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CNET
11 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Struggling to Stay in the Kitchen During Summer Heat? These 9 Tips Can Help
Midsummer is the hottest time of year, and 2025 has delivered record-breaking heat waves across the US. With temperatures in three digits, the idea of standing in a hot kitchen might be driving you to consider take out. When it's outrageously hot outside, there are a few tricks that help you stay cool and deliver a delicious dinner for your family. Read more: Best Foods for Staying Hydrated During Hot Weather From choosing the right appliances to timing your cooking sessions just right, a few simple strategies is all it takes. Better still, these tricks will help keep the kitchen from warming up the rest of the house and sending your AC bill through the roof. Here are nine practical tips to keep your kitchen -- and you -- cool, even when the temperature outside is pushing triple digits. 1. Prepare instead of cooking Ceviche requires no cooking. It just might be the perfect summer food. CNET Don't want to heat up your kitchen? Don't cook. That doesn't mean you can't eat. Focus on no-cook, fresh foods, such as summer salads, ceviche, smoothies and cold noodles. Even slicing up fresh fruit or vegetables like cucumbers and melons can be a refreshing and healthy summer treat. No-cook foods help beat the heat in two ways: By not heating up your kitchen -- or your body -- as you consume them. When you do cook, limit your time in the kitchen with a helpful meal kit (these are the best meal kits for 2025). You'll likely still have to cook the food, but you'll do far less prep and spending less time in a sweltering kitchen is definitely a good thing. Most services offer lighter, no-cook meals during the summer, too. Essential gear for food prep 2. Use an exhaust fan An exhaust fan above the stovetop is useful during hot summer days. Kitchen Aid If you're going to use your oven, make sure the exhaust fan is on full tilt whenever you do. Most people associate exhaust systems with limiting smoke, but these above-oven fans suck up a ton of heat too. 3. Use your outdoor grill or pizza oven Home pizza ovens are on a tear and present an excellent alternative to hot indoor cooking. CNET Take the heat out of the kitchen by cooking outdoors this summer. Barbecued grilled chicken or steaks are classics for the grill but don't forget you can grill summer favorites like corn on the cob or watermelon. You might be hot while you're outside using a grill or smoker to heat foods, but your kitchen can stay cool. Essential gear for grilling and outdoor cooking, all tested and reviewed. 4. Use an air fryer or Instant Pot Slow cookers give off far less heat than an oven. CNET Minimizing use of the oven and stove can help you avoid heating up your kitchen. Small appliances can cook your food just as well while emitting less heat than large appliances. Try using an air fryer instead of your wall oven, or a panini press instead of the stovetop. You'd be surprised how versatile small appliances can be. Your slow cooker and Instant Pot aren't just for winter soups and stews. Think of summer recipes you can achieve on your countertop, like Instant Pot pork carnitas. Don't turn your nose up at your microwave, which can zap rice, quinoa, vegetables and more while generating practically no heat. Kitchen appliances that keep your wall oven off 5. Meal prep ahead of hot days Some Instant Pots double as air fryers. Instant Pot If you're going to heat up your kitchen, make it worth it. If you do end up using your oven or stovetop, make larger quantities than normal. That way, you can use precooked leftovers, which means you have food ready to go without heating up your kitchen again. With the right kitchen appliances, you can batch cook and keep the oven off. For example, make a whole bunch of pulled chicken in your Instant Pot (which gives off very little heat). Then you can use the leftovers to make tacos, chicken salad nachos and other meals that don't require firing up your oven. Best gear for batch cooking 6. Cook during cooler hours If you're going to cook, try to do it when it's cooler out. CNET Cooking in your kitchen when it's already hot outside (and maybe already hot in your home) means you'll only add to the heat. Plan ahead and strategize your cooking times for when it's not as hot. The best time to cook to avoid the heat is in the morning or later in the evening. That might appear easier said than done, but you could bake bread in the morning, or cook proteins and pasta dishes while you're making breakfast or an early lunch so they'll be ready to go for dinner. More cool kitchen tips 7. Add some fans to the mix We're big fans of air circulation during the summer. Amazon Airflow can help cool down your kitchen. If you're using your stove, turn on the range hood vent. It's there to remove not just grease, fumes and odors but smoke, heat and steam that could get trapped and heat up your kitchen while you're cooking. Plus, you can