| How to Smoke Ribs Posted: 20 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT Ribs. Just like baseball and the 4th of July, smoked ribs are an American institution. Nothing beats a backyard barbecuing session with smoked ribs amongst friends and family. Thankfully, smoking ribs is an easy task, even if you don't have an expensive smoker. With a beautifully-smoked rack of ribs, you'll have your guests begging for seconds and your secret recipe. [Edit]Trimming the Ribs and Making the Rub - Select your cut of meat. Food safety is important when cooking raw meat, so find a fresh pink rack of ribs at your local grocery store. Many people choose to smoke with St. Louis style (spare) ribs, which come from near the belly on the pig.[1] They are substantial and tasty — very easy to cook. If you like, you can also select baby-back ribs, which come from the backside, near the loin.
- Since baby back ribs are a little less substantial, they're harder to smoke while still keeping them juicy and tender. Adjust this recipe if you do decide to use baby back ribs; the cooking time will lower significantly.
- While you can smoked prime rib or standing rib roast, that cut contains more meat than spare and baby back ribs do, so you'll need to follow slightly different instructions to cook it properly.
- Remove the thick, sinewy membrane on the back of the ribs. With a fingernail or a knife, work your way under the light membrane on the back of the ribs. Grab ahold of the loosened membrane with a paper towel and pry it from the ribs. Much of it should come off in one fell swoop. Discard.
- Spot-check the ribs for any substantial bits of fat and remove. With a sharp knife, remove any excess fat that's still clinging to your ribs. Although a little fat is fine and will probably render off during the cooking process, eating a chewy hunk of fat when you're expecting a tender morsel of meat is not the most pleasant experience. A little bit of extra preparation during this step will make the eating experience a lot nicer in the end.
- Make your rub. A dry rub is a spice mix that coats the rack of ribs and provides a complimentary flavor to the meat's natural taste. Dry rubs can be made any number of ways (dehydration, spice-mixing, etc.) and using any number of recipes.[2] Explore different recipes and variations to suit your tastes, or use this very basic dry rub[3] as a springboard for your invention:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup paprika
- 3 tablespoons black pepper
- 3 tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Apply your rub generously over the entire rack of ribs, coating it evenly. Don't be stingy with your dry rub. Even if you're planning on smothering your ribs with a wet sauce later on in the cooking process, it helps to have the ribs nice and coated early on in the process, when the bulk of the cooking happens. Use 1-2 tablespoons of dry rub at least per pound of meat.
- Let your ribs come to room temperature while you set up. After applying the rub, let the meat start to soak up some of the delicious spices you've acquainted with. (Meat, meet spice; spice, meet meat.) This does two things in particular:
- It allows the dry rub to start penetrating the meat, permeating it with flavor.
- It allows for a juicier rack of ribs. When salt hits meat, it brings moisture out to the surface. If you apply your rub and cook right away, the moisture brought out to the surface will leave your precious pork. If you apply your rub and let the meat rest, however, the moisture journeys back into the meat through a process called osmosis.[4] This process produces consistently juicier meat.
[Edit]Smoking the Ribs - Start your smoker. If you have a smoker, heat it to about 225° F (107° C) along the cooking surface, and validate it with a standard cooking thermometer. It may be hotter in the core of the fire, but ensure that the surface is set as close to 225° as possible.
- To get your fire going, you may use charcoal and any sort of a variety of wood. Some people prefer different types of wood for different types of flavor, so find what works for you.
- If you don't have a smoker, improvise. Use a gas grill set on 225° F as your improvised smoker. First, set a pan of water 3/4 full underneath the grate on which you'll be cooking your ribs. This helps with cooking and helps keep the temperature down.[5] Next, make a smoker pouch by wrapping wood chips in aluminum foil and then puncturing the foil several times with a knife to let the smoke escape. Place this at the bottom of the grill but not directly underneath the ribs.
- Remember to soak your wood chips for at least 30 minutes before creating your smoker pouch. Wet chips will release their signature smoke better and longer than dried-out chips.
- Choose from any number of wood chips for smoking. Choose from among applewood, cedar, hickory, maple, mesquite, oak, pecan, and many more.[6]
- Smoke your ribs at 225° F for 3 hours. It normally takes about 6 hours to fully smoke a rack of ribs, so if you want to just smoke them, leave them in there for about 6 hours, giving them a liquid spray (apple juice, beer, even water) about every hour. Otherwise, this is only the first step in the process. During these first 3 hours, what you're trying to do is imbue your meat with some smoky flavor and get the cooking process started.
