Looking to find that perfect gift for the kitchen addict this Christmas season? With so many gadgets available with just a click of the mouse these days, choosing the right gift can be, let’s say, overwhelming. That’s where Tiger Chef steps in. Our team at Tiger Chef did the work for you!  We searched and came up with the top 8 kitchen gadgets that are flying like pancakes this season. When I say flying, I mean flying.

1. Keurig B70 Single Cup Home Brewing Coffee Maker

With the Keurig B70, you’re bound to start your day off the right way. Brewing a single cup of your preferred coffee, tea, and yes, even hot cocoa, has never been easier. Set your ‘favorite cup size’ to get just the right amount of ground coffee for you. The Keurig B70 is known for its quiet brew technology so there is no need to worry about waking up the whole neighborhood. ...continue reading

Running late. Again. On days like these, there is nothing more comforting than knowing that all you've got to do in order to have supper up and running when you get home is open the freezer, pull out some leftovers and stick them into the oven. The worst feeling is when everybody is ready to bet their most valuable possessions that this supper is, once again, coming from "you know where." No need to fret, we’ve got 4 tips for you that will make your frozen foods last longer and taste just as if it just came out of the oven.
 

1. In order to guaranteed that your leftover turkey or roast tastes just as good and fresh the second time around, pour enough gravy over the leftover meat, making sure to cover it completely, before freezing it in an airtight storage container. The gravy will act as an extra protection, allowing you to store the leftovers for a longer period of time. In addition, when you re-warm it, the gravy will keep the turkey or roast moist.
2. If you buy meat and/or chicken and plan on storing it in the freezer for a little while, there is absolutely no reason for you to repackage it. Planning on keeping it stored in the freezer for a longer period of time? In that case, you are best off adding an additional layer of wrapping protection to prevent it from freezer burn. If you are looking for the easy way out, simply wrap the original packaging in a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil. ...continue reading
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Anyone who has ever hosted a Thanksgiving, Christmas, and/or New Year’s meal can attest to the fact that by the time it came to the actual meal, they were too stressed out and tired to benefit from all the time and effort they put into getting everything ready. The preparations do tend to be somewhat stressful and draining with all the running around “like a chicken without a head” in our attempt to make sure that everything gets done and no detail is left out. How does preparing for the big bash without all the stress sound to you? Think it’s impossible? Think again.
 

1. Probably the most important and de-stressing step you can take in order to have a stress-less preparation stage is planning ahead of time. Anything that can, should be bought (and made) ahead of time. There is no reason for you to wait until the week of the holiday to buy your accessories and supplies you need to create your centerpieces.
2. Any dish that will taste just the same whether it is made the day of or defrosted the day of should be prepared in advance. Most soups freeze very well, not to mention desserts. These courses can be prepared well ahead of time, even as much as two weeks beforehand. Just about everything else can be made a day or two ahead of time, stored tightly in proper containers, and refrigerated. The only foods that need to be made the day of are foods that are perishable, i.e. salads. Even those foods can be prepared in advance - just leave the dressing for the last minute!
3. If anybody offers to make something, never turn them down. Pride aside, no matter how capable you may be one dish off your list will spare you some precious time, whether it may be 10 minutes or an hour. Every minute makes a difference. ...continue reading
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With each passing decade, table manners seem to pass on as well. The problem arises when you are invited to a formal dinner. Now what? Here’s a crash course to set you on the right track, at least for now, and avoid embarrassment.

1. Dress appropriately for the occasion. In the event that a dress code is required, be sure to dress accordingly.
2. Chances are that you have a minimum of one electronic device on you. Turn it off and move it out of site!
3. As soon as you are shown to your seat, remove your napkin from the table and place it on your lap.
4. Never start eating before the host takes his first bite.
5. Choosing the right utensil can be a bit tricky. According to ‘Etiquette’, always start from the utensil furthest away from your plate and work your way in. If your place setting includes two forks, a smaller one on the outside, followed by a larger one, use the smaller one for the appetizer and the larger one for entree. ...continue reading
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There are those people who open the fridge door, stare at the food inside and just stand there thinking about whether or not to pull anything out. Then there are those who have been drilled for years to keep the refrigerator door closed, or else all the cold air will escape! Refrigerators are actually very tough when it comes to regulating their temperatures- that is, if the thermostats are in good working condition! However, there are various everyday habits that we have that can damage our refrigerators and freezers. Here are 5 of the most common ways we damage our refrigerators and freezers:

