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Gardening 3m read
93

Why You Should Always Drop a Penny in Your Flower Vase

Imagine you’ve just returned from the Sunday farmers market with an armful of cut flowers. The only problem is you need them to last until Friday, when you’re hosting a dinner party. So, how do you ensure your blooms stay fresh and perky for the next five days? You may have heard that adding a few drops of bleach or a shot of vodka can help flowers last longer in a vase. But if you don’t have either of these items on hand, a solution can likely be found in your wallet (or potentially the crevices of your couch).

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Imagine you’ve just returned from the Sunday farmers market with an armful of cut flowers. The only problem is you need them to last until Friday, when you’re hosting a dinner party. So, how do you ensure your blooms stay fresh and perky for the next five days? You may have heard that adding a…

How a Copper Penny Keeps Flowers Fresh

Adding a penny to a vase helps protect fresh flowers from bacteria, as copper is a natural fungicide. However, it’s important to use pennies minted before 1982, which contain 95% copper. Pennies minted in more recent years are made of 97.5% zinc and only 2.5% copper to retain the coins’ reddish-brown color.

Although it’s not scientifically proven, many people (florists included) believe old copper pennies prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae. A stem clogged with algae will have difficulty absorbing water, causing it to wilt and wither. With fewer bacteria swimming around in the vase, your lilies will have a better chance of surviving the week. 

Related: Bobby Pins Are the Secret to Fuller, Healthier Houseplants

Tulips, in particular, benefit from a copper coin as it encourages them to stand upright in their vessel. The exact science behind this phenomenon is also murky, but it’s theorized that the tulips absorb some of the copper, an essential nutrient, causing them to perk up.

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Practice Proper Flower Care for a Long-Lasting Arrangement

One penny isn’t enough to keep cut flowers looking their best. Follow these care instructions for long-lasting blooms:

1. Sterilize your vase by cleaning it with warm water and dish soap. If the opening is too narrow to reach into, you can use one or two denture tablets to remove stubborn residue and kill bacteria.

2. Cut about 1 to 2 inches from the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this process every two to three days until it’s time to toss the arrangement. Remove any lower leaves that may come into contact with the water, as this can cause contamination.

3. Fill the vase two-thirds full with lukewarm water and add a copper penny for good measure. You may want to top up your vase with fresh water the following day as the flowers will be especially thirsty. After that, you should replace the water every two to three days.

4. Avoid placing flowers in direct sunlight or exposing them to extreme temperatures. Keep your arrangement away from heat sources, cooling systems, or even drafty doors and windows.

5. Remove any dead flowers from the arrangement to protect those that are still healthy. Mold spreads easily from stem to stem, so this should be done daily.

While dropping an old copper penny into a flower vase is more of an old wives’ tale than scientific fact, it’s a low-cost trick worth trying. Pair your farmers market blooms with a crushed aspirin tablet to lower the water’s pH level or a spoonful of vodka to slow ethylene production, and they may last even longer.

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Decorating 5m read
98

Essential Items for a Welcoming Guest Room

Being a guest in someone else’s house can help you figure out what you want to include in your own guest space, be it a spare bedroom with an en suite bath or a sleeper sofa in the basement. Think about the last time you visited friends over a long weekend or stayed with relatives during the holidays. Which creature comforts did you appreciate the most, and which ones were you lacking?

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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Being a guest in someone else’s house can help you figure out what you want to include in your own guest space, be it a spare bedroom with an en suite bath or a sleeper sofa in the basement. Think about the last time you visited friends over a long weekend or stayed with relatives…

With this in mind, we’ve come up with a definitive list of essentials for a welcoming guest room, omitting superfluous items such as fresh flowers and a matching robe and slipper set. (But who are we to stop you if you’re an above-and-beyond type of person?)

Bedroom Must-Haves

Furniture

First things first, you need a comfortable bed or, if you’re working with a small space, a convertible sofa bed. Start with a sturdy bed frame — preferably something with a headboard, but go with what your budget allows — and a plush mattress. In my own guest room, I paired an inexpensive ZINUS Abel platform bed frame with an upholstered headboard that I attached to the wall for stability. I topped it off with a Kin by Tuft & Needle mattress that rakes in compliments from overnight guests.