[Edit]Finishing the Process - Remove the ribs from your smoker or grill and baste generously with barbecue sauce. You can use any store-bought barbecue sauce you'd like, or you can decide to make your own. Whatever you decide, slather the barbecue sauce onto the meat-side of your ribs generously.
- Wrap your rack in aluminum foil and add some liquid. Many people choose to add beer to their ribs — flavorful beer, not light or watery beer — but if you don't want to use beer, you can also add a bit of apple juice instead.
- Seal up the ribs and the accompanying liquid as airtight as possible while still leaving room for the meat to breathe. Ideally, you don't want moisture leaking out of your aluminum foil enclosure, so make sure it's wrapped securely.
- Cook your ribs at 225° F for approximately 2 hours. This part of the cooking process begins to break down the collagen present in the ribs, leaving you with ribs that are fall-off-the-bone delicious.
- Remove the aluminum foil, baste the ribs (if necessary) with barbecue sauce, and cook uncovered for 30 minutes to an hour. Check on the ribs after 30 minutes, though they may need longer. (Remember though, you can always cook the meat longer, but you can't take doneness away.) This final stint in the oven will firm your ribs up and should leave them ready to be devoured.
- Enjoy. Enjoy your ribs next to some corn on the cob and coleslaw for a hearty dish that screams summer.
- Try to avoid keeping the smoker door open too long. This and any sort of wind, while you are cooking, may cool the smoker off or even exterminate your fire.
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| How to Choose the Size of a Dehumidifier Posted: 20 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Dehumidifiers are helpful for removing excess moisture from indoor spaces, thus reducing water damage and harmful mold and mildew growth. However, these appliances come in a wide range of sizes and capacities, so you may be having a hard time figuring out which dehumidifier is the right size for your space. To pick the right dehumidifier, you'll need to assess how large and damp your space is. You can also save energy and get the most out of your dehumidifier by choosing a unit with a higher capacity than what's recommended for your space. [Edit]Figuring out the Type of Dehumidifier You Need - Measure the dimensions of your room or home. When choosing a dehumidifier, you'll need to take into account the size of the space you're trying to dehumidify. If you don't already know how big the space is, use a measuring tape to measure the length and width of the floor. Multiply those measurements together to find the size of the space in square feet or meters.[1]
- For example, if you're working with a room that is by , then the area is .
- Get a whole-house dehumidifier for a space larger than . If you need to dehumidify an entire house, it might be worthwhile to invest in a whole-house dehumidifier. You can get a unit designed to attach to a pre-existing central heating or air system, or opt for one that can be installed by itself. Whole-house dehumidifiers are designed to work in spaces as large as .
- While these units are expensive to buy initially, they can save you money and energy in the long run by helping your air conditioner work more efficiently.
- Pick a desiccant dehumidifier for a cooler environment. Dehumidifiers come in 2 basic types: desiccant and refrigerant. While desiccant humidifiers tend to have lower capacity ratings than refrigerant models, they operate much more efficiently in lower temperatures.[2] In general, it's best to use a desiccant dehumidifier if the temperature in your space will fall below .
- Desiccant dehumidifiers use a hydrophilic material like silica gel to draw moisture out of the air. Many residential units contain single-use cartridges. They're usually more expensive to run, but they're preferable in cooler spaces.[3]
- Desiccant dehumidifiers also have the advantage of being quieter than refrigerant models.
- Buy a refrigerant model for a hot and humid space. If your space is consistently hot and humid, a refrigerant dehumidifier may be your best bet. These dehumidifiers tend to have higher capacity ratings and operate more efficiently at high temperatures than desiccant models.[4]
- A refrigerant dehumidifier uses a heat exchange coil to extract moisture from the air. You can choose a portable refrigerant dehumidifier for smaller spaces, or for a whole-home option, you can choose one that will connect to your central air system.[5]
- If the temperature drops below in the space where you are running your refrigerant dehumidifier, ice may form on the evaporator coils and prevent the unit from functioning properly.[6]
- You can also use a dehumidifying ventilator if you want to move the humid air outside. These are most suitable for crawl spaces, basements, and attics.[7]
[Edit]Choosing Your Dehumidifier's Capacity - Look for signs of dampness to figure out how wet your space is. While you can measure the exact humidity level of a space using a humidity meter, it's usually not necessary to do precise measurements when choosing a dehumidifier. To get a general sense of how damp your space is, look for clear indicators of humidity, such as condensation inside the windows or damp spots on the walls. For example:[8]
- Your space is moderately damp if the air feels clammy or damp or you notice a musty odor when the weather is humid.
