Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

out

Browsing
Food

Are Pretzels Vegan? What You Have to Look Out for with Pretzels

Many people wonder whether pretzels are vegan at all. After all, many foods contain animal products that we would not suspect. How about the pretzel?

Pretzels are not always vegan

A pretzel traditionally consists of a lye dough, i.e. flour, yeast, water, salt and baking soda for the lye. In some regions and in some bakeries, traditionally prepared pretzels also contain lard. This makes the dough smoother and the machines can process it more easily. Especially with fresh dough that has not rested for long, the lard helps with further processing.

Today, however, many bakeries do without the lard and use butter or vegetable fat instead. If butter is used, the pretzel is no longer vegan, but at least vegetarian.

How do I recognize vegan pretzels?

The use of pork fat or butter does not have to be labeled. As a rule, however, bakeries have lists of ingredients on hand so that they can also provide information in the event of allergies. Here it helps to simply ask for the list of ingredients. You can also find ingredient lists online at larger bakeries.

Some bakeries also label pretzels with “vegan” on the price tag. The V-Label identifies vegan products reliably and transparently.

You can be absolutely sure when you bake pretzels yourself.

Do pretzels contain egg?

In some Internet forums you can read again and again that pretzels are coated with egg. They should then look nicer and browner. However, the browning is caused by the bath in caustic soda and the subsequent baking of the pretzel.

Keep Reading
By
Cooking Tips

What Should I Look Out For When Buying a Thermos Flask?

Sometimes it is unavoidable that the freshly brewed coffee cannot be enjoyed immediately, but only later or at a different location. And this is exactly where the thermos flask comes into play.

Coffee tastes best when it’s fresh and hot. But is it advisable to keep coffee in the thermos?

Maybe you feel the same way: you just can’t find good coffee on the go. It is immensely important for a successful start to the day that you get a delicious cup of coffee in the morning. So what to do? The simplest solution is probably to take your own favorite coffee with you from home. Then you finally know what you have. But what if you want the coffee to stay warm for a long time? Clearly: thermos flask or a practical thermal mug for on the go. But there are huge differences. You should pay attention to this if you want your coffee to be brewing hot for the second breakfast.

How do I recognize a good thermos flask?

A good thermos not only keeps hot drinks warm for a long time, it also cools cold drinks for hours. Also important: the vacuum jug should be leak-proof. Because hardly anything is more annoying than when the nice coffee spills over the documents for the meeting in the early morning. It is also very practical if the heat from the drink in the thermos stays where it belongs, namely inside and not outside and warms our fingers. When buying a new thermos flask, you should also pay attention to the pollutant content. Again and again, thermos flasks stand out due to a very high level of pollution. It is therefore best to ask your specialist dealer specifically.

Which thermos is right for me?

Which thermos flask suits you is not so easy to answer. To do this, you first have to know what purpose the thermos flask is supposed to serve. If you would like to drink your home-brewed coffee in the morning on the way to work, a thermal mug with a capacity of 0.4 liters is probably the right one. If the coffee pot is always ready to hand on the desk, you are well advised to use a vacuum jug. But if you are looking for a jug with a really large capacity, because Sunday visitors are expected, you should reach for a classic pump jug.

Good to know: This is how a thermos flask is constructed.

In most cases, a thermos consists of an inner and an outer shell. The outer shell, which consists of glass in most cases, is usually double-walled. In order to be able to keep the heat really well, the air is removed from the space between the two walls (vacuumed). Since there are now hardly any molecules in this space, the heat can only be emitted very poorly and stays inside. The inner shell usually has another layer that works like a mirror. Thanks to a special material, the heat is actually reflected and can therefore also be better kept inside.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Treated Fruit isn’t Always Vegan: What to Look Out For

Treated fruit is not always vegan, because the glazing agents often contain animal components. You can find out what they are and how to recognize them here.

