Hot Kitchen Utensils & Equipment How-Tos

How To: Prepare a cast iron skillet

For this to work, you will need to take your pan through a process of heating and cooling. You put it on the stove, start the heat and apply a thin layer of fat on it, with a napkin or brush. This will open up the pours of the pan. As the fat becomes to burn and the pan heats even more, place it on a lower setting on another part of the stove and continue to apply fat. This process repairs the pan, as it pushes the rust away from the pores, so you will have a stronger pan in the end. This wil...

How To: Properly use chopsticks

In this video tutorial, viewers will learn both chopstick etiquette and how to use them. This video shows various types of chopsticks. Viewers learn three etiquette with chopsticks; don't point with chopsticks, don't stick them in anything and don't pass food with them. To hold chopsticks, pinch together the thumb and index. Now have the middle finger support the first chopstick underneath. The ring finger will support the second chopstick. Move the top fingers to open and close the chopstick...

How To: Build a BBQ food smoker using parts from Ikea

The idea is to buy a few items from IKEA and use them to make a back garden BBQ smoker. The concept is also know as IKEA hacking and the principles are simple, re-engineer IKEA products to make a entirely different item. This video will take you step by step through the buying, preparing and constructing of your very own BBQ smoker. All plans for construction can be found on their Website and a big thanks to ford for lending garden fork a car for the summer.

How To: Warm tortillas

1. This video describes how to warm tortillas. If you have a gas stove, set the burner to simmer and put the tortilla on the burner and keep the tortilla for 8 to 10 seconds on each side. After that transfer it to a pan covered with foil to keep tortilla warm.

How To: Care for your cast iron pan

This video shows how to care for your cast iron pan. The guy explaining made some chicken the night before and was to tired to clean the pan. He says never to use soap on cast iron. Run some hot water over the debris that was left in the pan. He uses a scrub brush to get into the edges. Take some salt and pour it on, it's alright to put a lot on. Rub the salt around and rinse it out. Use a towel and wipe it dry. Then put it on the stove with medium high heat for five minutes. Every so often i...

How To: Use a pressure cooker to make great meals

Many of us have grown up being wary about using pressure cookers, thinking the food doesn't come out tasting as good as it does through other cooking methods. No need to worry! Gourmet Magazine explains that it's not the pressure cooker that's the problem; you just need to pick recipes that benefit from the use of the pressure cooker. Here to show us how with a simple and delicious lamb and bean recipe, you will be taken through the recipe step-by-step. The ingredients are simple, including l...

How To: Chiffonade basil

In this video from FoodNetworkTV Chefs Anne and Beau teach the Worst Cooks in America how to chiffonade basil. This is a knife skill. This give the basil a "ribbon" look to it. To do this, layer 3 or 4 leaves, then roll the basil, then you make tiny slices in that basil and be careful to watch your fingers! Then you unroll the basil and you have little ribbon cuts of basil that can be used to make a lovely garnish for any plate!

How To: Use a gas smoker with tips from Lowe's

In this video from Lowe's we learn how to use a gas smoker. This tip comes from Lowe's. You can cook with a smoker anytime of year. He is using a gas smoker. Keep this away from siding. The fire source heats the moist wood chips, which release the smoke that flavors the food. You need tongs and a meat thermometer for sure. Before you cook for the first time, season the smoker by smoking some wood chips without food in it. He is cooking a pork shoulder which he uses a dry rub, wraps in plastic...

How To: Open a stubborn jar

Want a quick meal, but the jar won't open? Here are some tips: try slamming it on your kitchen counter-top upside down, but not with enough pressure to break the jar. Another option is running hot water over the lid of the jar, to loosen it up. You can wear rubber gloves to give yourself a better grip, as well. This should solve any hurdles in the way of last-minute dinner preparations.

How To: Remove odor from plastic storage containers

This video describes how to remove unwanted odor from plastic storage containers. The video shows three easy steps to remove odor. Firstly, thoroughly wash the plastic container as you usually would. After it dries, place a few pieces of crumpled up newsprint inside of the container and close the lid. Leave the newsprint in the container for a couple of days before removing the paper. After you remove the paper, simply wash the container again and the odor should be gone. A viewer would benef...

How To: Season a cast iron pan

A Food Network chef gives the low down on seasoning a cast iron pan. Cast iron pans need to be seasoned before use because it will make your pan stick resistant and last a lifetime. Another plus of seasoning your cast iron pan is that you will not have to use any additional oil when you are cooking. The cast iron is a great heat conductor and the whole pan heats evenly instead of just in spots. To season a cast iron pan you will need to take a neutral oil, vegetable oil works fine, and rub it...