- A very damp space always smells musty and feels damp. You may also notice damp spots on the floor or walls.
- If the space is wet, you may notice water beading on the walls or floors, or moisture seeping in around the edges of the room. The room will feel and smell damp all the time.
- An extremely wet space will have obvious standing water on the floor.
- Get a dehumidifier with a capacity of for a moderately damp space. The "size" of a dehumidifier actually refers to its capacity—that is, how much water it can pull out of the air in a 24-hour period. If your space is only somewhat damp, you won't need a super high-capacity dehumidifier. The total capacity you need will depend on how big your space is. For example:[9]
- For a space that's , a dehumidifier with a capacity should work.
- If your space is , get a dehumidifier.
- For a space, get a dehumidifier.
- For a space, get a dehumidifier.
- For a space, get a dehumidifier.
- Choose a dehumidifier for a very damp space. If your space is very damp (e.g., always musty and with damp spots on the floor and walls), opt for a slightly higher-capacity dehumidifier. You'll need to take the size of the space into account as well as the level of dampness. For example, choose a dehumidifier that's:[10]
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- Buy a dehumidifier for a wet space. For wet spaces (e.g., where there is seepage or sweating on the walls and floors), you'll need a more powerful unit. Select your dehumidifier capacity based on the size of your space. For example, get a dehumidifier that is:[11]
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- Go for a dehumidifier for a very wet space. If your space is wet enough to have standing water, purchase a high-capacity dehumidifier based on the size of your space. For example, get a dehumidifier that is:[12]
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- for a space that is .
- Purchase a dehumidifier with a higher rating than you need to save energy. While larger dehumidifiers are more expensive to buy initially, you may ultimately save money and energy by choosing a machine that's a little higher-capacity than necessary. A higher-capacity dehumidifier won't have to work as hard to keep a space dry as one that's exactly the recommended capacity for the room.
- For example, even if you're only dehumidifying a small room—e.g., a bedroom—it might be worthwhile to invest in a dehumidifier that's rated for in a similarly damp environment.
- You can get large portable dehumidifiers with a capacity of up to per day.
- While a dehumidifier can help keep a room or home dry, you'll get the most out of it if you make an effort to keep excess moisture out of your space in the first place. You can keep your home drier by using vents and extractor fans in kitchens and showers, opening the windows and doors when the weather is cool and dry, and keeping your space well-insulated and heated in cold weather.[13]
- Many central air conditioning systems have built-in dehumidifiers. If you have central AC and your space is still humid, have a technician look at your air conditioner to make sure it is functioning properly.
- In general, there is no need to do elaborate calculations (such as the rate of airflow in your space or the exact volume of the area you want to dehumidify) to determine what kind of dehumidifier you need. Simply look for a dehumidifier that is rated for the size (in square feet or meters) and dampness level of your space.
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| How to Treat an Eye Infection Naturally Posted: 20 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT If you have an eye infection, you may be experiencing irritation, pain, redness, inflammation, or excess tearing in one or both of your eyes. Since eye infections can be caused by many different things, it's important to figure out what kind you have so you can use home remedies to treat your symptoms and alleviate your discomfort. See your doctor right away if you have any extreme pain or experience reduced vision, and talk to your doctor if your infection doesn't clear up within 2 to 3 days. [Edit]Treating Pink Eye - Look for redness, grittiness, or discharge to see if you have pink eye. Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is usually caused by an infection in the membrane that lines your eyeballs. If you have crusting around your eyelids when you wake up or your eyes look red or pink, you most likely have pink eye.[1]
- Pink eye is one of the most common eye infections.
- Wash your hands before touching your eyes. Touching your eyes with dirty hands can make your infection worse or carry germs to your uninfected eye. Try to avoid touching your eyes without washing your hands first.[2]
- Pink eye is contagious, so you need to wash your hands after touching your eyes to avoid spreading it to others.
- Apply a warm compress to your closed eyes. Dampen a washcloth with warm water from your sink and wring out the excess. Place the washcloth over your eyes to soothe them and reduce inflammation. Keep the washcloth on until it gets cold, then take it off. Wash each cloth between use to avoid spreading the infection.[3]
- You can apply a warm compress to your eyes as often as you'd like to throughout the day.