keep a fan on in the kitchen to move air around and cool it down. You can also position your fan to move hot air out, or bring cold air in with a cool, wet towel. We're a fan of these 8. Limit bright lights Let there be (less) light. Getty/MirageC Sunlight and even artificial interior light can generate heat, and when you're in the heat of summer, every degree counts. Dim the lights, shut any curtains, close your blinds and limit how many lights you turn on. You don't need to work in the dark but be wary of turning on lots of overhead lights. Smart lights for a kitchen glow-up Testing gas grills at the CNET Smart Home Testing gas grills at the CNET Smart Home Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:07 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 2:07 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Testing gas grills at the CNET Smart Home 9. Keep yourself hydrated Water, water everywhere. Aarke This strategy won't lower the actual temperature in your kitchen but it will make the heat more bearable. Hydration is the No. 1 rule for most summer activities, and cooking outdoors or in a warm kitchen is no exception. Drink lots of water -- it's recommended to drink between 11 and 15 cups per day -- and sip even more than you think you should when the mercury rises. Want to punch it up a bit? Try water infusions for more flavor and refreshment. Planning to sweat? Add sea salt and lemon to boost electrolytes and flavor. Hot tips to stay hydrated FAQs
Washington Post
5 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Miss Manners: No tablets at the table
Dear Miss Manners: When we have a large family dinner, between 10 and 21 people, there is one child whose parents allow her to be on her tablet, with volume on high. She comes into the house, whizzes by everyone present and goes directly to the table to set up her tablet. I disapprove of this, and feel that the host or hostess needs to express to the parents that devices are not allowed at the dining table. There are other children her age present, but their parents do not allow them to have their tablets. My belief is the hostess can set such rules, but there are others who feel you cannot tell another parent how to parent their child. I feel that it's 'my house, my rules.' So, Miss Manners, can we tell parents what the rule is at our house, and allow the other guests a quieter dinner? Why go through the parents? Miss Manners suggests you go straight to the source, quietly telling the child that you are sorry, but you do not allow electronics at the dinner table. At which point the child will turn to her parents — and you will find something urgent to do in the kitchen so as to avoid eye contact with them. If the plan is unsuccessful, you can always drop a pair of headphones casually at her place setting. So as to at least ensure quiet for the others. Dear Miss Manners: I live in a gated community. There is a gate box where people can punch in the code to open the gate and let them in. In both of our vehicles, we have a remote that we press to open the gate. There have been numerous occasions when I've been behind someone attempting to enter the code, and I have used the remote to open the gate for them. Is it impolite to give a brief honk on my car horn to let the person know the gate is opening, or should I just wait until they notice it's opening, thinking they've done it? But then how will they learn? Granted, the second option is more entertaining, what with its potential to convince these drivers that they are magical. But it is more damaging to their learning curve — and your wait time — in the long run. Miss Manners suggests instead that you give that brief honk, followed by a little wave and point that says, 'We have the remote. And you do not.' Dear Miss Manners: I am a 63-year-old woman who finds herself frequently told by strangers that she resembles a famous actress of similar age. I don't find this actress particularly attractive, and therefore don't know what to say when someone makes the comparison. I don't know whether to take it as a compliment or merely an observation. 'Thank you' seems to imply I'm flattered (which I'm not), but I don't want to express offense when none was likely intended. Is there another option for reply? 'Hmmm.' Uttered flatly with no question mark or inflection other than one that indicates, 'That is something that you just said.' New Miss Manners columns are posted Monday through Saturday on You can send questions to Miss Manners at her website, You can also follow her @RealMissManners. © 2025 Judith Martin
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Sitting down for dinner? Make room for three screens! Brit families are relying on iPads and phones to get through meal times, study reveals