Consider adding a pair of nightstands or end tables so your guests can keep their phones, reading materials, or water glasses nearby. A small table lamp is often appreciated and can help visitors find their way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Another necessity is storage space, whether you reserve a few drawers in a dresser or a portion of a closet for your guests’ clothes. A luggage rack is a nice-to-have item, too, as it keeps suitcases off the ground and easily accessible. Finally, installing a full-length mirror or, at the very least, offering a tabletop makeup mirror is a must for any guest bedroom.

Credit: New Africa/ Shutterstock
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Linens

Dress the bed with seasonally appropriate bedding. If you’re entertaining during warmer weather, that could mean a breathable sheet set and a light blanket or quilt. During the colder months, consider a duvet insert or comforter and a warm and cozy sheet set. It’s always a good idea to give your guests options by leaving out extra linens that vary in weight and warmth. 

Related: A Designer’s Trick for Choosing the Right Nightstands

Don’t skimp on pillows — there’s nothing worse than sleeping on a single, well-worn pillow with mystery stains and stray feathers. I have two sets of these Beckham Hotel Collection bed pillows in my guest bedroom and love how well they hold their shape. They’re also fairly easy to clean.

Credit: Boyloso/ iStock

Miscellaneous Items

Provide your guests with the WiFi password without them having to nag you for it. Etsy touts hundreds of customizable signs, but you could just as easily download a free printable, add your network name and password, print it out, and pop it in a thrifted frame. A wireless charging station is another useful item to have on hand, as they are compatible with a variety of devices.

Many people struggle to get a good night’s sleep when they’re away from home, but you can help your guests drift off by outfitting your space with a water carafe and cup, portable fan, sound machine, facial tissues, and blackout curtains. Don’t forget to leave some spare clothes hangers in the closet or on a hook, and consider a portable garment steamer to avoid lugging out an ironing board at your guest’s request.

Credit: New Africa/ Shutterstock
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Bathroom Basics

In a perfect world, we would all have a spare bathroom for our guests’ exclusive use, complete with a hair dryer in an embroidered bag and travel-size versions of their favorite toiletries. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible, but there are tweaks you can make to a shared bathroom to make it more welcoming for guests.

Provide a set of towels for each guest, including a bath towel, hand towel, and wash cloth. As a person who wears makeup, I love to see a black washcloth that I can use to remove my foundation and mascara without the fear of staining. A basket containing basic toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss is yet another welcoming touch. Bonus points if you display cotton swabs, cotton rounds, and hand soap in coordinating containers.

Related: This Is the Secret to Fluffy, Luxury Hotel-Style Bedding

Avoid causing your guests any bathroom embarrassment by supplying extra toilet paper, a plunger, toilet brush, covered wastebasket, feminine hygiene products, and air freshener or toilet spray. If your toilet or shower has any weird quirks (“Hold the handle down for five seconds; trigger the rain showerhead by turning the knob to the left … ”) be sure to leave a note for your guests.

Credit: New Africa/ Shutterstock

Host Like a Pro

Hosting overnight guests doesn’t have to be a stressful, budget-busting experience. I start by shopping my house for items I already own, like that spare end table stowed in the basement or the skin care minis I recently received in a subscription box. Your guests will be grateful for your hospitality — they won’t care that your bath towels are mismatched or your gift wrapping supplies are shoved under the bed. Do what you can to make your guests feel at home, but don’t go overboard with unnecessary extras.

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Organizing 3m read
560

5 Helpful Hacks for Maximizing Fridge Space

Organizing the refrigerator can be like a game of Tetris, as every ounce of free space matters. You may find yourself precariously balancing a jar of pasta sauce atop a box of leftover pizza with a bottle of ketchup shoved in between, all to maximize your total storage capacity. But these haphazard arrangements can make it difficult to reach food far in the back, leaving you no choice but to take everything out, grab what you need, and then put the rest back in a jumbled mess. It’s time to fix that. Here are five helpful hacks for maximizing fridge space.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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Organizing the refrigerator can be like a game of Tetris, as every ounce of free space matters. You may find yourself precariously balancing a jar of pasta sauce atop a box of leftover pizza with a bottle of ketchup shoved in between, all to maximize your total storage capacity. But these haphazard arrangements can make…

Clean the Fridge Regularly

An organized fridge begins with a regular cleaning routine, which should be done once a month. Dispose of any items past their expiration dates or foods you know you’ll never actually eat. It’s also a good idea to clean out the refrigerator ahead of any major holidays or events where you know there will be tons of prep and leftovers. By being proactive, you won’t be left struggling to find room for all the post-dinner Tupperware you’ll inevitably end up with.