- Use lubricating eye drops to reduce irritation. Lay down on your back and open up 1 eye. Apply 1 to 2 drops of the eye drops into your affected eye and blink until your vision clears up. Although eye drops won't cure your infection, they can help reduce itching and tearing in your affected eye.[4]
- You can find lubricating eye drops at most drug stores.
- Eye drops can also wash out any irritants that may be causing your pink eye.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until your infection clears up. If you were wearing your contacts before you got the infection, they could be infected with conjunctivitis. Stop wearing your contacts until your eye feels better, and then ask your healthcare provider if you should get rid of your current contacts.[5]
- You could reinfect your eyes by putting your contact lenses back in.
- Take an allergy medication if you have allergic conjunctivitis. Pink eye can also be caused by allergens like dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander. If you know you have allergies, try taking an over the counter allergy medication to alleviate your symptoms and get rid of your pink eye.[6]
- Try using an air filter in your home to avoid getting allergens in your eyes in the future.
[Edit]Caring for a Sty - Look for a tender red bump at the base of your eyelashes. If you notice a small bump that causes pain, redness, and itchiness around your eyelid, you probably have a sty. Styes are caused by an impacted oil gland in your eyelid and usually show up near your lash line.[7]
- You can also get a sty on the inside of your eyelid underneath your lash line.
- Wash your eyelid with soap and water. Apply warm water and a gentle face cleanser to a washcloth, then rub your eyelids with it to clean the area. Rinse your eyes with warm water to keep them free of dirt so your sty heals faster.[8]
- Put a warm washcloth over your eyes. Run a washcloth under warm water from your sink and wring out the excess. Fold the washcloth over itself and then put it over your closed eyes. The warmth of the water can encourage the sty to drain on its own and go away faster.[9]
- Put a warm compress on your eyes 2 to 3 times a day until your sty heals.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses. If your sty was caused by bacteria, your contact lenses could be contaminated with it. Wear glasses instead of contacts until your sty heals up, and then ask your healthcare provider if you should replace your contacts.[10]
- Leave the sty alone until it heals. Although it can be tempting to pop or drain a sty with your fingers, this can make it much worse or even cause an infection. Do your best to leave the sty alone until it goes away on its own.[11]
[Edit]Dealing with Blepharitis - Look for watery, red eyes that are more sensitive to light. Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelids on one or both eyes. This inflammation can cause watery, red, itchy, swollen eyes, accompanied by crusted eyelashes when you wake up, sensitivity to light, and more frequent blinking.[12]
- Wash your eyelids every day. Apply a warm washcloth over your eyes for about 5 minutes to loosen the crust in your eyelashes. Then, use a warm washcloth and mild cleanser to gently wipe away any oil and debris from your eyelids.[13]
- Use lubricating eye drops. Lay down on your back with your eyes open. Apply 1 to 2 drops of eye drops in each eye, and then blink your eyes until your vision clears. You can use the eye drops to reduce the amount of itchiness and irritation in your eyes.[14]
- Look for lubricating eye drops at any drug store.
- Control your dandruff with anti-dandruff shampoo. If you deal with dandruff, it may be contributing to your blepharitis. Pick up an anti-dandruff shampoo to use on your hair to make your blepharitis go away quickly.[15]
- Dandruff is linked to blepharitis because dandruff on your scalp can lead to dandruff on your eyebrows, which can clog the glands in your eyelids.
- Increase your intake of omega-3 to prevent blepharitis in the future. Try taking fish oil supplements or eating more salmon, tuna, flaxseed, and walnuts in your daily diet. Omega-3s may help to decrease the symptoms that surround blepharitis, especially if you have rosacea.[16]
[Edit]Treating Bacterial Keratitis - Look for redness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. Bacterial keratitis is an infection of the cornea. It can cause redness, pain, tearing, blurred vision, decreased vision, and sensitivity to light. If you wear contact lenses, you are more prone to bacterial keratitis.[17]
- Use lubricating eye drops to reduce irritation. Lay down on your back with your eyes open. Apply 1 to 2 drops of eye drops into the affected eye, and then blink until your vision clears up. Use these eye drops as often as you want to throughout the day to reduce itchiness and grittiness.[18]
- Apply a warm compress to reduce itchiness. Run a washcloth under warm water and wring out the excess. Put your head back and place the washcloth over your eyes for 5 to 10 minutes. Although this won't cure keratitis, it will help reduce the pain and irritation that comes with it.[19]
- You can use a warm compress as often as you'd like to throughout the day.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eyes clear up. Keratitis is sometimes caused by wearing your contacts for too long. Until your keratitis is better, wear your glasses instead of contacts.[20]
- Follow the directions on your package of contact lenses to find out how long you should be wearing them.
