Month: March 2021

Making the Poor Man’s Lobster: How to Cook Monkfish to Taste Like Lobster

Posted on by John Bird

Craving lobster tails while waiting for payday? You can order some of the rather overpriced lobster at some fancy restaurant that you’ll regret the next time you look at your credit card bill.

Or you can get yourself some monkfish, prepare it at home and have it with some Rosé, all for a very affordable price point. And the best part? It’ll taste just like high-end lobster! 

Monkfish or poor man’s lobster is a great way to enjoy an inexpensive but seemingly fancy dinner. Besides, we’re always on the lookout for great inexpensive seafood recipes.

The fish has almost the same firm, yet soft texture as lobster and pairs well with butter sauces. If you haven’t made monkfish before, it can be a little scary when cooking it for the first time. This guide will show you how to cook monkfish to taste like lobster.

Whether you want to make your faux lobster in the oven, grill it like rockfish, or pan-fry them in a skillet, find out all the cooking tips and secrets right here!

What is Monkfish?

Monkfish
Monkfish

Monkfish are deep ocean bottom-dwellers, generally harvested in the North Atlantic from coastal Norway to the Mediterranean. Instead of swimming, they use their fins to kind of ‘walk’ along the ocean floor and look for prey. They are ravenous feeders and eat almost anything they find.

Each fish can be cut into two thick fillets on either side of the spine, usually weighing between one and four pounds. The tail is popular for its tenderness and mild flavor and is most readily available.

When filleted, the flesh is bright white and the texture and mouthfeel are pretty similar to that of a cooked lobster. This is why there are lots of monkfish recipes that taste like lobster.

Monkfish Taste:

As mentioned earlier, monkfish and lobster have a similar flavor profile and texture. Both fish are bottom feeders as well. Monkfish has a meaty texture, a mild and almost sweet flavor, and pairs well with butter and white wine-based sauces.

Monkfish is also popular because when cooked fresh, it doesn’t have that fishy or muddy taste associated with seafood. It is also the perfect vehicle for taking on sharp, tangy, or bold flavors like lemon, garlic, or capers.

Nutrients:

Monkfish is a lean protein like flounder and halibut. This fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals like phosphorus, selenium. 

It also contains vitamin B12, B6, and niacin. Furthermore, it is low in saturated fat, and a three-ounce serving will contribute to just one percent of the recommended daily intake.

Monkfish Storage:

Monkfish needs to be stored in the refrigerator and cooked and eaten within two days of purchasing. If you want to store it for longer, keep it in the freezer.

Tightly wrap the fillets in plastic wrap, then pack in a freezer bag, and force out the air. When stored this way, the monkfish should last up to six months. If you buy frozen monkfish and it has not been defrosted, it can be placed directly into the freezer for up to six months.

Cooked monkfish can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. For the best taste and freshness, consume the monkfish the day it is cooked.

Cooking Monkfish to Taste Like Lobster

Cooking Monkfish
Cooking Monkfish

With just a little effort, you can transform the humble monkfish and make it taste like fine-dining lobster. These recipes will make your monkfish fillets taste and feel just like lobster.

Baking Monkfish:

What You Need:

  • 1.5 pounds of fresh monkfish fillets
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 cup of melted butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 shallot or small red onion
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 5-6 sprigs of parsley
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
  2. Set the monkfish in a shallow baking dish, making sure they are spread out evenly. Drizzle half the butter over the fish and season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is firm and tender, basting with the seasoned butter from time to time.
  4. While the fish is baking, heat a small pan and add the remaining butter to it. Add in your finely diced onion, garlic, and sprigs of parsley and cook on low heat, infusing the butter with the aromatics.
  5. When the fish is done cooking, serve it with the wedges of lemon and pour the infused butter over the top. You can also chop up some fresh parsley for garnishing.

Pan-Seared Monkfish:

What You Need:

  • 2 large monkfish tail fillets
  • ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes with Italian herbs, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon white sugar
  • Lemon slices
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Mix sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, tomato oil, garlic, sugar, and two spoons of olive oil in a small bowl. Stir together to make sure everything is well combined.
  2. Cut each fillet into 3 to 4 pieces and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear monkfish for about 3 minutes or until the first side is golden brown.
  4. Flip and keep cooking until cooked through around 2-3 minutes. Decrease the heat to low, then remove fish to a plate, and cover with foil to keep warm.
  5. Add the sun-dried tomato mixture into the skillet and stir around the pan until just warmed and slightly thickened, for around 30 seconds.
  6. Pour over the fillets to serve and garnish with slices of lemon.

Grilled Monkfish:

What You Need:

  • 1 pound monkfish fillets
  • 2 scallions, chopped finely
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3.5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1 bird’s eye pepper, finely chopped
  • 6 grape or cherry tomato, diced
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Clean the monkfish fillets and pat them dry with kitchen towels. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Put them aside for now.
  2. Mix all the other ingredients well by whisking together to make a dressing.
  3. Then drizzle two-thirds of the dressing over the fish fillets, and allow to marinate for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Fire up your grill to 400-450F. Brush the grill with a little oil and place the fish fillets on it.
  5. Close the lid and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Flip over the fillets, and pour the remaining marinade on top. Place the lid back on.
  7.  Flip one more time if necessary. Depending on the thickness of the fillets, you will need to grill it for 6-10 minutes in total.
  8. Serve the fillets and pour the remaining dressing on top.

Have Any Questions?

Here you will find answers to questions people often have about cooking monkfish to taste like lobster.

01. Does Monkfish Taste Good?

Monkfish lacks the fishy taste that other seafood often has. The flesh is also mild and firm and takes on the flavors of sauces very well.

02. Is Monkfish Expensive?

Monkfish is a pretty affordable fish, which makes it more easily accessible for everyone.

03. Why Does Monkfish Taste Like Lobster?

Like lobster, monkfish is a bottom-feeder and lives on the ocean floor. This makes them closely related species. Also, they have a similar kind of flesh, in terms of texture and appearance. All these reasons make monkfish taste like lobster.

04. How Should Monkfish Be Cooked?

For the best results, monkfish should be baked or pan-fried. However, you can also deep fry them or grill them.

05. Is It Hard to Cook Monkfish?

Monkfish is pretty easy to cook, especially when filleted. It takes just a couple of minutes to bake, grill, or cook on the stovetop and it compliments most sauces and marinades.

In a Nutshell

Monkfish AKA poor man’s lobster is a healthy and delicious meal that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. The soft, flakey, and tender flesh is a perfect vehicle for buttery sauces and it pairs well with tangy dressings and fresh salads.

Knowing how to cook monkfish to taste like lobster will give you an easy weekday meal that will lift your spirits and help you celebrate any small victory. And with all that being said, do you think monkfish should be baked or seared?

How to Clean Electric Kettle: It’s Easier Than You Thought!

Posted on by John Bird

The electric kettle might just be my favorite kitchen appliance because of how useful it is when you’re in a hurry. It is the ultimate tool for quick and convenient meals; even more so than instant pots and rice cookers.

They are perfect for small, single servings and are great at making tea, a quick cup of coffee, instant oatmeal, soup, ramen, and even potatoes. The electric kettle is right up there with microwaves when it comes to easy, affordable, and quick meals.

There’s just one solitary issue.

Electric kettles need regular cleaning and maintenance so that they work properly. Cleaning any type of kettle requires more thought and care than anticipated so many people put it off until the mineral buildup gives them a disgusting cup of tea.

So today I’m going to dish out the secrets on how to clean electric kettles. Besides telling how often you need to be giving your kettle a deep cleaning, this article will show you how to clean tea kettles, as well tips on keeping your kettle cleaner in the long run.

