<div type="image" title="holiday baking" height="2677" width="3570" msid="79764679" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider asked <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-desserts-to-try-out-in-an-air-fryer">professional chefs and bakers</a> for their best tips for at-home <keyword id="27178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking" source="Orion">cooking</keyword> and <keyword id="11896835" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="baking" source="Orion">baking</keyword>. </li><li>Swap water for vodka in your <a href="https://www.insider.com/ways-to-make-a-pre-made-pie-look-and-taste-better">pie dough</a> for a flakier crust, but don't add the liquid all at once. </li></ul><p>Whether you're a first-time cook or just looking to <a href="https://www.insider.com/easiest-and-most-difficult-dishes-to-make-at-home">take your kitchen skills</a> to the next level, there's always more to learn about preparing delicious meals — especially around the <keyword id="12030581" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="holidays" source="Orion">holidays</keyword>. </p><p>Insider spoke with professional <keyword id="30173" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="chefs" source="Orion">chefs</keyword> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/baking-hacks-favorite-recipes-from-duff-goldman-2020-8">bakers</a> to find out how people can improve their skills in the kitchen.</p><h2><strong>Stay away from novelty measuring cups</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.milkywayla.com/">Phil Kastel</a>, executive chef at the Milky Way restaurant in LA, told Insider that he doesn't recommend using novelty measuring cups in the kitchen because they aren't always precise. </p><p>"Although they're cute and may look nice on your shelf, they tend not to be as accurate as standard <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-measuring-cups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">measuring cups</a> you find in cooking supply stores or in test kitchens, where recipes are actually written," he said. </p><h2><strong>Try the mise-en-place technique to make cooking less stressful</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="mise en place chopped vegetables kitchen prep" height="1386" width="1853" msid="79764682" hostid="261"></div><p>If you're someone who often forgets to add ingredients or hates the mess of making an elaborate meal, mise en place could help. </p><p>Mise en place is the practice of <a href="https://www.insider.com/things-to-avoid-when-meal-prepping-mistakes-2019-6">preparing ingredients before</a> starting the actual cooking process. It can reduce kitchen clutter and help you stick to cooking times more precisely.</p><p>"I always recommend taking the extra time to thoroughly read the recipe and measuring out all your ingredients into separate bowls beforehand," Kastel told Insider. "This is the best way to avoid silly mistakes."</p><h2><strong>Invest in an oven thermometer</strong></h2><p>Kastel told Insider that an oven thermometer is one of his must-have kitchen tools. </p><p>"You probably have temperature controls on your oven at home, but most ovens are typically off by a few degrees and actually need to be recalibrated from time to time," he said. </p><p>Having an oven thermometer is a great way to check if it's really at the temperature indicated in a recipe.</p><h2><strong>Practice your knife skills before starting to prepare a big meal</strong></h2><p>Chef <a href="https://www.underbellyhospitality.com/team/chris-shepherd/">Chris Shepherd</a>, winner of a 2014 James Beard Foundation award, told Insider that <a href="https://www.insider.com/foods-that-you-dont-know-how-to-slice-or-cut-2020-3">mastering knife skills</a> can make a big difference in the kitchen — no matter what you're cooking. </p><p>"Knife skills can improve the quality and presentation of any dish, as well-chopped ingredients cook more evenly," he said.</p><p>When it comes to chopping like a pro, practice makes perfect. Use a <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/kitchen/best-kitchen-knives" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharp knife</a> on a flat, sturdy work surface and keep your ingredients toward the back of the knife for the smoothest chopping action.</p><h2><strong>Learn how to break down a chicken before you move on to a turkey</strong></h2><p>Before tackling larger poultry, Shepherd recommended learning how to <a href="https://www.insider.com/ways-youre-cooking-chicken-wrong-2019-5">properly break down a chicken</a>.</p><p>"If you can master breaking down and roasting a chicken, you can successfully roast a turkey," he told Insider.</p><p>The basic process of <a href="https://www.seriouseats.com/2010/05/knife-skills-how-to-break-down-a-chicken.html">preparing a chicken</a> involves removing the wishbone and legs, trimming the wing tips, breaking and removing the back, and splitting the breastbone.</p><h2><strong>Broil meat after roasting or baking to add color</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="Meat in Oven" height="910" width="1214" msid="79764685" hostid="261"></div><p>Take advantage of the broiler to quickly brown meat and vegetables in the oven.</p><p>"One of my favorite tricks is to switch from baking to broiling to finish off a dish in the oven and give meat a bit of color," Shepherd said. </p><p>Broiling is a method of oven cooking that involves high, direct heat and can produce effects <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-ways-to-cook-chicken-2018-5">similar to grilling</a>.</p><h2><strong>When baking pastry, keep fats like butter or shortening very cold</strong></h2><p><a href="http://maui.hawaii.edu/culinary/">Teresa Shurilla</a>, pastry chef and program director at the University of Hawai'i Maui College Culinary Arts program, told Insider that temperature is key when baking with fats. </p><p>"Whether you're <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-butter-chef-recommended-everyone-should-buy-2019-4">using butter</a>, solid vegetable shortening, or lard, you should keep the fat very cold," she said. "It's the bits of cold fat flecked through the dough that make it flaky."</p><p>Shurilla added that the best way to incorporate fat into flour is by rubbing it in with your hands rather than mixing it with a spoon or whisk.</p><h2><strong>When making pastry dough, never add all of the water at once</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="pie crust dough baking" height="667" width="889" msid="79764687" hostid="261"></div><p>If you're baking something <a href="https://www.insider.com/apple-pie-recipes-taste-test-2019-3">that involves dough</a>, pay attention to its consistency as you add water or other liquids. </p><p>"Never add the entire quantity of water called for in a recipe at once," Shurilla told Insider. "Add it gradually and stop as soon as the dough holds together."</p><p>Also, be careful not to overmix your ingredients. For example, dough with wheat flour can become tough and leathery when it's mixed too much. </p><h2><strong>In pie dough, substitute vodka instead of water for a flakier crust</strong></h2><p>"Pie dough only contains one wet ingredient and it's usually water, but vodka is actually a good substitute," Shurilla said. </p><p>Unlike water, alcohol doesn't stimulate the formation of gluten bonds in mixed or kneaded flour. Fewer gluten bonds mean the finished pie crust is more likely to be flaky than rubbery.</p><h2><strong>Always chill your dough before rolling it out </strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="dough baking" height="2400" width="3199" msid="79764688" hostid="261"></div><p>For the best texture and flavor, don't roll <a href="https://www.insider.com/ways-to-make-a-pre-made-pie-look-and-taste-better">your pastry dough</a> out immediately after mixing it. </p><p>"You should always chill your dough before rolling," Shurilla told Insider. "This ensures that any fat that has warmed up gets cold again."</p><p>This tip also <a href="https://www.insider.com/cookie-baking-mistakes-people-make-2019-3">applies to most cookie doughs</a>. After rolling or cutting the dough into portions, pop the loaded baking sheet into the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.</p><h2><strong>Don't add too much flour when rolling or kneading dough</strong></h2><p>Be careful when using flour to keep your pastry crust or bread dough from sticking to your work surface. </p><p>"Don't put too much flour on your rolling or kneading surface," Shurilla said. "The additional flour will make your dough tough."</p><p>Using a nonstick silicone mat can help you avoid overloading your dough with extra flour.</p><h2><strong>You can often bake your pie for longer than the recipe says</strong></h2><p><a href="https://piedaho.com">Rebecca Bloom</a>, <keyword id="380457" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="professional-chef" source="Orion">professional chef</keyword> and founder of Piedaho, told Insider that home <keyword id="846119" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bakers" source="Orion">bakers</keyword> shouldn't be afraid of <a href="https://www.insider.com/pies-around-world-2018-10">baking their pies</a> until they're golden brown, no matter what the recipe says.</p><p>"If needed, tent your pie with foil and bake it a little longer than the recipe states," she said. "You want a sturdy pie."</p><p>Bloom noted that a pie crust shouldn't be translucent when you take it out of the oven.</p><h2><strong>Use an egg wash to avoid soggy pie bottoms </strong></h2><p>A pie can develop a soggy bottom when the liquid in its filling seeps into the crust, making it spongy or soggy. Soggy bottoms can also strike if there is too much fat in the pie crust itself. </p><p>Bloom told Insider that you can use an egg to reduce the odds of this happening. </p><p>"To help prevent soggy-bottom pies, brush the bottom of the dough with egg wash," she said. "This will give your dough a bit of a seal when baking."</p><p>To make an egg wash, whisk a single egg with a tablespoon of milk or water.</p><h2><strong>Let your pie cool before cutting for cleaner slices</strong></h2><p><strong></strong></p><div type="image" title="pecan pie" height="2661" width="3548" msid="79764692" hostid="261"></div><p>If you want that <a href="https://www.insider.com/which-famous-chef-has-the-best-pumpkin-pie-recipe">picture-perfect pie slice</a>, Bloom said, don't slice your pie right out of the oven. </p><p>"For the best-looking pie slice, you need to let your pie cool completely before slicing," she told Insider. "Some thickeners, like tapioca starch, will only set completely when cool."</p><p>Place your finished pie on an elevated wire rack or in a cool room to speed up the cooling process.</p><p><strong>Read More:</strong></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/take-nice-family-photos-for-the-holiday-season-2020-11">How to capture professional-quality family photos for the holidays when you can't go to a studio</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-working-from-home-space-better">How to make your home into an office, classroom, and more without sacrificing a calm living space</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/furniture-decor-worth-splurging-on-when-you-buy-a-home-2020-8" title="Read more">When buying that first home, it's important to think about what furniture is worth investing in</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/baking-hacks-favorite-recipes-from-duff-goldman-2020-8">Food Network star and pastry chef Duff Goldman shares his secrets to baking like a pro</a></li></ul>

