Loose spatula handles, scratched pans, and thermometers that can't give an accurate reading. If your kitchen tools are starting to show these signs of wear and tear, it may be time to replace them.
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00:00Loose spatula handles, scratched pans, and thermometers that can't give an accurate reading.
00:06If your kitchen tools are starting to show these signs of wear and tear,
00:09it may be time to replace them.
00:12A hard and fast rule to adhere to is that anything in your kitchen showing signs of rust
00:17should be replaced immediately. This applies to your can opener, too. Whether you favor an
00:22electric model or a manual handheld version, the gears of your can opener are exposed to
00:26all sorts of liquids and pastes that can settle in without drawing notice.
00:30After a while, your gadget's ability to perform its job with dependable accuracy is compromised,
00:35and you may find yourself working harder than necessary at trying to open a can.
00:39Was there something wrong with the other can opener?
00:41There's nothing wrong with this can opener.
00:45You might be tempted to de-rust your can opener with a spritz of WD-40,
00:49but that would be a mistake. This silicone-based solvent is highly toxic and comes with a
00:53maybe-fatal-if-swallowed warning label. And if you keep using it without intervention,
00:58you may be inadvertently exposing the contents of your canned goods to bits of rust that end
01:03up in your food. You're much better off ditching your can opener when you see rust accumulating
01:07and buying a new one.
01:10Nothing is sadder than seeing a wooden cutting board reach its breaking point.
01:13When you start to see splits or cracks develop,
01:16it's time to bid your dependable utensil a fond farewell.
01:19The good news is you're free to explore the wide world of wooden cutting boards and choose
01:23one that accommodates your current cooking adventures. Will it be a three-piece collection
01:27of thin bamboo boards? Or is an extra-large teak cutting board a better option?
01:32While an old cutting board may have been a trusted companion in the kitchen,
01:35you should always be open to partnering with new utensils that can take you to the next level.
01:40You shouldn't hold onto your plastic cutting board forever, either,
01:42especially if they have deep grooves and slashes. These marks are a sign that bacteria may be
01:47building up, making it difficult to ensure a clean cutting board. Dust can also enter your food
01:53while using your cutting board for deep slicing, which can increase the risk of
01:56ingesting microplastics. An easy solution is to toss your cutting boards when you see
02:01excessive grooving in their surfaces and replace them with more health-friendly bamboo cutting
02:06boards.
02:07There's something about a wooden kitchen spoon that plastic spoons just can't replicate.
02:11Maybe it's the structure or the weight or the idea that wooden utensils are a sounder option
02:16for the environmentally conscious cook. The affordability factor is also a plus.
02:20But while wooden spoons are incredibly useful in the kitchen, they won't last forever.
02:25Exposure to liquids and heat can soften the surface, leading to eventual cracking that
02:29splits the bowl of your spoon. This can result in splinters in your food and possible bacteria
02:34growth in the wood itself. Discoloration may also occur during the cooking process,
02:38making it difficult to tell if your split spoon is moldy or just decorated with burn spots.
02:43Should you see any form of splitting or fraying on your wooden spoon,
02:47it's time to throw it in the trash and invest in a new one.
02:51Unlike a one-piece spatula, the two-piece design with a plastic handle and silicone paddle
02:56is a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Once the head slips off the handle,
03:00whatever you're whipping up can enter the slot and stay there.
03:04And since you can't dry it well enough after washing the channel,
03:07slipping it back on and stashing it away means you've just created a petri dish in your spatula.
03:13Where did you get that lovely spatula?
03:16Since a spatula is a key utensil for a lot of cooking, you'll be doing yourself a favor
03:20by discarding it and picking up a standard one-piece silicone spatula instead.
03:24Can we borrow your spatula?
03:26That was my spatula.
03:28Much like two-piece spatulas, grill flippers can also cause problems when their handles are loose.
03:34Sure, keeping it out of the dishwasher can help extend its existence,
03:37but at some point, you may have to face reality. Flippers don't last forever.
03:42What happens if you keep using a loose flipper? Beyond dropping your steaks and
03:46burgers into the flames, there's also the potential for losing the handle altogether
03:50and dropping the food onto your skin, which can result in grease burns.
03:54Instead of taking unnecessary risks,
03:56simply toss it in the dumpster when the handle loosens and treat yourself to a snazzy new flipper.
04:02The allure of a nonstick pan is too tempting to walk away from.
04:06What Home Cook doesn't feel their heartbeat speed up at the prospect of not having to
04:10scrape food off their cookware? To this day, it's the easiest way to minimize the labor
04:14that comes after the meal is finished. And why would you ever do more work than necessary if
04:18you can avoid it? The prospect of keeping your nonstick pans forever is a pipe dream,
04:22however, as even modest scratches on the sides and bottom may be a hazard in the making.