What Makes Electric Kettles Dirty?

So what’s making your boiling hot water taste all gross? There are two main sources for the funky smell ruining your morning Earl Grey:

Mold:

If your kettle has a filter, you need to clean or change it frequently. Otherwise, the damp interior is the perfect place for mold to grow and thrive. 

This can also happen if you leave water in your kettle often. This is a pretty serious issue, as the mold can make you sick.

Mineral Buildup:

When you use your electric kettle, the minerals from the tap water (especially hard water) build up inside it. This buildup is called kettle fur and alters the taste of the water. Because of this, you need to descale your kettle every few months.

How often depends on the frequency with which you use your water boiling kettle. If you use your kettle as a hot pot water boiler, you may have to descale it every other month.

Things You Need to Clean Electric Tea Kettles

how to clean electric kettle
kettle cleaner

To get a clean stainless-steel kettle (or any kind of electric kettle for that matter), you’ll need a couple of things first. Before you start, gather these cleaning tools:

White vinegar or lemon juice or citric acid powder

  • Baking soda
  • Dishwashing liquid or mild detergent
  • Soft scrubber pad or bottle brush
  • Microfiber cloth or soft dish towel

How to Clean Electric Kettle

This guide will tell you how to deep clean electric kettles with affordable products and very little elbow grease. It will work for almost all conventional electric kettles, like KitchenSmith electric kettle, Farberware electric glass kettle, or Epica electric kettle.

Descale the Kettle with Vinegar, Lemon Juice or Citric Acid:

Fill around half the kettle with a 1:1 solution of water mixed with and an equal amount of distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. If you are using citric acid powder, use two tablespoons for half a kettle of water. Bring the solution to a full boil.

If the kettle doesn’t shut off automatically, turn it off. Let the acidic solution sit for at least 20-30 minutes. Then, empty the solution into your sink.

Unplug the Kettle:

After that, you need to unplug the kettle. If the kettle comes with a detachable filter, remove it from inside the kettle.

Clean or Replace the Filter:

If your model has a water filter or filter cartridge, clean the filter following the manufacturer’s directions (like the Hamilton Beach electric kettle manual).

Most filters are metallic and can be cleaned by soaking in distilled white vinegar diluted in hot water for at least five minutes. Scrub with the bottle brush, sponge, or scrubbing pad and rinse with fresh water.

If your filter is disposable, throw it out and keep a new one ready at hand.

Clean the Kettle Interior:

Use a non-abrasive scrubber, sponge, or soft-bristled bottle brush to scrub the inside of the kettle. This loosens any mineral build-up, dirt, and mold that remains inside.

Focus on the areas around the spout where mineral build-up tends to be quite heavy. Dipping the brush or sponge in pure vinegar, baking soda, or dishwashing liquid can help remove build-up around the spout.

Clean the Kettle Exterior:

Gently wipe the exterior of the kettle with a soft sponge or scrubber soaked in a mix of warm water and a little dishwashing liquid to remove any smudges or grease. You can even dip the sponge in some baking soda to loosen stubborn dirt.

After the exterior is clean, wipe the kettle dry with a clean dish towel microfiber cloth to remove streaks and smudges.

Final Rinsing:

After all, the dirt is removed and you are satisfied with how clean the inside of your electric hot water kettle, reassemble the parts. Fill around half the kettle with water and bring it to a boil.

Discard the water and repeat this rinsing step until the water doesn’t taste or smell like vinegar or dishwashing liquid. It will also remove any loose bits of mineral remaining in the kettle.

Cleaning an Electric Water Heater Kettle without Vinegar

Don’t have vinegar? You can still get a squeaky-clean kettle.

Use Lemon or Lime Juice:

Squeeze the juice from 2-3 lemons or limes. Mix the juice with an equal amount of water, enough to fill half your kettle.

Cut up the lemon slices and add to the solution. Bring the kettle to a boil and leave it standing for at least 30 minutes.

Use Coke or Soda:

Your favorite fizzy drink can descale your electric kettle too. The solution is acidic and can handle mineral deposits.

Fill three-quarters of your kettle with the drink and bring to a boil. Let it cool for 30 minutes before disposing of.

Use Citric Acid Powder:

Fill half the kettle with fresh water and boil it. Then add 2 tablespoons of citric acid powder to the boiling water and let the kettle stand for 20 minutes before emptying the mixture.

Use Baking Soda:

Fill half the kettle with water and 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let it soak for 20-30 minutes. Pour out the solution and boil some fresh water in the kettle.

Use a Kettle Cleaning Product:

There are lots of commercial kettle cleaners available. Follow the instructions mentioned on the packaging; you generally dilute the cleaner with water in the kettle and bring it to a boil.

Let it soak and then dispose of the solution. Then boil fresh water and discard until there are no lingering odors in the kettle.

Ways to Maintain Your Electric Kettle

By now you know all the methods on how to descale electric kettle and how to clean inside of tea kettle. Let’s move onto how you can keep it clean for longer.

  • Don’t leave water sitting in your kettle. Only boil the amount of water you need. Otherwise, pour the boiled water into bottles, jugs, or pitchers after the water has cooled.
  • Try to use distilled water instead of tap water, especially if your area has hard water.
  • Never submerge your electric kettle in water, or hold it under running water. This will damage the heating element.
  • Clean the outside of your kettle every few days to keep the exterior polished and shiny.
  • Descale your kettle every 3 months, if not more often.
  • Do not use harsh abrasives like steel wool or heavy-duty scrubbers as this can damage the kettle.
  • Do not plug in an empty kettle. Besides wrecking the heating element, it can also start a fire.
  • Do not use the kettle to boil things like milk, tea, or broth, as it can ruin the filter and make it harder to clean the kettle.

Got Some Questions?

 Below you’ll find answers to questions we get asked frequently about cleaning electric kettle.

01. How Do I Descale a Kettle?

You can descale a kettle boiling a solution of water and vinegar/lemon juice/citric acid/baking soda/commercial descaler. Once it has reached a boil, let the mixture do its job for 20 minutes before disposing of it.

02. How Do I Clean the Inside of a Glass Kettle?

The best way to clean a glass kettle is to boil a mixture of white vinegar and water in it. You can also use a very soft bottle brush and a mild dish detergent. Avoid using abrasive materials as this can leave scratches on the glass.

03. Does Boiling Water Kill Mold in the Kettle?

Boiling water for sufficient time will kill mold and its spores effectively. Adding things like vinegar makes the process more efficient.

04. Is Boiling Vinegar Safe for the Electric Kettle?

Boiling vinegar in the kettle won’t damage it as it is diluted in water. If you are worried about tasting vinegar in your instant oatmeal later, boil water in the cleaned kettle and discard it. Repeat this until the water loses the taste/smell of vinegar.

In Outline

Electric kettles, like many other kitchen appliances, need a bit of extra TLC to keep them working properly. It may seem annoying, but doing so will extend the lifespan of your kettle.

Since you now know how to clean electric kettles, you won’t dread the descaling process. Sure it’s annoying, but it will make your tea taste so much better!

How to Use a Milk Frother: It’s Super Simple!

Posted on by John Bird

Ever craved a rich latte or cappuccino while you were at home? Maybe it’s late and the coffee shops nearby are closed for the night. Or perhaps you want a thick and velvety cup of hot cocoa in the middle of the night.

You may have wondered how to recreate the taste and texture of the milk in café-style drinks. The answer lies in the milk. The frothy texture comes from incorporating air into the milk, giving it tiny bubbles, which makes it very smooth and creates the characteristic foam.

