3 Ingredients That Are a Waste of Time, Money, and Taste Buds!
Never Leave a Chil
What the Science Says
Trigger warning: This article contains warnings to prevent child death.
We often hear from experts after heartbreaking news stories, warning us to never leave a child or pet in a hot vehicle because the consequences could be deadly. But what makes a vehicle so dangerous in the sun? Consumer Reports breaks down why you should always heed this important warning — and not just during summer. Let’s start with why vehicles can get so hot. Cars, trucks, and vans are often made with materials that “radiate heat into the air,” Consumer Reports writes. Because the vehicle is an enclosed, small space, that heat continues to multiply. Cracking your windows can help, but it’s not enough to dissipate dangerous heat levels.
There are several foods in just about every supermarket that aren’t what they seem. These are foods that may appear perfectly fine at a glance, but they are actually a waste of time, money, and pantry space. Here are three of those foods and their better alternatives! Beef Broth When you buy beef broth, you buy it with the expectation that it
is, in fact, beef-based. However, many products that call themselves “beef broth” are actually yeast -based. All of their flavor comes from yeast and various spices, not beef, thanks to lax U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations on beef broth. The product may have just enough actual beef broth for it to be on the ingredient list and label. The next time you need beef broth for a recipe, replace it with the same amount of chicken or vegetable broth, both of which have more stringent USDA regulations. Cooking Wine This is one of the biggest scams in the culinary world. First, most products called “cooking wine” on their label are low-quality wines. Second, many manufacturers add salt to cooking wine. If you encounter a recipe that calls for cooking wine, in general, stick to regular wine that you would serve on its own. Use white wine for lighter-in-color dishes, such as risotto, and red wine for dark, richer dishes, including sauces and gravies. Ground Black Pepper Many spices can actually fall under this category, but ground black pepper tends to be the most popular — and the most problematic. When spices, like pepper, are ground, they come into contact with air and begin to oxidize and lose flavor. Ground spices stored in sealed containers in a cool, dry place will lose flavor slowly, but ground pepper tends to be left out, which means it loses flavor faster. Instead, invest in a pepper mill and fill it with whole peppercorns. The flavor difference in your dishes will be noticeable!
In testing, Consumer Reports found that a light-colored vehicle that
Keep Your Ho With a DIY Box
As we write this, fire season is in full swing across the United States. Smoke from those wildfires drifts through thousands
of cities and millions of homes each summer, aggravating asthma and causing coughing fits. If your
house is in an affected area — or you’d just like to ensure that your family is breathing the cleanest, healthiest air possible — this cheap, easy, DIY air filter has your back. What You Need Making a DIY air filter is incredibly simple. All you need is a box fan, a HEPA filter (cheap pleated filters from Winix or FilterBuy work perfectly), and something to attach the filter to the fan, like duct tape, canvas straps, sturdy ribbon, zip ties, or clamps. Use whatever attachment material you have on hand! A screwdriver and four screws are optional. You should be able to find all of the necessary materials at your local hardware store for $25–$50. Build Your Box Fan Filter You’ve probably guessed how this project will come together! First, lay your fan intake side up and cover the front grate with the HEPA filter. Then, use
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