| How to Pan Fry Posted: 23 Oct 2017 05:00 PM PDT Pan-frying is an easy method of cooking food by heating oil in a heavy skillet. You can pan fry just about anything, including vegetables, meat, and fish. There are a few methods of pan frying. The basic pan fry uses medium heat and a little bit of oil to cook whole pieces of meat and un-chopped vegetables. Shallow frying uses more oil to fry battered foods, such as fried chicken or eggplant parmesan. Stir-frying uses high heat and a little oil to cook chopped vegetables and meats. Once you've got the method down, you'll have to write down a list of everything you want to try! EditMaking a Basic Fry - Take out a heavy skillet. You can also use a sauté pan or frying pan. You want to choose a pan that has a flat bottom with high edges that are either sloped or straight. Be sure that it is wide enough for what you are cooking, as you will not want to overcrowd the pan.[1]
- Heat the pan on medium-high. Unless you have a non-stick pan, you should heat the pan before you add the oil. This will prevent the meats from sticking to the pan. It will also heat the oil more quickly. It will only take two or three minutes for the pan to heat up.[2]
- If you have a nonstick pan, add the oil to a cold pan and heat both up together.
- Add cooking oil. One or two tablespoons is enough. Tilt the pan to evenly spread the oil over the surface. The best oils to use are flavorless. These include light or refined olive oil, canola oil, and peanut oil.[3] Avoid using extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) if possible.
- EVOO can burn in the pan when frying because of its lower smoke point. EVOO starts to smoke at 325-375F compared to 465F for light or refined olive oil.[4] Since food starts to fry around 365-375F, your extra-virgin olive oil may begin to burn before it starts to fry, giving your food a bitter taste.[5] If you have no other option, watch the oil carefully. If it starts to smoke, remove from the heat and let it cool before dumping it and trying again.
- Wait for your oil to heat. If you added the oil to a hot pan, it should heat up quickly—within a minute of adding it. If you added oil to a cold pan, it may take a few minutes for it to heat up. There are a few tests you can do to see if it is hot enough.
- Use a cooking thermometer to know the exact heat. Stick the metal end into the oil, and wait 5 seconds for an accurate reading. The oil should be hot enough around 365 degrees F.
- Stick the handle of a wooden spoon in it. Bubbles will rise and pop when it is hot.[6]
- If you don't have a wooden spoon, try a drop of water instead (and no more than a drop). The water will begin to sizzle and pop when the oil is hot enough. This may cause the oil to splatter so be careful.
- Do not leave your pan unattended while heating it at the stove. It only takes a few minutes for it to heat up, and you do not want to burn the oil or start a fire.
- Add your ingredients to the hot oil. Make sure that every piece has plenty of room. No two pieces of meat should be touching. Leave a small space between each. If you are cooking vegetables, make sure that there is a single layer of veggies; they should not be piled on one another. Food releases steam as it is fried. If you overcrowd the pan, the steam will not release, and you may end up with a soggy meal.[7]
- Understand that whatever side goes down first will look the best so if you are aiming for a nice presentation, put your chicken breasts down on the rounded side and your fish flesh side down instead of skin side.[8]
- Flip the meat halfway through. If possible, use tongs instead of a fork. A fork can puncture the meat and lose its juices. Different meats take different lengths of time. You will have to time yours based on the size of each cut and the type of meat. Flipping the meat too often or too soon can ruin the batter.
- Flip chicken and steak after 4-6 minutes.[9][10]
- Flip fish and pork after 3-4 minutes.[11][12]
- Cook to your desired doneness. You may want to use a thermometer to make sure that the meat is fully cooked through. Stick the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Otherwise, you can cut open the meat to see if it is done or not. Different types of meats require different temperatures for safe eating.
- Beef steaks need an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. The inside can be pink, but not red.
- Chicken and turkey need internal temperatures of 165 degrees F. The inside should be white, not pink. Juices should run clear.
- Pork should have an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. The inside should be mostly cooked white or brown, although there may be a slight pink tint.
- Fish should have an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. The flesh should flake away easily with a fork.[13]
- Remove from pan. Use tongs if possible. A spatula is a good back up. Place the food on a plate. If you are frying meats such as pork or beef, you may want to let the meat rest for three minutes to keep its juices intact and to let it finish cooking.[14] Serve immediately.
EditShallow-Frying - Add an inch of cooking oil to a skillet. The oil should come halfway up the sides of the pan. Canola, vegetable, sunflower, and light olive oil work well for this type of frying.[15]
- Batter the food before frying. Have the battered food ready for when the oil is hot. You can check if the oil is hot enough by sticking a wooden spoon into the oil. The oil will bubble around the spoon when it is ready.