Related: 6 Often-Overlooked Spaces in Your Home To Declutter Right Now

Place Food on Cooling Racks

Premade dishes need room in the fridge without the risk of getting smushed; cooling racks are an excellent way to achieve this. Purchase a few cooling racks (such as those made for quarter-sheet baking pans) and place them on top of your food storage containers. This effectively creates another shelf, maximizing vertical space. If you’re storing anything delicate, like pies or mashed potatoes, avoid placing it on the bottom “shelf,” unless the container has adequate space between the food and rim or comes with a rigid lid.

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Utilize Lazy Susans

Lazy Susans and other rotating organizers can help you reach condiments, jars, and sauces that would otherwise be hidden in the back of the fridge. Place a lazy Susan on a shelf with enough clearance and fill it up with any items that you expect to use regularly. (Tip: A rectangular lazy Susan, such as this one, can squeeze into corners and pulls forward for easy access.)

Add Pull-Out Drawers

Installing pull-out drawers that attach to the bottom of existing shelves is a great way to reclaim some of the vertical fridge space you may not be fully utilizing. These drawers are easy to install, and are also excellent for sorting food items into different categories such as dairy, meats, fruits, vegetables, and more.

Install Clear Stacking Drawers

Stackable drawers are another way to ensure you’re using all of the available vertical space. These clear bins are much like pull-out drawers, but they sit on top of shelves rather than hang. They’re perfect for fruits and vegetables, yogurt cups, deli meat, or anything else you wish to organize. Best of all, they come in multiple sizes and will stack as high as your refrigerator allows.

With a few organizers and a regular cleaning schedule, you won’t have to struggle to find room in the fridge any longer. Just be proactive and the results will pay off immediately — you’ll have no reason to pass up that extra-large jar of pickles from Costco.

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Organizing 3m read
440

How To Maximize Bookshelf Space Using Only an Egg Carton

Growing your book collection is a fun way to incorporate your interests into your home decor and display some of the most meaningful stories on your Goodreads list (or, if you’re anything like us, the endless pile of books you haven’t gotten to yet). While there aren’t many drawbacks to curating a personal library, shelf space is the main issue many bookworms face.

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Growing your book collection is a fun way to incorporate your interests into your home decor and display some of the most meaningful stories on your Goodreads list (or, if you’re anything like us, the endless pile of books you haven’t gotten to yet). While there aren’t many drawbacks to curating a personal library, shelf…

When it comes to organizing our bookshelves, we’ve tried many space-saving hacks. At some point, we always hit a wall (or, in this case, the end of our bookshelf) and are left to stack piles on our coffee tables or double up the display and risk hiding dozens of our favorite titles. But when we saw this bookshelf hack that uses egg cartons to elevate a book collection (literally!), we were pretty impressed. 

Related: This Hack for Labeling Moving Boxes Is a Total Game Changer

Egg cartons are useful for all sorts of DIY projects, from seed-starting trays to perfectly crispy baked meatballs. And if your bookshelf is bursting at the seams, you can use egg cartons to maximize space and put your favorite stories on display.  

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Make the Most of Your Bookshelf Space

Start by removing all of the books and other knickknacks from your shelf so you can start with a blank canvas. (Now is a great time to dust your bookshelf, too.) From there, reach for an empty egg carton, make sure it’s closed securely, and place it toward the back of the bookshelf. A 12-egg carton — paper or foam works best as plastic tends to be slippery — has enough structural support to act as a riser to elevate the books on the back row of your shelf. This effectively doubles your storage while allowing you to see and access your entire collection.

Play around with different display methods. You can line the entire back row with egg cartons and place books on top, then cover them up with another row of books in the front. Or you can add just one carton to the back corner and mix and match display styles by lining books on top and in front of it, then stacking books vertically next to the carton for added visual interest. (Tip: This arrangement looks great with larger art and coffee table books.) You can also leave space in between some of these clusters — or on top of the stacked books — for decorative items such as framed pictures, small potted plants, and trinkets. 

