HOW TO TIDY UP YOUR KITCHEN. STORAGE IDEAS FOR THE KITCHEN.

Having a tidy kitchen can be so difficult sometimes especially if you love cooking. One of the hardest things is arranging all your kitchenware to finally get that comfortable and clean workspace you always dreamed. This is not easy, as kitchen is usually the fullest room in our homes. Furthermore, we use and move everything almost daily. If you are one of those who really spent a lot of time in the kitchen, having everything always in order is very important to cook better and faster. So, from now on, you will have to add a new ingredient to all your recipes: organization. Here we explain some of the most useful tips to save space and other practical solutions that will speed up your time in the kitchen.

Our best storage ideas for the kitchen

To have your kitchen organized, it all begins by thinking about what you have and where you want it to be placed. This way everything will be easier to find. Establish a hierarchy: always place what you use daily in the first row of the shelves and cupboards, and those things you only use occasionally behind. For example: don’t store those spices you bought for a single recipe in an accessible place. You know you won’t provably use them again.

It’s also important you take advantage of height so as not to stack things in excess. Use internal structures to create small auxiliary shelves. This means placing or even building -if you are a handyman of course- some vertical drawers, small shelves or organizers inside cupboards. This way you won’t have any problem to find and take what you need without messing up the rest.

If you have little time to cook there are several storage solutions that can help you. Pull-out storage is very practical to stop fighting to find what you are looking for. They are great to store pots and pans, as these pieces occupy most of the space of the kitchen. Cookware is usually rough, rigid and its large dimensions make it difficult to place. Large cabinets and extractable drawers are a great solution to get an overview of all your stuff.

But not everyone is so lucky to have a large kitchen with plenty of storage pantries. Some kitchens are small and narrow, and we must be imaginative to create more storage space. Castey removable handles not only help you saving space, but also feature many other advantages. For example, you can use a single handle for several cooking vessels, or even use your cookware as bakeware.

For this reason, Classic , Induction and Fundix by Castey collections include products with removable handles.

More ideas and tips to tidy up kitchen cabinets

Grouping together utensils into families or categories is a very good idea. For example, you can group all cutting boards with knives. You can even store and protect knives vertically with a knife’s storage, which will make very easy to have all your knives always at hand. Castey Universal Knives Storage is perfect to store knives of any kind or even other kitchen utensils, as its inner nylon fibers are removable.

Grouping pots by size is also a good option so as not to take up too much space. Artic is a Multifunctional Nestable Cooking Set that saves a lot of space. It can be used as Stock Pot, Deep Casserole, Colander, Steamer, Pasta Boiler and Double Boiler. In addition, when you finish using it you can store everything in a very small space.

Open storage solutions

Nowadays open storage has become a great solution. Especially if your kitchen has few cupboards and drawers. There are many options to get more storage, you just need to be a bit creative. You can use some free walls to place a couple of hooks, shelves or rails. This space will help you placing those utensils your use daily, such as frying pans, kitchen knives or spatulas. On the other hand, boxes and wooden baskets are top pieces to decorate any room. You can use them to store food such as vegetables, fruits or bread.

Stainless steel kitchen furniture is a beautiful trendy option you can use to create extra storage space or even a pantry. This stainless-steel industrial touch combined with wooden baskets work very well and will make your kitchen look as the ones in magazines. To create a total look, choose stainless steel cookware.

Cabinet organizers, the best partner in your kitchen

To keep all your cupboards and drawers always tidied, it’s often necessary to resort to organizers. These are used as classifiers. You can place them in drawers to tidy up your cutlery or plastic boxes, for example. And remember: bodies on one side and lids on the other. You can also place some organizers in cabinets to sort spices, condiments, or even frying pans, pots and their respective lids. There are many types of kitchen organizers: trays, supports, containers, grids, etc. The trick is choosing the right one according to your needs.

Get rid of everything unnecessary to finally have have an organized kitchen

There is a space in every kitchen that’s only used to accumulate things. Some of them were bought by mistake or you do not know how they got there. Don’t waste space. It’s time to get rid of them. If you want to get an organized kitchen you should avoid occupying storage space with useless things you will never use, piling things up only causes chaos and disorder. So, first step is taking everything out and decide what you want to stay with and what not. Then you will be ready to order your kitchen and put into practice all our advices.

