The dairy aisle looks remarkably different than it did a decade ago. Where once there stood only traditional milk in various fat percentages, now entire sections overflow with plant-based options made from
The short answer: keep fully cooked, hot food at 140°F or above, and check each dish with a food thermometer. North Carolina Extension suggests a preheated oven set to 200 to 250°F for holding hot food. You can also use a
The short answer: turkey dries out when the lean breast cooks past done. Roast at 325°F or higher, check the innermost thigh, the innermost wing and the thickest part of the breast with a thermometer, take the turkey
The Short Answer: Thaw it in the refrigerator at 40°F or below, allowing about 1 day for every 4 to 5 pounds. A 16-pound turkey takes about 4 days. If you're short on time, USDA's cold water
The Short Answer Two hours. USDA says perishable foods, including a cooked turkey dinner, should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours. Its Thanksgiving page says to store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, unless they're
The short answer: sweet potatoes and true yams are different vegetables from different plant families. Sweet potatoes usually have thin, smooth skin, while common market yams often have rough, scaly skin and
The short answer: pick a firm, well-shaped butternut that feels heavy for its size, with a hard, tough skin you can't easily pierce with a thumbnail. Skip any squash with sunken, soft or moldy spots. Whole butternut can keep
The short answer: a ripe avocado is firm but yields to gentle pressure from your palm. Skin color helps with Hass avocados, which darken as they ripen, but not with varieties that stay green. The popular stem-cap test isn't
The short answer: the lowest-concern uses are watering plants and giving a pot a quick pre-soak, and both require water from potatoes boiled without salt, cooled completely. Using the water in
The short answer: choose a pineapple that smells sweet, is yellowing from the bottom up, feels heavy for its size and gives slightly when pressed, with fresh green leaves. Don't count on a green pineapple turning
That jar of bay leaves in your spice rack may have a second life, just not necessarily the one you've seen all over the internet. Some of the simplest bay leaf uses beyond cooking involve scent: a simmer pot, a drawer freshener and an
You probably pour it down the drain without a second thought. But the cloudy water left after rinsing rice may be worth saving. Rice water uses stretch from soups and vegetables to hair care and houseplants. Here are nine ways to use it and what is
