Photo: Larisa Blinova (Shutterstock)

Guacamole is only as good as the avocados you make it with, and a lot of the goodness of the fruit depends on its ripeness. If you live in an area where they are grown you probably don’t have to worry about getting them “at the right time”. (I love this for you, though I’m jealous.) But if you live anywhere they need to be imported (that is, most of the country) and plan to make guacamole for “The Big Game,” suggests Reddit user Iceman838 you go buy it now-and I agree.

On the one hand, I can count the number of times I’ve rolled into an Oregon grocery store and grabbed a perfectly ripe avocado. The PNW is generally very good at producing, but alligator pears aren’t something that sets the region apart. This means that almost every avocado I’ve bought while living here will take at least a day on the counter (or in a paper bag) to peak, but it usually takes three or more.

Monday – or maybe Tuesday – seems a little early to buy produce for a dish you’d like to serve on Sunday, but it is much easier to stop an avocado from ripening than it is to speed it up. next to the Paper bag trick– which still takes at least a day – I wasn’t impressed by any of the mature “hacks”. Put an avocado in the ovenFor example, this results in a warm, slimy avocado that is coarse and bad.

If your guac-bound avocados ripen too quickly –Pop off a stick To check, you can stop ripening by placing it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to mash it. This may seem like an overkill, but I’d rather be mistaken for the over-prepared than the under-prepared, especially when it comes to guac.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Photo: Roger Brown Photography (Shutterstock)

Unless you live in an area prone to natural disasters, you might think it could never happen to you – but sadly it doesn’t. A few years ago, a fire lit a tiny trail at the base of the Santa Ana Mountains in Anaheim, California. It was moving quickly and through news reports we saw it meander towards our sleepy suburbs. In the evening there were mandatory evacuations about half a mile from us.

It took me and my husband two hours to get home from work because of the road block and when we got there we had to evacuate too. (Fortunately, my two children were away from the fire with my mother.) I rushed around grabbing valuables and clothing. But then I froze. I had no idea what to pack. Sentimental photos? Artwork? I looked around my house and wondered what I could afford to lose. A neighbor reminded me to pack our important papers and I remembered wearing the antique jewelry my grandmother had left me. But I was so panicked that I only had suitcases full of ill-fitting clothes, passports, and paintings. (To my credit, I didn’t forget to pack the cat.)

Of the many people who have been badly hit by fires in California in recent years, we have been very lucky. This particular flame grew to about 5,000 acres, but half a day after the fire started, the winds subsided and firefighters were able to keep them away from our homes.

According to FEMAEvacuations are quite common in the United States. Aside from natural disasters like fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes, people are often told to leave their homes due to transportation and industrial accidents. Our canyon fire pushed me to better prepare in the event of another disaster.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Here’s how to prepare an evacuation bag that you can grab quickly in case you ever need to evacuate.

Choose a bag

Each family member should have their own. Start with a drawstring nylon RV backpack or laundry bag.

Take photos of all your rooms and valuables

Save these photos to a cloud server and back them up to a flash drive.

Scan and save all important documents

You can also save them on a cloud server if you have a trusted encryption service or save them on a flash drive.

Put the flash drives of your photos and important documents in your pocket. These documents should contain:

• Driving license
• The deed to your home
• Your will and / or trust
• Proof of insurance
• Medical records
• Passports
• Social security cards
• Birth certificates
• A list of personal contacts with their addresses and phone numbers
• Your children’s vaccination reports
• Your pets records for vaccinations and medical history

Add essential supplies to help you get through a few days

This includes water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, a first aid kit, a flashlight, batteries, clothing, diapers, and pet supplies. Ready.gov has a full Emergency equipment checklist that you can download.

Create an evacuation to-do list

Be aware of the items that you might want to pack in an emergency: your travel bag, pets and a list of valuables (jewelry, paintings, photos) that you cannot live without. Also list your action items, e.g. B. turning off utilities and locking your home. When you need to evacuate break down the evacuation to-do list, tick each item, and get the hell out of it.