What is the recipe for an organized kitchen?

To get the ideal kitchen -organized, attractive and clean- just follow these simple instructions: force yourself to apply all tips mentioned above, mix them with three tablespoons of your own creativity and imagination and finish it with a pinch of motivation. Only then and after few hours of work you will have that perfectly organized kitchen you ever dreamed.

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COCOTTE. A LIFETIME CAST IRON POT AND AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE.

Cocotte? What’s cocotte? Have you ever heard about it? Probably. In French cocotte means pot or saucepan. It’s an enamel coated cast iron pan extremely resistant to high and low temperatures. In addition, it’s compatible with all types of heat sources such as gas, electric and induction cookers. And you can also use it in the oven or place them in the fridge to preserve your meals. Cocotte pans are very versatile you can use to cook a large variety of recipes. Although at first buying a cocotte requires a quite high investment, it will last a lifetime if you take care of it. Moreover, it’s likely that even your children and grandchildren can inherit it.

Why is food cooked with cocotte pans so delicious? Main advantages of enamel cast iron cocotte pans.

Although we hardly know them, cocotte pans have been an indispensable tool in every kitchen in France, Belgium and Luxembourg since many years ago. They are considered as pieces of great value and are transmitted from generation to generation. They are the premium casseroles, the ones many people use to cook the most valued meals.

On one hand, iron is the material that better retains and transmits heat. That’s why cocotte pans are ideal to Slow Cooking. Food is slowly and homogeneously cooked in its own juices and acquires unique flavour. You also can keep meals warm until serving, place your cocotte pan in the fridge to serve cold dishes or even in the freezer to preserve food.

Secondly, this unique flavour comes from the properties of cocotte pans inner coating. Its special composition makes these casseroles perfect for all kind of cooking techniques: braising or stewing at low temperature, browning at high temperatures, caramelizing, roasting, searing and even baking. But what makes them unique is that the more you use them, the best flavours and results you get: cooking oil penetrates enamel coating pores creating a natural dark brown non-stick layer that improves cooking efficiency, prevents food to stick and reduces oil required.

The third element that contributes to achieve this unique flavour are semis-spheres inside the lid. They collect steam released while cooking to continuously and evenly drop condensed water back to food. Thanks to this self-humidification system, food is always kept hydrated, and meals are as tasty as those cooked by our lovely grandmothers.

These are the properties that make cocotte meals so tasty. Besides these, pots also have other features and advantages:

– They are suitable for induction and all kind of cooktops. They are also oven safe. But don’t even think about using them in the microwave.

– Cooking vessel is thick, solid and resistant. But be careful! You don’t want it to fall down your feed.

– Its inner enamel coating is durable, resistant and very difficult to scratch.

– Cocotte pans have quite good release properties. Anyway, don’t try to cook an omelette with it. It would stick for sure!

– They are very easy to use, care and clean, both by hand or in the dishwasher.

So, is it better to cook with cast iron cookware than with cast aluminium and stainless-steel cookware? As always, all options have some advantages and disadvantages. Go to our little master in cookware materials to learn more about this.

Which recipes can I cook with cocotte pans?

There are many recipes you can prepare with your cocotte, both sweet and salty. The most recommended ones are those that require a long cooking time because cocotte pans distribute heat fabulously. Therefore, food is evenly cooked, legumes don’t break, and stews are awesome. Moreover, sauces thicken very well when you them reduce slowly. Another advantage of cooking with cocotte pans is it’s not necessary to add too many liquids. Food is slowly cooked in its own juices and flavour keeps intensifying during all the cooking process. Of course, if you are always in a hurry, forget them. Cocottes are made for traditional slow cooking.

But don’t worry, its elegant and timeless design will not make your table look old-fashioned; on the contrary. Thanks to its classic design, you can serve any meal directly to the table and impress all your guests.

At Castey we have the perfect Cocotte Pans Collection to practice all recipes you’ve always wanted to cook.

