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It’s Prime Day and a sizzling hot sale on cast iron cookware is happening. If you don’t have a good set of cast iron cookware, we’ve got an entire website full of reasons why you should. Cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens, griddles, and pans are a solid kitchen investment; durable and long-lasting, delivering consistent heat distribution and rock steady results over a myriad of cooking styles, cuisines, and recipes. They get better over time as you continue to season your cast iron it pays you back, imparting big flavor into meats, veggies and more. For those slow Sunday stews, roasts or braises, cast iron is key for evenly cooked, fall-off-the-bone food.
Related Reading: Amazon Prime Day 2019: The Best Kitchen & Cookware Deals So Far
Cast iron can be expensive, but during Amazon Prime Day (today and tomorrow) a few brands including Lodge, are offering some seriously deep discounts on cast iron cookware. The below 5-piece set from Lodge is selling for just $69.95, a steal compared to other retailers, like Amazon, which had it priced at more than $100 (though it’s currently on sale for $70.95 there).
This 5-piece seasoned cast iron cookware set consists of two pre-seasoned, high-rimmed, enameled cast iron skillets (8 inches and 10.25 inches), which are perfect for cooking anything from steaks to chicken, Indian vegetables, and fish. The cast iron 5-quart Dutch oven is just the thing you’ll need for slow Sunday stews, chilis, roasts, or braised dishes like coq au vin or beef bourguignon. And the cast iron griddle is ace for flapjacks, pancakes, crepes, eggs, paninis and more.Buy Now
Related: Learn how to clean your cast iron so it lasts forever.
Continue reading "Prime Day Cookware and Kitchen Deals We’re Loving" »
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Another Amazon Prime Day deal was just posted that you definitely won’t want to miss! The KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Design Series Stand Mixer with a Glass Bowl is on sale for the next 12 hours for 48% off, coming out to only $239.99. With ten speed settings and head tilt design, this device is perfect for all of your mixing needs.
Available in three colors, Azure Blue (see below), Candy Apple Red, and Sugar Pearl Silver (above), this stand mixer with a glass bowl will look great on your kitchen countertop. This Prime exclusive deal comes complete with three handy attachments: a burnished metal flat beater, burnished metal dough hook, and a wire whip.
Read More: Fancy All-Clad Cookware Is on Sale NOW for Prime Day
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Cookie batter, whipped cream, and bread dough will now all be a breeze to make with this classic KitchenAid mixer, available for only 12 hours now on Amazon. Buy Now
Related Reading: Amazon Prime Day 2019: The Best Kitchen & Cookware Deals So Far
Do you hate cleaning your blender because you have to take it apart and scrub around those sharp blades? Or do you already know the easy trick to clean your blender in a flash?
It’s obvious, perhaps, but sometimes we don’t see what’s right in front of our eyes until someone else points it out. In this case, the (maybe not-so-secret) secret is: You can make your blender clean itself. (Sort of like you can mostly make your coffee grinder clean itself. Sadly, no such luck with your dirty kitchen sponge or grimy sheet pans.)
Read More: The Best Prime Day Deals for 2019
1. Immediately after you pour out your smoothie, sauce, or whatever you’ve just blended, rinse the blender with hot water. This is key; don’t let it sit and the contents inside get gummed-on, or you’ll be back to scrubbing.
2. Fill the blender 3/4 full with fresh hot water and add a couple drops of dish soap.
3. Put the lid back on and blend away.
4. Rinse again with hot water, and you’re done. Seriously simple, right?
5. Turn it upside down in a rack to dry. That helps drain every last bit of water so no mold starts to grow. For the same reason, never put the lid back on until everything is completely dry.
6. Use a damp sponge or dish cloth to clean the base of any splatters. It may go without saying, but never submerge this part in water.
If you do end up with stuck-on bits or see blender discoloration, try blending lemon (you can drop in quarters of the fruit with rinds intact) or vinegar, plus some baking soda and water in your blender, then letting that mixture soak overnight. The next day, follow steps 1-5 above and you should be all set. When scrubbing is the only thing that’ll do, though, an old toothbrush is useful for tackling the smaller parts where the base connects to the blades, and it keeps your fingers safe. If the buttons have gotten grimy, a Q-tip dipped in vinegar or rubbing alcohol will help you get in the grooves around them.
Check out our favorite eco-friendly cleaning supplies, including green dish soap that actually works.
Read More: How to Make Dirty Baking Sheets Look Brand New
While the above rinse-soap-blend-rinse method is great for daily cleaning after making your morning smoothie, you will want to occasionally give your blender a deeper clean by unscrewing the base and removing the gasket and washing everything separately (don’t forget the lid, even if it doesn’t look dirty). Even if they’re advertised as dishwasher-safe, you may want to wash the parts by hand to prolong their lifespan. Aim for a deep clean once a month (unless, for some reason, you’re blending raw chicken or unwashed greens, in which case deep-cleaning is the safest option).
