Magazine

Not Checking Your Freezer Temperature Not Checking Your Freezer Temperature (image credits: wikimedia) Your freezer might be running, but is it running at the right temperature? The optimal freezer temperature is 0°F (-18°C) or below to keep food safe. Many people assume their freezer is working perfectly, but few refrigerator controls show actual temperatures. You need to invest in a simple appliance thermometer to monitor the temperature regularly. Buy one for the fridge, one for the freezer, and check them often. If your walk-in freezer were to malfunction and cause a rapid rise in temperature to over 40°F, it would … Read more

The Reigning Champion: Chick-fil-A Sets the Gold Standard The Reigning Champion: Chick-fil-A Sets the Gold Standard (image credits: flickr) When it comes to cleanliness in fast food, Chick-fil-A won a blue ribbon for being the cleanest fast-food restaurant in America. This isn’t just a casual observation – the survey took into account overall interior cleanliness, including tabletops and floors, as well as serveware like trays and silverware. The chicken chain dominated the competition with its attention to detail. While the chain came neck-in-neck with the second-place restaurant for interior cleanness (at 68.6%), it jumped ahead thanks to higher marks for … Read more

That All-Purpose Flour Sitting in Your Pantry May Be Doing More Harm Than Good That All-Purpose Flour Sitting in Your Pantry May Be Doing More Harm Than Good (image credits: rawpixel) You grab that same bag of flour from the pantry shelf, the one that’s been there for six months, and wonder why your cookies turned out flat again. Typically herbs and spices are good for no more than a year in their ground state, but flour has its own set of rules that most home cooks ignore completely. The truth is, even a tiny bit too much flour can … Read more

Master the Art of Air Fryer Reheating Master the Art of Air Fryer Reheating (image credits: unsplash) Your air fryer isn’t just for making crispy fries from scratch—it’s actually a leftover superhero in disguise. Unlike microwaves that turn pizza into sad, soggy cardboard, air fryers and toaster ovens can bring day-old restaurant favorites back to their original glory by setting the right reheating temperature and choosing the right appliance for the task. The secret lies in how these machines work: they circulate hot air around your food, similar to a convection oven, but using an air fryer basket ensures the … Read more

Switzerland Tops the List Switzerland Tops the List (image credits: unsplash) Switzerland has the most expensive McDonald’s Big Mac in the world, with prices reaching over $8. This reflects the country’s high wages, strong currency, and generally high cost of living. For locals, grabbing a Big Mac is a clear reminder of Switzerland’s premium price tags on almost everything. Norway Comes in Second Norway Comes in Second (image credits: flickr) Norway follows closely behind Switzerland, with a Big Mac costing just over $7. Norwegians are used to paying high prices for goods and services, so a pricey Big Mac is … Read more

The Plant-Based Revolution is Evolving The Plant-Based Revolution is Evolving (image credits: unsplash) Think you’ve seen everything in the world of non-dairy milk? Think again. The global dairy alternative market size was valued at USD 32.77 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2025 to 2030. But here’s the twist: while almond milk dominated the scene for years, the new generation of plant-based milk is about to shake everything up. Gone are the days when your only choices were basic soy or watery rice milk. The availability of a wide range of options, … Read more

Treating Expiration Dates as Hard Deadlines Treating Expiration Dates as Hard Deadlines (image credits: wikimedia) Picture this: you’re about to use some milk for your coffee, but you spot that it’s one day past its “sell by” date. Without even opening the carton, you pour it down the drain. More than 80 percent of Americans discard perfectly good, consumable food simply because they misunderstand expiration labels. Labels like “sell by”, “use by”, “expires on”, “best before” or “best by” are confusing to people — and in an effort to not risk the potential of a foodborne illness, they’ll toss it … Read more

Understanding GMOs: The Basics Understanding GMOs: The Basics (image credits: unsplash) Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but they’re a major part of our daily lives. Scientists use genetic engineering to give crops specific traits, like making them more resilient against pests or able to survive long periods without rain. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that over 90% of soybeans and corn grown in America are genetically modified. These crops don’t look any different to the naked eye, yet they’ve been tweaked at the DNA level to perform … Read more

Auguste Escoffier: The Father of Modern Kitchen Organization Auguste Escoffier: The Father of Modern Kitchen Organization (image credits: The gourmet’s guide to London (1914) by Nathaniel Newnham-Davis, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11256398) You might not realize it, but every time you step into a restaurant kitchen, you’re witnessing the legacy of one man who completely revolutionized how professional kitchens operate. Auguste Escoffier worked with the Savoy Hotels in London as well as the Ritz hotels in Paris, where he made perhaps his greatest contributions. He invented a la carte dining, allowing customers to order a single item off the menu instead of … Read more

Ranch Dressing: The Bacteria Paradise Ranch Dressing: The Bacteria Paradise (image credits: Ranch Dressing Uploaded by Diádoco, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12002179) Ranch dressing sits in nearly every American refrigerator, yet it’s one of the most vulnerable condiments to spoilage. The mayonnaise base contains eggs and oil, both ingredients that are highly susceptible to bacterial growth when not stored properly, with eggs potentially harboring bacteria while the oil can turn rancid over time. The buttermilk component adds another layer of risk, as this dairy product naturally contains bacteria that can multiply rapidly, leading to changes in taste, texture, and overall quality. … Read more