How to use cocotte pans correctly?

It’s not too complicated, just follow these simple instructions.

– Always add a little bit of oil, butter or water before heating it. Don’t allow these casseroles to cook or boil dry.

– Don’t cook at high temperatures. Low to medium heat is enough to ensure even cooking. If you do so, food won’t get burned or undercooked. And you’ll save a lot of energy!

– To cook at high temperatures, heat up the product at low temperature during few minutes and raise it gradually to avoid thermal shock.

– And you should also let it cool before before placing it into the fridge or freezer.

– Although enamel coating is very resistant, you should better flee from spoons or metal spatulas. Bet on wood or silicone. This way you will be able to lengthen its properties and keep it as new for a long time.

– Try to keep the lid always tightly closed. This way the hemispheres inside can do their job well and moisten food continuously. It’s a good way to make your recipes healthier, since you won’t have to add extra oil during the whole cooking process.

– Oh, and always try to hold the piece properly. Protect your hands with mittens or silicone protectors.

Nowadays cocottes have become very popular. Though it’s true they fell into disuse for a while due to fast lifestyles and the desire for all the new, great restaurants and modern active and healthy lifestyles have brought them back into fashion. Sometimes the newest is not necessarily the better, especially when we talk about food and health. What are you waiting to be in?

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COCOTTE: UNA OLLA DE HIERRO FUNDIDO ESMALTADO PARA TODA LA VIDA Y UNA EXCELENTE INVERSIÓN DE FUTURO

¿Cocotte? ¿Qué es una cocotte? ¿Te suena haber oído sobre ella? Probablemente sí. El significado de cocotte en francés es olla o cacerola. Se trata de una cacerola de hierro fundido esmaltado que resiste altas temperaturas. Es compatible con todo tipo de fuentes de calor como cocinas de gas, eléctricas e inducción. Además, es apta para cocinar en el horno y también puedes ponerla en la nevera para conservar tus platos. Una coccotte es una cacerola muy versátil con la que podrás cocinar gran variedad de recetas. Y aunque en un primer momento comprarse una cocotte requiere una inversión un poco elevada, lo cierto es que si las cuidas un poquito te van a durar toda la vida. Es más, es probable que incluso tus hijos y nietos puedan heredarla.

¿Por qué los platos cocinados con Cocotte tienen un sabor tan especial? Principales ventajas de las ollas de hierro fundido esmaltado o cocottes

Aunque para nosotros es un poco desconocida, hace muchos años que la Cocotte es un utensilio indispensable en toda cocina de Francia, Bélgica y Luxemburgo. Se la considera una pieza de gran valor y se transmite de generación en generación. Es la cacerola premium, la que se utiliza para cocinar los platos más preciados. Y sus características hacen que la comida tenga un sabor único.

Por un lado, el hierro es el material que mejor retiene y transmite el calor. Por eso una Cocotte es ideal para la cocina Slow Cooking. Los alimentos se cocinan lenta y homogéneamente en su propio jugo y adquieren un sabor único. Y podrás mantenerlos calientes hasta el momento de servirlos. De hecho, también podrás ponerlas en la nevera e incluso en el congelador y usarlas para servir platos fríos o conservarlos durante un tiempo.

El sabor único de los platos cocinados con una cocotte proviene también de las propiedades de su esmalte interior. Su composición especial las hace perfectas para todo tipo de elaboraciones: cocer o guisar a fuego lento, dorar a fuego vivo, caramelizar alimentos, saltear, asar e incluso hornear. Pero lo que las hace únicas es que cuanto más las usas, mejores sabores consigues. El aceite que se usa al cocinar penetra en los poros del esmalte y va creando una capa natural antiadherente de color marrón oscuro. Esto mejora la eficiencia de la cocción, evita que los alimentos se peguen y disminuye la cantidad de aceite que se necesita.

El tercer elemento que contribuye a dar a los platos un sabor único son las semiesferas del interior de la tapa. Devuelven el líquido de la condensación a los alimentos de manera continuada y homogénea. Gracias a este sistema de auto-humidificación los alimentos se mantienen siempre hidratados, y los platos quedan tan ricos como los de nuestras queridas abuelas.

