Hints from Heloise: What to do when the nonstick waffle iron sticks - Sacramento Bee
DEAR HELOISE: I have a waffle iron with removable nonstick plates. The plates have a buildup of cooking spray that has rendered them no longer "nonstick," and I have tried numerous methods to remove the gunk. Nothing has worked.
Do you have any suggestions?
? Walt B., via email
DEAR WALT: Yes, I do! Of course, you should follow the manufacturer's directions first.
Here's the Heloise hint: Soak a paper towel or napkin with sudsing ammonia (it has detergent in it) and place between the waffle-iron grids. Leave it for several hours or overnight. Then, use a little dish soap and hot water with a nonabrasive sponge or plastic brush. Rinse well, and dry completely.
To reseason your waffle iron, if needed, take pieces of bread, coat with unsalted shortening or unsalted butter and place one in each section of the cooled iron. Close the lid and then turn it on. Cook until the bread is browned, then take it out, wipe and that's it!
Lecithin, found in many cooking-oil sprays, leaves a gummy residue when sprayed on a hot surface. Don't spray oil on a hot griddle. This should help prevent any future buildup.
DEAR HELOISE: The lady who recently wrote that she is always having to throw away half-used cartons of milk because she doesn't drink it fast enough should buy organic milk. It lasts a long time. Check the dates in the store. You will see. Why does it last longer? I have no idea.
? A Reader, North Little Rock, Ark.
DEAR READER: How right you are, and thanks for reminding us. Ultrapasteurization and packaging are the reasons organic milk has such a long shelf life. A major manufacturer of organic milk offers pasteurized and ultrapasteurized milk. The pasteurized has a shelf life of one to two weeks, compared with the ultrapasteurized, with a sell-by date several weeks out.
There are single servings of organic milk that keep at room temperature and have an extended shelf life.
Also, lactose-free milk (whole, 2 percent or fat-free) has a longer life, too!
DEAR HELOISE: Our food freezer is in the basement at the foot of the cellar steps. To save steps, we keep an inventory ? one copy on the freezer door and another on the refrigerator in the kitchen.
When we take something out of the freezer, we mark the chart in both places. When we add foods, we print new copies off the computer, making it easy to keep track of our food items.
? B.G., Howland, Ohio
DEAR READERS: Natural gas is used for a many things, such as to heat water, cook and, of course, as a source of heat. Natural gas is odorless and highly flammable. Gas companies add a "rotten-egg" smell as a safety precaution and warning because leaks, although rare, can occur. Here are safety hints if you suspect that there is a natural-gas leak in your home:
? Whether you smell a faint or strong odor of gas, get out of your house immediately. Don't take a chance.
? Don't try to locate the source of the gas leak yourself.
? Don't touch electrical switches or doorbells, and do not use a flashlight or telephone. Any electric spark (even static electricity) could cause an explosion. Why take a chance?
? Call your gas company from a neighbor's house or your cellphone once you're outside and far from the structure.
Check with your natural gas provider about any questions you may have. You should install gas detectors in your home!
DEAR HELOISE: Small jars filled with jelly make excellent gifts for people who are in nursing homes. Be sure to use sealing wax before putting the lid on so the jelly will be properly preserved. ? Amy G. Triplet, Pineville, La.
DEAR HELOISE: I just read the letter from a reader who wants snaps instead of buttons on clothing. She can go to a seamstress, who can close up buttonholes, remove the buttons and attach snaps. It should be very inexpensive to do.
? Patty, via email
DEAR PATTY: This is a good idea. If you can, do it yourself. However, we found a dry cleaner who would charge $3 per button, so a 10-button shirt would cost $30, which may not be inexpensive to some.
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Send a great hint to Heloise, P.O. 79500, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
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