The good news is that you can get this kind of texture at home, without having to run to a coffee shop every single time. You don’t even have to use the steaming wand from a pricey espresso machine; a good milk frother will give you the very same results.

In this article, we’re going to look at how to use a milk frother. Whether you own a manual frother or an automatic one, you’ll be able to wield one like an experienced barista!

What is a Frother?

latte milk frother
latte milk frother

If you’ve watched people make lattes at home, you might have noticed them use a milk frother. A frother is an appliance or tool that adds texture and richness to milk. 

A frother works by forcefully spinning the milk with a coiled whisk, whipping air into it. Some automatic frothers work by pushing steam through the milk, creating microbubbles that give it a creamy texture.

These tools can be used for steamed milk for latte drinks. The whipping thickens up the milk, making it rich and creamy. Also, they create the signature foam that we love in cappuccinos, giving the drink lots of texture.

You can use a hand frother or steaming wand with non-dairy milk as well. However, the amount of froth created depends on the fat content of the milk. As a result, you will get the best results with full-fat milk.

Different Kinds of Milk Frothers

Like most appliances, you won’t find just one kind of milk frother. There are three main types of milk frothers:

  • Manual
  • Handheld electric
  • Automatic

Manual Milk Frothers:

This kind of frother comes with a frothing pitcher, a plunger or pump, and a sealed lid. You have to fill the pitcher with milk, insert the plunger and cover it with the lid. Use the plunger to pump the milk by hand, which agitates the milk and incorporates air into it. 

Manual frothers are much cheaper and pretty versatile. This can take longer (up to a couple of minutes) and is a little more labor-intensive (consider it an arm workout!)

Handheld Electric Frothers:

These are the most common kind of frothers and are easily available everywhere. It is commonly used as a latte milk frother for use at home. It is basically a thin, battery whisk that whips the milk to create bubbles and foam. 

An electric or battery-operated frother has a handle and thin coil, making it very easy to use. You just need to hold it in place for a minute or two and your milk will be frothed in no time.

Automatic Milk Frothers:

These come in two categories. One is the steam wand that we see in espresso machines. The other is known as an auto frother. Auto frothers often come as self-contained units, where you pour the milk into the machine, plug it in, and the frothy milk is dispensed into your cup.

With a steam wand, you have to hold your pitcher of milk to the wand, which then infuses it with steam, creating the velvety mouthfeel and foam.

Using Manual and Battery-Operated Milk Frothers

In this section, we are going to look at how you can froth milk at home using either a manual frother or an electric handheld one.

Using a Manual Frother:

A manual frother is a good way to froth cold milk. Although it takes longer, it makes for some creamy and fragrant frothed milk that is great for coffee and hot chocolate.

What You Need:

  • Milk (either cold or hot)
  • Cup
  • Frother with pitcher, plunger, and lid
  • Spoon

Instructions:

  1. Add the amount of required milk to the pitcher. If you are making a hot drink, heat up your milk in advance.
  2. Assemble the frother with its plunger and lid.
  3. Vigorously pump the plunger up and down in the milk. Try plunging for 10 seconds at first, and you should feel the pressure between the plunger and the bottom of the pitcher increase. This means you are on the right track, so continue agitating the milk.
  4. You will need to repeat this plunging motion 60-90 times to sufficiently froth your milk. Also, the more pressure you apply, the more foam you will create.
  5. After frothing, gently swirl the milk in the pitcher. You can also gently tap the bottom of the pitcher to separate the milk from the foam.
  6. Gently pour the frothed milk into your cup, holding pack the foam with a spoon. You can top your drink with the foam after adding the melted chocolate or brewed coffee to the milk.

Using a Battery-Operated Frother:

Using a handheld electric frother seems easy, as you just have to place the frothing coil into the milk, turn on the appliance, and hold it in there. This is a common frother for coffee beverages at home.

What You Need:

  • Milk (preferably warmed)
  • Electric frother
  • Large pitcher or carafe

Instructions:

  1. Pour the milk into a large pitcher or glass.
  2. Place your frothing wand into the milk vertically with the head completely submerged in the milk.
  3. Once you are sure the frother head is fully inserted into the milk, turn it on.
  4. Swirl the wand in the pitcher gently in a circular motion for 30 seconds.
  5. Then, move the wand in up and down motions slowly for another 30 seconds. At this point, you should be able to see the milk get foamier.
  6. Hold the pitcher at a slight angle while frothing for the last 10 seconds.
  7. Once the milk is done frothing, turn off the frother and heat the milk again if needed.

This kind of foam is much finer and more delicate, so handle the milk with care.

How to Use an Automatic Milk Frother

An espresso machine with a milk frother is the most common kind of automatic milk frother. If you aren’t sure how to use the steam wand attachment to froth milk, follow this guide step-by-step.

What You Need:

  • Milk
  • Pitcher

Instructions:

  1. Gather your ingredients and set up the wand attachment and assemble the espresso machine.
  2. Pour the milk into a metallic pitcher.
  3. Hold the pitcher under the steam wand.
  4. Place the steam wand into the milk, just below the surface. Use the dial to get a steady stream of steam into the milk.
  5. Keep the pitcher at a slight angle. The end of the steam wand should be near a side of the pitcher and make a vortex in the milk.
  6. Move the pitcher up and down, and swirl the milk around the wand. This incorporates more air and breaks up larger bubbles, creating microfoam.
  7. Once the volume of the milk has increased (around double in size) turn off the dial and remove the wand from the pitcher.
  8. The frothed milk should look and feel smooth and rich, a lot like melted ice cream.
  9. Gently swirl the milk in the pitcher, and then pour into your cup.

Milk Frothing Tips

If you want perfectly frothy milk, follow these tips. They’ve been approved by baristas and coffee aficionados!

  • To break up larger bubbles, gently tap the pitcher against the table or countertop, then swirl the milk around the pitcher a few times.
  • Clean your frothing appliance after every use to prevent the growth of bacteria.
  • Do not leave the frothed milk out for long-use it quickly. This is because the texture breaks down and you will lose the foam.
  • When using a steam wand, start with cold milk.
  • Make sure your vessel or pitcher is no more than half-filled with milk, as frothing increases the volume.
  • When using non-dairy milk, soy is your best bet as it froths easily and creates perfectly smooth microbubbles.
  • You can use a French Press as a manual milk frother, and it gives amazing results.

More Questions?

If you’re still confused by the idea of using these kinds of frothers, you will find answers to some of the most immediate concerns regarding frothing milk.

01. Why Do People Use Milk Frothers?

Milk frothers are used to create texture in milk. The microbubbles give the milk a creamy and velvety mouthfeel which makes coffee and chocolate-based drinks richer and more pleasant.

Frothing also improves the taste and smell of the milk, and the foam produced makes attractive latte art.

02. Is a Milk Frother Worth Buying?

If you enjoy coffee-based drinks and want to make them at home, getting a milk frother will allow you to make them whenever you want. If you have a café set up in your kitchen, a cheap electric frother is a good backup plan in case your espresso machine stops working.

03. Which Milk is Best for Frothing?

Whole milk makes the silkiest frothed milk with a creamy texture and lots of thick foam. If you prefer a plant-based alternative, using soy or almond milk will give you similar results.

04. Can I Froth Coffee Creamer?

Depending on the fat and protein content, it is possible to froth certain liquid coffee creamers. You can even try frothing vegan creamers! You may need to experiment with different kinds of creamers to get the results you want.