04:27Not only does it mean bits of coating may have gotten into your food,
04:30it also exposes the metal beneath to the potential for rust and corrosion.
04:35If you start to see scrapes and grooves on the surface of your nonstick pans,
04:39be prepared to replace them as soon as possible.
04:42Check into ceramic-coated cookware instead of Teflon-sprayed metal for an even sturdier
04:48version of nonstick cookery. A veggie peeler is one of the handiest little tools ever dropped
04:54into a kitchen drawer. It's perfect for stripping down potatoes, unsheathing apples, and reducing
04:59carrots to their most skinless state. But all of that exposure to liquid means your metal blade
05:04will eventually show signs of rust and corrosion. Check both sides of the blade on your peeler for
05:08rust, discoloration, or corrosion that could lead to contamination. If you notice any of these signs,
05:14it's best to discard the peeler to avoid potential health risks.
05:17Then, go shopping for a veggie peeler with a comfort grip and sturdier construction
05:21to help extend the life of your utensil. There seem to be new designs appearing regularly,
05:26so depending on when you shop, you may be in for an experience similar to picking out a new car.
05:30Shop wisely. Your produce peeling depends on it.
05:34It happens before you notice. One minute you're happily basting ribs with your special sauce,
05:39and the next minute, you find stray bristles in your food. Maybe you can pick them out before
05:44your dish hits the grill or the oven, but do you really want to risk your friends and family
05:47getting a bristle in their food? You may not be going for a Michelin star, but you're bound to
05:52get a thumbs down for such a rookie mistake. Before you reach the point of regret with your
05:56cheap basting brush, shift to a silicone model — one where the bristles have no choice but to
06:01stay attached. Not only will you have trouble-free basting thanks to the genius one-piece design,
06:06you'll also be able to use your new utensil on hot foods straight out of the oven,
06:10without burning the bristles. Few things welcome the morning like a fresh cup of
06:14coffee prepared in a French press. The bold flavor is an essence that other brewing methods can't
06:20capture, and the fact that you don't need electricity to operate the press means you
06:24can enjoy delicious coffee pretty much anywhere. There's also no need for replacing paper filters
06:29or throwing away used coffee pods, since your press includes a reusable mesh strainer. The
06:34assumption is that a well-constructed French press will always be ready for your coffee needs,
06:39no matter how often it's put to use. But there are errors inherent in the process,
06:44and one of the more glaring French press brewing mistakes is letting the mesh around the strainer
06:48come loose. This is inevitable with enough use and is bound to let loose grounds drift into
06:53your coffee cup. Unless you like chewing your coffee, be on the lookout for gaps around the
06:57edges of the plunger. When the mesh appears to have loosened or when you notice stray grounds
07:02drifting into the chamber above the plunger, pick up a replacement French press plunger.
07:07A silicone-coated whisk can be a real problem solver, allowing you to pick up every last bit
07:12of ingredients so that everything blends together smoothly. But if your silicone-coated whisk has a
07:17run-in with firmer utensils, the silicone may start to peel away from the metal underneath.
07:21There's also a chance that this metal isn't food-safe, as substances caught between the
07:25wires and the coating can generate bacteria growth. Add to that the risk of finding pieces
07:30of silicone in your finished food, and it's clear that it's time to replace your whisk.
07:35Getting your silicone-coated whisk back in action is as simple as an Amazon Click,
07:39where you can find sets of whisks that allow you to distribute the work amongst
07:43several utensils. This helps to extend the life and usability of all the pieces. Of course,
07:48you could always just shift back to the old-fashioned metal balloon whisk, too.
07:53While a food thermometer may not be necessary in every kitchen situation,
07:57it's important to ensure that this tool is in excellent condition when you do need it.
08:01Having a thermometer that throws out fictitious numbers can result in undercooked food,
08:06which can be a disaster for meat- and poultry-based food safety requirements.
08:10It's best to test your thermometer well ahead of your most necessary occasions
08:14and purchase a new one as part of your preparation process.
08:17It's pronounced thermometer.
08:19If you've been hanging onto an older version of this necessary tool,
08:23you have a golden opportunity to upgrade to a multi-purpose cooktop thermometer.
08:27This type of thermometer can cover a whole host of heating needs, from frying potatoes to boiling
08:32fudge. You'll still need a meat thermometer to ensure your oven-baked or grilled meats
08:36reach their desired temperatures. Luckily, there's no rule that says you can't have a
08:39pair of thermometers to ensure your cooking creations reach the right temperature each time.
08:44In fact, it's what any chef worth their salt would do.