We rounded up some of our best blender recipes as a reminder of just how versatile an appliance the blender truly is. There’s a reason it goes on wedding registries by default, yet even the vaunted Vitamix too often gets relegated to smoothie duty. Blenders are great for fruity (or leafy) purees first thing in the morning, for sure, but there’s a lot else your blender can do for you.
Read More: The Best Prime Day 2019 Deals
From batters and butter to cold brew coffee and vegan mousse, these are some of our favorite blender recipes.
And while cleaning up is essential, it doesn’t have to be a chore—so see this simple tip for how to clean your blender, hassle-free.
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The ease of making a Dutch baby pancake is inversely proportional to the showstopping effect as it puffs up like a souffle in the oven, and since it’s made from pantry staples, you’re never more than 30 minutes away from a fantastic breakfast or dinner (feel free to take it savory). This recipe, as written, calls for whisking by hand, but there’s no need for that. Just blitz the eggs, flour, milk, and whatever seasonings you want in your blender all at once, pour them into a hot pan of melted butter, and watch the magic happen. Get our Dutch Baby Pancake recipe.
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Don’t be intimidated by eggs Benedict anymore, or at least not by the hollandaise. Making it in a blender is a fantastic shortcut you should start deploying during brunch all the time. Get our Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce recipe.
Love the idea of homemade butter but don’t own a churn (or want to make your muscles feel more exhausted than after the most grueling arm day ever)? Make your own butter in the blender! Mix in spices, fresh herbs, and/or minced shallots or garlic for compound butter if you’re feeling extra-fancy and use it to top a steak, roasted veggies, or whatever else you like.
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Chunky salsas are good too, but sometimes a thinner version is better for drizzling over enchiladas, tacos, and nachos. And there’s no worry about pulsing one too many times like when you make it in a food processor, since the goal is a smooth texture. The pumpkin seeds in this one lend a certain creaminess. Get our Blender Salsa recipe.
Read More: 9 Summer Salsas to Put on Everything
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We love a classic Slushy Blended Margarita, but when it’s hot out, we’re ready to turn every kind of cocktail into a frozen treat. That includes a fruity twist on the Old Fashioned, like the best grown-up cherry Slurpee you’ll ever have. Get our Slushy Cherry Old Fashioned recipe.
Read More: 11 Slushy Takes On Classic Cocktails
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If you crave creamy salad dressing but feel a little hesitant about using tons of mayo, sour cream, and other dairy (or can’t stomach those at all), use your blender and ripe avocados to whip up creamy, healthy dressings like this smoky chipotle version that’s great on salads, tacos, and sandwiches, or just for dipping crunchy veggies. Get our Chipotle Avocado Salad Dressing recipe.
If you love cold brew but not paying so much for it at Starbucks, make your own at home—turns out, your blender can be a great asset when it comes to getting caffeinated too.
Read More: The One Thing You’re Doing Wrong When Making Cold Brew
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Got a baby and a blender? Great, because it’s also easy to make your own baby food—maybe not quite as easy as signing up for a baby food delivery service, but manageable, at least some of the time. Get our Pear Baby Food recipe.
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Immersion blenders are handy for pureeing creamy soups right in the pot, but they’re also one more kitchen tool to add to your cupboards. As long as you pour carefully, a regular blender does the job beautifully too. This asparagus soup is perfect for spring, but in summer, try blitzing up corn soup; in fall, butternut squash. Get our Asparagus Soup recipe.
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Blend up a homemade spicy marinade for these juicy chicken tacos and it’s hardly any more difficult than buying a bottle at the store—yet it tastes way better, and removes any doubt about unwanted ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and preservatives in the mix. Get our Adobo Marinated Chicken Tacos recipe.
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Okay, we can’t resist smoothies either, the blender breakfast of champions. This one is fruity and creamy with a secret ingredient for a huge boost of vitamins, minerals, and fiber to complement the blueberries‘ antioxidant powers…(okay, it’s spinach, but you won’t know it when you taste it). Get our Healthy Blueberry Smoothie recipe.
Read More: The Best Eco-Friendly Reusable Straws
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Yes, your blender does dessert too, and not just milkshakes. For this healthy dessert recipe (seriously!), just chuck everything—avocados, cacao powder, agave, almond butter or coconut cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt—right in the blender, let it do its thing, and chill for a delectable treat that’s almost too easy. Get our Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse recipe.
If you’re asking “What is the difference between a Dutch oven and cast iron?” you probably really mean: “What is the difference between cast iron and enameled cast iron?” And that’s a good question! Let’s break everything down.
The Dutch oven is essentially a large pot or kettle, usually made of cast iron, with a tight-fitting lid so steam can’t escape. Dutch ovens are used for moist-cooking methods such as braising and stewing (though with the lid off, you can even bake bread in them). Traditionally, you make your braised beef, chili, and stew in one of these bad boys. This cooking tool and method came from the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1700s.