05. How to Make a Latte at Home Without a Frother or Steam Wand?

You can make frothed milk without any kind of frothing tool. All you need is a secure mason jar. Fill a third of the jar with milk, and screw the lid tightly.

Shake the milk in the jar vigorously, until the milk doubles in volume. Heat the milk in the microwave, pour it into a mug or cup and add freshly brewed coffee to make a latte.

Wrapping Up

By now, you probably know how to use a milk frother. As you can see, each method is easy to use, and the milk will foam up at no time at all.

You can enjoy velvety milk in your cappuccinos, chai lattes, and even in hot chocolate, all made at home in your kitchen. You can cut down on your coffee consumption outside, saving you valuable time and money.

Who knows you might end up making better coffee than your local coffee shop!

How to Use a Smoker Box: Smoke Food without a Smoker!

Posted on by John Bird

Do you love smoked meat? If you have an abundance of fresh meat, smoking them is a good method for storing and preserving it. Many people shy away from smoking because they do not own a complete smoker.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t smoke things at home. If you have a gas grill and a little ingenuity, you can smoke herbs, meat, veggies, spices, and even cheese! Many people own a smoker box for gas grills, but few know how to use it properly.

This article aims to change that. If you own a gas grill smoker box, you can smoke anything without much trouble. We’ll show you how easy it is to use them, and give you all the tips you need to smoke meat like a professional. If that sounds like an interesting deal, keep on reading!

What is a Smoker Box?

bbq smoker box
bbq smoker

A smoker box is a small metal container that can be used on grills to infuse a smoky flavor into grilled or food cooked on indirect heat. Just fill it with pellets or soaked wood chips then place it under your grill grates. 

Smoker boxes are an inexpensive add-on to your grill, allowing you to easily smoke food without investing in a separate smoker.

Getting a cast-iron smoker box for gas grill will ensure that you can smoke meat for years to come. However, a Weber stainless steel smoker box can also get the job done. If you are out of options, you can even make a homemade smoker box for gas grills.

When grilling over charcoal briquettes, the smoker box is positioned right on the briquettes. Similarly, when used on gas or electric grills, the smoker box is placed directly on the heat source, under the grate on the grill.

Simply put, smoker boxes are used for providing a smoky flavor to grilled foods as they cook. They hold the soaked wood chips that are to be placed over a charcoal or gas fire for this flavor. Besides water, liquids like beer, soda, or juice can be used to infuse the wood chips with unique flavors.

Smoker boxes generally range in size from 8-12 inches long and 4-6 inches wide. If you don’t smoke large quantities frequently, we suggest getting a small smoker box. This is also a good option if you want to experiment with using a smoker box.

What are the Different Kinds of Smoker Boxes?

Before we get into using a smoker box, let’s have a quick peek at the kinds of smoker boxes out there. Whether you have a stainless-steel smoking box, a Weber grill smoking box, or a cast-iron one, knowing the sort of tool you have will help with your smoker setup.

Smoker Box Under-Grate:

This kind of smoker can be made from disposable aluminum foil or from stainless steel or cast iron that can be reused. They are meant for directly mounting between the flame diffusers under the gas grill grate.

Smoker boxes under-grate available nowadays come in a range of shapes and sizes: they may be flat, round, V-shaped, or tube-shaped. Because the smoker box is right under the grate, the result is a richer flavor and more intense smokiness.

Smoker Box Over-Grate:

Smoker boxes over-grate are typically rectangular; others may have flatter designs. This kind of box is mainly made from stainless steel like smoker boxes under-grate. They may also be found in the form of pouches, grids, and trays.

Disposable Smoker Box:

A disposable smoker box can only be used once because it is made of aluminum foil. You can make these yourself at home in the easiest way ever- make foil pans and aluminum foil lids and poke holes in them. 

You can also just use aluminum foil to create a box-like container and cover it with a foil lid if you don’t have foil pans at home.

Make sure that the holes in the lid are roughly the same shape and size so that the smoke is dispersed evenly. You can also use wood chips in these boxes so the smoke can pass directly through the burners.

Free-Standing Smoker Box:

The free-standing smoker box is very versatile and can be used on charcoal in a coal oven, burned directly on a furnace, or even used on a griddle. 

They are often made from stainless steel and sometimes cast iron. This kind of box can be much larger in size and uses up more pellets or wood chips per smoking session.

Most traditional rectangular smoker boxes can be pretty forgiving and you can use them both on the burner of the grill and under an actual grill. 

However, some models are specially designed for use under the grill. As a result, you can use some smoker boxes in different grill settings, which is super convenient.

How to Use a Smoker Box

how to use a smoker box
smoker box for gas grill

With the introductions out of the way let’s look at how to use a gas or propane grill with a smoker box. Whether you have a Weber Genesis smoker or a Napoleon smoker box, or anything else in between, this guide will work for you.

How to Use Smoker Boxes on a Gas Grill:

  1. Preheat your gas grill.
  2. Set up a smoker box or make a disposable one from aluminum foil.
  3. Then load your smoker box with soaked wood chips. We’ll talk about the best kinds of pellets to smoke wood chips on gas grills later.
  4. Set the smoker box over the burner you will leave on during indirect cooking. You can place it over or under the cooking grates.
  5. After the box starts smoking, set up the grill for indirect cooking by turning off all extra burners.
  6. Adjust the remaining lit burners until the internal temperature reaches anywhere from 220F-250F.
  7. Add the food to the grill and smoke the meat until it registers an internal temperature of 160F.

You might need to keep adding extra wood chips to the smoker box, whenever they stop producing smoke.

How to Use a BBQ Smoker Box:

You don’t have to be an expert at barbecuing to know how to use a smoker box for BBQs.

  1. Put your dry wood chips or pellets in the smoker box.
  2. Shut the lid properly. Don’t overload the box with wood chips, as this can prevent you from closing the lid properly.
  3. Set the smoker box above the grill, inside the smoking compartment. When using charcoal as fuel, place the smoker box right above the charcoal, under the open grill grate.
  4. Preheat your grill by turning it to a high temperature until the wood starts smoking; this takes around 10-15 minutes.
  5. Then, reduce the temperature to medium heat.
  6. Put in the meat you want to smoke above the grill in the smoking compartment, next to your smoker box.
  7. After the food has been sufficiently smoked and reaches 160F, kill the heat and open the smoking compartment.
  8. Put out the smoldering wood chips inside the smoker box.
  9. Remove the food and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.

Setting Up Your Smoker Box

​Place the wood chips in your smoker box. When using wood chips on gas grills, people soak their wood chips first to prevent them from catching fire.

If your smoker box doesn’t have holes on the bottom, the wood pellets won’t generally catch on fire, so you can use dry wood chips. Using dry chips can produce smoke much faster.

​Set the smoker box as close to the heat source as possible. When using a gas grill, this means placing it on top of the burners. If using charcoal, place it right on top of the charcoal.

We suggest turning your burners on the highest setting at first to get the smoker box hot enough to start producing smoke. It can take up to 10 minutes for the box depending on your grill.

​After the smoker box starts producing smoke, you can decrease your burners back to regular cooking temperatures. It will stay hot enough at that point to keep producing smoke for the rest of the cooking process.

Best Wood Chips for Your Smoker Box

Confused about the right wood chips on the gas grill? Here’s everything you need to know!

Almond: This wood adds a sweet hint to your meat, and works well for poultry, pork, and fish. It also creates less ash!

Apple:  It is pretty mild and has a subtle fruity flavor, and is slightly sweet. It is great with poultry and pork.

Cherry: Cherry wood adds a fruity sweet-and-tart flavor. It works well no matter what you are smoking and is considered the best wood for smoking.