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Cleaning 2m read
416

Cleaning Your Mirrors This Way Will Prevent Bathroom Fog

There’s nothing better than luxuriating in a hot shower on a chilly morning. The only downside is when a cool mirror meets the warm steam of the shower, creating condensation and fog — a potential disruption to your post-shower skin care routine. Over time, letting condensation build up on your bathroom mirrors can damage them, causing unsightly brown edges from a process known as desilvering. If you want to keep fog at bay, try this quick and easy hack involving glass cleaner and shaving cream (yes, shaving cream).

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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There’s nothing better than luxuriating in a hot shower on a chilly morning. The only downside is when a cool mirror meets the warm steam of the shower, creating condensation and fog — a potential disruption to your post-shower skin care routine. Over time, letting condensation build up on your bathroom mirrors can damage them,…

Say Goodbye to Mirror Fog

You’ll want to begin with a spotless mirror. Spray it with glass cleaner and use a microfiber cloth to wipe the mirror in a side-to-side pattern. After the mirror is clean and dry, break out the shaving cream. Choose one with a thick and foamy consistency, such as Barbasol. Lather it onto your bathroom mirror in a thin and even layer. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Related: 5 Unexpected Ways To Clean With Denture Tablets

You can use those 10 minutes to wipe down frequently touched surfaces, such as the toilet handle, sink, light switches, and more. You might even have time to give the floor a quick sweep or vacuum, and dust any light fixtures or open shelves. 

When the 10 minutes are up, lightly dampen a microfiber cloth. Use it to wipe the shaving cream off the bathroom mirror. Once it’s completely removed, use another clean cloth to dry the surface, if needed.

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Thanks to the shaving cream, your mirror will stay clear and fog-free the next time you shower. The effect should last for a few weeks. Once your mirror starts fogging up again, you’ll know it’s time to reapply.

If you want to test out the hack, run a hot shower and let steam fill the room. Like magic, you’ll see how fog-resistant your bathroom mirror can be. Pro tip: You can use this trick to keep shower glass fog-free, too.

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Gardening 3m read
215

Save Space With This Hack for Plant Propagation

If you collect and care for houseplants, chances are you’ve propagated a few cuttings to grow your pack of pothos or gift a jade plant to a friend. This is the process of cutting a stem or a leaf from an existing plant to create an entirely new one. Many houseplants — philodendrons, spider plants, African violets, and spiderwort, to name just a few — can be easily propagated in fresh water.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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If you collect and care for houseplants, chances are you’ve propagated a few cuttings to grow your pack of pothos or gift a jade plant to a friend. This is the process of cutting a stem or a leaf from an existing plant to create an entirely new one. Many houseplants — philodendrons, spider plants,…

While there are countless vessels you could use for propagation (think: test tubes, tall shot glasses, upcycled jelly jars, etc.), one larger container may be more suitable if you’re attempting to grow many different cuttings at once. That’s where this space-saving plant hack comes into play.

How To Propagate Multiple Cuttings at Once

Grab a square or rectangular waterproof container. (A shallow food storage container or storage bin would work well. We used a 7.5-by-5.5-inch glass Pyrex dish with a depth of 2 inches.) Get a pack of rubber bands and stretch two of them over the opening of the container, positioning them side by side so they are touching. The tighter the rubber bands, the better; this will ensure the cuttings stay upright. Repeat this step, leaving about an inch of space between each pair of rubber bands, until you reach the end.

Related: Bobby Pins Are the Secret to Fuller, Healthier Houseplants

Secure a houseplant cutting between a single pair of rubber bands, stem side down. Depending on how taut your rubber bands are and the weight of your cuttings, you can place multiple stems in the same row or just stick to one cutting per rubber band set.

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Fill the container with enough fresh water to submerge the bottom of the stem or node. Some houseplants naturally release hormones to help them root, so avoid using too much water as this could dilute the growth environment. We used a half-inch of water in our container.

Change the water once a week, or more frequently if it becomes cloudy or smelly. After a few weeks, once the cuttings’ roots have grown 1 to 2 inches, you can plant them in potting soil and water until moist. Alternatively, you can continue to grow your cuttings in water.

Propagating houseplants is a great way to grow your collection while saving money. (We won’t tell if you pocket a fallen leaf or two from your local home improvement store.) Using a larger container instead of multiple smaller ones can free up counter space and help you stick to your watering schedule. Plus, it reduces the risk of a rare plant cutting going missing and drying out.