Basically, fruit is one of the foods that are part of a balanced vegan diet. For the optics and a longer shelf life, however, fruit is often treated with coating agents. These agents slow down the ripening process because they allow less oxygen to penetrate and less moisture, smells and flavors to escape.

There are different types of coating agents that are either of vegetable, animal or synthetic origin. According to this, fruit treated with animal products is, strictly speaking, no longer vegan.

All possible types of fruit can be post-treated. These include, for example, apples, pears, strawberries, bananas, tangerines, oranges, lemons, bananas, mangoes, melons, pineapples and avocados.

Treated Fruit: These remedies are used

Glazing agents are among the food additives, which is why each agent is assigned its own E number.

Coating agents of animal origin include:

Beeswax (E901) is produced from the comb of honey bees. It is a valuable raw material with many areas of application.
Shellac (E904) is formed when certain species of scale insects convert plant sap into a resinous mass. Shellac also offers many possible uses, for example as a coating for tablets or a cosmetic ingredient.
Plant-based coatings include:

Carnauba wax (E903) comes from the leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm. Carnauba wax is not only used as a coating agent, but has many other uses, for example in cosmetics or cleaning agents.
Candelilla Wax (E902) is made from the leaves and stems of the Candelilla plant.
Synthetic coatings include:

Esters of glycerol from root resin (E445)
Polyethylene wax (E914)
Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471) can come from vegetable, animal or synthetic production. Usually, however, soybean or canola oil serve as a source.

Fruit glazing agents can often consist of a mixture of synthetic and natural waxes.

Here’s how to identify and avoid treated fruit

You can sometimes recognize glazing agents by the fact that the fruit is very shiny. Treated fruit is always labeled in one way or another.

On the one hand there is the indication “waxed”. This labeling is used when the coating agents are additives

E 445, 471, 473, 474, 901-905 and 914
acts. Another way of labeling treated fruit is for retailers to

class of the food additive and the name of the additive or the E number
brag. If the fruit being treated is citrus, you will recognize this by statements such as

“treated with E471 or E473”.


You can use this information to check whether the coating is vegan. In principle, fruit is not labeled vegan.

The indication “untreated” means that the fruit was neither preserved nor waxed after harvesting. However, this information does not prohibit the use of plant protection products during the growing season. This means that the fruit may well be contaminated with pesticides.

In short: To avoid animal coatings, pay attention to the E901 and E904 labels. E741 can also be animal products.

It is easiest if you choose your fruit in organic quality. After all, it is not allowed to treat organic fruit. At the same time you can avoid chemical-synthetic pesticides.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Egg Test: This is How You Find Out When an Egg is Still Good

You can use an egg test to find out whether a chicken egg is still good. Because even if the best-before date has passed, most eggs are not yet spoiled.

On each egg carton you will find a sticker with the best before date of the eggs. As a rule, the eggs themselves also have a stamp with the date on the shell. The minimum shelf life is 28 days from the laying day.

If the best before date has passed, many eggs are still good. They will keep for up to three weeks without the fridge. You can then keep them in the fridge for another week or two. To be on the safe side, however, you should not eat expired eggs raw, but only eat them as boiled eggs or well-fried fried eggs.

There are also various egg tests that you can use to find out whether older eggs are still good.

Egg test: the water check for breakfast eggs

The best known is this egg test with water to find out whether an egg is still edible. Simply put the raw egg in a glass of water.

  • If the egg sinks to the bottom, it’s still fresh.
  • If the egg floats on the surface of the water, it is spoiled.
  • If the egg is slightly slanted in the water, it should only be eaten well heated through.

Why is the egg floating on top? The older the egg is, the more water evaporates from the yolk through the shell. The free space fills with air, which allows the egg to rise up in the water glass. If the egg floats to the surface of the water, you should not eat it.

Egg test: what does the yolk look like?

