Kitchen tips

• How to thaw frozen meat safely (3 approved methods)

  Thaw meat in the fridge, in cold water or in the microwave, never on the counter. Thawing times for chicken, beef and turkey, and when you can refreeze.

• How long do eggs last in the fridge? (and the float test)

  Raw eggs in the shell last 3 to 5 weeks in the fridge, hard-boiled eggs 1 week. Storage chart for every kind of egg, what the carton dates mean and whether the float test works.

• How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?

  Cooked chicken lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 6 months in the freezer. Storage chart for raw and cooked chicken, reheating temperatures and spoilage signs.

• How to measure flour correctly: cups vs grams

  Measure flour with the spoon-and-level method or a scale. A cup of flour is about 120 to 125 g, but scooping can add 20 percent or more.

• Safe internal cooking temperatures chart

  Minimum safe internal temperatures for chicken, beef, pork, fish, eggs and leftovers, based on USDA guidance, with Celsius equivalents.

• How to halve or double a recipe (with chart)

  Halve or double any recipe with this chart for cups, tablespoons and teaspoons, plus what to change for eggs, spices, pan size and cooking time.

• How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?

  One US stick of butter is 8 tablespoons, 1/2 cup, 4 ounces or 113 grams. Conversion chart, calories per tablespoon and how to soften butter fast.

• How long can food sit out? Fridge times

  Perishable food should not sit out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F). Fridge times for leftovers, raw meat and eggs, from USDA guidance.

• Buttermilk substitute: 4 easy ways to replace it

  No buttermilk? Mix milk with lemon juice or vinegar, or thin yogurt with milk. Exact amounts per cup, and when each substitute works best.

• Baking soda vs baking powder: how they differ

  Baking soda needs an acid to work, baking powder already contains one. Learn how they differ, typical amounts, and how to substitute one for the other.