- Add your food to the hot oil. Make sure that every piece has plenty of room. You do not want to crowd the food, or it will not fry properly. The food should sizzle as it touches the oil.[16] If it does not, the oil is not hot enough. Wait to add the other pieces.
- Flip halfway through. Use tongs if possible. Forks can be used to flip, but they are not ideal. You only want to flip once to ensure that the batter cooks correctly. Flipping too often or too soon can cause the batter to fall off.[17]
- Transfer to a paper towel. Once you have removed your food, place them on a paper towel. You can use tongs or a slotted spatula. The paper towel will soak up excess oil, giving you a crispier batter.[18] The meats should rest for a moment to finish cooking. Serve immediately.
EditStir-Frying - Choose a wok. A wok is large pan with sloped sides. Woks are ideal for this type of frying because you can cook in stages. While you can use a skillet for stir-frying, the results will not be as consistent or as tasty.[19]
- Cut up your meats and vegetables. Stir-frying is similar to sautéing in that it requires you to cut up your foods before you cook them. Make sure that all pieces are roughly the same size and weight. This will ensure uniform cooking. Have them all chopped and ready before you heat the pan. [20]
- Heat up one to two tablespoons of oil. Set the stove to high heat. Stir-frying requires higher heat than other types of pan frying. Peanut oil is best for stir-frying, although you can use canola or vegetable oil.
- Add your ingredients. Sear the meat first by adding it to the pan and flipping it after a minute until both sides are browned. Then add your vegetables. Some vegetables-- such as broccoli, baby corn, and carrots-- take longer than others and should be added first. Add in soft vegetables like bok choy or mushrooms at the end.[21]
- Toss ingredients in the wok. Use a wooden spoon to mix, flip, and stir the ingredients. You want to make sure that everything cooks evenly. If something looks like it is over-cooking, push it up against the cooler sides of the wok so that it does not burn.
- Pour sauce into the pan. Let the sauce steam and cook into the vegetables. Stir well to make sure that everything is coated. There are many types of popular sauce that you can either make or buy, such as:
- Soy sauce
- Soy ginger sauce
- Orange sauce
- Hoisin sauce
- Black bean sauce
- Scoop out of the pan to serve. You can serve it on rice, noodles, or on its own. Eat it while it is hot, or cool and save for later. Stir-fry keeps well if stored in the refrigerator. You can reheat it later in the microwave or eat it cold.
- Finished.
- Before adding your meat or vegetable into the skillet, try to pat it dry first. Moisture creates a barrier that prevents optimal frying.
- All cooking times listed here are approximate. Always follow your recipe's guidelines for cooking.
- Do not add water, cover, or overcrowd the pan.
- Do not overheat oil. If the oil is smoking, it is too hot.
EditThings You'll Need - Heavy skillet
- Wok
- Cooking oil (olive oil or canola oil is best)
- Meat or vegetable
- Stove
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Reface Cabinet Doors Posted: 23 Oct 2017 09:00 AM PDT Refacing cabinet doors is a great way to refresh and update the look of a kitchen or bathroom. Not only will it help transform your cabinets, but it will alter the character of the whole room. While refacing cabinet doors may seem like an overwhelming task, it is a manageable job for anyone with the time and dedication. By preparing the doors to be refaced and taking the time to carefully paint or stain them, you'll finish this seemingly complicated job with little trouble. EditRemoving and Sanding the Doors - Unscrew the doors from the hinges of the cabinets. Move from the top screws down to the bottom screws. Place the screws in a plastic bag and label which door they belong to.[1]
- Place a small piece of painter's tape on the back of the door and number it. You'll have to move this tape later as you paint or stain the door.
- Remove all hardware from the doors. Unscrew door knobs, handles, and other hardware. Place the hardware into a plastic bag and label them just like you did with the screws from the hinges. This way, you'll know exactly where to put them when you go to reattach your doors after you're done with your refacing project.[2]
- If you're planning on purchasing new hardware, you can throw the old hardware away.
- Lay the doors on a flat and sturdy surface. Before you begin the job of painting your doors, find a flat surface to lay them on. When doing this, consider an old table, saw horses, or even a flat piece of ground. This way, you'll be able to paint your doors without them falling down and with minimal dripping or running.
- If you choose to lay your doors on the ground, place plastic or a cloth sheet down first.
