It should come as no surprise that we cook a lot in the Epi Test Kitchen (see:quick skillet enchiladas,decadent microwave cakes,cheesy strata).
But with all that cooking comes the hassle of dirty dishes and a messy kitchen to clean. In order to get it done right, and fast, we lean hard (literally—sometimes you really have to scrub those pans) on these cleaning tools and supplies. Hey, if they work in our test kitchen, they're definitely work in yours.
Although we use a ton ofabsorbent cloth towelsin the test kitchen, which can be washed and re-used, we also use paper towels for tasks like patting chickens dry before roasting and making our food look great for photographs.Bounty's Select-a-Sizeis a favorite for our Food Director Rhoda Boone, because the towels are absorbent and can be used in varying sizes (#wasteless).
When cookbook authorMindy Foxtemporarily joined our kitchen team last year, she brought knowledge, experience—and the best kitchen gloves I've ever worn. (And I try to wear gloves every time I wash dishes, because they allow me to wash with hotter water, and they, um, protect my nails.) Mindy's magicCasabellagloves quickly became an Epi favorite, because their non-stick surface helps grip onto wet dishes and the long sleeves can be cuffed up, catching drips and keeping the gloves dry.
You can't clean without soap, and in the Epi Test Kitchen we're stuck on one brand:Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. It's about the naturally-derived ingredients (including soap bark extract, touted as one of nature's best degreasers), sure. But it's really about the smell. Rhoda and I love the bright, lemony scent of thelemon verbena; Associate Food Editor Anna Stockwell goes for the earthierrosemaryscent.
We skip regular sponges, because they quickly fall apart. Instead, we go with theseJetz-Scrubz scrubber sponges. The sponge/scrub combo holds up well, but doesn't scratch surfaces such as chrome, copper, stainless steel, anodized surfaces, non-stick cookware, glass, crystal, and porcelain.
Rhoda is also a big fan ofScotch-Brite Dobie All-Purpose Pads, another heavy-duty, scratch-free scrubber-sponge. For more serious dirt thats require more scrubbing, Anna likes the nylon bristles of theseCasabella brushes, with different size handles depending on the cleaning need.
In the Epi Test Kitchen, we prefer natural cleaners, so I buy usMy Magic Granite Cleaning Sprayto clean the stainless steel and marble counter tops, as well as the stove-top. At home, Anna usesMethod's All Purpose Natural Cleaning Spray(in lavender, FYI). And for really dirty pots and pans? Anna reaches for her favorite cleaning product of all: baking soda.
