Out with the old, in with the new - some of Giada's favorite ways to make your kitchen space a better place!
When your kitchen is clean and efficient, it opens the door to being a better cook—it's a direct correlation! Nothing inspires reaching for the takeout menu more than a cluttered countertop and a pantry in disarray. So here, four simple ways to get your kitchen back in cooking-order:
1. Giada swears by a certain product called Bar Keeper's Friend—and now we're all converts. It's perfect for stained sinks, countertops, and can even get your heirloom dutch ovens sparkling clean without damaging the finish. With dozens of other uses as well, this is a spring-cleaning multi-tasker we always have on hand!
2. To set your kitchen up for culinary success, it's essential to clean out and overhaul your pantry several times a year. Nothing feels better than tossing stale items from the dusty corners of the cupboard, giving it a good clean, and an ingredient overhaul. Once you've purged the old, stock your pantry with smart shelf-stable items— you know, jarred marinara, dried pasta, canned tuna— the products that make it super simple to throw together a meal when you haven't been to the grocery store in a while.
3. Another great way to combat clutter: say no to unitaskers! Our friend Alton Brown is quite the advocate of this too! Novelty products that only tackle one specific action—like cutting a single strawberry or those trendy scissors for your pizza— take up a lot of space in drawers and aren't always as helpful as they seem (though we admit, they sure are fun!). Minimalism is generally a good rule of thumb in the kitchen, especially in one where space is limited. And if you want to go the extra mile- Giada recommends Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which will have you reaching for the trash bags.
4. This last tip is probably the most fun (because no cleaning is actually required): buy more plants! Not only does living greenery breathe life and beauty into a space, but they have some serious health benefits, too. For example, keeping orchids in your house, rids the air of chemicals like xylene and toluene, which are often found in glues and paints, and anthuriums (also known as flamingo lilies) absorb formaldehyde and ammonia. Still not convinced? NASA did a clean air study in 1989 that recognized these houseplants, among others, as a natural countermeasure to common airborne pollutants. The verdict? Head to the nursery, and make your space a little prettier while breathing easier at the same time!
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