- Apply a deglosser with a scrubber. Dip an abrasive pad or scrubber in a deglosser product. Then scrub the entire surface of the cabinet door with the deglossing product. Next, slightly dampen a clean rag in deglosser and wipe the door down again. This will ensure you've deglossed the entire surface of the door.[3]
- Place a rag, towel, or plastic underneath the area you're deglosser to catch any dripping.
- Depending on the size of the cabinet door, you may want to do one side at a time.
- Sand the doors until the stain or paint is removed. For best results, use sand paper or a sanding block and hand sand your doors back and forth in the direction of the wood grain. Start with 100-grit sand paper. Then, move on to 180-grit sand paper. Finally, finish up with 220-grit sand paper. Sand until the entire surface is smooth and all paint or stain has been removed.[4]
- Use as much pressure as you need to remove varnish or paint.
- Vacuum the doors to remove dust and other debris. Use a shop vacuum and a floor cleaning attachment that has soft bristles. This is important, as you want to avoid scratching your cabinet doors. When vacuuming your doors, go back and forth and vacuum the entire surface of the door.[5]
- Fill screw and hardware holes with wood filler if you need. If you're using different sized hardware or moving the position of old hardware, you should fill in hardware and screw holes. Do this with a wood filling product. Overfill the holes just slightly, as the filler may shrink. When the filler dries, sand it with 100-grit sand paper.[6]
- Fill your holes with a piece of sponge or rubber if you plan to reuse them and don't want to avoid accidentally covering them with paint.
- Fill dents with wood filler. After filling screw and hardware holes, use wood filler to fill any dents, chips, or other imperfections in the door. Use a ruler or another flat piece of wood to shape the wood filler. Once the wood filler dries, hand sand it with 100-grit sand paper until it is smooth and even with the rest of the surface of the door.[7]
EditPainting Your Cabinet Doors - Prime the doors with a nylon paint brush. Use a nylon brush to prime one side of each door. Take downward strokes instead of painting in a back-and-forth motion. Go slowly and get complete coverage. Give the doors one day to dry. After a day, prime the other side of each door. Wait one more day and apply a second coat of primer to each side.[8]
- If the primed surface is rough, sand it with a 220-grit piece of sandpaper, and then apply primer to the sanded surface.
- Use oil-based primer on maple, cherry, or engineered wood products.
- Use latex primer on pine, oak, ash, mahogany, or hickory.
- Remove dust with a vacuum and a tack cloth. Vacuum your doors on the front and back. Then, wipe them down with a tack cloth. By doing this, you'll remove dust and other debris and ensure a smooth surface when you paint your doors.[9]
- Paint the doors with a nylon brush. Move from the bottom to the top of the door. Paint in one direction against the grain of the wood. Go slowly so you can get complete coverage. After you're finished with one side, allow it a day to dry.[10]
- Use oil-based paint on maple, cherry, or engineered wood products.
- Use latex paint on pine, oak, ash, mahogany, or hickory.
- If the first coat seems streaky, wait 24 hours and apply a second coat.
- Since you're painting on a flat surface, watch to see if excess paint pools in recessed parts of the door. To avoid pooling, put only as much paint on your brush as you need.
- Paint one side at a time. If you want to paint both sides of your doors, do so one side at a time. When you're done with one side, allow it to dry for 24 hours. Then, paint the other side and allow it to dry for 24 hours before moving it.
EditStaining Your Cabinet Doors - Place the door on a flat and sturdy surface. Before applying your stain, find a flat surface to lay your doors. This way, you'll have a sturdy surface to work on when you stain your doors. In addition, a flat surface will help make sure your stain or sealant dries without running.
- Apply your stain with a brush. Use a white china bristle brush. Pick a stain that matches the color of the wood or the overall look you are going for. When applying stain, brush with the grain of the wood. Use a single stroke approach (brush in one direction). Only use as much stain as you need to get complete coverage. Your goal is to apply 1 thin coat at a time. However, you can always go back later and apply another coat if needed.[11]
- Do not brush back and forth.
- Use a clean white rag to remove excess stain from the brush.
- Allow the stain to dry for 24 hours before touching it.
- Do a light sand of the door in between coats of finish. In some cases, dust can settle between different coats of wood finish. In addition, polyurethane and other finishes can sometimes draw out wood fragments and create a rougher feel. To eliminate this, do a very light sanding of the wood finishing, using 120-grit sandpaper or higher.[12]
- Vacuum after each sanding.
