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Health Benefits of Food Cooked In An Earthen Pots

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Back in the day, earthenware was a constant in Indian kitchens. Right from storing water to cooking, women managed it all with a single pot or ‘ handi ’, as it’s called in rural India. And, despite the availability of fancy and expensive cooking utensils, looks like it’s time to go back to the basics. We often see terracotta sets, mostly serving as showpieces, at home decor outlets, but a proper earthen pot is hardly ever put to use in the kitchen. However, it comes with a host of health benefits, since it cooks the food slowly. It also scores over aluminium, as studies point out. “As a result of their frequent use in private households, a study was undertaken to detect migration of this metal to foodstuffs from drink containers, coffee-pots, grill pans and camping cookware made of aluminium. An estimate of the health risk to consumers is calculated, based on the tolerable weekly intake specified by the European Food Safety Authority of 1 mg/kg body weight for all groups of people. In...

Indian Grocery Stores Producing Culture and Nostalgia in The Indian Diaspora

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Indian grocery stores have expanded across the Canada as the South Asian diaspora has grown here over the years. Catering to the wider South Asian population, Indian grocery stores produce culture away from the homeland. These stores invoke nostalgia over a place once visited or lived, and provide a place of familiarity for some, through the environment and the products sold, that create a deep connection our evoke memories. Indian grocers sell a variety of products, not limited to food items . South Asians living outside of Indian shopping hubs in Canada often drive out to them specifically to buy the things they cannot find elsewhere.  Customers can take comfort in seeing the same products they cooked with back home. Shoppers find it easier to communicate with employees and even strike up conversations with other customers, creating a social space for the community that is designed just for them.  Commodities sold in these stores bring back memories, and these stories can b...

Improper Use of Cleaning Supplies Can Be Hazardous

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When it comes to food service sanitation, working with chemicals is a must to keep a restaurant clean. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require the use of cleaners and sanitizers and also provide guidelines for the proper environment to prepare and serve food. The risk of chemical exposure is a serious issue in the food service industry. Potential harm may be caused to those who come in contact with these chemicals if they are not trained properly. Which Cleaning Materials Are Hazardous? Some cleaning chemicals can be hazardous, causing problems ranging from skin rashes, burns, coughing to more serious illnesses. People can encounter hazardous chemicals by handling them directly or indirectly through vapor and residue. Exposure to these hazardous chemicals can have numerous side effects or result in more dangerous, even life-threatening problems if used or stored improperly. Some of the most commonly handled hazardous chemicals include: Window and Commercial Kitchen...

Best Options of Eco-Friendly Food Packaging

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At present, consumers and businesses are making efforts to stay environmentally conscious. Various industries find ways to decrease their ecological footprint through different methods. For instance, avoiding single-use and non-degradable plastic packaging has been a trend in the packaging industry. Consumer packaging for food products causes the most plastic and paper waste, with about 60% ending up in landfills. Today, more people are concerned with consuming ethically-sourced and sustainably produced food but pay no attention to the packaging it comes in. Food packaging should be just as good for people’s health as it is for the planet. If you’re looking to minimize your environmental footprint as a food business, this article will help you as it discusses some of the best sustainable food and product packaging solutions. Kraft Paper Containers   Kraft paper or brown paper is one of the world's more eco-friendly food packaging . It comes from the German word “Kraft,”...

Indian Spices to Cook Flavorsome Meals

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  Spices have a special place in Indian cuisines. Indian cooking is incomplete without the aromatic goodness of warming and cooling spices. MDH Masala, a popular name in Indian kitchens, understood the importance of these flavours and came up with the concept of ready-to-use packaged spices back in 1919. They ensure uniform taste and quality by procuring the raw materials directly from the producers. Available in 150 different packages at home and abroad, the company has a range of 62 products. MDH Masalas are packaged as single ground spices and spice blends. Cumin, turmeric, coriander, dry mango, and saffron are some single ground and flake spices packaged by MDH. However, it's their spice blends that are a class apart. Spice combinations like Chunky Chat Masala, Kitchen King, Pav Bhaji, Tandoori Chicken, Sambhar, and Garam Masala are formulated keeping in mind the specific flavours of these traditional dishes. These spice blends make cooking easier as you longer have to worry ...

Best Pickles for the Monsoon Season

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Best Indian Pickles for the Monsoon Season The monsoon season has finally arrived, bringing with it the delightful pitter-patter of raindrops and the irresistible aroma of freshly brewed chai. But what’s missing from this picture-perfect scene? Well, it’s none other than the lip-smacking assortment of pickles!  Picture yourself enjoying a hot plate of pakoras or bhajiyas with a sidekick that adds an explosion of flavours to every bite. Yes, that’s what  pickles  are all about! Tangy, spicy, and oh-so-versatile - these little jars of goodness have been a staple in Indian households for generations.  But hold on! We’re not just talking about any pickles here; we’re diving deep into the world of Monsoon Must Haves - the  Best Indian Pickles  specially curated for this rainy season!  What are pickles? Before we dive into the delightful array of pickles awaiting us, let’s answer the question:  What exactly are pickles?  In simple term...