Kitchen Tips and Hacks

Learn how to sharpen kitchen shears at home with foil, sandpaper or a whetstone, plus how to handle serrated blades and test the edge when you’re done.

Learn how to use a mandoline slicer safely: setup, hand guard and cut-resistant glove, thickness settings, when to stop slicing, and how to clean the blade.

Learn how to clean a cheese grater fast: the right rinse, the wipe direction that protects your sponge, tricks for stuck-on cheese, and how to stop rust.

How to wash oven mitts the right way — machine washing fabric mitts, cleaning silicone, removing grease stains, and when it’s time for a new pair.

How to calibrate a kitchen scale using calibration weights or everyday coins, how to test accuracy, and fixes for a digital scale that reads wrong.

Learn how to use a meat thermometer correctly — where to insert it, safe internal temperatures for chicken, beef and pork, and how to check accuracy.

How to clean a cutting board the right way — daily washing, sanitizing after raw meat, removing stains and smells, and oiling wood boards so they last.