- Put on a second or third coat of stain if you want it darker. If the first coat isn't dark enough or is streaky, apply a second coat. Again, paint with the grain of the wood. Don't use too much. If you need to apply more stain later, you can.[13]
- Allow every coat you apply 24 hours to dry.
- Use a tack rag to apply a sealant or wood finish. Choose the type of finish you want to use. This may include urethane, polyurethane, or varnish. To apply the finish, first vacuum the door to remove dust or other debris. Then, dampen a tack rag with the finish and lightly wipe down the entire surface of the door. Wipe in the direction of the wood grain. Carefully review the door to make sure you've gotten complete coverage.[14]
- If you want a your doors to be more durable and have a higher gloss, you can apply a second or third coat.
- Your choice of sealant depends on your taste and the project. You may want to consider varnish if you're going for a more rustic look. Polyurethane is usually more durable than varnish. Urethane is a lot like polyurethane, but dries quicker and is inexpensive.
- Complete one side of the door at a time. After you've stained or sealed one side of your door, allow it 24 hours to dry. Then, stain or seal the other side of the door. This way, your stain or seal job will be completely dry and won't be ruined when you flip the door over to finish the other side.
- Stain both sides of your doors and allow them each 24 hours to dry before applying a sealant. Then, seal one side of the door, allow it to dry for 24 hours, and seal the other side of the door.
EditReattaching Your Doors - Give your doors 24 hours to dry. Set your doors aside for at least 24 hours after you finish working on them. If you don't, you could wind up messing up your paint or staining job.[15]
- Put the hardware back on. Take the plastic bags with your old hardware (or new hardware you've purchased) and match them up with the doors. Refer to the marked piece of painters tape you put on the doors when you took them off. While you have probably moved the tape during the refacing process, it should still be somewhere on the door. Then, reattach the hardware to the doors.[16]
- Reattach the doors. Hold the door up to the cabinet and position the free side of the hinge on the side of the door. Depending on your painting and sanding job, you may still see a slight indentation where the hinge was originally located. If not, you may need to measure to make sure the door is placed evenly.[17]
- If you filled in the holes because you're using new hardware, you'll need to use an electric drill to drill new holes into the door.
EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Stop Being Jealous Posted: 23 Oct 2017 01:00 AM PDT Occasional jealousy is natural and can even be motivating. But if you find yourself getting upset when seeing Instagram photos of clothes, jobs, or cars that you envy, you might need to work through this issue. Or maybe your jealousy is making you paranoid and causing problems with you and your significant other. Curbing these emotions can be difficult, but it's often necessary to move forward and feel secure and confident. Work through your jealousy by addressing it, finding a new focus, and improving yourself. You got this! EditHandling Jealousy in the Short Term - Take a few deep breaths when you start feeling jealous. Perhaps you see your boyfriend talking to another girl or find out your friend got the exact truck you want. Instead of freaking out, calm yourself instead. Take a deep breath in through your nose for five seconds, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Do this until you feel calm.[1]
- If you want to address the issue, do so only when you've calmed down. For instance, if you see your boyfriend talking to a girl, calm down first, then approach him and say 'hello' to both of them. She may just be a friend or classmate.
- Stay off social media. Social media floods you with images of people sharing fragments of their lives that might spark your jealousy. But, what you may not know is the girl who constantly posts pics of the flowers her boyfriend gets her may be unhappy in her relationship. People tend to only post things that show them in a positive light, so stay off social media while you're overcoming your jealousy.[2]
- If you can't stay off of social media, unfollow or unfriend the people you're jealous of.
- Avoid criticizing or using sarcasm. When you're feeling jealous, you might resort to name-calling or trying to diminish the accomplishments of others. However, this only shows your insecurity and makes others feel bad. Instead of being negative, keep your comments to yourself or compliment them.[3]
- For instance, if your girlfriend comes home telling you about her new coworker, don't say something like, "Oh, so since he's so smart, you wanna go out with him now?" Allow your significant other to tell you things without fear of rudeness.
- Confess your feelings if the person is close to you. If you're very jealous of a sibling, best friend, or significant other, and have been for years, tell them. Getting it off your chest can help you move on from this negative feeling and clear the air.[4]
- For instance, you might say, "Sis, I know that I've been a bit rude to you for a while. But when you got into Stanford and I didn't, it hurt me. I've been so jealous of you because I feel like you're living my dream. I know it's not your fault, and I wish I didn't feel this way."
