Annie Watson

Annie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Ask. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book 'Healthy Eating Through the Garden' will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Annie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.

Can a leather belt sharpen a knife?

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You don’t have to have stropping compound to strop knives on a leather belt—you can just use the surface of the belt alone and still achieve a good edge—but stropping compound can help take the sharpness and polish of your kitchen knives to the next level.

What steel are blacksmith tongs made of?

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A good tong steel, particularly for beginning tong makers, is the common mild steel called A36 that typically has a maximum of . 29% carbon. More experienced tong makers sometimes like to use a medium carbon steel such as 1045, 4140, 8640 for a stronger tong.

Are old spice jars worth anything?

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Most of the tins—which were first made in 1911—were replaced in 1985. But McCormick kept the tins for pepper and Old Bay seasoning, a brand it bought in 1990. Now those last two are also about to disappear. As a result, the old tin boxes may be worth $25 or more as collectibles.

What thermometer do professional chefs use?

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Best Analog: Taylor Precision Products Classic Instant Read Pocket Thermometer. “The best meat thermometers are the commercial ones most chefs still use. They come with a long straight probe with a round needle dial that sits on top,” says Hartman.

Why should you use a cutting board?

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A good knife makes cooking far easier and more pleasant, but only when it’s paired with a trusty partner – the cutting board. Having a proper cutting board is important because it keeps a knife from going dull too soon.

How do you clean a copper Turkish coffee maker?

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Cleaning your Turkish coffee pot is a fairly easy process. Simply use mild soap and warm water to wash the inside of it and rinse it fully. After that, dry your Turkish coffee pot and it should be ready for reuse. To clean the outside just using water should be enough since it never makes contact with your coffee.

What is a Magiwhisk?

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This Magic Whisk is a new revolutionary kitchen utensil. It can mix, whisk, froth and whip in seconds with minimal effort required than using the conventional wire whisk without the use of electricity or battery.

How do you dehydrate fresh tomatoes?

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DehydratingLay your tomatoes on the dehydrator trays. … Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees F.Allow them to dehydrated for 4 hours and then check on progress. … Dry another 4-6 hours, or until the tomatoes are dry and chewy without any moisture when you touch them.