The egg yolk also shows you whether the egg is still good. Accordingly, this method is not suitable for a boiled breakfast egg. But for all recipes with raw eggs, you can use this egg test:

  • Carefully crack an egg on a plate.
  • It is important that the plate really has a flat surface.
  • If the yolk is evenly distributed in the middle, the egg is still fresh.

Why does the yolk float in the middle? As an egg gets older, the white becomes more runny and can no longer hold the yolk in the middle. Then the yolk slips to the edge or runs out. It should then only be eaten well heated through.

Shake eggs or hold up to the light

There are two other egg testing methods to distinguish fresh eggs from spoiled ones. However, they are not always very clear. We therefore only recommend them in combination with the methods mentioned above:

Shake eggs

When you shake spoiled eggs, you can sometimes hear a gurgle. This occurs in older eggs because the egg whites are no longer quite solid. It then sloshes around inside the egg when you shake it.

Hold the egg up to the light

You can also hold the egg in front of a strong lamp or directly in front of the lightbulb. Because fresh eggs have a very translucent shell. You will then see the egg yolk through the shell.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Suck Up The Spider With The Vacuum Cleaner: is it Really Gone – or Can it Crawl Out Again?

Many people don’t exactly go into raptures at the sight of a spider. Her first thought goes to the vacuum cleaner to suck up the spider. But what happens then?

This is what happens when you suck up a spider

You sit comfortably on your couch and look at the ceiling, lost in thought. Suddenly you discover a spider above you. If spiders are not one of your favorite animals, then you will quickly think about how best to get rid of the creepy crawly. In such a situation, it is not uncommon for the vacuum cleaner to be the only quick solution. But what happens to the spider when you vacuum it up?

Whether the spider initially finds its way into the vacuum cleaner bag more or less unscathed depends on the one hand on its constitution and size. What is more important, however, is the suction power you have set on your vacuum cleaner. Depending on the set wattage, the spider is sucked up at a speed of 100 to 140 km/h. suck For example, when you choose the level at which you gently vacuum your curtains or blinds.

Chances of survival in the vacuum cleaner bag

So if you only sucked up the spider with a low suction power, there is a chance for the spider to get into the vacuum cleaner bag alive. But here the next challenge awaits. Because whether the spider survives in the vacuum cleaner bag and thus perhaps even finds its way back or dies after all depends essentially on whether the bag is empty or already full when it is vacuumed up.

An empty vacuum cleaner bag does not bode well for the spider. Because it is thrown in at a speed, albeit a lower one, without damping. On the other hand, if the bag is already filled with dust, hair and other soft material, the spider will land more gently. If she survived all that, theoretically she can’t crawl out.

Alternative to the vacuum cleaner

It doesn’t matter whether it’s high or low wattage, an empty or full vacuum cleaner bag – the spider will never be comfortable if you suck it up with your vacuum cleaner. It’s definitely not animal friendly. Therefore, there are also more suitable methods of escorting the spider out of the apartment, especially alive. If you don’t trust yourself because you are disgusted or even afraid of spiders, it might be helpful to ask your partner. Or you look around in your close circle of friends to see who can quickly help you. Maybe you also have nice and animal-loving neighbors.

Whether help is near or you take matters into your own hands, a jar and a piece of paper are usually enough to remove the spider alive from the apartment. To do this, simply place the glass over the spider with the open side facing the wall or ceiling and carefully slide the piece of paper underneath. The jar is closed and the spider cannot crawl out. Then you go with the glass to the window, balcony or in your garden and release the spider into freedom. Here she can continue to do her very useful work.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Hanging Laundry Out to Dry in The Apartment? That’s Why You Should Never do That

Hanging up laundry in the apartment is considered a health hazard for many people. Why is that and is it really true?

After washing: Why you shouldn’t hang up laundry in the apartment

Hence the supposed health risk of letting the laundry dry in the apartment. Mold spores are toxic and if inhaled they can cause respiratory problems, allergies or asthma. If the mold has to be removed from the apartment, high costs can also arise.

