Pinch Of Salt London

My Culinary Adventures

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What is the best cookware set for your home?

cookware set

Note: The set mentioned in this article is specifically for students who regularly attend college or university and have a limited supply of money they need to their month with, so if you’re not a student or are rich, go somewhere else as I don’t want to be responsible if you get the wrong one for your needs.

Now that you’ve read the above paragraph, there’s no need to tell you the main motive behind the article. (Although you could’ve guessed that by the article title) For those who didn’t read either one, this article will tell you the best set that is both affordable and will look good in your kitchen. After lots of careful analysis and reading reviews at Cookwithtina.com of the most famous cookware sets and comparing their functionalities, I conclude that the ‘Cuisinart 77-7 Chef’s Classic Stainless 7-Piece Cookware Set’ is the best one for your home! 

cookware set

The set was manufactured by a company widely regarded as the best cookware companies of all time. Cuisinart is famous for its cookware sets as their quality and price are beyond the level of other competitors. This one is no exception. It is an ideal set for any occasion, whether it is for a vacation home, or for daily usage (don’t forget that we are targeting this for students, as this is best for them!)

The set is made of stainless steel, and the base is aluminum. Why? Because aluminum is a better conductor of heat than stainless steel, which means that food will cook quickly and evenly, as opposed to regular stainless steel which cooks food only in the centre. The set includes all sorts of pots and pans, all of different sizes. It has 7 pieces and includes 1-1/2 Qt. Saucepan w/Cover, 3 Qt. Saucepan w/Cover, 10″ Open Skillet and an 8 Qt. Stockpot w/Cover. Although it has a less amount of pieces than other sets, it targets only the ones required to save both money and space. Who wants pots and pans they will never use? The handles are made up of pure stainless steel. They also use a technology called stay-cool, which makes the chances of handles being heated less frequent.

The product comes with a lifetime warranty and is made according to North American Electrical Standards, so if you have spare money in your pockets and want to buy one, don’t hesitate!

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Which Automatic Coffee Maker Should You Buy In 2017?

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker

Another reason why a coffee maker can be a good choice

To buy or not to buy, that is the question. And it is relatively easy to answer. You should! Even with the rise of espresso makers, that look extravagant and are more efficient than coffee makers, we still need to admit that real coffee is brewed with coffee makers. They have come a long way since the last decade, but the slow dripping method is the main thing that makes coffee maker a better choice than espresso makers, or if you don’t have that much money. Yup, that is another reason why a coffee maker can be a good choice.

So, if you love coffee and are old school, then you need to know which coffee maker is the best one to buy in 2017. And to find that out, you need to read this article to the end and you also can go here for more details, as it will tell you why and what is the reason why the following machine is recommended as the best coffee maker in the current year, and before we start, I’ll tell you the name of the machine, and it is the “Cuisinart DCC-3200 14-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker”!

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker:

The Cuisinart DCC-3200 Programmable Coffeemaker

The main reason why this one is the best coffee maker currently available in the markets is because it complies with the modern standards of the present world. If you compare it with an older model from your time, you can see that it looks more modern, is electrically powered, and works in a faster and better way. Let’s look at each detail of the coffeemaker.

The look is amazing, and appears to be made of stainless steel, which is both durable and hard. It looks stylish in the side of your kitchen or office, and is a great addition to your counter. The best thing is that the storage space is enormously large, and is enough to brew 14 cups of coffee altogether.

The machine is fully automatic, which means that you just have to add the water, fill the bean jar, and just start it with the touch of a button. And you know what? You can program it to clean itself on a specific day and time and even set a timer for it to shut off, like 1 to 4 hours! What’s better than that?!

So, if you ask about my opinion as I am an owner of this coffeemaker, I believe that if you buy this machine, I guarantee you that it is great for the price and will last you for a long amount of time!

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My Top Juicer Brands

If you asked me to recommend my all-time favorite juicer brand you might think me biased. The great majority of my kitchen appliances are from this brand. IT’s reliable and also affordable which makes it great for first-time small appliance buyers. But, there also other great brands out there and though I’ve used my Hamilton juicer for years I did the switch. I always try to give other brands a chance because I like to try new things every now and then. plus it gives me the ability to recommend as much as possible. Here is a list of the best juicers for the money alongside a few others worthy of trying.