Professional chefs and bakers share 14 simple tricks for becoming a better home cook

<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5e0b5f7d855cc23d8c088378-480/animated gif-downsizedlarge 1.gif" alt="TOWNEW automatic trash can" /><ul class="summary-list"><li>Innovative <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tech-products">tech products</a> have automated the simplest day-to-day tasks, from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-alexa-enabled-products-devices-most-interesting-weirdest-bizarre-2019-8">smart ovens and microwaves</a> to voice assistant-powered speakers that can control your lights.</li><li>Now, a tech company called <a href="https://www.knectek.com/">Knectek Labs</a> has launched a smart trash can in the US that can automatically seal a full garbage bag and replace it with a new one.</li><li>Read on to see how you can buy the $100 <a href="https://www.hellotownew.com/">townew trash can</a>, and how the technology works to make this chore a cleaner and easier process.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>Smart-home products like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/roomba">Roomba vacuums</a> and <a href="https://foldimate.com/">laundry-folding robots</a> have helped to make menial tasks faster and easier, but there's now a self-changing trash on the market to make one of the most commonly complained about chores almost entirely automated.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.hellotownew.com/">townew trash can</a>, a product from Toronto-based tech company <a href="https://www.knectek.com/">Knectek Labs</a>, is designed to take the smelliness and messiness associated with the simple chore off your hands. The trash can's technology allows it to seal a full garbage bag and replace it with a new one, all on its own. Unfortunately, you'll still have to carry the trash yourself to the curb - the technology for that isn't included (not yet, at least).</p><p>The townew trash can went on sale in late 2019 following a <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/townew-the-self-sealing-self-changing-trash-can#/faq">successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo</a>, where over 1,700 backers contributed more than $140,000 toward the product.</p><p>Keep reading to see how the technology works, and how you can purchase the $100 smart trash can:</p>

This $100 smart trash can changes and replaces its garbage bags - see how it works

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="5739630" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="home-Inspector">Home inspector</keyword> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley">Bryan Standley</a> has become TikTok-famous for roasting <keyword id="10675732" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="flipped-houses">flipped houses</keyword>.</li><li>In his videos, Standley highlights ways that house flippers slip up and cut corners.</li><li>Future <keyword id="6363870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="home">home</keyword> buyers should look out for 3 red flags when inspecting a kitchen, Standley told Insider.</li></ul><p>Kansas City home inspector <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.insider.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=69122395263625986628662">Bryan Standley</a>, 35, has become a <keyword id="6762469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TikTok">TikTok</keyword> sensation for roasting flipped houses.</p><p>Standley has inspected thousands of houses over the course of his career. Inspired by a friend, he joined TikTok in January 2020 to share his tips and experiences. His videos have been liked over 550,000 times at the time of writing.</p><p>In one of his most viewed videos, Standley walks viewers through an unoriginal flipped kitchen, highlighting elements that he sees all the time in renovated homes.</p><p>"If this isn't every flipped house, then I don't know what is," he says. "Look at that kitchen: The gray weathered wood, kind of vinyl flooring, white subway tile, just the most basic kind of granite or quartz, whatever kind of countertops those are. And dishwasher not installed. Cheap cabinets. This is every time ... every time." </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley/video/6893199347081628933" data-video-id="6893199347081628933" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@bryanstandley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley">@bryanstandley</a> <p>Flip <a title="homeinspector" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/homeinspector">#homeinspector</a> <a title="homeinspection" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/homeinspection">#homeinspection</a> <a title="kcrealestate" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kcrealestate">#kcrealestate</a> <a title="kansascity" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kansascity">#kansascity</a> <a title="inspectkc" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/inspectkc">#inspectkc</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Bryan Standley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6893199418913262341">♬ original sound - Bryan Standley</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>TikTokers responded comparing their own kitchens to the one Standley was inspecting, and the similarities were uncanny: </p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@disappointedfather420/video/6893914627571223813" data-video-id="6893914627571223813" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@disappointedfather420" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@disappointedfather420">@disappointedfather420</a> <p><a title="duet" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/duet">#duet</a> with @devtaydan the accuracy of all this is wild lol</p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Bryan Standley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6893199418913262341">♬ original sound - Bryan Standley</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>While Standley enjoys pointing out cookie-cutter elements in flipped homes, a lack of originality and making sure you have the highest-end products shouldn't be points of concern for future home buyers, he told Insider.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-bring-maximalist-interior-design-into-tiny-space-apartment">A woman who lived in a 400-sq-ft London apartment showed us how to 'maximalize' a tiny space without making it cluttered</a></em></p><p>Instead, they should focus on looking for <keyword id="69178" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="renovation">renovation</keyword> slip-ups that affect the safety and functionality of a home.</p><p>Home inspection is about making sure that "what gets put in gets put in well, and by someone that knows what they're doing and has experience," he said.</p><p>Standley told Insider that there are three hidden problems he often finds in flipped kitchens and shared his tips for how to identify them.</p><h2>1. Bad cabinet spacing</h2><p>If a cabinet looks wedged between appliances or is installed in a corner, it may not open correctly, Standley told Insider.</p><p>"The best way to check for a poorly laid-out cabinet package is to open and close every door and drawer," he said. "You may find a drawer is blocked by the oven handle, or you have to open the dishwasher in order to open the oven in order to open a drawer."</p><p>Standley illustrated this process in a duet with TikToker @militaryhousingan, which he set to the Tetris theme song:</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley/video/6912239526362598662" data-video-id="6912239526362598662" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@bryanstandley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley">@bryanstandley</a> <p><a title="duet" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/duet">#duet</a> with @militaryhousingan</p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ Tetris - Solid State Remix - Game Boys" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Tetris-Solid-State-Remix-113912057">♬ Tetris - Solid State Remix - Game Boys</a> </section> </blockquote> <h2><strong>2. The dishwasher is not properly installed</strong></h2><p>Of all kitchen appliances, Standley has found that the dishwasher is most often the one with installation issues.</p><p>If it is simply not installed, the home buyer would need to make a service call to the plumber, which could cost around $200 depending on their location, Standley said.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.insider.com/easy-tiktok-laundry-hack-thrify-fresh-smelling-clothes-laundry-2021-1">People are loving this TikToker's fresh laundry hack, but a professional cleaner says it could ruin clothes if you're not careful</a></em></p><p>If it is installed, but incorrectly, that could lead to more costly issues down the road.</p><p>In one video, Standley explains how dishwashers are often connected to the garbage disposal without removing the <a href="https://www.hunker.com/12273173/how-to-remove-the-knockout-plug-in-a-garbage-disposal">knockout plug</a>, an essential step that prevents drainage issues.</p><p>"When it goes to drain, it just pops the hose off because it's deadheading against the plug, and it makes a huge mess all over the newly refinished hardwood floors," he said.</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley/video/6880947463314836742" data-video-id="6880947463314836742" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@bryanstandley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley">@bryanstandley</a> <p>Reply to @myemail36  stuff leaks. I also carry towels. <a title="homeinspector" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/homeinspector">#homeinspector</a> <a title="homeinspection" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/homeinspection">#homeinspection</a> <a title="kcrealestate" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kcrealestate">#kcrealestate</a> <a title="kansascity" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/kansascity">#kansascity</a> <a title="inspectkc" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/inspectkc">#inspectkc</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - Bryan Standley" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6880947531384130309">♬ original sound - Bryan Standley</a> </section> </blockquote> <p>The best way to check dishwasher functionality is "to open the door all of the way and lightly press down on the door," Standley told Insider. "If it feels like the dishwasher is going to fall forward, it isn't properly installed."</p><h2>3. The air vent is missing</h2><p>Air vents are an essential part of every house, allowing air to blow into a room, but Standley said house flippers tend to overlook them in kitchens.</p><p>"I don't know why, but the guys that lay the gray, weathered wood grain tile hate cutting around air registers. They just tile right over them," he said.</p><p>Without an air vent in the room, that room will not be heated and cooled by the home's HVAC system.</p><p>Air vents can be located either near the floor, on the wall, or on the ceiling, so Standley recommends conducting a thorough visual scan. </p><p>While Standley enjoys sharing tips that can help future home buyers identify hidden problems in a house, his biggest recommendation is to hire a qualified home inspector.</p><p>To see more of Bryan's videos, follow him on TikTok <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@bryanstandley">@bryanstandley</a>. You can learn more about his home-inspection business at <a href="https://inspectkc.com/">inspectkc.com</a>. </p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/tiktok-home-inspector-flipped-home-renovation-red-flags-2021-1">3 red flags to look when buying a renovated home, according to an inspector who roasts flipped houses on TikTok</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/vanlife-couple-turns-vintage-airstreams-into-tiny-homes-on-wheels-2020-10">A husband and wife in the Hudson Valley convert vintage Airstreams into tiny homes that they sell for $100,000 and name after famous women</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/british-dad-transforms-boeing-737-plane-into-mobile-home-2021-1">A stay-at-home dad is turning a Boeing 737 plane into a camper trailer for family vacations</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/man-transformed-old-jet-engine-into-camper-trailer-van-life-road-trip">A British man spent over 1,000 hours transforming a jet engine into a camper trailer for family road trips. Take a look inside.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/kruger-shalati-hotel-on-bridge-south-africa-kruger-national-park-2020#a-first-of-its-kind-hotel-made-out-of-converted-1950s-train-cars-opened-monday-in-south-africas-kruger-national-park-1">Look inside a luxury hotel made of vintage train cars that sits atop a bridge in South Africa's largest national park</a></li></ul>

