3 cleaning tips for a healthy kitchen
As a student attending culinary class online, you will spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You’ll fry, sautée, and bake your way to chefdom – and that can make for a very messy kitchen. Keep your workspace clean and healthy with these tips:
For a seriously clean sink
You rinse and wash dirty dishes in the sink on the daily, so no wonder it’s not exactly sparkling clean. Once a week, fill your sink to the top with really hot water and a cup of bleach. Let the mix sit for an hour, then drain and rinse. Now grab a scrub brush and use baking soda or sink cleaner to scour the entire thing, covering the basin(s), rims and faucet. This will fully rid it of any residual bleach and remove the grease and grime that built up over the week. Now rinse the entire sink with hot water and stand back to admire your handiwork. Your kitchen will look nicer and you will know that your sink is sanitized and ready for another seven days of culinary academy homework and cooking for fun.
For dirty cast iron pans
Cast iron is awesome for making frittatas and pizza, but it can also be difficult to clean. The next time you use one, don’t fret, a little oil will clean it! Pour 2 tablespoons of oil into the pan and place it on the stove at medium heat. When it is hot, add three tablespoons of kosher salt. Use a hot pad to remove the pan from the stove and use tongs covered in paper towel to scrub it until it is no longer coated in greasy residue. Use hot water to rinse the pan and be sure it is completely dry before reapplying a light coat of flaxseed oil and returning it to the cabinet.
For splatter on the wall
Whether you rent your home or own it, you’ll probably experience splatter from washing dishes and cooking on the stove. If you’re lucky, you might have a tile backsplash and can easily wipe splattered grease and other food particles with a wet sponge or towel. Many people, however, do not have a backsplash. Their bubbled-over marinara and grease ends up directly on the wall. The best way to clean up? Use a dollop of dishwashing soap on a wet towel. Rub vigorously until the wall is clean. Rinse the towel and wipe the area down again to remove any leftover soap residue. If the splatter is not greasy (think wine or soup), you can skip the soap and go straight to the wet cloth.