Éstas son las propiedades que hacen que los platos cocinados con Cocotte tengan un sabor único. Pero estas cacerolas tienen otras características y ventajas destacadas:

– Todas sirven para inducción y todo tipo de cocinas. Incluso son aptas para el horno. Pero no se te ocurra ponerlas en el microondas.

– El cuerpo de cocción tiene un gran grosor. Esto las hace completamente indeformables y muy resistentes. ¡Eso sí, ten cuidado no te caigan sobre un pie!

– Su esmalte interior tiene una gran durabilidad y resistencia, y es muy difícil de rallar.

– Sus propiedades antiadherentes son muy buenas. De todos modos, no intentes cocinar una tortilla de patatas en una cocotte. ¡Se te pegará seguro!

– Tienen un mantenimiento muy sencillo, son fáciles de usar y se limpian fácilmente, tanto a mano como en el lavavajillas.

Entonces, ¿es mejor cocinar con hierro fundido que hacerlo con utensilios de cocina de aluminio fundido o acero inoxidable? Pues como siempre, todas las opciones tienen sus ventajas y sus inconvenientes. Te lo contamos todo en nuestro pequeño master en materiales para utensilios de cocina.

¿Qué recetas cocinar en una Cocotte?

Existen multitud de recetas que puedes preparar con tu cocotte, tanto dulces como saladas. Las más indicadas son las que requieren un largo tiempo de cocción ya que la pieza reparte el calor de una manera fabulosa. Por esto la comida se cocina uniformemente. Las salsas espesan muy bien al dejarlas reducir lentamente, las legumbres no se rompen y los guisos quedan alucinantes. La ventaja de este tipo de cocción es que no es necesario añadir demasiados líquidos. Los alimentos se cuecen en su propio jugo lentamente y su sabor se intensifica. Eso sí, si eres una persona que siempre va con prisas, olvídate. Las cocottes son para la cocina slow cooking, es decir, la cocina de antes, la tradicional.

Pero no te preocupes, porque su diseño elegante y atemporal no hará que la mesa luzca anticuada, sino que, gracias a su estética clásica, podrás presentar cualquier plato directamente a la mesa y dejar impresionados a todos tus invitados.

En Castey tenemos unas Cocottes ideales para que puedas poner en práctica las recetas que siempre has querido hacer.

¿Cómo usar una Cocotte correctamente?

No hay que complicarse demasiado, solo sigue estas sencillas indicaciones:

-Añade siempre un poco de aceite, mantequilla o agua antes de ponerla a calentar. No la calientes nunca “en seco”.

-No cocines con el fuego muy alto. El fuego medio te resultará más que suficiente para que el calor se reparta de manera equitativa. Si lo haces así, la comida no se te quemará ni te quedará cruda por dentro. Y además ahorrarás un montón de energía.

-Si quieres cocinar con el fuego a tope, calienta lentamente la cacerola durante unos minutos y aumenta la temperatura progresivamente para evitar un choque térmico.

-Y también deberás dejarla enfriar antes de introducirla en la nevera o el congelador.

-Aunque su esmalte es muy resistente, mejor huye de cucharas o espátulas metálicas. Apuesta por la madera o la silicona. De esta manera conseguirás alargar sus propiedades y mantenerla como nueva.

-Intenta mantener la tapa siempre bien cerrada. De esta manera las semiesferas de su interior podrán hacer bien su trabajo y humedecer los alimentos continuamente. Es una buena manera de hacer que tus recetas sean más saludables, ya que no tendrás que añadir aceite de más durante la cocción.

-Ah, y procura coger siempre la pieza debidamente. Protégete las manos con manoplas o protectores de silicona, porque sus asas queman.

Y es que las cocottes vuelven pisando fuerte. Si bien es cierto que cayeron en desuso durante un tiempo por el afán de las nuevas tecnologías y la vida rápida, los grandes restaurantes y la vida activa y saludable las han vuelto a poner de moda. Así nos damos cuenta que a veces lo más nuevo no es siempre mejor, y más si se trata de alimentación y salud. ¿A qué esperas para apuntarte?

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