3 red flags to look out for in a renovated kitchen, according to a home inspector who roasts flipped houses on TikTok

<p class="financial-disclaimer"><i>When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a></i></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Salmon is one of the best fish you can eat, thanks to it being high in omega-3s. </strong></li><li><strong>But beginner chefs can sometimes be intimidated by <keyword id="27178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking">cooking</keyword> salmon because there are so many different ways you can prepare it. </strong></li><li><strong>To help simplify things, we chatted with <a href="https://mareyaibrahim.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chef Mareya Ibrahim</a>, who shared with us her go-to <keyword id="25266" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="recipes">recipes</keyword> for simple, tasty salmon.</strong></li></ul>Table of Contents<p>Got a fillet of salmon in your freezer? Congrats — you've got a healthy, delicious, incredibly versatile dinner just waiting for you to enjoy.</p><p>While most people tend to think that white fish, like tilapia and cod, are the most adaptable fish thanks to their mild flavor, you shouldn't sleep on salmon. This <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-seafood-delivery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beautiful, fatty fish is chock-full of omega-3s</a>, which <a href="https://www.verywellfit.com/salmon-nutrition-facts-calories-and-health-benefits-4106641" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can help reduce your risk of heart disease</a> and promote healthy skin, hair, and nails. </p><p>A simple Google search of salmon recipes can overwhelm you with methods — from steaming to poaching to baking and beyond. That's why we spoke with <a href="https://mareyaibrahim.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mareya Ibrahim</a>, celebrity chef, author of <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB4C8yhJVJ7ZFdluzkVcLeSjndKM-2F4Q4eNN2j5L8eoTW3bqKtBM9WH0EvaO2oxpcJIWxqjvcRSzh3V91kBifTmEEZnbJW591HNpYxFC3-2FzVFjAz4pl2GbmXr55fgKLT-2BNUNcdtjCrDajWGKD74PpXzz8Z87bYN73vKkMLwAGm41TpyWrBF3k-2Flt04VwjEiB-2B5fqu4M811B3QrW3-2BjTSQnCJn4bGR82KDV89J7S8ACop6HHeLrE3icL2msXnm2NYDO-2FrMcSSKwuRqJrPx2ic6tu5OrmCYkl6-2FFX-2Fq7KrPTavmvcXaKwiNkCiBN-2BNgocIXV0PR-2BXoGe-2BmrX7eq0wr1xk6Ah2OxK9kXa0PzRyoJO9DOc2Wf7Hlk5EI8bHYTKrX1RK42tctIztU4tTXIT-2FD7g8d739kuHNsr1uj62tc3ay-2BrAo1DjyugnlaJF4FjDpztg-2BHqWhfO3xCV7E1Je1ezc-2FVQNyLIFZG9y0jWqDgTPbUk6wChAH5qifMioUWAlvn-2BuMnAWwFGLz-2FNB-2BePW-2F3mQZVGkr0AYgWbRtAlUAQ18-2FhSN50x-2FSIdL84ih0TqDljOljXe69gNsk1ZNJGiXd8LQh-2F3lN-2FWv0SIVg4C0YewntLVgaQQl-2BzRnNSojnbip2xI7H1DDW8McPqgmtUfinteHdtP6eucSksZKeOuw1m4b3Pqz52hkK1gOmTcSO-2Fk4f7Bd5Asdy2Ea787tttDCR4KArVXa0c4fbMMqv5LN7zyRsFNGSqL1MsUf3MzhV-2B5oznNvjDDh80F0gCuG80VE1F1jNaqftsoJaeANMOyYDQms6mqmktZB-2Bq-2FI1t6bvlpFpfdxwcx9no-2FBu9nMcbwTv-2FK5KGbcJszvE1-2BrwzeYVIwVwHVLtk1o68Y-2B729dBuJCX5PeSTLzE6bArrFPDg3h4yYqLn2214MGwRJtRjSK-2BkLImihbxiZXj4ouwRfwx0Durwu8-2FPgiRi5e9-2BLjqO-2Fpr9X5Dmp7sDWveDdnnQSannqt4dfqbXY-2BFNNy1ITycMxralusI-2FvnRUf6CMVjcadNy2rbI2HudABKViVBpdIWpqDUzTLfJmo5bCxWTy015ZkFcE7fNYJRxmi6o98IqIQ8qJfXO6ILhn5kM7-2BD-2BwUyaVnpr5-2FxS-2BnA6LeCqcYHEtOkPjVttdMWw-2F90QACb8U-2FxkwqaAWWKGQZYC8DipaHorwKbbiP21pnmuZDHd0G-2BPuFsAwxhw5TMvpa4H13kV5h3Q8NJWDMPPomhHcZ0B0pxMYjEEygb-2Fx-2FI6Wi-2BEP216zzEysOrOvHcqIr4PCs-2Btk-2FBcAwEdPsI5xKOoU8GGhd5OjtcmiPMbNYn1R6eObyRca0d3oW5JvzXK0QGoHValKAdBCjDtVLFh1ZPxD4exawQmOKcMbqcsyheBsT2T-2F4he69BXLN7wcC4h5dYl-2B9-2BITX7btjjBjxZI-2ByjgyYHQFZj23DL4IjMne2lkxd5uc0iSed9LcLuztYQi2j-2B2OElVFWU2hni6bBVVXiylrYVGaaIqh778zLdQFrAW3meFeQQ-2FlUDHhjDl2fW5ipTPQIzUGqm6eh1v-2BI-3D_6MmioFs5MWUEotaDG-2FLaz-2FET4TUh2VMXWc1fxsOIHEWNYHoK8scgD9dOTne5aXdDsK3-2FB17xZ-2BV6XK6xWhHf5db5u5EyMlogHWiyOIlekJfLfWQ1ihEe3kB-2BweAufH0A5VIeFxYf5yoeT0ZyClcjfB-2FrsvisF6xg8llF-2B6xdsJCpyzVratyzar-2Bo65Eb-2B7mDs5q6QFnh9xe3I-2BD1kiUSpHrctgKjZi7XaW87L6VRsAjkz4Ug7nxf7AhpbwquD4FvEisp5aBU-2FDn-2F57lgckS1TfmVKpLjyo3OYS54Xly8KpeKqTximhN1fkdDKQWfIcLGxsVVRlvbvp8-2Fwmg-2BSMAXvcZLIkDnqgupbiowtYJd5Ew-3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Eat Like You Give A Fork,"</a> and founder of Eat Cleaner, on the best ways to cook salmon, <keyword id="31181" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="How-to">how to</keyword> shop for the perfect fillet, and more. Ibrahim is a nationally-recognized <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword> expert known as The Fit Foodie. She's authored a number of cookbooks, including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CU90RKM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_061720_how-to-make-salmon-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B00CU90RKM&amp;linkId=2fa710b33662ab0d5fa41229c36d5af33662ab0d5fa41229c36d5af3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">"The Clean Eating Handbook"</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310344298/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_061720_how-to-make-salmon-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=0310344298&amp;linkId=65c4f969adbd83de1107a4c94fde66dbadbd83de1107a4c94fde66db" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">"The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to a Healthier Life."</a> Ibrahim was also a featured chef on the web series <em>Recipe Rehab</em>. </p><iframe src="https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5eea677b4dca681b27609594&amp;type=small&amp;live=true" width="100%" height="150%" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute; top:0; left: 0"></iframe><iframe src="https://produktor.businessinsider.com/productCardService?id=5eea692b2618b93ab8618908&amp;type=small&amp;live=true" width="100%" height="150%" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute; top:0; left: 0"></iframe><h2><strong>What's the best way to cook salmon?</strong></h2><p>According to Ibrahim, the easiest and most satisfying way to make salmon is to grill it because unlike in an oven or in sous vides machine, you can actually <em>watch</em> your fillet cook.</p><p>"When you overcook salmon, you ruin it," she says. "Grilling allows you to keep an eye on it so that you don't waste your fillet. It's easy to do — you get that yummy, crispy skin, and those gorgeous grill marks." Don't have an outdoor grill? A grill pan on your stove works just as well, Ibrahim says.</p><p>But there are other great ways to cook salmon, like baking it in an oven. </p><p>"Cooking salmon in the oven is preferable if you are baking it in a sauce or broth," she says. "This will also help to keep it nice and moist, as salmon has a tendency to overcook if not watched carefully."