All posts by: Darcy Laszewski

Cast your cast-iron worries aside

Kitchen & Food
By Darcy Laszewski on December 7, 2011 in

Woman flipping pancakes in skillet

Maybe you remember your grandmother using a cast iron skillet or have friends who swear by theirs and use it for everything - from eggs and pancakes to steak and potatoes. However, you are hesitant to buy a cast-iron skillet because you aren't quite sure how to use it. It's true, uncoated cast iron does require some special care, but it may be easier than you think. And, cast iron has some great advantages over other types of materials, such as stainless steel and hard-anodized aluminum as we found when researching our updated skillets report.

For starters, cast iron is inexpensive and is often described as indestructible. Properly "seasoned" cast iron is appealing for its nonstick qualities without the chemicals found in Teflon and other applied coatings. (Some consumers are concerned about the health effects of these coatings, especially as they tend to flake off over time.) It's not uncommon for cast iron skillets to be handed down for generations because the nonstick patina, or shiny black surface, only improves over time. Read more

You made the turkey from scratch, don't skimp on the gravy

Kitchen & Food
By Darcy Laszewski on November 16, 2011 in

Roasting pan on stovetop

The turkey is out of the oven, the potatoes are whipped to perfection, and all that's left to do is make the gravy. Experts recommend making it in the same pan in which the turkey was roasted to take advantage of the drippings. This is when having a quality roasting pan, like those discussed in our roasting pan report, can really pay off. A tri-ply stainless-steel pan with a layer of aluminum in the center prevents hot spots that can cause the gravy to burn and makes the pan less likely to warp on the stovetop. Read more

Pressure cookers: How to be safe rather than sorry

Kitchen & Food
By Darcy Laszewski on October 25, 2011 in

Old-fashioned pressure cooker

The mention of a pressure cooker might conjure up images from childhood of pea soup splattered all over the kitchen after a pressure cooker explosion. If you read through online owner reviews, you are still likely to run across a few such stories. It's hard to tell if these "modern" mishaps are due to improper use or manufacturer defect. Top brands, like Fagor and Kuhn Rikon incorporate the following safety features into their pressure cookers: Read more

Vaporize dirt using steam not chemicals

Home & Garden
By Darcy Laszewski on October 24, 2011 in

Woman cleaning counter

Sure, anyone can get a headache at the thought of cleaning, but for people with chemical sensitivities, household cleaners can actually induce headaches and other bothersome symptoms. If you are someone who suffers from side effects from harsh chemical cleaners, a steam cleaner like those covered in our steam cleaners report can be effective at cleaning hard surfaces, fabrics and carpets without using any chemicals at all. The hot temperature of the steam can kill dust mites, fleas and other allergy-inducing organisms lurking in carpets, mattresses, drapes, upholstery and stuffed toys. Read more

The jarring truth about peanut butter

Kitchen & Food
By Darcy Laszewski on August 29, 2011 in

Peanut butter on toast

There's no denying peanut butter has a lot of fat--typically 16 grams in a two-tablespoon serving. Thankfully, most of the fat is polyunsaturated, or "good" fat. Before you sit down and dig in a jar with a spoon, however, you may want to look a little closer at the label. Read more

Does your home feel water-logged? Buying a dehumidifier could help

Home & Garden
By Darcy Laszewski on July 15, 2011 in

House as seen through water

Summer is here in full force and the air in your home may be feeling moist. (Hint: When your hardwood floors become a slip-and-slide you have problems.) If left untreated, too much moisture in the air can lead to unhealthy mold and bacteria growth as well as cause damage to wood furniture. If you rather not run the A/C or, worse yet, you don't have one, how can you rid the in-house humidity and cool off? One solution is to close all the windows and place a dehumidifier in your main living area or your bedroom. However, be prepare to rely on fans to keep the air circulating so that dehumidifier can be effective. Read more

Clothing that keeps biting bugs at bay

Health & Beauty
By Darcy Laszewski on July 7, 2011 in

Man lying in the woods

If you aren't a fan of applying insect repellent to your skin, or it just may not be effective enough in areas crawling with ticks or swarming with mosquitoes, purchasing Insect Shield Repellent Apparel is another option. Insect Shield uses a special process to bind the pesticide permethrin to clothing fibers. The manmade chemical permethrin is similar to one found in chrysanthemum plants, which naturally repel insects. It is actually a contact pesticide that not only repels insects but kills them on contact. Read more

Checklist: Choose the best insect repellent for you

Health & Beauty
By Darcy Laszewski on July 1, 2011 in

Spraying bug spray

DEET is by far the most common active ingredient in bug repellents, but is it right for you and your family? A synthetic chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assures us is safe for people of all ages, including pregnant women, DEET carries a warning of limited exposure and correct application. Sounds pesky, doesn't it? Read more

What's in your water? Possibly hexavalent chromium

Kitchen & Food
By Darcy Laszewski on April 24, 2011 in

Water coming out of kitchen tap

If you are one of the millions of Americans blessed with crystal-clear, odor-free tap water that tastes like it just flowed from an alpine stream; you probably don’t give much thought to what you are drinking. However, for those that are not so lucky, buying bottled water and using purification devices like those covered in our water filters report are a daily reality. What you may not realize is the physical properties of your tap water aren’t clear indicators of safety. Two recent studies have moved the presence of hexavalent chromium in tap water into the media and regulatory spotlight for 2011. Read more

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