Tuesday 21 July 2015

Make Sure That Your Beer Glasses Go With All Occasions



Beer is a no-nonsense drink that you can enjoy regardless of the occasion, but not all beers are the same. When you browse beers from different brands in the store, you should realise that they all differ in terms of brew and type. Hence, not all bears should be given the same treatment-and you should care about the type of vessel you serve or drink them from. Using the right beer glasses means appreciating the brewing traditions and years of expert fermentation. If you are a true beer enthusiast, you should make sure that your beer goes well with the glass and the occasion.

Craft beers are the ultimate class of beers and are best enjoyed in an appropriate glass to accentuate further its flavour and texture. Beer glasses are specially made for different types of specific beers. The weizen, for instance, is a German glass with a narrow bottom and a wide top, and it is used for wheat beer. The tapered edge of the Pilsner glass maintains the beer head and carbonation of Pilsners and pale lagers. The tall and narrow Stange is designed for Koslch, a German beer that hails from Cologne.

Sipping beers like German bocks and Belgian ales are best enjoyed in a goblet. The goblet’s majestic form is perfect for semi-formal occasions, too. Snifters are versatile goblet-type glasses that can be used for aromatic beers like Belgian ales and Imperial IPAs, as well as for liquor like cognac and brandy. Tulip beer glasses are suitable for Scottish ales, imperial IPAs and American doubles, and Belgian ales because it ensure maximum head retention. When you are in doubt, go for the all-around pint glass. Most bars use pint beer glasses made in Shaker style or the 'poor man's' pint glass.

Is Your Knife Sharpener Efficient Enough?



It is essential to have a sharp knife not only for convenience but also for safety. Dull knives may cause accidents in the kitchen and make you exert more effort, causing you to be very tired by the time you finish cooking. To keep knives sharp, you need to have a high-quality sharpener in your kitchen. Every kitchen should have at least one knife sharpener that can handle a wide range of knives, especially the basic ones like the chef's knife. A sharpener is a crucial tool for regular knife maintenance, too.

Knowing the difference between honing and sharpening is important before you buy a knife sharpener. This way, you can be sure that you are buying something that is efficient and easy to use. Honing and sharpening are terms that may be used interchangeably, but they mean different things when pertaining to knives. Knife sharpeners remove metal particles from the knife while honing pertains to the straightening of a curved or bent edge. For regular kitchen use, you need an efficient knife sharpener that can prevent the edge from bending with constant use.

Knife sharpeners come in different types. Manual options are usually sold as sharpening stones and ceramic sharpeners. A sharpening stone is typically a solid block made of an aluminium oxide that is lubricated with water or oil, and others are made of diamond, which does not require any lubrication. Ceramic sharpeners are modern alternatives that are made of minerals and are less porous.

Electric knife sharpeners are recommended if you want a safer and easier way to sharpen knives. They usually come with mechanisms that will ensure a correct angle on the blade. Most electric sharpeners have two to three stages, often from coarse to fine, but be sure to read the user manual to learn how to use properly one. This way, you can prevent premature damage or wear to the knife. Some electric sharpeners use diamond, titanium, or ceramic plates.

Guide to Buy the Best Carving knives



Carving knives are essential for easy and proper cutting and slicing thinner slices of poultry and certain types of meat. They are typically used for roasts because they can preserve the texture and the look of the meat. Carving knives are typically long and flat with a non-serrated edge and a round tip, but there other options that have a pointed tip. Your choice should depend on the type of roast or meat that you want to cut. Check out these pointers for buying the best carving knives:

  • Judge the tip – A carving knife with a pointed tip is better for cutting around bones, and the one with a rounded tip is recommended for carving large pieces of boneless meat, like roast beef or ham.

  • A longer blade might be better – Look for a blade that with a length of around nine inches or longer, so you can have more room to a back-and-forth slicing motion with reduced sawing.

  • Consider a knife with a fluted edge – A carving knife with a fluted blade will keep meat from sticking to it.