</p><p>It's also incredibly easy to cook your salmon on a sheet pan surrounded by veggies for a quick, one-pan meal. "You definitely need to watch it to avoid overcooking," Ibrahim says. "In cases, covering it with foil is recommended, as is setting a timer."</p><h2><strong>How to choose the right type of salmon</strong></h2><p>It's always best to buy salmon when it's fresh, not frozen, says Ibrahim. And if you can, look for fillets that are wild-caught instead of farm-raised. That's not to say that farm-raised salmon is necessarily bad for you, but there are longterm issues with farm-raised fish that aren't good for the environment. Here's a good primer <a href="https://stanfordmag.org/contents/wild-salmon-vs-farmed-essential-answer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on the effects of farm-raised</a>.</p><p>Wild-caught fillets tend to be pricier, but you can see — and taste — the difference. "Wild-caught salmon are eating what nature intended," Ibrahim says. "It's eating krill and algae and all the things it's supposed to, so it's higher in omega-3s and has this beautiful color." Wild-caught salmon is more ruby red, while farm-raised salmon is more on the pale pink side. </p><p>"Eating wild-caught ensures you're tasting salmon the way that nature intended salmon to taste," she says.</p><p>One thing to note, though — most salmon has pin bones, which are tiny little bones that can be dangerous if ingested. You can ask your fishmonger to remove them for you, but they're super easy to pull out at home too. They're spikey, almost like oversized splinters, so run your finger along the flesh until you feel the bones and pull them out with your fingers or clean tweezers. Just make sure to do this before you cook. </p><h2><strong>Cooking times for salmon</strong></h2><p>Unlike other fish, salmon actually tastes best when it's a little undercooked in the center — kind of like a good cut of steak.</p><p>"Truthfully, if you get really good, fresh salmon, you can eat it raw," Ibrahim says. That's why you tend to see salmon as a star on sushi restaurant menus. You can cook salmon all the way through, but leaving it slightly pink in the center ensures you're biting into a seriously juicy, delicious piece of fish. Ibrahim suggests cooking for three minutes on each side, though it might be more if you have a thick fillet.</p><p>And if you get a fillet with skin on it, try eating it. Not only does it taste delicious when crisped up on the grill, but Ibrahim also says it's full of good-for-you ingredients — like essential fatty acids, good oil, and added protein. If you have a fillet without salmon, though, it doesn't affect the cooking time. Just grill or bake it as you would without the skin.</p><p>And the beautiful thing about salmon? If you pick a good piece of fish, you don't have to add much to it. That's why you'll notice the following recipes are so simple. </p><p>Ahead, Ibrahim breaks down the easiest salmon recipes you'll ever master. </p><p><div type="image" title="salmon pan" height="720" width="960" msid="76699243" hostid="261"></div></p><h2><strong>How to cook salmon on the grill or stove</strong></h2><p>In case you don't have all the tools or ingredients, we've linked them out for you.</p><h3><strong>Tools</strong></h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-mixing-bowls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shallow mixing bowl</a></li><li>A grill pan or <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-gas-grill" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an outdoor grill</a></li><li>Tongs for flipping</li></ul><h3><strong>Ingredients</strong></h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-seafood-delivery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 pound wild-caught salmon fillet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-online-grocery-store" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice</a></li><li>2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce</li><li>2 tablespoons honey</li><li>1 tablespoon sesame oil</li><li>Lemon wedges for garnish</li></ul><h3><strong>Directions</strong></h3><ol><li>Whisk together the lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil for an easy marinade. Divide marinade in half.</li><li>Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour half of the marinade on top. Let sit for at least an hour in the fridge. </li><li>Oil an outdoor grill and heat to medium heat — about 350 degrees F. If you're using a grill pan on the stove, heat it over medium heat. </li><li>Place the salmon (skin-side up if it has skin) on the grill. Grill salmon until the flesh is opaque — about three to five minutes each side per inch of thickness, depending on how "done" you want the fish. Only flip it once. </li><li>Remove from the grill, and pour the remaining marinade over the fillets before serving. Try with a side of steamed, mixed veggies, and lemon wedges. </li></ol><h2><strong>How to cook salmon in the oven</strong></h2><h3><strong>Tools</strong></h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-mixing-bowls" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shallow mixing bowl</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-cookie-sheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shallow baking dish</a></li></ul><h3><strong>Ingredients</strong></h3><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/online-seafood-delivery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 pound wild-caught salmon fillet</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-online-grocery-store" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 lime, juiced</a></li><li>1 tablespoon Dijon mustard</li><li>2 teaspoons low-sodium tamari or soy sauce</li><li>½ teaspoon Kosher salt</li><li>½ teaspoon ground black pepper</li><li>¼ cup sesame seeds</li><li>1 tablespoon oil, for the baking dish</li></ul><h3>Steps</h3><ol><li>Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.</li><li>In a bowl, mix lime juice, mustard, tamari or soy sauce, salt, and pepper. </li><li>Place salmon in an oiled, shallow baking dish. Spoon marinade over fish and top with sesame seeds.</li><li>Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque. Garnish with extra sesame seeds and a lime wedge, if desired.</li></ol>

Everything you need to know about cooking salmon at home, according to a celebrity chef and cookbook author