That’s why it’s best to hang the laundry outside – especially in winter or when it’s freezing. But what to do if you have no other way to dry your laundry? With a few tips, you can prevent mold from forming when you dry your laundry. Basically, the apartment should be aired regularly to avoid excessive humidity. The best thing is to ventilate the room, i.e. open windows and doors completely for about ten minutes. A draft between the open doors and windows is also useful.

The laundry should also be hung up in a suitable room, for example in the bathroom. The bathroom is already designed for humidity, but it can take a little longer here for the laundry to dry, since the humidity is generally higher, for example when you take a shower. Alternatively, a room that has at least one window is also suitable. Bathrooms – especially in smaller apartments – usually have no window, only ventilation. This should be cleaned from time to time and the filter replaced.

Prevent mold: tips for hanging laundry in the apartment

Even when doing the laundry, you can ensure that the humidity in your home does not rise as much. Depending on the type of laundry, you should select the highest possible spin speed. As a result, more water is “spun” out of the laundry and it is less wet when it comes out of the machine.

You should also be careful when hanging them up: If there is more space between the individual items of clothing, the air can circulate better. It can also be useful to hang things directly on hangers. The plus point: the laundry dries faster.

If you want to be on the safe side, you can also measure the humidity before and after hanging up the laundry. So-called hygrometers are available from around ten euros in hardware stores or online.

It is also advisable to ask the landlord for tips, after all it is also in their interest that the apartment is not too damp. There may even be an empty room in the house that could be used as a drying room. And if all the tips don’t help, there are still dehumidifiers to avoid mold growth from drying laundry.

Keep Reading
By
Food

No Carbs: This is What Happens to Your Body When You Cut Out Carbs

Those on a diet prefer to avoid pasta, bread and potatoes. Carbohydrates are not as bad as they are made out to be. We explain what happens to the body when we completely avoid carbohydrates.

1. Your performance decreases

In addition to fats, carbohydrates are among the most important sources of energy. If you do without carbohydrates, this will primarily be noticeable in your reduced performance. You tire more quickly, are less able to concentrate and generally feel weak and powerless.

2. You damage your digestion

Your digestion is going crazy and you are struggling with constipation? Avoiding carbohydrates may be to blame. Good carbohydrates help to strengthen your intestinal health and promote beneficial intestinal bacteria. The resistant starch in rice, wholemeal pasta or potatoes is particularly important for a good intestinal flora.

3. You lose muscle mass

Without carbohydrates on the menu, muscle mass is a long time coming or disappears again. If the body cannot fall back on carbohydrates, it uses the protein reserves. But these are exactly what you need to build muscle. The hard-earned training results? Completely free!

4. Your mood suffers

It’s not just your performance that suffers when you eat too few carbohydrates. You’re in a much worse mood too. It’s not for nothing that we get “hangry” when we haven’t eaten. Because carbohydrates not only satisfy hunger. It has been proven that they even make you happy. Food high in fat and carbohydrates activates the reward center. And that makes you happy.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Tips for Clearing Out a Messie Apartment

Even decluttering a small apartment can be a big challenge. As a result, many people can hardly imagine how to proceed when clearing out a larger apartment. This is especially true if this apartment is a messie apartment.

Successfully clear out Messie’s apartment

Since there are an estimated 1.8 million Messies in Germany, it goes without saying that Messie apartments are relatively common and anyone who has ever seen one – whether in real life or on TV – knows that it is not to be trifled with. However, that is no reason to simply give up, because even messie apartments can be managed. So let’s take a look at what to consider when it comes to decluttering.

In extreme cases, seek professional help

Although it is never easy to clear out a messy apartment, it is often the case that the work can be tackled on your own or with the help of acquaintances, friends, and family members. In extreme cases, however, this is not simply possible. If it is such an extreme case and the apartment is so full of rubbish that you can no longer walk, it is advisable to hire a professional company. A professional cleaning service like Rümpelrando is also familiar with special cases such as messie apartments messie clearing so that a discreet and quick solution can be found.