Hickory: This is the ideal wood for a heavy smoky flavor. It is a great choice when smoking red meat, bacon, and ham.

Orange/Lemon/Grapefruit: The citrus notes work well with fish and white meat.

Oak: It is best for heavy-duty smoking like ribs, pork, and heavy game. It has a particularly intense smoke flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to questions we get asked the most about smoker boxes.

01. What are the Steps on How to Use a Smoker Box on a Charcoal Grill?

Place your smoker box with wood pellets/chips above the charcoal, then light the charcoal on high until the wood starts smoking. Then, lower the heat to medium, add the food, and smoke until it reaches 160F.

02. What is a Smoker Attachment for Grill?

Some gas grills come with a smoker box as an accessory or attachment. This is convenient as you know that the smoker box is perfectly compatible with your grill.

03. What is the Best Method for Using a Gas Grill as a Smoker?

Place the smoker directly over the burner that will be lit throughout the smoking process. Put the cooking grates in place.

Turn on the grill, and set all the burners to high, and close the lid. When smoke appears, set your food on the grates, lower the temperature of the grill, or turn off the extra burners as needed.

04. What is the Best Wood for Smoking Meat?

A combination of pecan, oak, or hickory with cherry or applewood will give you the best results when smoking meat. The best wood to use also depends on the kind of meat you are smoking.

Final Say

Smoking meat at home can take your culinary exploits to the next level. Whether you have a dedicated smoker, a smoker box attachment, or even a DIY box made from foil, you can make beautifully smoked meat with complex flavor right at home. Now that you know how to use a smoker box, you can experiment with various meats, wood chips, and smoking methods. To learn more about smoking meat on gas grills, check this out.

How to Put Out Charcoal Grill: Wrap It Up with No Fuss!

Posted on by John Bird

Grilling with charcoal is always an amazing experience, and this kind of grilling infuses the food with an intense smoky taste. Using charcoal grill and accessories requires a bit of finesse and grilling itself is a culinary art.

Most beginners get the hang of lighting a charcoal fire pretty easily. The process of grilling meat isn’t overly complicated either. But what about putting out a charcoal grill? Many guides gloss over this part of grilling, so grill amateurs aren’t sure how to put out charcoal grills.

However, knowing how to handle a grill after you are done using it is extremely important. You should extinguish your embers/charcoal as soon as possible as this saves fuel and also prevents accidents from flare-ups.

Also, if you have small children or pets, it is important to put out your grill right away. If you fumble around with your grill once the BBQ is winding down, you can be risking a fire hazard.

This article will change that. If you just got a BBQ charcoal grill, and you aren’t sure how to deal with the aftermath, keep reading. We cover everything; from putting out your charcoal grill to cleaning up the ash and debris.

How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill

how to put out charcoal grill
bbq charcoal grill

The easiest way to turn off your grill is to close all the vents, cutting off the oxygen supply to the burning coals. This method is a little slower, and it can take up to 2 days to let the coals cool down completely.

Putting out the grill with water is a little risky, but much faster. To completely put out charcoal, you need a bit of expertise in handling them. We’ll walk you through extinguishing barbecue grill charcoal.

What You Need:

Putting Out the Grill:

  1. Start by putting on heat proof oven mitts or BBQ gloves and make sure that they are heat resistant so that the heat from the grill won’t burn you.
  2. Take the rack off your grill and carefully close the lid. If your grill has vents then make sure that they are closed all the way to cut off the oxygen supply.
  3. Charcoal for the grill can always take a very long time to cool down, and it can be difficult to tell whether they’re still burning or not.

    Because of this, it is best to leave the coals to cool down for around 48 hours, just to make sure that they are completely cool.

Ash Disposal:

After this time has passed, and the contents of the grill have cooled down, you can start cleaning up the ash and remnants of the burnt charcoal.

  1. Use something like an ash removal bucket to safely scoop up the ashes. Pour them onto a large sheet of aluminum foil before disposing of them, as this prevents the ash from spilling and making a mess.
  2. Carefully fold up the foil, sealing the ashes inside securely. Dispose of the foil and ashes in a large metal basket or trash can. Avoid using plastic, as any remaining embers can burn it.
  3. When handling the ash and aluminum, wear gloves and use tongs. Even though the ash is mostly cold, it is safer to make sure any sparks or glowing embers won’t burn you.
  4. However, you don’t always have to wait for the charcoal briquettes to cool down completely. You can still remove them with the ash while they are still warm using a pair of sturdy tongs.

    However, in doing so, you need to use separate metal trash cans or containers; one for the ash and one for the charcoal.
  5. If the coals are still very hot, this means that they will keep burning in the metallic container and create more ashes. To extinguish them completely, use tongs to dip the burning coal into a large container or bucket of water.
  6. Do not spray or pour water onto the hot grill or charcoals. This can create flare-ups, and you can be injured by the jets of steam. The steam can also scatter the hot ash which can result in serious burns.
  7. Furthermore, coals burn at very high temperatures, and spritzing them with water can result in a cracked grill.
  8. Always wait until the ash and coals have completely cooled down, even if it takes two whole days, to stay on the safe side.

Cleaning the Grill:

  1. Use a metal grill spatula or a trowel to brush off the remaining ash from the grill.
  2. Then, thoroughly clean out the chamber containing ash. Pay particular attention to the vents, as stray bits of ash can end up there, blocking the vents when you next use your grill.
  3. Use a wire brush and grill cleaner to thoroughly clean the grates and lower section of the grill. You can also clean the grates using just soap and water.
  4. After the grates are clean and dry, spray some silicone to lubricate them. The spray acts as an anti-rusting agent and improves the lifespan of your grill grates in the long run.

After they have completely cooled down, use a pair of tongs to place the cold charcoal briquettes back in the bottom half of your grill so that you can use them the next time you fire up your grill.

Tips for Shutting Down Your Grill

After cooking on a charcoal grill, you need to put out the embers right away. These tips will help you extinguish your grill safely and quickly.

  • Don’t ever put hot charcoal in plastic bins or garbage bags, as this can burn up and even start a fire if there is an ember.
  • Don’t move the grates around before they have completely cooled down.
  • Locate the vents on top and bottom of the grill and close them. This will gradually put out the burning coals.
  • Always keep a bucket of water nearby to douse any hot smoldering charcoal briquettes. Keeping a fire extinguisher in the immediate vicinity is also a good idea.
  • Even if you think the charcoal grill is not hot enough to cause burns, use gloves and tongs anyways. Even after 48 hours, some ash or remaining charcoal can still be very hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find answers to questions we get asked the most about putting out charcoal grills.

01. What Do I Do with Charcoal after Grilling?

After you are done with putting out the grill and cleaning the ash, you can reuse partially burnt coals the next time. After putting them out with water and allowing them to cool, let them dry completely before putting them back in the grill.

02. How Should I Put Out a Grill Fire?

To put out a grill fire, close all the vents to cut off the fire’s oxygen supply. This will slowly choke out the fire and eventually put it out.

03. Can You Reuse Charcoal?

After the charcoal is used or partially burned, it can be lit again after it has cooled and dried.

04. How Long Does Charcoal Burn for?

Lump charcoal generally burns for 4-6 hours, while briquettes will give you a good 8-10 hours. However, every BBQ grill is different and these burn times are dependent on the grill, and the airflow of the vents. If the vents are completely open, they will burn more intensely.

05. At What Temperature Does Charcoal Burn?

Charcoal burns at extremely hot temperatures. Charcoal burns at temperatures over 1,100 degrees Celsius (2,010 degrees Fahrenheit). This makes it even more vital to be careful around burning charcoal.

