I love America’s Test Kitchen. It’s the only subscription I have and it’s worth every penny I spend. I love watching their shows and reading their books.

They also have lots of great tips. Here’s one I saw on their show a few years ago and have been using since.

Whenever you need to apply some baking spray to a baking dish, hold the baking dish pointed toward an empty dishwasher or a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and spray away.

You can coat your baking dish liberally without having to worry about getting baking spray on your counters or floors. You don’t want to fall on a slippery floor!

What a genius idea. It works great.

By the way, what kind of baking spray do you like? I usually use Baker’s Joy. It has a mixture of oil and flour, and works really well. Plus it doesn’t leave a sticky residue on the baking spray after baking. (This is my opinion completely. Baker’s Joy doesn’t even know who I am. Or America’s Test Kitchen, come to think of it. Nobody paid me to write this.)

Why spend money on a double boiler when you can easily make one at home?

When would you need to use a double boiler? Is it even necessary?

Double boilers are used when you need to cook something over a gentle heat. It is a great way to cook food that has a tendency to burn, curdle or separate.

If you cook it right on the stove top, you could ruin the consistency of whatever it is that you’re making.
Melting chocolate is what I use a double boiler for most often. Other uses for a double boiler – custards, lemon curd, sauces such as Hollandaise, beurre blanc.

All you need is a saucepan or pot and a heatproof bowl, preferably glass or metal. Pour in about an inch of water into the saucepan. Place the bowl with the ingredients in it on top of the saucepan. Bring the water to a boil and cook your ingredients with the water simmering. 

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