Hamilton Beach

This is, of course, my favorite brand when it comes to small appliances for a simple reason. It’s very reliable. Every appliance I’ve owned from this brand has lasted me more than 2 years. I use the majority of my appliances every day. My juicer was one of those items so I was not mad when it stopped working. It’s also very affordable. This is another reason I wasn’t to upset. I didn’t spend a fortune and it got the job done extremely well. They are easy to pull apart and put together which is great when needs cleaning. I’ve used mine to juice hard vegetables like carrots with no issue.

A con of these machines, however, is that they do require a little more manual work as you do have to push the fruit through the machine. This, however, does give you the opportunity to go as slow or as fast as you want.

Black and Decker

This is the brand juicer I have in my home now. Again similarly to Hamilton beach I own other small appliances from this brand that I love. It’s very reliable as well even more so than my Hamilton Beach. It is more expensive but with a lot of features. I am able to control how much juice goes into my cup and what is stored in the machines larger cup to be placed in the refrigerator.

I find there is a lot less vegetable trash with this machine and more of it turning into actual juice. The exterior, unlike the Hamilton Beach, is also a lot more expensive looking so it is aesthetically pleasing to have out on your counter. This brand can be found at many retailers. Online, Target and Walmart all supply this brand.

Cuisinart

I’ve yet to try a juicer from this brand but I have tried their food processor and have only heard great reviews on their appliances. This brand is a little bit on the mid range to high range when it comes to expense. Just know you are getting quality for your dollar from the materials they use to create their appliances to how they operate with simplicity and ease.

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Role Of Salt In Cooking

Just like Chef knives and all their different functions, another miraculously versatile item in the kitchen is NaCl ; table salt for those of you who skipped out on chemistry class. Sodium, in the form of common salt, is one of the essential mineral components of a healthy diet, helping the body to perform vital functions.

A balanced diet is rich in minerals and vitamins and many foods are natural sources of sodium. The percentage of salt we consume from different foods depends on our individual eating habits but typically about 20% of the salt we consume comes from foods that naturally contain salt.

For thousands of years, salt has been used to preserve food and to improve taste. It is also used to as a colour controller, binder, texturiser and fermentation control agent.

Seasoning

First and foremost, salt is used as a seasoning to enhance the taste of food. It makes bland foods such as carbohydrates (bread, pasta, etc) palatable and it helps to bring out the natural flavours in other foods.

 

Preservative

Salt is an important natural preservative and has been used for centuries to preserve meat, fish, dairy products and many other foods. Long before the invention refrigerators slating, like pickling, was used to keep food safe to eat.

Within foods, salt brine dehydrates bacterial cells, alters osmotic pressure and inhibits the development of bacterial growth – making it take longer for food to spoil.

It inhibits the growth of clostridium botulinum, the bacteria responsible for serious food poisoning – botulism. Salt helps to prolong freshness making food safer for longer.

Even with the development of refrigeration, this is an important aid to food hygiene.

Binding Agent

As a binder, salt helps extract the myofibrillar proteins in processed and formed meats binding the meat together and reducing cooking losses. It also increases the solubility of muscle proteins.

In sausage making, stable emulsions are formed when the salt soluble protein solutions coat finely formed globules of fat, providing a binding gel consisting of meat, fat and moisture.

Colour Controller

Salt promotes the development of colour in foods such as ham, bacon and hotdogs. Used with sugar and nitrate or nitrite, salt produces a colour in processed meats which consumers like to see.

Salt enhances the golden colour in bread crust by reducing sugar destruction in the dough and increasing caramelisation.

Texture Aid

As a texture aid, salt strengthens gluten in bread dough, providing uniform grain, texture and dough strength, allowing the dough to expand without tearing.

It improves the tenderness of cured meats such as ham by promoting the binding of moisture by protein. It also gives a smooth, firm texture to processed meats. Salt develops the characteristic rind hardness and helps produced the even consistency in cheese.

Fermentation Control

In baked products, salt controls fermentation by retarding the growth of bacteria, yeast and moulds, preventing wild fermentation. This is important in making a uniform product and reducing the opportunity for harmful bacteria.