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A <keyword id="6762469" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="TikTok">TikTok</keyword> showing the "worst apartment" in New York City has gone viral.</li><li>With a mini-fridge, a communal bathroom, and no stove, it's asking $1,650 a month.</li><li>According to the realtor who posted it on TikTok, the apartment is located on a "beautiful street."</li></ul><p>New York City's <a href="https://www.insider.com/new-york-city-apartment-sales-fall-landlords-face-new-rules-2020-1">famously competitive real-estate market</a> has a breakout star this week: a $1,650-a-month apartment without a stove or a bathroom. </p><p>Realtor Cameron Knowlton gave his <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-tiktokers-new-tiktok-accounts-to-follow-in-2021-2020-12">TikTok</a> followers <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor/video/6922200627619712262">a virtual tour</a> of the space in a two-part video series. He calls it "the worst apartment [he's] ever seen" in the first clip. </p><p>In the first video, which has 20.5 million views at the time of writing, Knowlton opens the door to show a narrow living space that doubles as a bedroom.</p><div type="image" title="apartment tour" height="1426" width="802" msid="80660222" hostid="261"></div><p>Knowlton flips the camera around to show the minimal counter space by the front door. There's no oven or stove and only a mini-fridge under the counter.</p><p>The apartment also has one small closet. </p><div type="image" title="apartment tour" height="1500" width="2000" msid="80660223" hostid="261"></div><p>If you're wondering where the bathroom is, you're not the only one.</p><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor/video/6922923844143500549?referer_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2F&amp;referer_video_id=6922200627619712262&amp;is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v2om_webapp=v2">In the follow-up video</a>, which has 2.6 million views at the time of writing, Knowlton explains that the bathroom is actually down the hall, outside the main apartment, and split into two separate rooms - one with the shower and the other with the toilet.</p><p>Knowlton says you also need a key to get into each for "security purposes." He notes that you'll have to share these with other people in the building and that the toilet area doesn't have a sink. </p><p>"Bathroom is Starbucks 3 blocks away," one person joked in the comments. </p><div type="image" title="apt_bathroom" height="1500" width="2000" msid="80660225" hostid="261"></div><p>"That's not an apartment. It's a compartment," one of the top comments read. </p><p>"So basically you get a closet," another TikTok user wrote. </p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.insider.com/new-york-city-apartment-sales-fall-landlords-face-new-rules-2020-1">New York City apartment sales dropped dramatically in 2019 after a new renting law was enacted</a></em></p><p>Knowlton told Insider that the apartment is an "open listing," which means that anyone with a real-estate license can show the unit to prospective tenants. He said he found out about it through an email blast from the landlord and was intrigued once he noticed the location, Greenwich Village, and the price.</p><p>"I laughed originally. I mean, I kind of had an idea that something was up just based on the pricing," he told Insider.</p><p><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9203015/NYC-realtor-shows-TINY-West-Village-apartment-costs-1-650-month.html">According to the Daily Mail</a>, the unit was last listed for rent in late 2019. Knowlton said that the building, located near popular New York City spot Washington Square Park, is usually at full capacity. </p><p>He said he would describe the apartment as tiny, but with decent natural light and located on a "beautiful street."</p><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor/video/6922200627619712262" data-video-id="6922200627619712262" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@newyorkcityrealtor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor">@newyorkcityrealtor</a> <p><a title="apartmenttherapy" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/apartmenttherapy">#apartmenttherapy</a> <a title="westvillage" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/westvillage">#westvillage</a> <a title="apartmenthunting" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/apartmenthunting">#apartmenthunting</a> <a title="luxuryapartmentsnyc" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/luxuryapartmentsnyc">#luxuryapartmentsnyc</a> <a title="nycapartment" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/nycapartment">#nycapartment</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp">#fyp</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - New York City Realtor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6922200606790781702">♬ original sound - New York City Realtor</a> </section> </blockquote> <blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor/video/6922923844143500549" data-video-id="6922923844143500549" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;"> <section> <a target="_blank" title="@newyorkcityrealtor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@newyorkcityrealtor">@newyorkcityrealtor</a> <p><a title="apartmenthunting" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/apartmenthunting">#apartmenthunting</a> <a title="apartmenttherapy" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/apartmenttherapy">#apartmenttherapy</a> <a title="luxuryapartmentsnyc" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/luxuryapartmentsnyc">#luxuryapartmentsnyc</a> <a title="westvillage" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/westvillage">#westvillage</a> <a title="realestateagent" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/realestateagent">#realestateagent</a> <a title="part2" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/part2">#part2</a></p> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - New York City Realtor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6922923893216807686">♬ original sound - New York City Realtor</a> </section> </blockquote> <h2>The apartment is located in a highly sought after and expensive <keyword id="6369186" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="manhattan">Manhattan</keyword> neighborhood</h2><p><a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2019/7/25/8912263/most-expensive-rents-june-2019-report-manhattan-brooklyn-bronx">According to Curbed</a>, Greenwich Village was one of the most expensive neighborhoods to rent in Manhattan in 2019.</p><p>The New York City rental market has been a hot topic of conversation in the past few months, although for entirely different reasons.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-rent-decrease-manhattan-market-report-streeteasy-2020-12">Manhattan rents have been slashed more during the pandemic than during the Great Recession - and have even farther to fall</a></em></p><p>In December, Stefanos Chen of The New York Times reported that, due to the pandemic, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/25/realestate/nyc-real-estate-market.html">rent prices in Manhattan</a> "fell from a median $3,509 a month in March to a median $2,776 a month in November."</p><p>Many fled the city during the outbreak, and the mass exodus led to higher than normal vacancy rates and deep rental discounts to attract new tenants, Business Insider's Libertina Brandt <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-rent-decrease-manhattan-market-report-streeteasy-2020-12">previously reported</a>.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/tiktok-home-inspector-flipped-home-renovation-red-flags-2021-1">3 red flags to look for when buying a renovated home, according to an inspector who roasts flipped houses on TikTok</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/diy-oddly-satisfying-home-renovation-tiktok-videos-going-viral-2020-6">Oddly satisfying home renovation TikToks are going viral. This is why they feel so great.</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/tiktok-famous-housekeeper-shows-household-cleaning-mistakes-2020-8">A TikTok-famous professional cleaner shows the household tidying mistakes people are making</a></p></li></ul>

The 'worst apartment ever' in NYC is going viral on TikTok for having no stove or bathroom - and still costing $1,650 a month to rent

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jessica Wynne Lockhart and her partner first moved to <keyword id="22501" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="New-Zealand">New Zealand</keyword> in 2018, eager to explore <keyword id="6360041" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="life">life</keyword> in the southern hemisphere.</li><li>After struggling to find an affordable apartment, the couple signed up to be house sitters, and ended up booking back-to-back sitting gigs for an entire year.</li><li>But when <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> began, a 7-month sit was canceled, leaving the pair with nowhere to go to safely isolate and prepare for the nationwide lockdown.</li><li>To her surprise, Lockhart then began receiving messages from the homeowners of houses she had cared for, checking on the couple's well-being and offering them places to stay.</li></ul><p>In 2018, my partner and I moved to New Zealand with the full intention of doing all the things you do when you move to a new place: We were going to find an apartment, look for jobs, and buy furniture. Once we'd ticked those items off the list, any remaining energy would be devoted to making friends. The move was a chance for us to create a new life together; since she's Australian and I'm Canadian, New Zealand was the one place we could both easily get visas to work and live. </p><p>But within days of arrival in Nelson, a small city on the South Island, it became clear the standard plan of attack wasn't going to work.</p><p>Every day, I'd call to set up apartment viewings, only to learn the latest listings had already been snapped up. The city was in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, and every night we spent in an Airbnb cut into our tight budget. (The irony that vacation rentals were to blame for the lack of housing wasn't lost on us.) </p><p>Desperate for an alternative, we signed up for <a href="https://www.kiwihousesitters.co.nz/">Kiwi House Sitters</a>, a site overflowing with homeowners looking for people to care for their pets and houses. An account cost 84 New Zealand dollars (approximately 51 US dollars), but we reasoned that if we found a place to stay for just one night, we'd make our money back. Our net cast wide, we start applying for house sits across the South Island. </p><p>As it turns out, we were in high demand. As someone who works from home, I can keep someone's pets company during the day. Being in our mid-30s also worked to our advantage: We're young enough to wrangle energetic dogs, but not so young that we're perceived as liable to throw parties.  </p><p>Within two weeks, we'd booked back-to-back house sits for the entire year. We would be sleeping in strangers' beds, cuddling their pets, and essentially living their lives as our own. What was meant to be a temporary solution had turned into our permanent living arrangement. </p><p><div type="image" title="Jessica Lockhart working with Lexi on her legs in Christchurch" height="2274" width="3032" msid="76122968" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Our first house sit was a brick bungalow just outside Christchurch. That's where we learned lesson No. 1 of house sitting: Homeowners are more likely to describe their aspirational lives rather than their actual routines. (These are the same people who style their hair before going to the salon, or tidy before the house cleaner arrives.) The easy-to-start lawnmower? Get friendly with the neighbors, because you'll have to borrow theirs. The barbecue out back? The gas tank is empty. Anyone who tells you they don't sleep with their 80-pound dog? They're lying. </p><p><div type="image" title="Keilie walks Lexi in Christchurch" height="3024" width="4032" msid="76122976" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Then there are the more practical realities. Moving every three to six weeks is draining. It also makes finding a job difficult; while I've worked remotely for years, my partner had to find an employer who was willing to let her do the same. You'd be surprised by how often you're asked for a mailing address until the moment you don't have one. (Homeowners are constantly forwarding us mail that arrives the moment we leave.) As for a social life? It's hard enough to make new friends in your 30s; it's impossible when you move constantly. </p><p>It was lonely at times, but we convinced ourselves the trade-off was worth it. On my modest salary, I managed to pay off 20,000 Canadian dollars (about $14,000) in debt in a year. It was also a chance to play Goldilocks, trying on different places for size: We lived everywhere from an off-grid tiny house in Waikari (population: 379), to a modern build in Christchurch. Our neighbors included vineyards, sheep stations, and even a fortified compound that once housed a cult. </p><p>Early in 2020, we landed our dream house sit: For seven months, we'd be living in Christchurch's desirable Sumner neighborhood. Since the homeowners didn't have pets, our only responsibility would be to take care of the expansive gardens, which rolled down towards the ocean.  </p><p><div type="image" title="Lockhart at a housesit with Lexi the dog and Alfie the cat in Christchurch." height="3024" width="4032" msid="76122983" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Then came COVID-19. Two days before the house sit was meant to start, the homeowners canceled their trip abroad. My freelance income had started to dry up, so we weren't in the position to sign a lease. New Zealand was on the brink of one of the strictest lockdowns in the world and we had nowhere to live, let alone self-isolate. </p><p>I was on a work trip when I got the news. Sitting alone in my hotel room, tears streaming down my face, I let the situation sink in. Suddenly, I understood what had been at stake when we adopted our unconventional living arrangement.</p><p>"Who can we even ask for help? We don't know anyone," I thought miserably. "We only know cats and dogs." </p><p><div type="image" title="Lockhart's partner Keilie with Bonnie in Christchurch" height="2268" width="3024" msid="76122989" hostid="261"></div></p><p>That's when I realized that we <em>did</em> know people. Quite a few, actually, and all over New Zealand. Within an hour, we had a place to stay — one of the families that we've house sat for on multiple occasions offered up <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-granny-flat-1695933">the granny flat</a> on their property. </p><p>Rule No. 2 of house sitting? It's more than just a system based on trust — it's a community built on generosity. </p><p><div type="image" title="Keilie throws a ball to Pearl in Golden Bay" height="2268" width="3024" msid="76122993" hostid="261"></div></p><p>That was two months ago. Lured by access to a full kitchen (we needed an oven to bake all the bread this <keyword id="43587" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="pandemic">pandemic</keyword> demanded), we're now living in another family's holiday home in Christchurch. Paying rent after living bill-free for years isn't my favorite activity, but it's not forever. As of May 14, Kiwis are once again able to travel domestically, and the postings for house sitters have already started popping up. </p><p>Sure, we may have failed at finding an apartment, acquiring furniture, and all the other hallmarks of "adult" life. Yet, despite it all, we've managed to find an unlikely community and half a dozen places that we can call home.</p>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/house-sitter-in-new-zealand-covid-19-2020-5">Business Insider</a>