06. How Do I Get Rid of Charcoal Ash?

Let the ashes fully cool down or pour plenty of water onto them and stir thoroughly to speed up the process. Once the ashes have cooled completely, use a trowel to remove them from the grill.

Wrap them in aluminum foil or put them in a small metal container, like a coffee can. Then dispose of the ashes in an outdoor or metal garbage bin.

Conclusion

The best way to enjoy a BBQ is to use the grill properly and safely. Once you know how to put out a charcoal grill, you will be able to put a wrap on your cookout safely and quickly.

The key to handling a hot grill is patience; just shut off the vents and let science do the rest! Give the grill, charcoal, and ash time to cool off so you can handle them more safely.

What do you think? Are you going to follow this method after your next BBQ?

How to Defrost a Mini Fridge the Easiest Way!

Posted on by Arya

There used to be a time when mini-fridges were associated with dorms and small apartments only. But now, almost everybody has a mini-fridge somewhere in their house. 

Some like to put a fridge in the gaming room while others enjoy a small fridge in the master bedroom. Who says you can’t be luxurious on a budget?

While we all love the functionality and compact features of a mini-fridge, we don’t regularly clean or take care of it. A big part of it is because defrosting a deep freezer seems like too much work to do. 

In this article, you will find how to easily defrost a mini-fridge and some other helpful tips to make the process super simple. 

But first, let’s talk about the different types of freezers out there. Not all of them use the same cleaning process!

You may also like: How to Reset Ice Maker on LG Refrigerator

What is a Frost-free Freezer?

We have all heard this term many times in our lives. There are usually two types of freezers in the market: frost-free and manual defrost. But what do they actually mean?

A frost-free freezer is a type of freezer with a built-in technology that prevents any buildups of ice particles. We all know about manual defrost refrigerators. We grew up with them. They always have a thick layer of ice inside which needs to be cleaned and removed once every few months.

Frost-free freezers don’t have that. As they have little to no first, cleaning and maintenance are very simple. 

Most people prefer frost-free options nowadays. There are also auto defrosting freezers that come with a hose to remove excess water.

Best Way to Defrost a Freezer

how to defrost a mini fridge
mini fridge ice build up

If you have a manual defrosting freezer, removing the thick layer of ice every few months is very important. Otherwise, you love a lot of storage space, and the overall performance of your freezer decreases. When everything in the freezer covered in frost, you know it’s time to clean. 

As high-maintenance as it might seem, defrosting refrigerators is really very easy to do. Btw, this is the same way you defrost a fridge freezer combo.

Before You Defrost:

Here’s what you should do to remove mini fridge ice build up without too many complications:

  1. Try to eat all the food throughout the week to empty the freezer as much as possible. If you have a big freezer, reorganizing everything after cleaning can feel like a lot of work. So eating all the food you won’t be needing a few weeks later is a smart idea to solve this problem.
  2. If you can, find a cooler to temporarily store raw meat/fish until the cleaning is done. Cleaning a freezer takes a few hours including the defrosting time. If you leave the raw food on the countertop, they can rot. So find a cooker and put the food there.

What You Need:

  • Hot water
  • Spatula
  • Old rug/towels
  • Dishcloths
  • Bakings sheet

Here’s what we found to be the best way to defrost an upright freezer:

01. Turn off the Freezer:

The first thing you should do is turn off the freezer. Some fridges have an only on/off button for both the freezer and the refrigerator. 

For those, you will have to unplug the whole thing. If you do not have a time limitation, just letting the freezer sit like this for a few hours will be enough to defrost it. 

02. Place the Towels:

Before you start defrosting, lay down some old towels and fabrics at the bottom layer of your freezer. We would advise placing some cotton fabrics in front of your refrigerator too, in case there is a spillage. 

When you defrost it, there will be a lot of water. So if you do not follow this step, the whole kitchen will end up messy and wet. 

You can also put baking trays to catch the extra water. 

03. Remove the Shelves:

If you are trying to remove the frost faster, remove the shelves and all the removable arts inside the freezer. It’s important to leave the door open to let fresh and warm air travel inside. 

You can remove the drawers too. This is a good time to soak them in soapy warm water to thoroughly wash them later. While you are waiting for the freezer to defrost, you can go ahead and clean them. 

Some shelves might get stuck due to the overgrown frost. Just let it sit like that for 10 minutes and you will be able to remove it. 

04. Use Your Scraper:

defrost a freezer quickly
defrost a freezer quickly

After you have removed all the parts inside the freezer, use a plastic spatula to scrape off the thin layer of frost. You won’t be able to remove all ice this way but scraping off the frost layer by layer helps to melt the ice faster. 

You can also use a proper ice scraper, designed to be very safe for the freezer. Make sure to not use anything too sharp as it can damage the lining. 

05. Bring Out Hot Water:

If you want a faster-defrosting result, boil about a liter of water until it is super hot. Then pour it into a large bowl and place the bow inside the freezer. Let it sit for a while and you will notice the ice has started to melt. 

This is a very easy and convenient way to defrost. You can change the water continuously as it starts to cool down. 

06. Use Hairdryers:

defrost a deep freezer
defrost a deep freezer

If this is not fast enough, use a hairdryer or a blow dryer to melt the ice using hot air. Make sure to keep the hairdryer six inches away from the lining of the freezer. Otherwise, it can damage the surface. 

This process can work wonderfully if you are being very careful. If you are someone who is clumsy with gadgets, we don’t recommend using them. But if you can use it, the process speeds up rapidly and you won’t have to spend 30-40 minutes on defrosting. 

07. Keep on Scrapin: 

After using hot water and a blow dryer, you will notice the ice has started to melt by itself. You don’t have to work too much at this point. Apply a gentle pressure sign to your scraper and you will see chunks of ice falling down the walls. 

If you want to know how to remove ice from freezer without defrosting, the process is fairly simple. Just wipe the fridge with hot cloth to meth the thin layers of frost. This is a good trick if there isn’t too much ice or if you don’t have time for deep cleaning.

And that’s about it. Defrosting a mini freezer or any freezer is that easy! Now let’s talk about how to clean it. 

How to Clean a Mini Fridge

Clean a Mini Fridge
Clean a Mini Fridge

After you are done defrosting, it’s time to properly clean the freezer and the fridge. As this kitchen appliance is used every single day, it needs frequent cleaning. Otherwise, the performance decreases a lot. Here’s how to clean a minifridge very easily:

What You Need:

  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Baking soda
  • Washcloth
  • Towels 

Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to clean a mini-fridge:

01. Empty the Fridge:

Remove all the food and containers from the fridge including sauce bottles and milk. This is a good time to check which food items have perished or expired. Throw them away and only keep the fresh ones.

02. Remove All Drawers:

Remove all the drawers and shelves from the fridge. As we have mentioned earlier, soak them in warm water with soap to weaken the grease and grimes. 

Use a sponge or washcloth to gently wipe away the inside of the fridge. Use soap if there are any tough grimes stuck to the surface.  

03. Use Dishwashing Liquid:

Use a sponge and dishwashing soap to clean all the compartments thoroughly. Wash them in the sink in cold water. 

04. Use Baking Soda:

If your fridge has a bad odor, pour some baking soda on a dish and let it sit inside for a couple of hours. Keep the door open during this time. The baking soda will soak all the impurities from the air. 

If this method does not work, keep the door open for a few hours while the fridge is unplugged. Make sure the room is well ventilated.  