It’s not just about removing trash

Messie Apartments are heavily cluttered and cleaning up this rubbish can be a major challenge. However, this is not the only task that should be done in the course of decluttering, because simply removing rubbish is not enough. Another important aspect, which is more along the lines of cleaning, is eliminating odors. This point is already made during the clearing out, but usually, it is not enough, since some dirt cannot be easily removed and can lead to an unpleasant odor.

In each one, one should be aware that “tidying up” a messie apartment goes beyond the actual clearing out. Especially since the so-called messie syndrome can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes, for example, pets such as cats are hoarded rather than items. This can lead to extremely penetrating odors simply because of the urine. Lending a hand here is logically only an option for very few people.

Independent decluttering requires structure

If the messy apartment can be cleared out without professional help, there is nothing wrong with doing so. However, it is also important to proceed with structure when clearing out yourself. Among other things, a sensible order must not be missing. If, for example, some sorted items are to be stored in the basement, the basement must first be cleared out. In the end, it always depends on the individual situation. It also plays a role in what kind of messie apartment it is. If it’s less about objects and more about pets, the procedure is completely different. It is therefore important to first get an idea of ​​the situation on-site.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

5 Tips for Planning and Carrying Out a Move

Changing jobs, a new partner, separation, or buying a house – there are many reasons why people move. In order for the move to go smoothly, you should plan your move well. The following tips for packing and labeling moving boxes, as well as a moving checklist, will help with organization.

Plan your move smartly

According to a study, almost five million households with over nine million consumers pack their bags and move into a new living environment every year. An impressive number considering the size of the overall population. Even if a move is not unusual in view of these figures, at least on paper – for the individual household, this often means a physical and mental effort.

It’s not just about picking the household effects in boxes and a moving truck. Every move must be organized and prepared down to the last detail. The situation is particularly critical for families with children. The latter often suffer from the sudden detachment from the traditional environment. You will make the move easier if you part with things in advance. Consequently, you should clean out your clothes and have a dress party.

Move easily and stress-free

If you want to move, you should plan well in advance. Because before you give notice of your apartment, you should sign your new lease. You should observe notice periods (usually 3 months) and clarify an early move-out with the landlord. Good organization is required to ensure that the move is stress-free. It can also be advisable to have a negative Schufa entry removed beforehand.

1) Plan your move on your own

When it comes to moving, opinions differ on the question of whether the change of residence should be handled with professional help or completely on your own. Ultimately, it is a personal decision and a question of money whether you hire professionals or fall back on the manpower of friends and relatives. The high time factor and organizational effort are offset by the cost savings. If you do everything yourself, you have to take care of the following things. Also, note useful tips for clearing out the apartment.

  • organization of helpers
  • procurement of means of transport
  • Organization of packaging material
  • Assembly and disassembly

2) Hire movers

If you want to move without spending a lot of time, you can plan your move with a professional moving company. Due to their daily experience with moving and their know-how when it comes to building kitchen units or wall units, the stress of moving is significantly lower for households that work with a moving company. However, moving companies come at a price. But you can often find student movers on the internet for a fair price. Basically, professional moving helpers outdo moving on their own when it comes to:

  • organization
  • dismantling the furniture
  • Reconstruction of the furniture
  • Transport of the removal goods and
  • the time factor

3) Agree on a fixed price when planning a move

If you want to have your move done by a moving company, you should negotiate a fixed price. Although fixed prices often appear more expensive than offers on an hourly basis, such as 3 movers + truck for 8 hours = price, a fixed price protects you from nasty surprises.

If you go on an hourly basis, you will have to pay extra for each additional hour and this can get quite expensive if the move takes longer than planned. Also, a fixed price usually keeps the packers from dawdling. In addition, there are also portals on the Internet where you can make a kind of tender in which companies can “apply” for your order, for example on myhammer.de.