My partner and I are full-time house sitters in New Zealand. Here's how the pandemic has affected our unusual living arrangement.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I tried six experimental ways of making <keyword id="18059" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Eggs">eggs</keyword> last longer.</li><li>From coating them in miso to salt curing them, I wanted to know the best way to increase the shelf life of eggs at home.</li><li>Each method had its drawbacks but there was one that stood out above the rest.</li></ul><p><em>Following is a transcript of the <keyword id="21654" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="video">video</keyword>.</em></p><p><strong>Charlie Floyd:</strong> So, you're in lockdown, you've gone to the supermarket, and maybe you've bought way too many eggs. And you're looking for a way to make them last. I wanted to look at all the different ways you can make your eggs last, from one week all the way up to a year and more if possible.</p><p>Are these techniques any good? Do they work at all? And is it worth it? Once you've cooked an egg, you're not going to get much of a lifespan out of it. But with this method, you might just be able to make it last a little bit longer. These eggs are incredibly easy to make and will last for about a week in the fridge.</p><p>So, the process for this is really simple and only needs two ingredients: boiled eggs and miso paste. Getting hold of certain things in lockdown has been tough. I grabbed the only miso paste I could, which probably isn't quite right for this. A less sticky white miso might have been easier, as this stuff really stuck to my hands, and the white miso is generally less salty as well, so it might've worked better with the egg.</p><p>But either way, I'm gonna completely cover the eggs in the paste. Then once the eggs are covered, I'll put them in the fridge. That's it. I got this recipe from the book "Preserving the Japanese Way," which is really great for all things <keyword id="6359297" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="preservation">preservation</keyword>. The recipe says not to leave the eggs wrapped up for more than four hours. I found that the longer you leave them, the saltier they get. If you're using them as a topping, they're just about OK to leave overnight, but by themselves they get too salty. Overall, though, these were a big success.</p><p>They were so easy to make, and the result was a rich, miso-flavored egg that's great on top of ramen or as a snack with a beer. It does use quite a lot of miso, but you can reuse this to coat more eggs.</p><p>If you want your eggs to last longer than a week, you're probably gonna need some salt. And salted eggs have been around for quite a long time, especially in Asian <keyword id="27178" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cooking">cooking</keyword>. You find salted egg yolks in the middle of moon cakes or on top of a congee. But recently, salted egg yolks have become really trendy, and you'll find recipes for them popping up everywhere. The process is pretty simple.</p><p>You surround the egg yolk in salt, drawing out all the moisture and preserving it. Again, you only really need two ingredients for this recipe, salt and eggs. Some recipes I found just used the salt. Some go as far as 50-50 salt to sugar. I landed somewhere in between and added a bit of sugar to take the edge off. I've seen a lot of people add flavorings too, so I threw some mixed herbs and chili in as an experiment, but I can't see the yolk getting a huge amount of flavor from them. So, that's the base.</p><p>Then we're gonna make some imprints with an egg and then gently place each yolk into these. Make sure each is completely covered with salt before leaving for a few days in the fridge. After about three days, my yolks had almost completely solidified. They're still fairly sticky at this point. If I was doing this again, I might have left them for longer. But once they're out of the salt, they just need some further drying. It's really nice and warm at the moment, so I just wrapped the yolks in muslin and hung them up in my <keyword id="27180" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="kitchen">kitchen</keyword>. But if you're doing this at home, you can also put them in the oven on a very, very low heat or use a dehydrator to dry them out.</p><p>I have put them in the oven when making this ages ago and completely forgot about them. So if you are doing this in the oven, maybe set a timer. And this is the result: a grate-able egg yolk that looks and acts almost like a hard cheese. They don't taste as eggy as you might think and just add an extra bit of depth to whatever you grate them on. I think overall they were pretty fun and easy to make, and I'll definitely be making them again.</p><p>To make our egg last even longer, I'm gonna try fermenting it. Now, you can easily just put a boiled egg in some salted water with a starter culture, and it should ferment by itself. But I'm gonna be using old jars of kimchi and sauerkraut that I have lying around, and I'm gonna put the eggs directly into that. Hopefully this will speed up the process and give the egg that sauerkraut taste.</p><p>Now, if you don't have anything fermenting and you don't really know what the best option is, making some kimchi at home is actually pretty easy. The only specialty item you need is gochugaru, a dried red chili powder. Everything else is easy to get hold of. And if you've never considered making it, it's surprisingly quick to throw together.</p><p>You need Chinese cabbage, ginger, the gochugaru, garlic, and spring onion. I used a white onion because, again, with lockdown, I couldn't get spring onions at short notice. Just mix all these ingredients together in a bowl. You can be completely free with the quantities, as long as you weigh the total. And add three percent of that total weight in salt. Mix together and leave it for an hour or so. I also added some fish sauce, but that's completely optional. And once it's all together, place it in a jar to ferment.</p><p>Make sure that the ingredients are all covered by liquid, and leave it for a couple of weeks. I've always got piles of jars of things fermenting away, taking up all the kitchen space. I've got lots of fresh vegetables from the allotment, and inevitably it goes bad if I don't do something with it.</p><p>I've got a couple of older jars happily fermenting away. So, really, all I need to do is add the eggs. I made a solution of 2% salt water to top up the ongoing jars and to make sure they would all be completely covered in liquid. And then simply drop the eggs in. After about a week of fermentation, the eggs are ready. How long they last, though, seems to be up for debate. People online claim everything from two weeks up to a very ambitious year long. But they should last a week fermenting and about a month in the fridge.</p><p>Fermented eggs might not be for everyone. The taste of the egg and whatever you're fermenting them in is actually really nice, but the egg itself can end up being a little bit fizzy. I've seen a few places saying this, so it's not just mine, clearly. And a fizzy egg is not something that I'd be desperate to make again.</p><p>I was looking for something that might last more than a couple of months, so I turned to the good old pickled egg. This one's probably the easiest on the list, and I made it even easier by buying ready-to-use pickling vinegar. You can get this in almost any UK supermarket.</p><p>I don't know about the US. But it's extra-strength malt vinegar that's already spiced. You can even just use the jar it comes in. I added a couple of extra cloves and a black cardamom pod for a little bit of extra spice. But you can simply boil the eggs, peel them, and put them in the vinegar. If you've never had a pickled egg before, the result is vinegary, spicy, and perfect as a snack.</p><p>If you're looking for an easy way to get a long life out of your eggs, this is probably the easiest and best option. And they should last for about six months in the jar. If pickling is one of the easiest ways to preserve your eggs, this one's probably the most effort.</p><p>Chinese century eggs have been around for about 600 years, and when done right, they're black, gelatinous, and, frankly, look quite unappealing. I wanted to see how easy it was to actually make these eggs at home. I didn't really know where to start with the century egg. Looking online, it seems there are a lot of different methods. In the end, I decided to just use pure sodium hydroxide. Now, sodium hydroxide is caustic. It can be harmful to breathe in and can burn your skin. So when using it, you need to wear goggles, a face mask, and gloves.</p><p>Getting a face mask at the moment isn't the easiest thing ever, and it turns out I only had two left gloves. I looked around online and found some recipes using similar sodium hydroxide to me and some using drain cleaner, which I really wouldn't recommend. A lot of other information I found online also seemed wrong or really dangerous. Boiling the mixture caused it to violently bubble, almost spilling over the pan.</p><p>Putting the mixture into a glass container is dangerous, as sodium hydroxide can actually eat away at the glass. And using an aluminum pan is even more dangerous, as the liquid can react with the aluminum and make a toxic gas. All in all, compared to the other methods, this is looking like it's far from worth doing at home. So once I had the mixture of sodium hydroxide, salt, and tea, I poured it over the eggs and left them to sit for 10 days. 10 days later, the eggs have definitely changed a lot. They're darker, and you can see where the mixture has entered the pores.</p><p>After the first 10 days, the eggs were ready to remove from the liquid and wrap up. Traditionally, the eggs were made by being buried in a mixture of wood ash, lime, salt, and clay. So I grabbed some ash from my allotment and bought some modeling clay, which I could use to wrap the eggs up in. Each egg was carefully wrapped up in this clay mixture and left for another 10 days. Now, I do a lot of stupid experiments in the kitchen, but I've never done anything even remotely like this. So, after 20 days, I should have a final result. Batch No. 2. It's the backup batch.</p><p>These have been in here for... 11, 12 days now. I mean, I already checked how this one's doing, and it looks far more solid than the last batch. So there's a glimmer of hope here. Perhaps it's a fresher egg. I think that's probably as close as I'm getting. I'm not going to try this weird, semi-jelly egg, so I don't know what it tastes like. But it does smell very strongly of ammonia.</p><p>If making a century egg at home doesn't seem like an appealing prospect to you, and I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't, there's one way to make your eggs last even longer than all the other methods combined, and that's drying them.</p><p>Industrially powdered eggs can last five-plus years, but I wouldn't recommend dehydrating your eggs at home and then leaving them in the cupboard for five years. I probably wouldn't recommend dehydrating your eggs at home generally, but this is the way to make them last the longest. The best way to make eggs last is by freeze-drying them. But for that, you unsurprisingly need a freeze-dryer.</p><p>These can cost around $1,000. And so I picked up a cheap dehydrator online, which will hopefully do a similar job. I'm just gonna mix the eggs together, pour them out, and then they should be ready to dehydrate. I set the dehydrator to 65 degrees for about six hours. This might have been a little too high, but I wanted to make sure I got every last bit of moisture out of them. So, after it's all dried, I've ended up with a weird crystallized egg. I'm gonna put this through a spice blender, and I should end up with a powdered egg that I can easily store in a cupboard.</p><p>So, this worked a lot better than I thought it would, but unless you're preparing for the apocalypse, I don't know why you'd try doing this at home. So, to test how well this works, it's been about a month, and I'm gonna try to rehydrate my eggs and make an omelet. No matter how much I mix the powder, it doesn't really dissolve. So the mixture's still grainy. Maybe I put too much water in to try and get it to dissolve.</p><p>It smells like a normal omelet, but these bubbles are very weird. [eggs sizzling] Yeah, I'm not sure I'd recommend this. It looks all right. And smells all right. It's just the texture, I think.</p><p>It tastes like an omelet. [roommate laughs]</p><p>Roommate: Is the texture all right?</p><p>Charlie: Yeah, it's not too bad. Considering. [roommate laughing]</p>