[Edit]When to Seek Medical Treatment - Get your eyes checked out if you have any eye infection symptoms. If you suspect you have any kind of eye infection, make an appointment with your primary care doctor or your eye doctor. Leaving an eye infection untreated or trying to treat it yourself without knowing what it is can lead to more serious complications. Common symptoms of infection include:[21]
- Redness that doesn't go away within a week, even with eye drops or other home remedies
- Yellow, green, or brown discharge
- Pain, itching, or tenderness in or around your eyes
- Light sensitivity
- Changes in vision
- Fever or general feelings of sickness, especially in combination with eye symptoms
- See your doctor if you have severe or persistent pain in your eyes. Unexplained eye pain or discomfort that doesn't go away with home treatment in 2 or 3 days can be a symptom of an infection or another serious eye problem. It's especially important to visit your doctor if you have eye pain and you wear contact lenses, have recently had eye surgery, or have a weakened immune system. Call emergency services if:[22]
- Your eye pain is extremely severe
- You experience eye pain along with a headache, a fever, or extreme light sensitivity
- You have eye pain with nausea or vomiting
- Your eye pain is accompanied by a sudden change in your vision, such as blurriness or halos around lights
- The eye pain is caused by a chemical splash or a foreign object in your eye
- You can't move your eye or keep it open
- The pain is accompanied by swelling around the eye
- The pain is accompanied by blood or pus
- Get immediate medical attention for any changes in your vision. Any time your vision suddenly changes, you should go to the emergency department or an urgent care clinic immediately. These could be symptoms of a serious problem with your eye or optic nerve. Look out for symptoms such as:[23]
- Flashes of light in your field of vision, especially when you move your head. These may look like streaks, flickers, or sparks.
- New floaters (dark spots or shadows that appear to float around in your field of vision).
- A dark curtain or "veil" across some or all of your vision.
- Partial or total loss of vision in one or both eyes.
- Sudden, unusual light sensitivity.
- Sudden blurring of your vision or double vision.[24]
- Go to the doctor if you have an infection and a weak immune system. If you have a medical condition or are taking a medication that might weaken your immune system, it's important to see your doctor as soon as possible for any symptoms of an eye infection. They can identify the infection quickly and prescribe a treatment to prevent more serious complications from developing.[25]
- Common causes of a weakened immune system include conditions like HIV/AIDs, cancer, or genetic immune deficiency disorders. Your immune system may also be weakened by certain medications, such as steroids or chemotherapy drugs.[26]
- Seek treatment if you have an infection with a pre-existing eye condition. Some eye conditions or injuries can put you at greater risk of developing harmful infections. If you have one of these conditions and develop symptoms of an eye infection, see your doctor right away.[27] Examples of conditions that might put you at risk include:[28]
- Trauma to the eye
- Abrasion of your cornea
- Recent eye surgery
- Health conditions such as diabetes or diseases that suppress your immune system
- Certain medications, such as topical steroids
- Wearing contact lenses
- Take your baby to the doctor if they have symptoms of an eye infection. Infants with eye infections always need a medical evaluation and treatment, especially newborns. These infections can cause serious complications if they aren't treated right away. Call your baby's pediatrician right away if you see symptoms such as redness, swelling, or discharge from the eye.[29]
- Pink eye symptoms in newborns can have a variety of causes, including blockages in the tear ducts, irritation in the eye, a bacterial or viral infection, or sexually transmitted infections passed on from the mother to the baby at birth (including gonorrhea or chlamydia).
- Visit the doctor if your symptoms don't get better with treatment. If you're treating your eye infection appropriately and you don't see any improvement within 1-3 days, it's time to call your doctor. They can re-evaluate your condition and recommend another treatment approach if necessary.[30]
- Ask your doctor how soon you should follow up if your infection isn't responding to prescribed treatments. Some recommend waiting up to 3 days, while others advise following up if you don't see an improvement in 24 hours.
- You should also call your doctor right away if your symptoms get worse, new symptoms appear, or your symptoms go away and then return.
[Edit]Warnings - See your primary care physician or an optometrist if you think you have an eye infection to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.[31]
- Any loss of vision or blurriness should be treated immediately in a hospital. Some eye infections may cause permanent blindness.[32]
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