4) Moving Checklist: Insurance

Moving is time-consuming and takes patience. It gets all the more annoying when doors or furniture are damaged. At this point, it is generally advisable to clarify insurance issues in advance. That’s why your move checklist should include informing the insurance companies below. Household contents and liability insurance play a particularly important role here. Damage in the old or new apartment – for example on doors – can be regulated as rented property damage (if insured) via private liability insurance.

  • Household insurance
  • legal protection insurance
  • car insurance
  • other insurances and
  • personal liability insurance

Personal liability also applies if the neighbor’s car is scratched. But: If the accident happens to a helper, their insurer is responsible for the damage. It is also important to clarify to what extent courtesy damage becomes a problem or not. Accident insurance can also be useful here.

5) Plan to move and unsubscribe from services

Likewise, when you move, you not only have to organize the actual move and its process. Changing electricity provider and internet may also have to be ordered. While the supply of electricity is generally secured via the regional supplier, the topic of telecommunications and the Internet should be tackled a few weeks in advance. It is necessary to check which providers offer services at the new address or whether the previous provider is available.

In addition, the mail should be delivered to the new address in the future and not end up in the old apartment. It is therefore important to set up a forwarding order. Swiss Post will then automatically forward consignments to the new address. If you save yourself the trip to the post office, the forwarding order can now also be issued online.

  • phone
  • Internet
  • TV and electricity
  • Forwarding order for the post office
Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Blow Out Eggs & Color Easter Eggs

Easter is a wonderful family celebration and should not be spoiled by allergies, illness, or bad eggs. So pay attention to the freshness, the colors you choose, and always be careful when blowing out. Then nothing stands in the way of the party.

When Easter is just around the corner, Easter eggs, and all the different colors and patterns immediately come to mind. But even when buying eggs you have to consider a few things if you want to have the perfect Easter fun. There are two variants of the Easter egg, one is the boiled egg and the other is the blown one. Let’s get to the boiled egg first.

The perfect Easter egg

The most important thing about eggs is freshness. But how do you test this? It’s easy. Fill a bowl or glass with cold water and place the egg in it. If this is lying flat on the ground, it’s fresh. However, if the egg is older and therefore no longer good, the egg will hover almost vertically. This should then no longer be used for an Easter egg. Such eggs should be used up as soon as possible, but not as an Easter egg.

On the other hand, if the egg floats on the surface and the blunt tip is visibly sticking out of the water, it should no longer be eaten and discarded. Eggs should always be stored in the refrigerator. The shell of the eggs should be clean but not washed, as this can damage the thin layer of eggs, which can quickly lead to bacterial growth. Eggs should also not be stored next to strong-smelling foods, as the pores of the egg quickly absorb foreign odors.

Are synthetic dyes safe?

Many families are afraid of the synthetic dyes used in dyeing eggs. However, according to the DGE, Germany’s permitted substances have been thoroughly examined and are therefore completely harmless to health. However, sensitive people should be careful, because small amounts of the dye penetrate through the pores of the egg. This can trigger allergic reactions. Also, stay away from dyeing if the egg cracked while cooking.

If you want to do without artificial dyes entirely, we recommend colors from which plants are obtained. These are available in every trade for a few euros. If you really want to use natural dyes through and through, you can also make the colors yourself, which is not only environmentally friendly but also fun for young and old. For example, you can get bright yellow by cooking the egg with cumin, chamomile, or saffron. The egg turns yellow to brown if you cook it with onion skins. Shades of green can be achieved with spinach or nettles.

What to do wrong when blowing out?

If you follow the Easter egg tradition, you blow out the eggs. But be careful, small children can easily become infected with salmonella when blowing out and painting. It is best for the offspring not to have direct contact with raw eggs; you can just as easily blow out the egg with a thin straw, a disposable syringe, or a special bellows. After blowing out, the eggs should be rinsed out briefly with lukewarm water and a little washing-up liquid.

Keep Reading
By