Within cheese, salt helps to assure the dominance of the desired flora, controls the rate of lactic acid fermentation, aiding the development of flavouring, body and texture. In cheeses like stilton, for example, this is largely responsible for the taste and texture.

by Salt Association

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Types of Salt and How to Use Them

After mastering Kitchen Knives, You need to master the ingredients you’ll frequently work with.

Knowing the difference between Kosher and sea salt can make a world of difference in your dishes. Here, six easy-to-find varieties, with tips on when and where to sprinkle them.

Kosher Salt

Use it for: All cooking. Kosher salt dissolves fast, and its flavor disperses quickly, so chefs recommend tossing it on everything from pork roast to popcorn.

Origin: Either the sea or the earth. Widely sold brands include Morton and Diamond Crystal, which are made using different methods. Kosher salt got its name because its craggy crystals make it perfect for curing meat―a step in the koshering process.

Texture: Coarse. Cooks prize crystals like these; their roughness makes it easy to pinch a perfect amount.

To buy: Look in your local supermarket. Kosher salts cost about $1 a pound. If you don’t mind a few clumps, buy Diamond Crystal; it has no anticaking agents, which can leave a chemical aftertaste.

Crystalline Sea Salt

Use it for: Adding a pungent burst of flavor to just-cooked foods. These crystals will complement anything from a fresh salad to a salmon fillet.

Origin: Coasts from Portugal to Maine, California to the Pacific Rim.

Texture: Fine or coarse. The size of the irregular crystals affects how fast the salt dissolves. It varies in color, depending on the minerals it contains (iron-rich red clay, for example, gives Hawaiian sea salt a pinkish hue). These natural impurities can add subtly briny, sweet, or even bitter flavors to the salts.

To buy: Check gourmet shops or on-line (thespicehouse.com stocks Hawaiian sea salt). Expect to pay $2 to $15 or more a pound. Many markets sell La Baleine, a relatively inexpensive brand ($3 for 26.5 ounces).

Flaked Sea Salt

Use it for: Bringing a complex flavor to steamed vegetables or shellfish. Take a pinch, crush the crystals between your fingertips, and let them fall on freshly cooked food. This salt will add a hint of briny flavor.

Origin: England’s Essex coast is where the most popular brand, Maldon, is harvested.

Texture: Soft, sheer, pyramid-like flakes. This is the fastest-dissolving of all of the salt grains.

To buy: Search specialty-food stores and the Internet. You’ll pay $6 for 8.5 ounces at chefshop.com.

Fleur de Sel

Use it for: A special-occasion table salt. Spoon it into a salt cellar to be pinched, then sprinkled over food just before eating. Delicately flavored, it adds a perfect hint of saltiness to freshly sliced tomato or melon.

Origin: Coastal salt ponds in France. The caviar of sea salt, fleur de sel is hand harvested. Conditions have to be just right (lots of sun and wind) for it to “bloom” like a flower on the surface of the water.

Texture: Crystalline, which means that fleur de sel melts slowly in the mouth. Its earthy, pleasing flavor lingers on the tongue.

To buy: Search specialty-food stores and the Internet (try chefshop.com). From $11 for 4.4 ounces to $45 for 35 ounces.

Rock Salt

Use it for: Making ice cream and deicing. Rock salt is paired with ice in old-fashioned hand-cranked ice cream makers to regulate the temperature. You can also use it to deice your sidewalks and driveway in the winter months.

Origin: Mined from deposits in the earth, rock salt is not sold for use directly on food. It’s usually packaged in an organic, unprocessed form.

Texture: Large, chunky, nonuniform crystals. Minerals and other harmless impurities can give it a grayish color.

To buy: It’s sold in supermarkets and hardware and home stores for less than $1 a pound.

Pickling Salt

Use it for: Brining pickles and sauerkraut. It will also brine a turkey, but beware: Pickling salt is far more concentrated than the more commonly used kosher salt, so you’ll need to use less.

Origin: Like table salt, pickling salt may come from the earth or the sea. But unlike table salt, it isn’t fortified with iodine (a nutritional need for humans) and doesn’t contain anticaking chemicals, both of which would turn pickles an unappetizing color. Virtually 100 percent sodium chloride, it’s the purest of salts.

Texture: This variety is fine grained, like table salt.

To buy: Many supermarkets sell it in large boxes or bags, but it can be hard to find in cities. It costs less than $1 a pound.

Source: http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/cooking/six-types-salt

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