Dear Reena: Do you have advice for cleaning the bottom of a stainless-steel frying pan?
Katharine
Here are a few tricks to brighten a听stainless-steel pot, inside and outside.
Soak tomato juice, sauce, pur茅e, ketchup 鈥� any tomato-based liquid 鈥斕齣n the pot. Add a little water and boil for five minutes.
Or boil rhubarb leaves in water to bring shine back to old pots 鈥� the oxalic acid in rhubarb leaves is a strong cleaner.
Scrub the pot exterior with an S.O.S pad, water and Bar Keepers Friend to听rejuvenate pots.
For serious cleaning, some people use oven cleaner, in a ventilated area.
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Dear Reena: I bought a package of gravy mix, but found it salty. Is there anything I听can do to fix it?
Sandy
Here are a few suggestions to try: Next听time you purchase gravy mix, look听for sodium-reduced packages. If the听gravy is听already cooking in the pot, add a potato to absorb some of the saltiness.
Another option is to add milk, sodium-reduced broth or water to dilute the flavour. Combine flour or cornstarch with the liquid while it is still cold before adding it to the gravy, so the gravy thickens.
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Reader feedback
Re: Speaking of bananas
In your recent column, you offered one suggestion to minimize fruit flies around bananas and another to keep them from ripening too quickly. Here is a third tip that combines both ideas: Wrap fresh bananas individually and completely in plastic wrap. They鈥檒l ripen even more slowly, because the ethylene gas is restricted from passing from one to the other, and they鈥檒l be protected from fruit flies.
Scott
Re: Weed killers
According to the Department of Ecology in the state of Washington, 鈥渉erbicides (such as Weed and Feed, and Roundup) can cause serious damage to fish, wildlife and people when they get in the lake water.鈥� Using your vinegar recipe, or a tarp, or digging by hand are the only safe solutions for killing weeds.
Penny
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Keep food fresh longer
鈥� Salads: Combine vegetables in a salad bowl, but do not add the dressing. Serve the dressing on the side, so uneaten salad does not get tossed out due to sogginess. It听stays fresh and crunchy for a few extra days.
鈥� Soup: Add meat, vegetables and broth to听the pot to create delicious soup. Cook the rice or pasta separately, rinse in cold water and drain. Add the pasta or rice to individual soup bowls as people dish out portions of soup 鈥� this way, the grains do not become soggy. When storing leftovers, keep the grains separate from the soup and add only as needed.
鈥� Green onions: Chop green onions and store them in an empty plastic water bottle. The green onions do not become soggy, and they are chopped and chilled and ready to use as needed.
鈥� Celery: Remove store-bought celery from plastic and wrap it in aluminum foil to ensure that it stays crisp longer.
鈥� Cheese: Smear the cut side of cheese with a light coating of butter to prevent it from drying out.
鈥� Lemons: Store lemons in sealable bags in the fridge. They last much longer than they would sitting on the counter at room temperature.
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Note: Every user assumes all risks of听injury or damage resulting from the听implementation of any suggestions in听this听column. Test all products on an inconspicuous area first.