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.

Is Costco KitchenAid mixer different?

by

The bowl, and therefore the beaters, are totally different than on the 600 models. The bowl is taller and narrower. Because the pins that hold the bowl are narrower, you can only fit 6000 bowls, but not those from the 600, 6500, or 7 qt, 8 qt models. This is by the way also the old Costco model.

How does a pressure cooker valve work?

by

A spring-loaded valve is normally open so that air can escape. As heating begins, expanding vapor pushes this valve up, closing off the vent. (At very high pressures, it rises farther and reopens the vent to release excess steam.)

Is there a tool to help clean gutters?

by

For those who need to clean their gutters but also want to keep two feet on the ground, a leaf blower is a viable option. If you go this route, make sure the tool actually reaches your gutters, like the Toro gutter cleaning kit. It includes a nozzle, shoulder strap and five extension tubes.

Which brand of deep fryer is the best?

by

These are the best deep fryers, according to our pros:Best Overall Deep Fryer: Cuisinart Deep Fryer.Best Value Deep Fryer: Presto FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer.Easiest to Use Deep Fryer: Breville Smart Fryer.Best Large Deep Fryer: Krups Deep Fryer.Best Small Deep Fryer: Cuisinart Compact Deep Fryer.

What is the most accurate infrared thermometer?

by

The ennoLogic – eT650D proved to be the most consistently accurate infrared thermometer and is our choice for best overall. It has dual-laser technology with a 10:1 distance-to-spot ratio. Its temperature range is -58 ℉–1202 ℉, one of the broadest of the thermometers we tested.

Can you use a tankless water heater for the whole house?

by

Built with scale-reduction technology, both electric tankless and gas tankless whole-house water heaters perform with high efficiency and are built to serve a wide range of applications. A whole-house tankless water heater is built to provide continuous hot water whenever you need it.