The modern family dinner is, it seems, a hive of communication – just not with each other. There are now an average of three devices being used at mealtimes, according to a study. Nearly two thirds of children are watching TV at the dinner table, while 42 per cent are scrolling on TikTok and 27 per cent are using Snapchat. Some 83 per cent of the 2,000 parents surveyed by Bupa said they'd like to ban screens at mealtimes but just 13 per cent have done so. However, 64 per cent of mums and dads admitted to using WhatsApp or texting at the dinner table while 30 per cent were looking at online shopping. Seventy per cent admit to using screens as a crutch to get them through mealtimes, with 63 percent of kids watching children's TV, 39 percent regularly looking at YouTube or cartoons - and 16 percent playing games or looking at TikTok on a phone or tablet. But 52 per cent of parents feel more conversations over dinner would be good for everyone's mental health - and 21 percent wish their children would talk to them about their feelings over mealtimes. And the report shows as many as one in ten (12 percent) parents feel the summer holidays make it even harder to have real conversations, especially at the dinner table, while 80 percent would love to talk more with their family about everyone's days. Bupa has launched new colouring-in tablemats designed to encourage mindfulness and spark conversations around mental health. Dr Elizabeth Rogers, associate clinical director at BupaHealth Clinics, said, 'It's clear from the research that parents really want to help their children open up and chat to them about their mental health and wellbeing, and sometimes it's hard to get away from screens to have those conversations. 'Whether you're eating at the dinner table or on laps in the living room, being together at mealtimes is a great opportunity to make space for conversations about your family's mental health.' Over a third (36 percent) wish they could sit down to eat together with the family more often, as they believe that nothing beats a family dinner (29 percent) and eating together is a good time to talk (28 percent). Harry Judd is an ambassador for Bupa's family mental health campaign, The Bupa Table, which encourages real families to put it all on the table and have a chance to open up and support each other through honest conversations. Harry said, 'As a parent I know the challenges of initiating those conversations about mental health and recognise that there isn't a one size fits all solution to getting someone talk about their struggles. 'No one should ever feel like they have to suffer in silence, which is why it's vital for me and my family to create that supportive space, helping my kids to understand that there is always time for us to talk, listen and check in with how everyone is feeling. It's about being present and making sure they know they can come to me whenever they're ready. 'Mindfulness is something my family practice regularly, it's important to remember that it's just as essential for children as for adults. 'Bupa's new tablemats are a great way to weave mindfulness and open conversations into our day-to-day, like at mealtimes, showing kids that their thoughts and feelings matter and that speaking about our emotional well-being is a natural part of everyday life.' The tablemats and accompanying conversation prompts can be printed at home at
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Fox News
Family vacation drama erupts over grandmother's request for dinner with her grown kids only
A mother's request to exclude her grandchildren and her children's spouses from a family dinner on an upcoming vacation — which she said she's planning and paying for — has sparked a heated debate. Her daughter, 40, took to Reddit for advice about the dilemma, saying she feels bad about potentially leaving her husband, their two kids and the rest of the family behind for dinner at a restaurant where she, her mom and her siblings went to on vacations when they were young. "Never thought I'd find myself here, but honestly feeling like the a--hole either way I play this and could use a hand," the woman wrote on Reddit recently. "It's not a fancy restaurant, but she isn't confident the kids can behave up to her standards … I am not either," the woman continued. She said her husband of 20 years was "noticeably let down" by the idea and that there's a "whole history" of her mom not accepting her and her siblings' spouses. The situation is especially painful for her husband, who lost both his parents as a teenager, according to the post. "I feel like I should just go and enjoy it, but now I'm thinking of 20 years of him being excluded and feeling sad and disloyal," the woman wrote. Reddit users flooded the comments section with thoughts on the writer's predicament. "YTA for allowing your mom to treat your husband as [an] other for decades, especially when he has lost both of his parents," one Reddit user said — using the acronym for "you're the a--hole." "If it was a one-time thing, I'd say it's fine," another person said. "But since you say your mother excluded him (and your siblings' partners) repeatedly, I think YTA … You should be on his team." Randi Crawford, a life coach from San Diego, agreed with the team mentality. "You do have to respect it." "Excluding