05. Clean the Exterior:

After you are done, use a wet fabric to wipe the outer body of the fridge too. It is ideal to clean the exterior of the fridge once a week. As we touch the handles very frequently, bacteria and germs tend to stick to those places a lot. So make sure to clean.

06. Let It Dry:

Let all the parts and compartments dry thoroughly before putting them back into the fridge. 

And that’s it. Cleaning a mini-fridge is that easy to do! So do it more!

Helpful Tips to Maintain a Mini Fridge

manual defrost refrigerator
manual defrost refrigerator

Using a mini-fridge is not all the same as using a regular refrigerator. Taking care of it is necessary if you want it to work efficiently. We have found these key things to be very useful in the maintenance of a mini-fridge:

  • Do not keep your fridge where sunlight directly heats it. It is not ideal to keep the fridge straight in front of any heater or furnace either. Make sure it is in a dry and cool place.
  • Do not overstock or overcrowd the mini-fridge with too much stuff. Keep the food at a certain distance from each other so the cold air can travel everywhere easily. 
  • Do regular cleaning once a month to prevent any molds from growing inside. 
  • Use baking soda to clean the mini-fridge as it removes unwanted odors. 
  • Do not put any food openly inside the fridge. Instead, keep them all inside Tupperware and boxes to prevent any funky smell from occurring. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

01. How Long Does It Take to Defrost a Refrigerator?

If you are planning to do it manually and letting the ice melt by itself, defrosting can take 2-3 hours. It takes longer during wintertime. 

But if you use hot water or a blow dryer, the whole process becomes much faster. It will only take an hour to defrost using our process.

02. How Long Does It Take a Mini Fridge to Get Cold?

Time might vary depending on the model and brand you have. But usually, it takes four hours to have a decent amount of coolness. There are some advanced fridges that take only to hours to cool down but usually, you will have to wait much longer,

The standard freezer takes 24 hours to reach the maximum cooling capacity. So if you have a brand new mini fridge or you have just cleaned the whole thing thoroughly, let it sit for a day and then reload it with food. 

03. Why Won’t My Mini Fridge Get Cold?

If your mini-fridge is not properly cooling down like it used to, it can be very well because of poor maintenance. Ask yourself when was the last time you cleaned your mini-fridge? If it was more than a few months ago, there you have the answer.

If your fridge is clean but it still isn’t cooling down, there might be a problem with the air vents. Sometimes if the door doesn’t close properly, it increases the internal temperature. So make sure to check that as well.  

Takeaway

Now that you know how to defrost, clean, and maintain your mini-fridge, we hope you will take good care of it. A mini-fridge is a very convenient and useful gadget to have not only in a dorm but in your game room or lounge area. 

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Let us know in the comments!

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans: Does It Have Too Much Caffeine?

Posted on by John Bird

People around the world drink around two billion cups of coffee every day, making it the 3rd most popular beverage on earth, after water and tea! We love coffee, not just for the rich, delicious taste but also for that stimulating kick of caffeine.

Chocolate is debatably the world’s most popular sweet item. People who enjoy eating chocolate are not limited to children. This sinfully delicious sweet treat is loved by people of all ages and ethnicity. Unsurprisingly, chocolate is also rich in the highly sought-after stimulant, caffeine.

People love to pair chocolate with coffee. Be it a steaming cup of mocha or chocolate coffee cake, it is undeniably a mouthwatering combo. But, is the combination an overload of caffeine?

Chocolate and Espresso Beans

Chocolate and Espresso Beans
Chocolate and Espresso Beans

Chocolate and espresso beans are a great pair. That is why café mocha ranks quite high on the list of the more popular coffee drinks. The café mocha is a chocolatey concoction with a hint of coffee and this is made by using shots of espresso, with hot milk adding chocolate syrup or powder to flavor.

Other than café mocha, chocolate and espresso beans can be combined in the following ways.

Chocolate Flavor Infused Espresso Beans

Chocolate Flavor Infused Espresso Beans
Chocolate Flavor Infused Espresso Beans

As far as espresso beans go, if you check out this list of favorites, you will find that some popular espresso beans are infused with flavors. One of the popular hints of flavors infused in coffee other than vanilla is chocolate since it pairs so well with coffee.

Chocolate-infused espresso beans often have only a hint of cocoa which does not overpower the strong coffee flavor. These coffee beans are used like regular espresso beans, grounded, and used to make brewed coffee.

The only caffeine you will find in these beans comes from the coffee beans. The chocolate flavoring is artificial and does not have any caffeine. The flavor is often light and doesn’t overpower the coffee.

Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

Did you know that some people eat coffee beans directly? The bean is not a seed, rather, it is the dried version of the coffee fruit or cherry. Chewing roasted coffee beans can be bitter, but you get your caffeine fix for a lot fewer calories.

If you want to munch on coffee beans, but do not want the bitter test, try eating chocolate-covered coffee instead. People who love the choco-coffee combo, love this confectionary. The espresso coffee beans are covered in either dark, milk, or white chocolate.

These decadent chocolate treats are not just delicious but also provide a punch of caffeine. However, They are also decked with calories. You may be tempted to eat too many of them, but don’t.

Nutritional Information of Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans

NutrientAmount per 1 oz (28 g) serving
Calories140-150
Fat9-10 g
Saturated Fat6-7 g
Trans Fat0 g
Cholesterol5-10 mg
Sodium0 mg
Carbohydrates15-17 g
Fiber1-2 g
Sugar12-13 g
Protein2-3 g

Please note that the nutritional information may vary depending on the brand and type of chocolate covered espresso beans.

Why shouldn’t You Overeat Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans?

Just with any sweet treat, it’s healthier to eat chocolate-covered espresso beans in moderation. Taking too much sugar causes three common health problems: Type-2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Taking a large amount of sugar causes insulin intolerance, which leads to diabetes.

When you consume glucose more than you burn, the body turns the sugar into fat and stores it in your body. This can cause multiple cardio-vascular problems, like artery blockage that can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Extra fat can lead to obesity. Let’s not forget that they make your teeth rot. However, when enjoyed in moderation they boost your health and make you live longer! But, too much caffeine intake can also cause health problems.

So, How Much Caffeine Do Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans Have?

There is a claim that consuming coffee beans gives you a more concentrated dose of caffeine, as it doesn’t go through the brewing process and no residue is thrown away.

One unroasted arabica bean coffee has about 1.9 mg of caffeine, while robusta has around 2.9 mg caffeine.

Chocolate has a lot less caffeine with dark chocolate around 80 mg of caffeine per 100gms and milk chocolate, 20 mg per 100gms. White chocolate has no caffeine.

So, depending on the thickness of the coating, one dark chocolate-covered espresso bean has anywhere from 6mgs to 13mgs of caffeine. Milk chocolate varieties have 5-10 milligrams of caffeine. This isn’t much, unless you eat 100gms of chocolate-covered espresso beans, at one time!

Can You Replace Your Daily Cup Of Coffee For Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans?

People can swap coffee for chocolate-covered coffee beans if they love chocolate. However, eating too much sweetened-chocolate can give you health problems. But, eating an unsweetened one will be bitter and reduces its yummy test.

Plus the caffeine content means you have to take them in moderation. An average cup of Joe contains 85-200 mg of caffeine, depending on the type of bean and the coffee-making process, a shot of espresso has around 65 mg of caffeine.

To match that kind of caffeine level, you need to eat from 7 to 33 dark chocolate-covered beans for every cup, and more for milk chocolate! For each shot of espresso, you will have to eat 5 to 11 pieces.