How To: Hone a knife from a pro

Taylor Erkkinen, co-owner of the Brooklyn Kitchen, shows how to properly hone a knife Hold a butcher steel vertically. Place it on a towel on a flat surface in order to anchor and hold it in place. Most knifes are sharpened to 20 degrees. To find this angle, hold the knife perpendicularly to the butcher steel--this is 90 degrees. Reducing to half that angle is 45 degrees, and half of that angle is 22 degrees. Pass the knife equally on each side of the butcher steel, making sure you run all th...

How To: Sharpen a knife with a handheld sharpener

Dull knives in the kitchen are not only slow, but possibly the most dangerous threat in your home. In this entertaining and informative video, Bruce Trettor teaches how to properly sharpen your own knives with a hand-held sharpener. He explains how to test the sharpness of your knives, the common indicators of improperly sharpened knives, and some great tips on chopping and slicing that will drastically improve your cooking skills. He also covers the different techniques necessary to hone you...

How To: Sharpen a dull knife

This video shows the proper way to sharpen chef's knives. Chef Leigh Hudson prefers using synthetic Japanese water stones. He shows how to soak three stones; the first a 400-800 grit stone, the second stone is a 1000 grit stone and the third stone is a 3000 grit stone. The 3000 grit stone is the final process and is as smooth as glass. He explains the different angles needed for the various stones and what the knife could look and feel like at each stage of the process. He also demonstrates a...

How To: Sharpen a knife in a few minutes

In this video Nonkel Rogv© from Belgium shows how to sharpen a knife in a few minutes. He starts by stating the requirements which is a sharpening stone which he says is a cheap one. He explains about the crude and soft sides of the stone. Now he takes some organic cooking oil and applies it to the sharpening stone which he claims that it helps in sharpening the knife and also helps in removing the dirt. Now he takes his knife and shows how to place it at an angle to the stone and how to rub ...

How To: Sharpen knives with a steel

This video demonstrates the proper way to sharpen knives with a steel. First, the blade of the knife should be held at about at 22 degree angle to the steel, Second, the knife should be slid along the steel in a sharpening motion. The steel should run along the blade of the knife from one edge to the other. Both sides of the blade should be sharpened in this manner. The steel has a guard to prevent the knife from accidentally cutting your hand, but if you are afraid of being cut, the steel ca...

How To: Maintain a knife by sharpening it monthly

This video demonstrates how to sharpen a carbon steel knife using a whet stone. Depending on how much you use the knife and how you use it, the knife might need to be sharpened once a month or every other week. First the whet stone should be lubricated using water. Then place the knife on the whet stone at an angle as shown in the video and drag it up and down while applying ample pressure to sharpen it. Do not twist the knife. Depending on the hardness of the knife and the roughness of the w...

How To: Use charcoal and gas grills safely with Lowe's tips

This Lowe's video shows you how to safely use a charcoal and gas grill. For gas grills you should always follow the manufactures instructions. You should keep your grilled maintained by keeping it clean. Empty the grease cup on a regular basis. A good cleaning of your grill is recommended at least once a year. All of the parts should be checked to make sure they are working properly. Make sure you use gas or propane wisely. Check for leaks. For charcoal grills you should follow the manufactur...

How To: Dice a zucchini

You've seen the professionals on TV and the chefs in the restaurants chop and dice food with ease and precision - and they never cut themselves! Food Network's chefs and TV hosts Anne and Beau teach some of America's worst cooks how to dice a zucchini. If they can learn, so can you. They carefully cover this important technique and show how easily it can be done. They also encourage viewers to continue practicing until their knife skills are like second nature. This is a skill that can be use...

How To: Know the basic rules of knife sharpening

Corey Millligan takes you through the instruction needed for knife sharpening. He explains that all knives, regardless of cost, needs to be sharpened. He shows you the diamond steel sharpener. He explains the positions you can hold the sharpener and which one is best for beginners. You learn how to get and control the angel needed and how paying attention to pressure is important. Corey also teaches you how to sharpen serrated knives and different techniques for advanced sharpeners. Watching ...