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Food & Drink 3m read
766

This Potato-Peeling Hack Is a Holiday Time-Saver

Peeling potatoes is a mundane yet time-consuming task that often results in wayward peels finding their way into the nooks and crannies of your kitchen. Although boiled potatoes can be enjoyed year-round — no summer cookout is complete without a classic potato salad — peeling an entire sack of potatoes is particularly burdensome when preparing an elaborate holiday meal with multiple dishes.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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Peeling potatoes is a mundane yet time-consuming task that often results in wayward peels finding their way into the nooks and crannies of your kitchen. Although boiled potatoes can be enjoyed year-round — no summer cookout is complete without a classic potato salad — peeling an entire sack of potatoes is particularly burdensome when preparing an…

The next time you’re handed a 5-pound bag of russet potatoes and told, “Here, peel these for me,” remember this time-saving hack that yields fluffy mashed potatoes without the skin. (We’ll share a bonus hack for those, too.)

Related: 3 Proven Hacks for Cutting Onions Without Crying
What You’ll Need

Cooling rack

Spatula

Mixing bowl

Tongs

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No-Peel Potato Hack

Put down your trusty swivel peeler and leave the potato skin intact. Cut the raw potatoes into halves or 2-inch cubes, depending on their original size. (Cutting potatoes before boiling helps ensure even cooking and removes excess starch.) Next, place your spuds in a pot of generously salted boiling water and cook until fork-tender. Drain the water and store your boiled potatoes in a large bowl.

Here’s where the hack comes into play: Grab a wire cooling rack with a grid pattern and place it over a mixing bowl. Use a pair of tongs to transfer a few hot potatoes to the cooling rack. With a spatula (we recommend this turner-style one with a soft silicone head), press down gently on the potatoes to push them through the grates. The skins will stick to the cooling rack, while the rest of the potato slides into the bowl. You can then use the spatula to remove the skins, placing them in a separate bowl.

Now, some people might say cleaning a cooling rack is harder than cleaning a vegetable peeler. But if you give the cooling rack a quick scrub and run it through the dishwasher, you should have no problem at all. For some, it’s a price worth paying to avoid accidentally dropping a potato into the depths of the garbage can.

Don’t Toss Those Potato Skins

If you’re looking to reduce food waste, there are several delicious ways to reuse those potato skins. Toss them in oil, add your favorite spices, and air fry them at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes. Now you have a crispy topping for a salad, or a savory snack to pair with dip. 

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Decorating 3m read
263

A Designer’s Trick for Choosing the Right Nightstands

Nightstands are small but mighty. They’re also an essential piece of furniture in any bedroom. Nightstands balance pretty with practical, providing an opportunity to show off your interior design style while also offering a place to set a glass of water, that book you’ve been meaning to read, and — let’s face it — probably your phone.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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Nightstands are small but mighty. They’re also an essential piece of furniture in any bedroom. Nightstands balance pretty with practical, providing an opportunity to show off your interior design style while also offering a place to set a glass of water, that book you’ve been meaning to read, and — let’s face it — probably…

How Tall Should a Nightstand Be?

According to interior decorator and TikTok creator Kiva Brent (@kivabrent), there’s one key to nailing the look of a nightstand. It must reach a certain height in relation to your bed, or your whole bedroom’s design will feel off. In a recent TikTok, Brent shared a simple trick for balancing bed-to-nightstand proportions: Choose an option that’s the same height as your mattress (when it’s on your bed), with a little wiggle room in either direction — plus or minus 4 inches. 

This is as much for practicality as it is for aesthetics. If your nightstand is too low, you may struggle to reach your blaring alarm each morning. A nightstand that’s too tall presents a similar problem; reaching up is equally uncomfortable. In either case, a nightstand that’s too short or too tall will also look out of place.

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Width Matters, Too

The wider your bed, the wider your nightstands should be. This will ensure they feel proportional to your bed, not dinky or overpowering. Follow these general width guidelines:

• Twin bed: 17 to 21 inches wide

• Full or queen bed: 21 to 28 inches wide

• King bed: 24 inches wide and up

How To Make Your Current Nightstand Work

If a furniture shopping spree isn’t in your near future, there are plenty of easy and inexpensive ways to revamp your current nightstands. A too-short nightstand could be raised with the addition of feet. Another option is to top a petite nightstand with a stone slab, which is an elegant way to give it additional height and a totally new look. However, the easiest way to elevate a nightstand’s surface is to style it with a stack of books, topped with a catchall tray to organize everyday items such as lip balm and jewelry.