I tried 6 experimental techniques to preserve eggs at home from dehydrating to Chinese century eggs

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599b32c0f1a850c42a8b619d-2400/img4984.jpg" alt="Apartment Hotel" data-mce-source="Business Insider/Dennis Green" /><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Dennis Green</span></p><p class="caption">A grilled cheese sandwich (or "toastie") that I made in my "aparthotel."</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>For <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/london-underground-better-than-nyc-subway-2017-8">Americans vacationing to London</a> and other parts of the UK, it's easy to overspend if you're not careful. Though the exchange rate is more favorable to Americans than it was pre-Brexit vote, money can still evaporate quickly.</p><p>That makes staying somewhere like an Airbnb appealing, as you'll usually have a kitchen at your disposal to cook meals cheaply whenever you want.</p><p>When planning a trip to London this summer, I didn't have enough time to scope out Airbnbs, so I chose to stay in an "aparthotel" by <a href="http://www.marlin.com/">Marlin Hotels</a>, a British chain that specializes in such rooms.</p><p>I stayed in the hotel that had just opened a few months prior in London's Waterloo neighborhood. Prices range, but I paid an average of $165 a night for seven nights. </p><p>"Aparthotel" rooms aren't much different from normal hotel rooms, except that they have a (nearly) full kitchen in addition to the usual sleeping arrangements. I say "nearly full" kitchen because the rooms have a range, microwave, sink, dishwasher, toaster, refrigerator, electric kettle, and a full range of cookware and utensils, but they don't have an oven.</p><p>That means no frozen pizzas. Still, you can easily make a wide variety of meals with the available options. During my stay, I made salads, toast, grilled cheeses (or "toasties," in local parlance), and omelets with the cookwear provided in my room. I was also able to make use of the utensils and tableware to eat cereal, yogurt, and other breakfast items.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599b3ac2b0e0b591758b58d9-975/marlin-waterloo-3.jpg" alt="Marlin Waterloo 3" data-mce-source="Marlin Hotels" /><p class="source"><span>Marlin Hotels</span></p><p class="caption">A room similar to the one I stayed in.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>I was able to save quite a bit of money by shopping at the nearby food stores instead of eating out for every meal. I paid about $33 for a week's worth of groceries, including things for breakfast, fruit for in-between-meals snacking, and even some food to make for dinner. That comes out to less than $5 a day, significantly reducing the amount of money I was spending for food. It may not seem like a ton of money to save, but in a city where even the simplest wrap from a street vendor can top $12 and a muffin from a cafe can cost $4, it adds up.</p><p>I ate breakfast at the hotel every morning of the seven days I stayed in the hotel, and I felt full of energy and ready to take on the city of London and all it had to offer. Some nights, we also made dinner at the hotel after a long day of museum-hopping or taking the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/london-underground-better-than-nyc-subway-2017-8">expensive-but-worth-it</a> transportation options.</p><p>I felt more like I was a local, as I imagine it would have felt if I were staying in an Airbnb. I was able to sample the groceries that you would buy if you lived in the area, which made me feel more connected to the city. To be honest, I became a bit jealous of the quality of produce and food that is readily available for low prices in London. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599b330af1a85026008b65b9-2400/img5019.jpg" alt="Apartment Hotel" data-mce-source="Business Insider/Dennis Green" /><p class="source"><span>Business Insider/Dennis Green</span></p><p class="caption">I made a lot of omelets.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The hotel rooms are also fully serviced, meaning cleanup is simple: just put what you used in the dishwasher, and let the room's cleaner start it. On the second day, I placed dishes in the sink to deal with later, but I came back to find them in the dishwasher with the washer running, which was a great feeling.</p><p>Always having food in the hotel took a lot of the stress out of searching and buying food while roaming the city, and always returning to a clean kitchen made it still feel like a vacation from normalcy. I wasn't stuck doing dishes.</p><p>Staying in an Aparthotel wasn't outrageously more expensive when compared to similar hotels in the area, which range from $100 to $200 a night. I would call it mid-range, price-wise. You can certainly find cheaper hotels, but you will get what you pay for. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/599b3abdb0e0b591758b58d8-975/marlin-waterloo-8.jpg" alt="Marlin Waterloo 8" data-mce-source="Marlin Hotels" /><p class="source"><span>Marlin Hotels</span></p><p class="caption">The rest of the room is much like a regular hotel room.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>For medium to long stays, I would absolutely choose to stay in an "aparthotel" again wherever I <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel">travel</keyword>. It takes the worry out of traveling - and leaving your worries behind is really what going on vacation is all about.</p>       <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/16b-hedge-fund-cio-easy-quantitative-trading-2017-7">A $16 billion hedge fund CIO gives an easy explanation of quantitative trading</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/vIr3DXn3-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