spouses on a group trip is tone-deaf, and it puts everyone in an awkward position," Crawford told Fox News Digital. "This isn't about one dinner. It's about recognizing that your children are no longer solo acts. They come as a team." "You don't have to love it, but you do have to respect it," she added. Many people urged the woman to stand up to her mom. "First off, apologize to your husband for allowing this [BS] to go on for over two decades," one social media user wrote. "After that, put your foot down and tell your mother that things are going to change." Others, however, didn't think the request was such a big deal. Even the original poster said in the comments section that she wished there could be an "uncomplicated 'sibs only' dinner." "[Not the a--hole] if you go without him and enjoy one child-free meal with your sibs and mom," one person agreed. "Give her this one evening," another Redditor suggested. The person suggested the couples visit the same restaurant another night and leave the kids with their grandma. Others said she owed her mom for footing the bill for the trip. "You're taking this woman's [money] in the form of a vacation, so if she wants one dinner with her kids, then why not?" another person said. Melanie Williams, a psychotherapist in Baltimore, said financial control is an "unfortunate dynamic" that can occur in families. "If finances are a factor, I hope the writer and her siblings work with their spouses to find a plan that lessens their financial support on their mother," Williams told Fox News Digital. "I can only imagine the number of other issues that exist because of this dynamic." She added that the mother is trying to "relive a fantasy" of her kids still being young. "The writer and her siblings would do well to speak up, set better boundaries and apologize to their spouses," Williams said. Fox News Digital reached out to the original poster for comment.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Non-Religious Man Refuses to Lead a Prayer at His Girlfriend's Parents' House. Now, Things Are Strained
'Disrespect was definitely taken by both her parents, and the night basically derailed spectacularly from that point on,' the man recalledNEED TO KNOW A Reddit user described a tense situation at his 29-year-old girlfriend's family dinner involving a pre-meal prayer The 30-year-old man recalled his reaction after being asked by his girlfriend's dad to lead the prayer at their house He replied to the dad, ' 'I appreciate the sentiment and I thank you for it, but I believe it is disingenuous of me to lead a prayer in a faith I don't genuinely hold. And I'd hate to disrespect your beliefs 'All hell has seemingly broken loose after a man declined his girlfriend's dad's request to lead a pre-dinner prayer at their house. The 30-year-old boyfriend detailed the moment — and his reasoning for refusing to lead the prayer — on Reddit's 'Am I the A------' forum. '[My 29-year-old girlfriend and I] went to our first out of state visit to her parents' house,' the man recalled. 'This is America, we live in Chicago, and they live in a smaller town in the Midwest.' 'We both definitely came from different backgrounds. My parents were academics and religion was just never a thing we participated in,' he continued. 'We discussed it obviously, but we were all some form of atheist or agnostic, but I was raised to be very respectful of others' beliefs.' The man said that his girlfriend's parents are Christians. 'Everything was going great honestly. I had a great rapport with both of her parents, lots of laughs and good storytelling,' he recalled. 'But her dad (and I completely understand that he was trying to be nice and offer me what he understood to be a show of respect) asked me to lead prayer before dinner,' he continued. 'I kind of just stuttered in place.' After regaining his composure, the man replied to the father, ' 'I appreciate the sentiment and I thank you for it, but I believe it is disingenuous of me to lead a prayer in a faith I don't genuinely hold. And I'd hate to disrespect your beliefs. Again, thank you and I mean no disrespect.' ' The reaction from his girlfriend's parents surprised him. 'Disrespect was definitely taken by both her parents, and the night basically derailed spectacularly from that point on,' the boyfriend said. 'They were polite, but totally shut down and the mood shift was palpable.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The man said his girlfriend's siblings have made comments about the moment on social media saying he should have just 'faked it and done it.' Wondering if he made the wrong decision, he asked, 'Am I the a------ for politely declining to lead a prayer at the request of my new GF's father?' 'Not the a------,' many people replied, with many Reddit users reassuring him that he handled the situation well, all things considered. However, others said he needs to confront his girlfriend about the way her siblings are publicly shaming him on social media. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
