Galley Tip: Cleaning Your Galley!

Yesterday a Galley owner mentioned to us that their Galley was difficult to clean since the sink is so large.  So to help them out, we made this quick video to show how to do that easily without having to remove the Accessories, and by using both of the faucets along with a squeegie.

Induction Cooking 101

This article is another article by Elli B. She writes about family and home safety, house renovation, design, DIY home security, and ways to ensure that your family is happy, safe and healthy!

Induction cooking is not a new technology. For many years, it has been used by amateur cooks and professional chefs alike. Recently however, the costs associated with induction cooking equipment have decreased dramatically, thus opening the door for more people to practice this innovative cooking method.

What is Induction Cooking?

Induction cooking operates by creating an electric current that causes the cooking vessel itself to generate heat and cook the food inside. Because the heat comes from an electric current, the area around the cooking vessel isn’t affected, and the cooking surface itself remains cool. People often prefer induction cooking to other methods because of this safety feature.
How Does it Work?

Induction cooking works in four basic steps:

1. The heating element produces a high-frequency electromagnetic field by powering a coil.

2. The electromagnetic field penetrates the cooking vessel and creates a circulating current of electricity, which in turn generates heat.

3. The cooking vessel transfers the heat to the contents of the vessel.

4. When the element is turned off, or if the vessel is removed from the element, heat generation stops immediately. Nothing outside of the cooking vessel will be affected by the electromagnetic field.

What Type of Cooking Equipment is Required?

Induction cooking will only work properly when the right type of equipment is utilized. Current (no pun intended) induction technology requires that all cooking vessels be composed of a ferrous metal in order to sustain the electromagnetic field. In other words, if the pan will hold a magnet on the bottom, it will work. Pyrex, copper and aluminum will not work with an induction cook top. However, pots and pans made of steel or iron are ideal for this type of cooking.

What are the Benefits of Induction Cooking?

Induction cooking offers many benefits over more traditional cooking methods, such as convection. For example, induction cooking does not require a flame and won’t have any effect on the area surrounding the heating element, thus making it much safer than other cooking methods. Induction cooking is also more precise and easier to control than most other cooking methods, allowing for more accuracy.

Because induction cooking makes use of an electromagnetic field, it heats food rapidly. Food cooked using induction is also heated more evenly and consistently. Induction cook tops are highly efficient and use very little energy compared to their gas or electric counterparts. In addition, induction cooking surfaces are extremely easy to clean. Because the only heat produced occurs in the cooking vessel itself, the area beneath the vessel doesn’t get hot, and spilled food doesn’t scorch.

Finally, though some people may consider the equipment limitations of an induction cook top to be problematic, these requirements can also be viewed as a benefit. Iron and steel cookware represent some of the highest quality on the market. In fact, many master chefs prefer cookware made out of these materials, regardless of whether they use induction cooking. Iron and steel cookware are available from a variety of brands and in a range of prices, making them affordable for even the most frugal cooks.

The Future of Induction Cooking

Manufacturers are already working on induction cooking technology that would allow chefs to use cooking vessels made of non-ferrous materials, such as aluminum and copper. However, that technology may not be available in the near future. Nonetheless, these innovations indicate that the future of induction cooking is bright, and that more people will be able to employ induction cooking in their own homes as time progresses.

Have you tried induction cooking?

 

Hear From A Galley Owner

When Roger Shollmier first introduced the idea of installing a 5 1/2′ sink in my tiny galley kitchen space I thought he was crazy.  I was wrong.  The Galley Sink is the ultimate combination of functionality and design that transformed the way I used my kitchen space.  I can literally cook an entire meal from start to finish using the Galley Sink without any hassles of having to move around the kitchen. I also like to pack the Galley with ice to store drinks during games or parties.  It is so multifunctional and in addition, looks great in any style of kitchen! 

 

5 Reasons Your Family Should Cook Together

This is a guest article by Elli B.  She writes about all things home-related everything from how to keep your family safe at home, house renovation and design techniques, DIY home security, strategic landscaping and other measures that you can take to make sure the family is happy and healthy!

At the end of a long day, cooking often feels more like a chore than an opportunity to spend quality time with the family. When you factor in limited time, zapped energy, and a household brimming with hectic schedules, getting everyone into the kitchen to whip up a meal may feel like more trouble than it’s worth. However, if you’re family interacts more with a computer screen than each other, cooking together is the perfect way to reconnect. Here are five solid reasons to make the time to cook together as a family: 

  1. Reinforces Healthy Eating Habits
    With childhood obesity quickly becoming a problem of epidemic portions in this country, home cooking is even more important since meals prepared at home are typically more nutritious than meals eaten out. If you want your children to make healthy eating choices, you must teach them how to make wise choices. Children learn their eating habits and develop food preferences through your family’s environment. By modeling the correct behavior, you will help your children form healthy habits that last a lifetime.
  1. Encourages Family Conversation and Bonding
    Cooking together helps build closer relationships with your children. Turn off the TV and computer and don’t answer the phone while you make dinner. This dedicated time in the kitchen gives everyone in the family a chance to talk about their day, learn more about each other, and build pleasant family memories.
  1. Combats Finicky Eating Habits
    Children are more likely to eat food that they had a part in making. If you have a finicky eater, let her help you with dinner so she can see, inspect, and handle the food she’s going to eat. By becoming actively involved with the creation of family meals, your child will be more likely to at least taste the finished product.
  1. It’s Educational
    Aside from the obvious benefit of learning how to cook, children can practice and learn other skills such as reading recipes, measuring items, and following directions. Additionally, your children will work with simple math equations like addition, subtraction and understanding fractions.
  1. Teaches Responsibility and Builds Self-Esteem
    Helping create a meal includes a lot of responsibility – you have to follow directions, use proper safety when working around knives and hot surfaces, and time everything. By allowing your children to share in the responsibility of creating the family meal, you are giving them a sense of importance, which will help increase their self-esteem. Since preparing a meal results in a tangible reward in a short period of time, it’s a wonderful way to build confidence.

Tasks for Kids
The best part about cooking together as a family is there’s no right way or wrong way to do it. Little hands can help pour, measure, or turn recipe book pages. To help guide you on your next family cook night, here are a few tasks that children with:

  • Cracking eggs
  • Measuring ingredients
  • Stirring ingredients
  • Adding additional ingredients
  • Washing vegetables
  • Tearing lettuce
  • Setting the table
  • Find and give ingredients to mom or dad

No matter what tasks you decide to give your children to get them involved, be sure to offer plenty of guidance, encouragement, and support.