I stayed in an 'Aparthotel' for a week - and I never want to stay in a normal hotel again

I shopped at Aldi and Lidl to see which grocery store was better, and the newer chain was clearly superior

<p class="p1"><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:480px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51f53ce169beddb51f000017-1000-750/mike-sharf.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="mike sharf" width="480" /><p class="source"><keyword id="1777991" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="MyClean">MyClean</keyword></p><p class="caption">Mike Scharf, CEO of MyClean</p></div></div>Three years ago, former Citibanker Mike Russell turned to his friend at Bank of America, Mike Scharf, with a business idea. </p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The New Yorkers had busy lives and thus, messy apartments. They also had disposable incomes. But when you live in a non-doorman building with no cleaning service readily available, getting your home cleaned can be tough. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Cleaning services are largely found via word of mouth or direct mail advertisements. A reliable, easy to peruse database of cleaning people online didn't exist.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The pair bootstrapped <a href="http://www.myclean.com">MyClean</a> with the help of a $267,000 friends and family round of financing. The site makes finding and ordering a cleaning service in the New York City area as easy as ordering food on Seamless or GrubHub.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Scharf and Russell had to overcome a lot to make the business work. They scrapped the original idea to outsource cleaners after clients received disappointing results and left scathing Yelp reviews. Problems with the site were tough to fix; neither Scharf nor Russell are technical. But now Scharf and Russell have created a business that sustains more than just themselves. </span></p>
<p class="p1">MyClean now oversees every part of the cleaning cycle, from managing site orders to dispatching its workers to various locations on the fly. Scharf, the company's CEO, works with government sponsored agencies to find people who are looking for a steady paycheck, gives them training, and hires them as full-time cleaners working six days per week. MyClean now employees 125 cleaners in addition to the dozen people who oversee the entire operation.</p>
<p class="p1">Scharf estimates his staff cleans 1,000 homes and businesses each each week. Users are loyal; 80% buy into MyClean's subscription model, which allows them to book cleaners consistently every week, two weeks or month. There's a 5-15% discount given to subscribers, who can also pick how thoroughly they want their residences cleaned.</p>
<p class="p1">To tidy up a one bedroom, one bath in Manhattan, the going rate is $84. To get it really clean, it's $135. If your house is in really bad shape, MyClean's team will give it a deep clean, which includes a complete wipe down of the oven, cabinet shelves and more for a little over $200. Tip is not included. C<span>leaners can be dispatched the same day you order the service, as long as the request is in before 4:00 PM.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">At $135 for a thorough clean, it's more expensive than a cleaning service you could find yourself. But MyClean makes it so easy to find and book a cleaning online, many people don't mind paying a little extra. </span></p>
<p class="p1">MyClean isn't profitable yet but it's breaking even. And as the cleaning startup space heats up (venture-backed startups Exec have launched competitive businesses on the west coast), MyClean's business is too.</p>
<p class="p1">Under the leadership of <span>Ken Schultz, a former lawyer who is MyClean's VP of Operations, </span>MyClean is generating $4-5 million annuall. It's raking in $400,000 per month, up from $15,000 a few years ago.</p>
<p class="p1">To continue growing the business, MyClean will be launching a mobile app and expanding to more cities. Currently, the service only operates in Manhattan, Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn. Scharf's team is eying New Jersey cities where many New York City commuters live.</p>
<p class="p1">For Scharf, a first-time entrepreneur, growing a multi-million-dollar business hasn't been predictable. When asked what's surprised him most about running a startup he replied, <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"You have to be willing to do everything yourself and follow through."</span></p>

How Bankers With Messy Apartments Bootstrapped MyClean, A Brilliantly Simple Cleaning Startup That Generates Multiple Millions

<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="York Museum" title_caption="This isn't a real kitchen. It's York Castle Museum's " kitchen="" exhibit.="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d428dd0895e25a8b45be-960/york museum 12437 rt lr.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d428dd0895e25a8b45be-1200-800/york museum 12437 rt lr.jpg" border="0" alt="York Museum 1980s kitchen" /></a><p class="source"><span>York Museum</span></p><p class="caption">This isn't a real kitchen. It's York Castle Museum's "1980s kitchen" exhibit.</p></div><p></p></div></div>York Castle Museum specialises in displays of ordinary life in York's streets and houses from the 1700s onward, to give visitors an idea of what it was like living in Northern England generations ago. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The exhibits progress through the Victorian era, with all its filth and squalor loving detailed (there's even a foul, pre-running-water outdoor privy). Mannequins wear flat caps. Everything seems to be made of leather, sack cloth and wax.</span></p><p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And then visitors are confronted by something that both delights and horrifies in equal measure: "The 1980s Kitchen."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">It is exactly what you think it is. An exact replica of a</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> typical suburban British kitchen from 1981. Visitors burst out laughing as they wonder why their parents' house deserves to be in a museum. Then it dawns on them that 1981 was over three decades ago - in the last century. </span></p><p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It turns out that everything in the exhibit was acquired by the museum in about 1982. "The provenance for these objects is the same, they were all donated or purchased in the 1980s specifically for this display, says collections facilitator Dr. M. Faye Prior. </span></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">It was originally called "The 1981 Kitchen" and was installed in 1982 "as a comparison to the adjacent '1940s Kitchen' display, showing how kitchens changed in the 20th century," according to Prior. </span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d428dd0895e25a8b45bf-1040-872/the 1980s kitchen.jpg" border="0" alt="The 1980s Kitchen"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Prior says, "1980s Kitchen" was "carefully designed to reflect the kind of brand-new fitted kitchen people were buying in 1981. Its pine picnic-style table and benches were very popular, as were the fitted units with integrated cooker and washing machine."</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d428dd0895e25a8b45c0-1200-800/fitted food.png" border="0" alt="York Castle Museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">People remember the '80s as a very "modern" era but these empty milk bottles show how old-fashioned it was at the same time: People still had their milk delivered daily by the local dairy.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d428dd0895e25a8b45c1-876-629/milk.png" border="0" alt="milk York Castle Museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">A glass jar with tricolour spaghetti and a cork stopper: "Pasta was still quite a novelty in the early 1980s," says Prior.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c2-1200-858/spaghetti_jar.png" border="0" alt="spaghetti jar"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Microwave ovens were new in the 1980s. Note how small the window is. This one, a Sanyo, comes with a cookery book - consumers who had only ever used gas or electric stoves needed to be taught how to cook in a microwave.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c3-1200-858/80s microwave oven rt lr.jpg" border="0" alt="80s Microwave oven RT LR"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"Everything in the room is a museum object with the exception of the cereal in the bowls on the table (we also use reproduction food in our seasonal displays)," Prior says.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c4-1200-800/80s breakfast cereals rt lr.jpg" border="0" alt="80s Breakfast Cereals RT LR"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"The brown plastic washing up bowl, drainer and brush are almost the same as those we have today, but the colour is very much of the early 1980s."</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c5-965-624/washing up.png" border="0" alt="washing up York Castle Museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This "Autumn Leaves" tea service came in "a fashionable beige with a bulbous design and bramble pattern."</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c6-1200-785/tea service.png" border="0" alt="tea service york castle museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This Vax vacuum cleaner was the Dyson of its day - the trendiest, most up-to-date vacuum you could buy in 1981.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c7-1200-1091/vax.png" border="0" alt="vax york castle museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"1980s Kitchen" disappeared from the museum for several years. "It was redisplayed in 2002, and receives a makeover every Christmas when we decorate it with 1980s cards and tinsel, and with seasonal party food," Prior says.</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c8-1200-547/the_1980s_kitchen view.png" border="0" alt="The_1980s_Kitchen view York Castle Museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"1980s Kitchen" was originally curated by Stephen Harrison, then Keeper of Folk Life at the museum. He aimed to show visitors that "folk life," or social history, "isn't just a study of the distant past, it's about the everyday lives of regular people."</span></strong></p><p class="p1"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5502d429dd0895e25a8b45c9-1200-858/track lights.png" border="0" alt="track lights York Castle Museum"><p class="source"><span>York Castle Museum</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></strong></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/smartphone-impact-brain-body-sleep-2015-2">This is what happens to your brain and body when you check your phone before bed</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="BvMjVqcjoHdZBG6tTpXy8UkhB5_46U_c" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'BvMjVqcjoHdZBG6tTpXy8UkhB5_46U_c',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

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