  • Check the material – High carbon stainless steel is the most durable material and can make the knife serve you for many years with proper care and maintenance.  This type of steel is tougher than Vanadium stainless steel, too.

  • Go for a carving set – If this is your first time shopping for a carving knife or you are looking to upgrade, go for one that comes with a carving fork to save money.

  • Branded knives – High-quality branded knives are durable. Some of the popular names are Dexter Russel, Scanpan, and Tojiro.

  • Buy online – Consider buying a carving knife or a carving knife set online. Look for an online store that carries a wide range of kitchenware products. Choose an online retailer that offers a flat shipping rate and a money-back guarantee.

Monday 20 July 2015

Cuisinart Ice Cream Machines and Their Booming Popularity



Experimenting with original recipes is what food-making is all about and what better way to exercise your freedom to create than trying to make desserts? Ice cream is the perfect treat to experiment with, even when you are new in dessert making. It is one type of food that's hard to get wrong and even if you do make a mistake, you will still probably end up with an edible and fairly enjoyable delight.

Cuisinart is known for its varied and exciting kitchen devices. These days, talks about the brand's ice cream machine are hot, with users going as far as dubbing them the best in the market. Cuisinart's ice cream machines are among the most sought after in the market, as they help simplify what used to be a tedious ice cream mixing and freezing process. The following are only some of the most popular Cuisinart ice cream maker models in the market:

  • The Cuisinart ICE-100 Compressor Ice Cream Maker – This compact ice cream maker has a long list of notable features, among which is its automatic quality compressor, touch pad controls, LCD readout, and a mixing bowl with a 1½-quart capacity.

  • The Cuisinart Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker – Cuisinart's Pure Indulgence model, features a fully automatic ice-cream making system, which enables fuss-free desert making. It features a dual-insulated freezer bowl, which holds up to 2 quarts of ice cream. The upgraded motor can churn your ice cream in as little as 25 minutes.

  • The Cuisinart ICE-20 Automatic – This ice cream maker has an even more powerful engine that can turn your ice cream recipe into a frozen delight in just 20 minutes. The machine has a transparent top lock, which enables you to monitor your recipe's progress inside the maker.

  • The Cuisinart ICE-70 Electronic Ice Cream Maker – is also a highly recommended model. This ice cream maker offers many other notable features like a digital control panel, a mixing paddle, and a powerful system and engine that can churn as much as 2 quarts of ice cream, sorbet, or gelato in 20 minutes.

Champagne Glasses Classy Additions to Your Cupboard



Champagne glasses have always exuded an innate elegance. As a wine enthusiast, you must know that each type of wine and spirit deserves its special serving ware. Sparkling wines like your favourite bubbly require special treatment. The glassware you choose to use with your drink can drastically alter your experience as well as the taste of the drink. Here are some types of champagne glasses your glass cabinet badly needs:

  • Coupes – The coupe features a wide, shallow bowl. Also known as a champagne saucer, this is the oldest form of champagne glass, popularized in the early 20th century. The champagne saucer is reminiscent of 20's extravagance (Great Gatsby themes come to mind) as well as luxury celebrations. Coupes are timelessly stylish, thanks to their vintage flair and aesthetically superior design. However, a coupe is not as efficient in keeping your bubbly's fizz because of its shallow bowl and large surface area.

  • Flute – The classic flute is as much an icon of class and luxury as the vintage coupe. Not only is it aesthetically superior, with its tall and thin bowl and long stem, it is also designed to keep your drink fizzy. The narrow bottom causes bubbles to congregate and rise to the top of your glass while preserving its flavour and aroma. Flutes are a symbol of indulgent and sophisticated celebrations.

  • Tulip – Tulip glasses are as elegant as you can get though they are not as well recognised as coupes and flutes for champagne. Nevertheless, this glass style has a lot to offer to champagne lovers. It has a greater bowl space than a flute, yet it features a small base. It widens to the top and narrows slightly towards the rim, forming a unique tulip shape. Its wider aperture enables greater development of aromatics and flavours and allows the bubbles to hit the right regions of the tongue, rather than become concentrated all up in your nose.