(Feature Impact) If the grill is one of the centerpieces of outdoor living in your household, it’s worth investing the effort to keep it looking nice and functioning well.

With a combination of routine cleaning and long-term maintenance, you can keep your grill ready to entertain guests and feed your family for many cookout seasons to come. Start with these six tips.

Quickly Clean After Each Use

Taking a few minutes to tidy up your grill after every session can prevent grease and grime from building up and turning into a much more annoying chore. Scrape away stuck-on food while the grates are still warm, but wait until the grill completely cools to empty and dry the grease drip tray, wipe down splatter and dispose of ashes. Always protect the grill with a weather-proof cover when it’s not in use.

Avoid Wire Brushes

Although many people reach for wire brushes as a go-to grill scraper, there are safer options. Bristles from wire grill brushes can break off, stick to grates, end up in food and potentially injure people. Look for alternative grill cleaning tools like temperature-safe nylon brushes, wood scrapers or pumice stones.

Use Safe, Non-Toxic Cleaners

When stubborn residue and grease call for something stronger, don’t reach for harsh chemicals like bleach or strong solvents. Since you’re cleaning a cooking surface, opt for food-safe, non-toxic cleaners like vinegar-based solutions or mild degreasers.

Catch Issues Early

Being aware of common grill issues can help you notice them before they turn into larger repairs. For instance, if you notice food cooking unevenly, it could be a sign of clogged burners or worn heat diffusers. An ignitor that clicks without lighting could signal blocked gas flow or a loose connection. Grease buildup can start fires and accelerate metal corrosion.

Give Components a Monthly Tune-Up

If you use your grill regularly, set aside time each month for extra maintenance. Check hinges, knobs and other moving parts, inspect burners and tubes for damage or clogs and clean the grill’s heat diffusers and vents.

Do a Seasonal Deep Clean

Before you stow the grill for the winter, give it a thorough inspection and cleaning. Soak removable parts like the grates and heat shields in warm, soapy water or food-safe degreaser. Scrub away carbon buildup from each part, as well as the interior lid and walls of the grill. Finally, polish exterior surfaces so you’ll be greeted by fresh, shiny equipment when the next cookout season rolls around.

Discover more home and outdoor tips at eLivingtoday.com.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

eLivingtoday.com

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A Leftover Loss: How Americans are Wasting Food and How to Break the Habit

(Feature Impact) Leftovers are getting left behind, even as Americans have good intentions about eating them. In fact, there’s likely a container sitting in your refrigerator right now.

To help families tackle this everyday challenge, Frigidaire’s new AI-powered recipe assistant, Frankie, helps transform ingredients already in your fridge into fresh meal ideas. New research from Frigidaire shows just how widespread the leftovers dilemma has become: While 86% of survey respondents say they like or love leftovers, 74% admit they toss them out at least once a week. It adds up: According to the USDA, the average American family of four wastes roughly $1,500 annually on uneaten food.

Despite having ready-made meals in the fridge, many Americans are opting for convenience. The research found that 90% of Americans admit to having chosen takeout, delivery or a drive-thru, even when they knew a perfectly good meal was waiting in their fridge.

Common Reasons for Wasted Leftovers

More than 50% of respondents said the No. 1 reason they throw out leftovers is simple: They forgot about them. Food gets pushed to the back of the fridge, effectively disappearing until it’s too late, leading to concerns about freshness and food safety.

Waste Feels Personal

Respondents say their intentions are good, with 64% claiming to save leftovers to reduce food waste and 52% aiming to save money. In fact, 40% say finishing leftovers feels more rewarding than cooking a meal from scratch or ordering takeout.

Still, good intentions aren’t good enough. Leftovers are still forgotten and thrown out, often leaving people feeling guilty. With grocery prices and dining costs climbing, 70% say food waste now feels more frustrating or guilt-inducing than it used to.

Make the Most of Leftovers

Visibility plays a key role in reducing waste. More than 37% of respondents say better fridge organization – simply being able to see leftovers – would help them waste less. However, remembering leftovers is only part of the solution.

That’s where Frankie, Frigidaire’s AI-powered recipe assistant, comes in. Designed to help families make the most of what’s already in their refrigerators, the tool generates personalized recipes using ingredients users already have on hand, including leftover meals. Simply enter what you have on hand, along with preferences like cuisine type, number of servings and available cooking time, and it generates step-by-step recipes in seconds. The result is less food waste, more delicious meals and greater value from every grocery trip.

To learn more about AI-powered meal solutions, visit Frigidaire.com.

SOURCE:
Frigidaire

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Pack Pasta Salad in a Jar for a Taste of Summer in School Lunches

(Feature Impact) When students open up their lunchboxes in the cafeteria, it’s fun to be greeted with something bright, colorful and fresh. Pasta salad is a summer picnic staple, but once the weather starts to cool and kids head back to school, there’s nothing to say you can’t send a taste of summer with them.

The beauty of pasta salad is it’s totally customizable, ideal for eating cold and easy to make ahead of time. That means you can spend the evening before school dishing up jars then pop them in the fridge for a quick morning grab-and-go lunchbox filler. Adults in the household can take one to work while kids have their own at school – and if anyone wants a different dressing or no olives, it’s an easy accommodation.

If you’re making this Pasta Salad in a Jar recipe as the main course instead of a lunchtime side, up the protein by adding beans, chicken or cubed cheese to keep kids energized for the second half of the day. Choose whole-grain or high-protein pasta for an extra nutritional boost, and pack in vitamins and fiber with plenty of crunchy fresh produce, from cucumbers and carrots to tomatoes and olives.

Find more school-day recipes at Culinary.net.

Pasta Salad in a Jar

Recipe adapted from Best of This Life
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

Dressing:

• 2          tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2          tablespoons red wine vinegar
  
• 1/8       teaspoon dried basil
  
• 1/8       teaspoon oregano
  
• 1/8       teaspoon parsley
  
• salt, to taste
  
• freshly ground pepper, to taste

• 1/4       cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
  
• 1/2       cup halved grape tomatoes
  
• 1/2       cup diced cucumber
  
• 2          tablespoons sliced Kalamata olives
  
• 1          cup cooked pasta of choice, cooled
  
• 1          cup chopped spinach

1. To make dressing: In canning jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, basil, oregano, parsley and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in chickpeas.
2. Layer tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, cooked pasta and spinach over dressing.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve. To serve, flip jar over and lightly shake to combine dressing with other ingredients. 

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

SOURCE:

Culinary.net

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