Related: How To Use the Rule of Three To Decorate Like an Interior Designer

If your bed is so tall you’re having trouble finding a nightstand that reaches, try a three-drawer dresser instead. A dresser will provide height and storage. And can you ever really have enough storage?

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Another Helpful Tip

When browsing nightstand options, consider how much surface area you’ll need. What will live on your nightstand — an alarm clock, a lamp, a framed family photo? You’ll want a nightstand with enough surface area to accommodate all of those bedside essentials.

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Food & Drink 6m read
463

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need To Host the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

Between scrambling for the last turkey at the grocery store and decluttering the neglected spare bedroom, hosting Thanksgiving can be a pretty stressful experience. But there are steps you can take to make the day less exhausting, and it all starts long before you pop the turkey into the oven.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.
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Between scrambling for the last turkey at the grocery store and decluttering the neglected spare bedroom, hosting Thanksgiving can be a pretty stressful experience. But there are steps you can take to make the day less exhausting, and it all starts long before you pop the turkey into the oven.

Stocking up on essential kitchenware ahead of time will facilitate an easier cooking process on the day of. Whether you already have some of these supplies lying around, or you’ve never hosted Thanksgiving before and are starting from scratch, here are seven kitchen tools that will help you prepare the perfect Thanksgiving feast.

Roasting Pan

A roasting pan is essential for big holiday gatherings, whether you’re whipping up a Thanksgiving turkey, a Christmas goose, or even an Easter ham. When it comes to material, stainless steel roasting pans are the way to go, as they provide durability while also being easy to clean. This Cuisinart 16-inch roasting pan is a reliable option, as it’s large enough to fit a substantial bird in the event you’re cooking for a crowd. The stainless steel provides even heat distribution, and the elevated metal rack allows fat to drain off the turkey into the pan below, which you can use to make a flavorful gravy.

Credit: jbreeves/ iStock
Related: 7 Fixes for Common Thanksgiving Dinner Problems

Turkey Fryer

While roasted turkeys are a Thanksgiving staple, you may want to switch things up and prepare the bird a different way. We recommend deep frying your turkey and using this propane-powered turkey fryer from Char-Broil to do so. Deep frying the turkey offers a wide range of benefits that traditional roasting fails to provide. First and perhaps most notably, it’s quicker — you can cook an entire bird in less than an hour. The oil also produces crispy, crackling skin that’s absolutely delicious.

Credit: Chad Robertson Media/ Shutterstock
Be Careful

Deep frying the turkey comes with its fair share of safety concerns, so here are some tips to avoid disaster.

Deep fry the turkey in a well-ventilated outdoor area, such as a driveway.

Keep the fryer away from anything flammable, like a wooden deck or your home.

Carefully lower the turkey into the fryer to avoid hot oil splashback.

• Don’t overfill the fryer with too much oil.

• Don’t use a frozen turkey, as it may explode.

• Have a fire extinguisher on hand in case of an emergency.

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Pie Dish

Thanksgiving isn’t complete without a pie ( … or three or seven), so it’s important to stock up on plenty of pie dishes. This sleek glass pie plate from OXO is microwave-safe, oven-safe, and dishwasher-safe, and it can be transferred from the cool freezer to the hot oven without cracking. It also comes with a tight-fitting lid to protect your freshly baked pecan pie en route to Friendsgiving or keep it warm while you take a post-dinner, tryptophan-induced nap.

Credit: Cavan-Images/ Shutterstock
Related: 3 Ways To Chill Wine Fast When You’re in a Pinch

Meat Thermometer

Just because a turkey looks crisp and golden on the outside doesn’t mean that it’s heated all the way through. There’s arguably nothing worse than taking a turkey out of the oven and carving into it, only to realize that it’s completely raw. Rather than risk sending your guests home with salmonella poisoning, use a meat thermometer to guarantee the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This NutriChef meat thermometer not only gives accurate temperature readings but also features Bluetooth technology so you can check the temp from an app on your smartphone. Forget about opening the oven every few minutes to check — you can keep tabs on the turkey from the comfort of your couch.

