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CNET
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Too Hot to Stay in the Kitchen? 9 Ways to Stay Cool While Cooking This Summer
Summer is in full swing, and the heat waves have arrived. Already this summer we've seen massive heat domes that blanketed the Northeast, driving temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When it's hot outside, the last thing you want to do is stand over an oven while trying to cook up a tasty dinner. However, just because it's hot outside doesn't mean your only option is takeout. There are a few easy ways to help keep your kitchen cool even when it's boiling outside. 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 Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 2:07 Loaded : 28.04% 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
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
You're storing your sauces wrong! Experts reveal the correct spot for every single condiment - and finally settle the debate on where ketchup belongs
Whether it's a Full English Breakfast or a healthy salad, most meals are vastly improved by the addition of some kind of sauce. But where is the best place to store your favourite condiments, dressings, and relishes? Many foodies opt for the fridge, amid the belief that this will keep their favourite sauces fresher for longer. Others are convinced that sauces contain enough preservatives that it's safe to keep them in the cupboard. Thankfully, help is at hand, as Which? has revealed the correct spot for every single sauce in your kitchen - including ketchup. 'We consulted food experts, including a registered dietitian, for the definitive guide to what goes where and why,' it explained. While this might sound trivial, getting it wrong could put your health at risk. So, have you been storing your sauces in the right place? Condiments and sauces you should keep in the fridge 1. Mayonnaise While mayonnaise does contain vinegar, there's not enough in there to safely store the condiment outside the fridge, according to Which?'s consultant dietitian, Dr Sarah Schenker. 'Pasteurisation provides an extra layer of safety, but it should still be refrigerated,' she advised. 2. Pesto Pesto should 'definitely be refrigerated', according to Which?. Because it contains nuts, pesto can develop mould that produces toxic compounds called mycotoxins. Worryingly, this includes aflatoxin - a dangerous bacteria that can cause serious liver damage. Dr Schenker advised: 'Mould can be hard to see on pesto, especially if it's green, so don't take any chances either way, and stick to the label advice.' 3. Salad cream Salad cream contains several preservatives, including potassium sorbate and spirit vinegar. But don't let these ingredients fool you into storing it in the cupboard. Because it contains egg, Which? says that salad cream should be refrigerated. 'Condiments like salad cream are often left lingering outside during summer parties and barbecues,' Dr Schenker said. 'It's best to decant some into a bowl to use, to prevent the entire bottle lying around in warm conditions.' 4. Maple syrup One of the most surprising sauces that Which? advises keeping it the fridge is maple syrup. Maple syrup has a sugar content of just less than 60 per cent - the threshold at which sugar acts as a preservative to keep microbial degradation at bay. So, if you keep it in the cupboard, you may soon see mould starting to form. 'People may think that because it's a syrup, it can be treated like others syrups such as golden syrup,' Dr Schenker said. 'But they're from different plants and have different properties, so require different treatment.' 5. Tartare sauce Like salad cream, tartare sauce contains egg, so is best kept in the fridge. Dr Schenker advised: 'Remember to check opened jars of so-called "occasion" sauces, such as tartare sauce or cranberry sauce, before you eat them, because it may be some time since you last had the need to use them.' 6. Redcurrant jelly Redcurrant jelly is the final condiment that Dr Schenker advises keeping in the fridge. 'There can be a separation of water on the surface that creates a layer with low sugar content, which is an ideal breeding ground for mould,' she said. Condiments and sauces you should keep in the cupboard 1. Ketchup In news that will come as a surprise to many home cooks, ketchup does not need to be stored in the fridge. That's because it contains vinegar as well as naturally acidic tomatoes, which help to preserve the sauce at room temperature. Dr Schenker said: 'Sometimes people keep ketchup in the fridge, simply because they prefer a chilled taste, but otherwise it doesn't need to be refrigerated.' 2. Brown sauce Like ketchup, brown sauce contains preservatives including malt and spirit vinegar, so is fine to keep in the cupboard. 'It's vinegar-based, so keeping it in the fridge isn't necessary,' Dr Schenker said. 3. Honey While maple syrup must be refrigerated, honey is safe to keep in the cupboard thanks to its high sugar content and preservative hydrogen peroxide. Dr Schenker said: 'Honey is found in hives at an ambient temperature – much like keeping it in a cupboard – so refrigeration isn't necessary.' 4. Mint sauce Mint sauce contains high leels of spirit vinegar, which acts as a preservative. Technically this means it's safe to keep in the cupboard - although Dr Schenker advises keeping it in the fridge if you don't regularly use it. 'The trouble with "occasion" sauces is that they can sit around for a long time between uses,' she explained. 'That's why it's best to refrigerate them and throw them out if you can't recall when you opened them.' 5. Pickle Pickles also contain preservatives, so are fine to keep in the kitchen cupboard. Dr Schenker said: 'Pickles and chutneys originally came about as a way of preserving fresh fruit and vegetables so, by their very nature, they're OK outside the fridge.' However, pickles can become contaminated with stray crumbs - so make sure you only use clean knives when using them. 6. Olive oil One sauce that you definitely want to keep in the cupboard is olive oil - as storing it in the fridge will cause it to solidify. 'This is just a pure ingredient, so there is nothing that can contaminate it, such as bacteria,' said Dr Schenker. 'Therefore it's fine at an ambient temperature.' 7. Soy sauce The label on your soy sauce probably advises you to keep it in the fridge after opening. However, Dr Schenker maintains that this isn't necessary. 'There's no need to refrigerate soy sauce, because anything with such a high salt content is highly preserved,' she said. 8. Mango chutney How to make the perfect gravy Pour juices from roasting pan into jug to let fat separate from liquid Don't forget the juices from your vegetables Add corn or arrowroot starch slowly to avoid lumps Add salt sparingly – this will be concentrated by heating Pour in a glug of red wine and a squirt of ketchup for an umami hit If all else fails, resort to instant gravy Like pickles, chutneys are safe to store in the cupboard, thanks to their high sugar content and preservatives. Dr Schenker said: 'Much like pickle, mango chutney has also gone through a process of being preserved, so it doesn't need to be in the fridge.' 9. Malt vinegar Not only can malt vinegar be stored in the cupboard, but it also has an indefinite shelf life. 'The high acidity of vinegar means that any contaminant such as bacteria or mould getting into the bottle wouldn't stand a chance of living,' the expert explained. 10. Hot pepper sauce Many brands - including Nando's - will advise keeping hot pepper sauce in the fridge, but Dr Schenker says that the cupboard is fine, thanks to the inclusion of vinegar. She said: 'Some chilli sauces also contain high amounts of sugar, which give extra preservative protection.' 11. Worcestershire sauce Because it contains fish, some people think that Worcestershire sauce needs to be kept in the fridge. However, this sauce is fermented, meaning it won't go off - and is fine to keep in the cupboard. 'Fermented foods can last for ages because, technically, they've already "gone off",' Dr Schenker said. 'However, like wine, they will eventually oxidise, especially as you get towards the end of the bottle and more air gets in.' 12. Mustard (English, Dijon and Wholegrain) English, Dijon and Wholegrain mustards are all safe to keep in the cupboard, although some people prefer the look of mustards kept in the fridge. Dr Schenker said: 'Storing mustard in the fridge is more about preserving the colour, which may change in a warmer environment.' 13. Piccalilli Piccalilli is loaded with vinegar as well as potassium sorbate, meaning it's fine to keep in the cupboard. However, if you like your piccalilli to remain bright and crunchy, you should opt for the fridge. Dr Schenker added: 'Keeping it in the fridge might also help to keep the vegetables in it crispy, but that's down to preference.'