- Focus on what you have in common with the person you're jealous of. Unravel your jealousy by looking at the similarities you and the person you envy. The more you two are alike, the less you have to feel jealous over![5]
- For example, maybe you're jealous of your neighbor because they have a nice car. But remember that the two of you live in the same neighborhood and probably have similar houses. Maybe you went to the same school, too, and have friends in common.
EditRefocusing Your Attention - Identify the source of your jealousy. Understanding why you are jealous can help you overcome it. Is it because of low self-esteem and insecurity? Do you have a past history with infidelity? Or are you placing unreasonable standards on your relationship? Once you have identified the source, reflect on ways that you can improve upon or fix the issue.
- Writing in a journal every day can help you discover where your jealousy might be coming from.
- Professional therapy can help with this process. A therapist may be able to help you find the source of your jealousy while working through the issue.
- Praise those who are doing well. Hating on someone's accomplishments won't put you closer to your own goals. When you see others doing the things you want to do, give them kudos. This shows respect and humility.[6]
- For instance, if your friend has an awesome career, say, "Molly, your job seems so cool. It seems like you're always getting awards and promotions, too. You're really killing it! Got any tips?"
- Perhaps your boyfriend has been doing a great job lately of being more affectionate; tell him you appreciate his effort.
- Reflect on your own strengths. Instead of harping on what others are doing, focus on yourself! Take a moment to either list or think about at least three things that you are good at. These can range from organizing or cooking to being a good listener or hard worker.[7]
- Do one thing related to your strengths list today to build your confidence, like cook an awesome meal.
- Compile a list of what you're grateful for. Every day that you wake up is truly a blessing. Remember that and think about one thing that you're thankful for each day. This will help reduce your feelings of jealousy because you'll become more appreciative of what you do have.[8]
- Maybe you have an awesome mom who supports and loves you. Or perhaps you got into a really good school and you're starting soon. Be thankful for these blessings!
- Meditate daily. Meditation can clear your mind and help you focus on what's important. Your thoughts of jealousy might cloud your headspace daily, but get some relief by sitting quietly in an uninterrupted space in the mornings for at least ten minutes. During this time, focus only on your breathing and how your body feels.
- If you're unfamiliar with meditation, you can also download an app like Simple Habit or Calm.
- Call the shots. You might have a rich friend who's always asking you to go to expensive restaurants or on extravagant trips. This might make you feel jealous of their money. Instead of letting that control you, take the reins! Pick the restaurants you go to and choose not to go on vacations if you can't afford it. Plan something locally, instead.[9]
- You can say, "Hey Josh, I enjoy eating at five-star restaurants with you, but to be honest, it's a little out of my price range. If you still wanna get dinner once a week, that's cool, but you'll have to let me pick the place most of the time. I hope you understand."
- Have fun daily to distract you from your jealousy. You won't be able to think about your jealousy as much if you're out having fun! Schedule something to look forward to every day, like watching your favorite show, getting ice cream, or going shopping. Life is short, so make the most of it every day!
EditImproving Your Own Life - Set short- and long-term goals. Use your jealousy to motivate you to become the best version of yourself. Based on the things you want in life, create action steps to help you achieve it. Set goals that you can achieve within the next five days and things to focus on for the next five years.[10]
- For instance, maybe you want to get a high paying job. As a short-term goal, try to get A's in all your classes for the semester. A long-term goal could be finding a mentor or getting an internship in your field.
- Plan a fun getaway. Maybe you're jealous because it seems like everyone else is having all the fun. Create some fun for you! Plan a fun weekend away for you and your bae, go to a theme park, or go hang out on the beach. Do whatever makes you happy![11]
- Take care of your health. You'll be a lot less worried about others if you're focused on your own health. Build your confidence up by exercising at least three times a week. Eat a healthy meal by having veggies, fruits and lean meat. Be sure to get at least eight hours of sleep per night.[12]
- Drink a lot of water, too!
- Surround yourself with positive people. Maybe your jealousy comes from hanging around friends who try to make you jealous on purpose. That's definitely not cool. Instead of being around that negativity, spend more time with your kind-hearted, honest, and down-to-earth friends!
- A positive person will be supportive, honest, kind and helpful. A negative person will insult, criticize, and drain you.
- Consider seeing a counselor to work through your jealousy. If your jealousy is making it hard for you to enjoy life anymore, it might be time to seek outside help. There are many therapists who are trained to help their clients work through feelings of envy or inadequacy. Remember, there's nothing wrong with getting help! It's much worse to suffer in silence.[13]
- Search online for therapists or counselors in your area. You can also get a referral from your doctor's office or insurance provider.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations=
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
No comments:
Post a Comment