Though people talk about the auteur revolution of the 1970s, or the warm, populist glow of neon-soaked ‘80s movies, the 1990s were an incredibly assured time in filmmaking. Romantic comedies went deeper and darker; Black filmmakers were rising to the forefront and telling their own stories; and technology had advanced…
Source: LifeHacker – The 36 Best ’90s Movies You Can Stream Right Now
Look, what you do on the internet is between you and your ISP. Or, at least it should be. Hand someone your phone, however, and all of a sudden they have access to anything and everything in your browsing history. Yikes.
Source: LifeHacker – Chrome Just Made It Easier to Delete the Evidence of What You’ve Been Doing
Blackouts are basically inevitable. Unless your home is solar-powered, you can expect to be without electricity for a short period at least once a year (more often and for longer if your area tends to experience severe weather).
Source: LifeHacker – The Best Lights to Help You Survive a Power Outage
Cooking without fat is doable, but not fun. Not only does fat equal flavor, it promotes browning, helps seasonings cling, and keeps food from sticking to the pan. There is an overwhelming number of cooking fats on the market, but the average kitchen doesn’t need all that many.
Source: LifeHacker – How to Choose the Right Cooking Oil (or Butter)
Spicy food is a lifelong adventure. Even for the wary, the sensitive, the adamantly spice-less, there’s usually a moment when unexpected spice makes its way into the hors d’oeuvres at an event or at a family gathering–and it’s pretty good. Fear strikes, but after that moment passes, you kind of don’t hate what just…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Add Heat to Your Food Without Scorching Your Tastebuds
Salt and (good) pepper can get you pretty far in your cooking, but true grown-up cooks use an arsenal of herbs and spices to flavor their meals. How you stock your spice cabinet will depend on the type of cuisine you want to enjoy—a “basic” Anglo spice cabinet is quite different from an East Asian one—but knowing how…
Source: LifeHacker – How (and When) to Use Fresh Vs. Dried Herbs in Your Cooking
I’m not being hyperbolic when I say salt is the most important seasoning of all time. It makes things taste salty, sure, but it also makes things taste like better versions the themselves, and more importantly, salt is a powerful preservative and natural anti-microbial. Long before refrigeration—all the way back to anc…
Source: LifeHacker – Everything You Wanted to Know About Salt but Were Too Afraid to Ask
In all my years writing about “food hacks,” there is one that I wish I could eradicate from the internet entirely. It’s the ol’ “Check How Done Your Steak Is by Touching Parts of Your Palm” trick, and it sucks, man. Thermometers are right there, and using one is the easiest, safest way to tell if your meat is “done.”
Source: LifeHacker – Why Every Kitchen Needs a Thermometer (and Which One You Should Buy)
Believe it or not, adding a pinch of this, a handful of that, and a dash of “the good stuff” all counts as “measuring” your food; even if the unit of measurement is unique to you. There’s nothing wrong with spontaneously exploring flavors and ingredients when whipping up a meal. That’s part of the fun. It’s when you…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Measure Any Ingredient
Having a quality knife you can depend on is only half of the cutting equation. A knife needs to be maintained with honing and sharpening, but knife care extends to the cutting board. Cutting boards provide you with a large, stable surface for slicing and dicing, and they can make clean up a whole lot easier, but the…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Choose and Care for a Cutting Board (so It Doesn’t Mess up Your Knife)
Building your official grown-up kitchen involves selecting big ticket items–cast iron skillets, stainless steel pans, and a set of knives you treat like family–but don’t forget about the little guys. Your utensil holder (that big cylinder from IKEA full of spatulas that sits next to your stove) has likely been overrun…
Source: LifeHacker – The Kitchen Tools That Deserve a Spot in Your Utensil Holder
You’ve finally invested in a few high quality knives. You won’t regret it. Not only will a good knife make cutting easier, but the materials used will ensure your knives stay sharper for longer. (Unlike the set of knives in the molded plastic box that cut like spoons after six months.) But like any important tool,…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Take Care of Your Knives Like an Adult
Knife blocks seem like a great idea at first. You assume there are a variety of useful knives in there, and you get a whole row of steak knives for one low price. You may not eat steak that often, and never with seven other people, but who can say “no” to so many matching knives? You, that’s who. That mass-produced…
Source: LifeHacker – Skip the Knife Block and Buy These Knives Instead
Whether you have no interest in baking, or can’t wait to get your oven mitts dirty, you’re going to need some solid baking gear. There’s a huge range of fancy and fascinating tools, but most of it is only necessary if you plan on making a specific good. (My madeleine pan is currently collecting dust, poor thing).…
Source: LifeHacker – The Eight Basic Baking Tools You Need (Even If You Don’t Bake That Much)
Nonstick cookware makes cooking easier, but it doesn’t necessarily make cooking better. It doesn’t sear as well as cast iron or stainless steel, its finicky finish is at odds with both the dishwasher and metal utensils, and Teflon has a reputation for being less than safe.
Source: LifeHacker – How to Buy, Use, and Care for Nonstick Cookware
Stainless steel cookware is the journeyman of the kitchen. It quietly and competently does its job, without the need for pampering (like cast iron) or any public drama (like Teflon-coated nonstick). If cast iron is a flashy Leo who lives for praise, stainless steel is an efficient, self-assured Capricorn. (I’m not…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Buy, Use, and Care for Stainless Steel Cookware
People love to get weird about cast iron pans. Some fear them, some fetishize them, but everyone has an opinion about them. Be not afraid: Cast iron is cheap and hard to permanently damage beyond repair. With a little know-how and a reasonable amount of care, it’s one of the easiest (and most rewarding) pans to cook…
Source: LifeHacker – How to Buy, Use, and Care for a Cast Iron Pan
Hello, and welcome to The Grown-up Kitchen. While Allie and I usually focus on helping people cook better, smarter, and faster through tips, tricks, and (of course) hacks, we’re getting back to basics here, and giving true culinary beginners the attention they deserve.
Source: LifeHacker – Welcome to The Grown-up Kitchen
If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Friday, October 13, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Beware, there are spoilers below for October 13, NYT Connections #124! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s…
Source: LifeHacker – Today’s NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Friday, October 13, 2023
In this homecoming game, Penn State’s Nittany Lions are hosting Umass’ Minutemen in a cross-conference game. This is only the second time these teams have ever faced each other, and it seems tailor made for returning alumni who want to see Penn destroy another team. The spread is a massive 42.5 points in Penn’s favor,…
Source: LifeHacker – Where to Stream the Umass Vs. Penn State Game