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.

What is a tostonera?

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Tostonera. A tostonera is a wooden (and sometimes plastic) press used to make “tostones”. Tostones are flattened discs of plantain that are cooked, pressed, then fried again.

What side of aluminum foil reflects heat?

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The reflective surface will reflect heat and the matte side will absorb heat. If you’re baking or defrosting, the matte side will absorb more radiant heat and reflect less infrared heat while the shiny side will reflect more of both, so it makes more sense to bake and defrost with the matte side facing up.

Which 4 slice toaster has the longest slots?

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Best Pick-HoLife 4 Slice Long Slot Toaster The HoLife long slot toaster is our top choice. It has two extra wide 1.5″ and 10″ long slots that will hold up to four slices of bread. In addition, it will hold specialty breads of all shapes.

Is nylon safe for cooking utensils?

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Nylon is also sturdier than silicone and has a relatively high melting temperature of 400 to 500 degrees, making it a suitable replacement for metallic cooking utensils that could otherwise scratch and damage your ceramic cookware. For best results, try to set your nylon utensils away from hot burners.

Are halogen ovens any good?

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Halogen ovens cook far more efficiently than conventional ovens. They reach full heat faster than a conventional oven, largely because of their small size but also because the fan circulates the air inside, distributing heat throughout.