Naked cast iron Dutch ovens evoke campfires and Boy Scout jamborees (and Colonial America, perhaps); though not always, these more rustic-looking pots often have feet and a bail-type handle—but what we often think of as a Dutch oven these days is a large, flat-bottomed, cast-iron pot with handles, all covered in bright, glossy enamel. Le Creuset is one of the most high-end brands and comes in a delightful rainbow of colors.
Before we get into enamelware, though, let’s look at what’s often underneath that bright outer shell.
There are two basic kinds of cast iron: regular and enameled. Regular cast iron dates back to the 5th century B.C. and absorbs, conducts, and retains heat efficiently. Although some say cast iron takes longer to heat up than other cookware, it does stay hot for longer, which is why fajitas are often served on cast iron skillets.
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Read More: How to Care for Cast Iron
So while a Dutch oven is always a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, “cast iron” by itself is just about material, and it can take many other forms, most commonly, the aforementioned skillet.
Cast iron requires seasoning, which gives it a natural nonstick finish, and creates a surface that doesn’t react with or absorb the flavor of foods. When you have an unseasoned cast iron pan, it will react to your acidic foods—tomatoes, lemon juice, vinegar—creating a metallic taste and discoloration. This is not the heavy metal we’re going for. And you probably shouldn’t simmer or braise a tomato sauce in a cast iron pot for many, many hours.
“Cast iron, when properly seasoned, is the original nonstick pan,” according to thekitchenprofessor.com. “Many veteran chefs and beginners alike agree that it is the best type of cookware for searing and blackening.”
It’s a great pan to put on the grill or under the broiler. You can sear your meat and then cover it and put it in the oven to cook inside. To keep it seasoned, you clean it with a paper towel or soft cloth and, if necessary, gently scrub it with a nylon pad. Do not use soap. Lodge is a popular, affordable American-made brand of cast iron cookware, which comes in both naked cast iron and enameled cast iron in various colors. If you have a plain cast iron Dutch oven, care for it the same way you would your skillet.
Read More: This Lodge Cast Iron Cookware Set Is Under $70
Enamelware can be either cast iron or steel cookware that has been coated with thin layers of brightly colored porcelain enamel. Enameled cast iron (like a Le Creuset Dutch oven or casserole dish) is a good heat conductor. Enameled steel is not. Enamelware of either kind is fairly easy to clean and doesn’t interact with acidic ingredients, but extreme heat can cause the surface to crack—that said, under normal cooking conditions, enameled cast iron goes with ease from stovetop to oven. You do need to use only plastic or wooden utensils with enamelware to avoid scratching it (and no harsh scrubbers at clean-up time). While it is dishwasher-safe, it’s best to hand-wash it to prolong its life.
Read More: This Le Creuset Dutch Oven is 70% Off for a Limited Time | What Is the Difference Between a Dutch Oven and a French Cocotte?
Almost any recipe that calls for a large, heavy, thick-bottomed pot can be made in a Dutch oven, whether plain cast iron or enamel-coated, but these are some of our favorites:
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This is a showcase dish for the reasons we love Dutch ovens. You get to first brown the meat in it, then soften the onions, celery, and carrots in it, and finally, pop the whole thing in the oven to braise. Get our Braised Lamb Shanks with Mint-Parsley Pesto recipe.
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If you like carnitas, you’ll love cochinita pibil, a sort of Mayan pulled pork. Traditionally roasted over an underground oven of hot stones, it also comes out beautifully when made in a Dutch oven—wrapping the meat in banana leaves within the pot imparts extra moisture and flavor, and you should be able to find them at most Hispanic grocery stores, so don’t be discouraged by what may seem like an exotic ingredient. Get our Cochinita Pibil recipe.
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This recipe can be made indoors in your fancy enameled Dutch oven, but if you’re camping (which is when this easy dessert tastes best), bring your plain cast iron Dutch oven that you don’t mind setting directly in the embers of your campfire. Get our Campfire Cherry Cobbler recipe.
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Any kind of Dutch oven is perfect for a big, hearty batch of chili, whether it’s all meat, vegetarian, or turkey chili. Get our Chili con Carne recipe.
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This is a simple dish that’s packed with flavor, and the chicken browns beautifully in a Dutch oven—then braises away with the melting peppers, onions, and garlic for a saucy, satisfying meal. Get our Chicken Basquaise recipe.
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We made this in a cast iron skillet, but it would do just as well in a Dutch oven, enameled or not. It’s basically a hearty vegetarian shepherd’s pie with a cheesy polenta crust instead of mashed potatoes. Get our Eggplant and Mushroom Polenta Bake.
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Since Dutch ovens are so deep, they’re also great for frying, but be sure to have a candy thermometer on hand to monitor the oil temperature, and don’t overfill your pot. You can fry chicken, egg rolls, or whatever else you like, but we have to recommend our apple cider sufganiyot with salted caramel filling for obvious reasons (just look at it). Get our Salted Caramel Apple Cider Doughnut recipe.