1. If the shelves in your refrigerator or freezer have slats, refrain from putting a cover on top of the shelves. Doing so will inhibt the circulation of cold air. Solid glass shelves are not a problem, as the unit is built to accomodate these type of shelves. However, slotted shelves should be left uncovered or, in case of emergency, make sure to cut some holes in the covering.
2. Ever used a sharp object to get rid of the crumbs stuck in the rubber gasket? Rubber gaskets and sharp objects are not on the best of terms and will do more damage than good. Next time, try using a soft-toothbrush, a rag and a vacuum cleaner. These do a better job at removing crumbs and do not damage the gasket. Aditionally, when something sticky spills onto the gasket and dries, the gasket will get stuck to the fridge. Pulling the fridge door open can cause the gasket to rip. Make sure to wipe down anything that spills using a soft cloth to avoid gasket mishaps.
3. The million dollar question: Does placing hot pots directly into the refrigerator inflict damage? Well, the answer is both yes and no. Putting hot food straight into the refrigerator won’t harm the refrigerator but putting it into the freezer will create moisture that will build up on the freezer coils, forming ice. The real problem is that placing hot food into the fridge will increase the overall temperature in the refrigerator, which can cause perishable food already inside to spoil. That is why it is a good idea to allow the food to cool a bit before placing it in the refrigerator/freezer. ...continue reading
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It happens to all of us at one point or another. You are in the midst of cooking or baking when you realize that you are out of an ingredient. Or, perhaps you or a family member has some kind of allergy or intolerance, or maybe you’re just looking to live a healthier life-style. Whatever it may be, here is a short list of the most common ingredient substitutes.

Please note that food made with substituted ingredients may vary slightly in both taste and texture.

       All purpose flour:  Either use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cake flour or, substitute 1 tablespoon cornstarch for 2 tablespoons of flour.

       Cake flour: To substitute 1 cup of cake flour, use 1 cup less 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.

       Baking powder: For 1 teaspoon baking powder, use ¼ teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar or ¼ teaspoon baking soda and ½ cup sour milk, buttermilk or molasses; reduce other liquid by ½ cup. ...continue reading

Most people who do not know the first thing about cooking will fill every available inch of their kitchen with the newest gadgets, the ones that seem to promise the world. However, if you’re just starting out, or are on a tighter budget, these fancy items are really not necessary. In fact, more often than not, they are simply space-wasters.

The following are 5 must-have kitchen utensils that without them, it is practically impossible to be a chef.

1. Knives and cutting boards: Pretty much anything that’s cooked has to be cut up one way or another. Cooking without a knife is like living without air. You simply cannot do without it. That being said, what’s a knife without a cutting board? Aside for protecting the counter tops, cutting boards have a number of other functions, including preventing and reducing knife injuries, reducing clutter, catching spill-overs, etc.
2. Measuring spoons and measuring cups: Whether you’re the kind of person that needs to know the exact measurements for cooking or you shake a little bit of this and a little bit of that, there will always be a time when you will have no option but to turn to your measuring spoons and cups. A good recipe can turn disastrous by what seems to you to be a minor mis-measurement.
3. Mixing bowls: Every recipe calls for combining ingredients and that is where mixing bowl come in. The good news is, mixing bowls provide for more than just bowls for mixing. They can be used as serving bowls for side dishes or as salad bowls as well. ...continue reading
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Having a hard time deciding what to buy your loved one, a close family member, a good friend or that special neighbor for the Holidays? Well, we at TigerChef.com, have decided to try and help you out with a random survey made amongst our friends and co-workers. Here are some suggestions that you may find useful.

1. 'Personalization is the key. My closest friend always makes picture boards. Using her creative talents, she arranges photos that include herself and the person she is making it for. She actually once put together a CD for me with six of

   

   my most favorite tracks on it.’
2.  ‘My children made a “Lifetime Book” for us for our 40^th anniversary. They got all our buddies- some of whom we had not been in contact with for quite some time- and family members - to write down a personal reminder of a little memory that we shared together. They also got a great deal of pictures to go along with the memories. Thrilled? An understatement! We were extremely emotional since we had never realized that so many people think so highly of us and that we had touched so many lives that significantly.’
3. ‘No matter what time of year it is, if you see something, buy it- particularly at sale time. That way, when the holiday rolls around and it’s present time, you can shop in your own closet first and you will discover a nice amount of gifts you can choose from. Trust me, it saves you a big headache.’ ...continue reading
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Whether you hosted or attended a party or prepared a festive meal, then you know nice and well what a difference centerpieces can make to a table. The same holds true with centerpieces for the Christmas dinner. I think I’m pretty safe to say that the Christmas dinner is the most significant one of the whole year and what wouldn’t you do to make it that much more special? Much thought goes into every iota of this special day- from the actual meal, to the presents, to the decorations, the tree and yes, even the centerpieces.

Before you start working on the centerpieces, you have put some thought into it. What is the atmosphere that you are trying to create? How tall/short would you like it be? How much money do you want to spend on them? How much time do you have on your hands to get them done on time? Etc.

Naturally, nothing says chic more than something traditional. Winter plants, candles, berries and fruits, all add to the decor in a very classy way and create a striking ambiance. They can be arranged in an endless amount of ways to create the desired effect. ...continue reading