Credit: lisegagne/ iStock
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Carving Board and Knife

When it’s finally time to carve the turkey, a standard cutting board and a dull knife simply won’t do. You’ll need tools that are sturdy enough to handle the job, like this extra-large bamboo carving board from Greener Chef. This durable carving board comes with built-in spikes that keep the turkey stationary as you cut it, as well as a reservoir and pour spout to catch any natural juices. As for the knife, this electric carving knife from Hamilton Beach features a 120-watt motor and a serrated, stainless steel blade to easily cut through turkey, bread, or even soft cheeses. It also comes with a carving fork for added stability, ensuring the turkey won’t go flying off the counter as you cut into it.

Credit: Pawel Kacperek/ iStock
Related: 3 Proven Hacks for Cutting Onions Without Crying

Casserole Dishes

Between the mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, mac and cheese, and roasted vegetables — we could go on — making Thanksgiving dinner may require more dishes than you currently have in your cupboards. We recommend stocking up on basic casserole dishes, like this four-piece set from NutriChef. These glass, rectangular dishes are oven-safe and dishwasher-safe, making post-dinner cleanup a cinch. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 0.9 to 3.2 quarts, and boast BPA-free lids so you can easily store any leftovers.

Credit: Pixel-Shot/ Shutterstock
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Gravy Separator

Gravy is essential for any Thanksgiving dinner, but the fattier it is, the more likely it is to ruin an otherwise delicious plate of food. Enter the gravy separator — an incredible tool that removes excess fat from up to 4 cups of gravy. Just pour your gravy through the strainer to remove large chunks, then allow the fat to settle at the top. Once the fat has fully separated, use the bottom release function to pour your greaseless gravy into a serving bowl.

Credit: LauriPatterson/ iStock

Once you have all of these tools at your disposal, preparing Thanksgiving dinner will be a breeze. Your guests will be delighted by how organized you seem and how delicious everything tastes. In fact, they’ll probably have such a wonderful time that they’ll ask you to host again next year — whether you were planning to or not.

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Food & Drink 3m read
625

This Thanksgiving Leftovers Hack Is Borderline Genius

Hosting the big holiday feast is a rite of passage that most of us experience sooner or later. Getting everything prepped and on the table can be a real challenge, especially the first time. Then you’re faced with a second challenge: what to do with all those leftovers.

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Hosting the big holiday feast is a rite of passage that most of us experience sooner or later. Getting everything prepped and on the table can be a real challenge, especially the first time. Then you’re faced with a second challenge: what to do with all those leftovers.

Some cooks consider leftovers, and the dishes made from them, to be the best part of Thanksgiving. For others, especially in small households, coping with leftovers feels more like a chore. (“Yes, we’re eating turkey again … ”) Sending home food with your guests is a good way to minimize that task, but it usually means also sending away your food storage containers and hoping to get them back one day. That’s why the viral muffin pan hack for Thanksgiving leftovers is so clever.

What Is the Muffin Pan Hack?

Like many of the best ideas, this one is simple. Instead of giving out your reusable food storage containers, pick up a stack of inexpensive disposable foil muffin or cupcake pans. The individual cups in a standard muffin pan have a capacity of 1/2 cup, which is a good single serving size. For those with bigger appetites or more mouths to feed, jumbo muffin pans hold closer to 1 cup per space.

Related: 7 Fixes for Common Thanksgiving Dinner Problems

Set out your disposable muffin pans at one end of the table, and encourage your guests to each fill a pan to take away. Place a roll of aluminum foil, or better yet, precut lengths of foil, at the other end of the table. Guests can use those to cover and seal the muffin pans so they don’t spill on the way home.

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Why the Muffin Pan Hack Is the Gift That Keeps on Thanks-Giving

Sending leftovers away in muffin pans isn’t just convenient — it has a lot of real advantages. First, of course, you get to keep your reusable containers. But the pans also encourage commonsense portion control, allowing leftovers to be split equally among your friends and family.

It’s also better for your guests. Slopping all of the leftovers into a single container often results in an unappetizing mess by the time the food gets home. In a muffin pan, everything stays neat and separate. Finally, a muffin pan provides an easy option for reheating the leftovers. The pan can simply slide right into a low oven or toaster oven, to warm gently until the food reaches the USDA’s recommended food-safe temperature of 165 degrees.

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