Making Your Own Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans At Home

Anyone who loves eating chocolate-covered espresso beans knows how expensive they are. Save yourself the expense and try making it at home. The best part about this is you can control the sweetness and increase or decrease it according to your taste.

You will need few ingredients; mainly good quality coffee beans of your choice. For every 1.5 oz, you will need 3.5 oz or 100gms of solid chocolate. You can choose any type of chocolate, depending on what kind you want to make.

Bring some water to boil in a saucepan, then lower the heat. Place a heatproof bowl over the saucepan and melt your chocolate. Coat your beans and put them in the refrigerator.

Final Thoughts

Chocolate-covered espresso beans are a delight. You can easily replace your regular cups of coffee with these beans. However, you will have to eat quite a few.

The content of caffeine in each chocolate-coated bean is not that high, but since they are delicious, people can easily overeat. So, be careful not to eat too much, as it can become a health hazard.

Try making these delicious treats at home and enjoy a fun dose of caffeine with every mouthwatering bite. The dosage of caffeine is more concentrated so try not to eat them at night, unless you want to stay awake!

Why Doesn’t Caffeine Affect Me? Find Out Why Your Cup of Coffee Feels Useless

Posted on by John Bird

After a long night of tossing and turning, it’s normal to feel exhausted the next day at work. Most of us can survive dreary mornings with a little help from a strong cup of coffee or two. We strike the right balance, where coffee helps us feel more awake and alert.

But not everyone is so lucky. Some people are sensitive to caffeine and a small cup will have them still jittery at 11 pm. And for some people, things go the other way. They can drink a few cups of strong brewed tea or coffee, only to find the caffeine not working.

If you’re one of those people, you may have asked yourself, coffee doesn’t affect me? This article will explore the reasons why caffeine doesn’t work anymore on you. Once you’ve figured out why you have a caffeine immunity, you can then look for ways to fix it!

Why Doesn’t Caffeine Work on Me?

coffee doesn't affect me
coffee doesnt affect me

You may think that your brain is broken if coffee can’t get it out of its foggy, sleepy state. But the truth is, there are lots of factors that determine the effect of coffee (or the lack of it) on the body.

Here’s why your cup of coffee doesn’t have the same kick as it once had:

Your Genetics:

Your genes may affect how your body takes in caffeine. Caffeine enters your bloodstream through the stomach and intestines, and as it passes through the body, it binds to a number of “receptors,” most of which are in your brain.

These receptors can behave differently based on genetics. How fast does caffeine work? This depends. 

Some people have receptors that are more likely to join up with the caffeine while others don’t. Then, the caffeine is metabolized in the liver. Genetics also play a major role in how your body metabolizes caffeine

In your liver, here are certain enzymes that metabolize caffeine. Some people produce less of the one that removes the caffeine from your system. If you feel the effects of your coffee vanishing in an hour or two, you are probably a fast caffeine metabolizer.

Caffeine Tolerance:

If you drink multiple glasses of cold brew a day, you might have built up a coffee tolerance. If you are wondering why caffeine has no effect on me, it may be because you built the habit of drinking lots of coffee every day.

After a while, you will have to keep drinking more and more coffee to keep you awake and alert. This can lead to caffeine overdoses which are unpleasant and can cause serious health problems in the long run.

Too Little Caffeine:

Sometimes, it could be that you are consuming the wrong amount of caffeine. Or perhaps the kind of coffee you are drinking is weakly brewed or diluted with milk. Also, if your body metabolizes coffee quickly, you may need a stronger brew, or more coffee to achieve the same effect.

This can also have to do with your height and body weight. Smaller people can get the effects of caffeine with a cup of coffee or tea. On the other hand, taller and bigger people may need to consume more to feel properly alert.

Too Little Sleep:

Yes, coffee can help you stay awake after an all-nighter. But if you haven’t slept in 3 days, a pitcher of coffee won’t help your brain stay conscious. We feel sleepy because of a chemical called adenosine. 

After drinking coffee, the caffeine binds to these molecules, which makes us feel more alert instead of tired. This reverses the effects of adenosine, keeping you awake instead.

But there’s a big catch: if you are sleep deprived, your body will produce even more adenosine. The extra adenosine can counteract the effects of the caffeine, so it won’t have the usual effects. 

This is why your regular cup of coffee won’t work in keeping you awake. Instead, try a couple of shots of espresso!

Also, sleep deprivation can intensify in cases of neurodivergent. If you ever thought, ‘caffeine makes me tired,’ ADHD can play a role and the coffee will not have any effect on individuals with this condition.

Too Much Coffee:

Too much of a good thing can go bad, and this might be the reason that caffeine doesn’t work for you. If you’ve been drinking way too much coffee each day, you risk a number of health concerns, the most dangerous being a heart attack.

If you consume more than 400mg of caffeine a day, you will begin experiencing severe side effects. These can range from mild irritability and jitters to severe nausea, diarrhea, cramps, headaches, and vomiting.

The worst part? Extreme caffeine will also have a negative effect on your sleep at night. You won’t be able to sleep, you’ll feel anxious and jittery, and the exhaustion you felt during the day will assault you in full force. And the next day, you will drink even more coffee, repeating the cycle.

This is why it is important to consume the right amount of caffeine. Some blends and roasts have more caffeine, so it is important to drink less of it. You can also try lighter roasts and even decaf coffee.

Everything Else You’ve Been Consuming:

At the bottom of the list, the things you eat also affect how caffeine works in your system. Food, drinks, medicine, drugs- anything you consume influences the way caffeine is metabolized.

Certain enzymes metabolize various substances, so each compound has to wait to get metabolized, which in turn, slows down the overall process and keeps the substance in your system longer. Some painkillers can make you tired and sleepy, counteracting the effects of caffeine.

On the other hand, smoking cigarettes increases the rate at which caffeine is metabolized. It also means that the caffeine leaves the system faster, so smokers often end up drinking more coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find answers to questions that people often have about caffeine and its effects.

01. Why Doesn’t Coffee Wake Me Up?

If your coffee isn’t waking you up, it may be because your blend of coffee is weak, or your brew is diluted. It can also be due to sleep deprivation, genetics, and tolerance to caffeine.

02. Can You Build a Tolerance to Caffeine?

If you drink too much coffee and drink tea frequently, your body can build a tolerance for caffeine. This can lead to caffeine overdoses which have a plethora of nasty side effects.

03. Why Am I So Sensitive to Caffeine?

A number of factors result in caffeine sensitivity, including things like genetics and the liver’s ability to metabolize caffeine. A caffeine allergy occurs if your immune system mistakes caffeine as a potentially dangerous invader and tries to fight it off with antibodies. This can cause severe negative reactions to coffee.

04. How Does Caffeine Affect the Brain?

Caffeine works as a stimulant to the central nervous system. Once it reaches the brain, the most significant effects are wakefulness and alertness. You will feel more aware and less exhausted, which is why a cup of coffee is the perfect pick-me-up for long and tiring days.

05. Where in the Body Does Caffeine Act?

Caffeine affects the central nervous system (CNS) mainly altering the way the brain works. However, as caffeine is a stimulant, it can also increase the heart rate.

To Summarize

Consuming coffee while tired, only to find that you are both jittery and exhausted can be a ghastly experience. If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘Why doesn’t caffeine affect me?’ it might be time to look at the coffee you are consuming.

Is your coffee too weak? Or are you developing a tolerance to coffee? If the reason is the latter, it might be a good idea to cut back on your caffeine intake. 

Switching to decaf, or trying milder teas can be a good way to make sure consuming caffeine doesn’t lose its edge. May your coffee always be hot, flavorful, and strongly brewed!

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