is very popular as it pairs well with one of the most loved snacks. The cheese glaze enhances nacho chips’ natural flavors by adding sharpness to the taste. This dairy-based sauce uses cold pasteurized milk to give it its body, just like traditional bechamel sauce. 

To give the sauce its distinctive flavor, it is seasoned with Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and muenster cheese. The mix is then finished with spices like ancho chili, chipotle, and cayenne.

The physical characteristics of these cheeses will affect how the sauces react to freezing. These cheeses are usually hard and will freeze well on their own.

How do you freeze cheese sauce?

It is easy to freeze the cheese sauce. Keep in mind the specific characteristics of the cheese you used.

Prepare the cheese and let it cool.

You can make the cheese sauce according to the Cheese you prefer. Allow them to cool completely after they have been prepared. Do not place cheese in the freezer while they are still warm. Make sure the Cheese is at room temperature before you start.

Divide into portions

Separate your cheese sauce into different portions. A recipe might only require a small amount of cooked sauce. Remember to remember how much sauce you will need for a particular recipe.

Please place them in containers.

After you have made the cheese sauce, place them in freezer-safe containers. The best option would be to use freezer bags. You should make sure that the containers and freezer bags are sealed. Place them in the freezer.