How To: Sharpen knives with serrated edges

Having trouble with sharpening your serrated knives? Wayne Dolik, an expert sharpener from www.sandiegocutlery.com tells you how. In this video tutorial, Wayne explains the essential tools of serrated knife sharpening and where to get them. Wayne also offers great tips and advice on sharpening safety, how to minimize the chances of damaging your expensive knives, how to make the job as easy on yourself as possible, and how to get the best overall results. You don't have to struggle in the kit...

How To: Maintain a sharp edge on your knife

When you use your knife, you want it to be sharp. When you first buy your knife it has a factory edge, which is the sharpest it will ever be. To maintain a sharp edge on the knife you are going to need to invest in a sharpening steel. To sharpen the knife, take the sharpening steel in one hand and the knife in the other. Pull the knife toward you on the bottom and the top with gentle strokes. After you have gently pulled it across the steel a few times apply some pressure and speed up a littl...

How To: Sharpen a kitchen knife with a sharpening steel

This video goes through the steps needed to sharpen a kitchen knife using a sharpening steel. The presenter goes through sharpening various knives, using two different sharpening steels. He shows the proper technique of how to use the steel, how to hold it and how to move the knife across the steel. He also shows how to check how sharp the knife is, by carefully moving your thumb down the blade, rather than across the knife, and also how to use a tomato to check for sharpness.

How To: Sharpen a knife using a whetstone

Sharpening a knife can bring a dull edge back to life. This video tutorial shows how to sharpen a knife using a whetstone. Soak the whetstone in cold water for about 5-10 minutes and set it on a clean towel. Starting with the coarser side, push the knife against the stone while applying downward pressure. Apply more pressure on the forward stroke than on the back. Wipe down the knife and flip the stone over to the fine side. This will smooth out the knife and make a sharper, finer edge.

How To: Maintain an outdoor gas grill with Lowe's

Mike Kraft of Lowe's shows you how to keep your outdoor gas grill working properly all season long. He shows all the parts that make up the grill and how to maintain them so that it continues to work in good order. It can be surprisingly easy. Much of what you have to do is simply keeping it clean, tightening fittings, and replacing old worn out parts. If you follow all the steps in the video, you will enjoy your outdoor grill all summer long.

How To: Clean a barbeque grill and grill grates with Lowe's

Our host today shows us different types of methods for removing rust from your grill or pit. Regular cleaning is described in your manual and consists of removing rust, polishing chrome, and removing coal from the pit. With just supplies from around the house you can clean your chrome for little to nothing. He shows us how the basics of removing grills and what to check for to keep your grill cooking smoothly. In the end, your knowledge of grill cleaning should improve and you are now ready t...

How To: Sharpen a knife like Gordon Ramsay

Chef Gordon Ramsay teaches a customer how to sharpen a kitchen knife. The lesson he gives here is little more than giving the knife an edge with a filing tool which is a short metallic rod the size of a knife. We frequently see chefs using sharpening knives this way although the motions are so fast that we don't know what they are actually doing. Ramsey, through teaching the customer slows the process down so that we can see what is going on and hence, how to do it.

How To: Sharpen kitchen knives

Kirkwood Community College's Chef David shows you how to sharpen knives in this episode of gazetteonline presented by Gazette Food Editor Anne Kapler. Chef David takes you through the process of sharpening a knife using a whet stone highlighting common misconceptions associated with knife sharpening. He also speaks about the options available to lubricate a whet stone. The sharpening process is explained in great detail including the stance, angle of sharpening, application of pressure, using...

How To: Sharpen a knife with a diamond stone

Did you know that you can use a diamond stone to sharpen up your knives? Straight edge blades have a tendency to get dull unlike serrated knives. Diamond stones are better than the typical sharpeners because they can put a nice even edge on your blade and not leave burrs. After your knife is sharpened you can test it out on a piece of paper to see how well it is cut. Knives do need to be sharpened because the duller the knife the more likely you are to cut yourself.

How To: Bias-cut a carrot

This video is a tutorial on how to do a bias-cut on a carrot. It is called the bias-cut because the cut keeps the same size on each piece of the carrot. A carrot is one of the most difficult foods to cut because it's shape is not uniform. You need to slice down at an angle for this reason. Your knife motion should not be choppy, but more wave-like. The bias-cut is important because it guarantees that the carrot slices will cook evenly.

How To: Build a barrel rocket stove

A rocket stove is a "rocket" combustion approach to preparing meals, which provides high combustion efficiency and efficient heat transfer to the cooking pot. Research suggests (through practical experience) that by using a rocket stove, you could save at least 50% of fuelwood, which is a significant savings for anyone's financial situation.