In addition to the “Go Bag”, there are other important ways to prepare for an emergency disaster:

• Take a first aid and CPR course. Find your local american red cross Information chapter.
• Buy a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.
• Buy a fire and watertight safe. I looked them up after a fire and found they weren’t like that unaffordable However you think. They can cost anywhere from $ 25 to $ 1,000.
• Find out now how you can safely switch off all utilities – electricity, water and gas – in your home. (FEMA has Tips for switching off Utilities.) Many fires are exacerbated by post-disaster natural gas explosions. Share your knowledge with everyone in your household.
• Make sure your pets are microchipped.

In situations like natural disasters, where everything feels like it’s out of your control, it can be helpful to have at least a few bags packed and ready to go.

This story was originally published in 2017 and was updated on February 1, 2021 to be in line with Lifehacker style guidelines.

Photo: Proclamation Duo

First choice: Proclamation duo | $ 380 | Proclamation goods

A few months after the pandemic, I took a look at my old worn-out cookware and decided I was ready to upgrade. After losing my full-time job, I couldn’t spend more than $ 500 if I had perfectly good things at home. Well-engineered cooking sets can be expensive, so I understand many people find themselves in a similar position, but some may be ready to cook more as we near the final winter stretch. Here are some of my favorites.

Best stainless steel cookware: Proclamation duo

Image: Proclamation duo

After working on my wedding list last year, this pan set followed me for a while on the internet, in cooking groups, and on Instagram (maybe it’s my fault for following them) so I’m excited to write about it. This three-part set is really beautiful and can easily replace most of your pots and pans if you don’t cook for an army on a regular basis. Stainless steel is both beautiful and super functional. I love moving my cookware from the stove to the oven – especially when I’m making fish or steak – and the stainless steel makes the task easy without the rubber handles melting off (ask me how do I know!).

For $ 379, you can get:

• 12 “pan
• 7-qt. pot
• Stainless steel lid that fits both pans

The pan and pan go together to create a fabulous Dutch oven that makes it the perfect vessel for cooking. from searing to baking, braising and roasting. It’s a fair price for the quality of these pans, which will last a lifetime.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Don’t take it easy on me, Heloise Blause, a former professional cook who became a blogger Main kitchen landloves it too.

“The Proclamation Duo is an ingenious product. It’s one of those things that is so simple that you are amazed that you haven’t thought about it yourself. You did a really great job. “Anyone who has never cooked with stainless steel should be careful. That being said, “If you know your way around a traditional pan, you’ll be happy to cook with this pan,” said Blause.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Best non-stick cookware: To have

Image: Abbio

I’m a sworn Circulon non-stick lover so I had my doubts this Abbio set. However, I was interested in their uncomplicated marketing to home cooks, and the no-flares quality approach won me over. Abbio is a brand whose mission is to “inspire home cooks through a combination of accessible, professional cookware, unique recipes and teaching materials”.

The cookware is efficient and exactly what you need to make a great home cooked meal. Each item can be bought individually or as a set for $ 355 that comes with:

• 2.3 liter pot with stainless steel
• 6 liter stainless steel soup pot
• Stainless sauté coated with 3.5 liters
• 8 inch non-stick pan
• 11 inch non-stick pan

Abbio is dishwasher safe, but people who love nonstick avoid it just to get the most of the life out of them. However, they can (despite their handles) be placed in the oven at temperatures of up to 450 degrees for non-stick and 600 degrees for aluminum. Abbio is also safe for glass and induction hobs, an added benefit. This set is also perfect for a housewarming gift, wedding gift, or for the new college kid. I made fish tacos with the non-stick 11 inch pan tonight and I’m a fan. I love that it comes with a high temperature silicone hotpad that you can easily walk from the kitchen to the table with .

G / O Media can receive a commission

Best steamer: Costway 3 tier stainless steel steamer

Graphics: Amazon

Ok, if you have the pots and pans you need, there’s still a good chance you don’t have a steamer kit. I assure you it is time to try one out. They are budget-friendly and function as both a steamer and a pot. It can steam lobster, make pork buns, and of course steam broccoli to make sure it’s fork soft but still crispy.

This Costway model It’s not just a soup pot and steamer, it’s also a water bath. At the cheap price of $ 53, this is the perfect way to upgrade your kitchen experience and add a homemade chocolate mousse to that list. You can even boil soup in the pot and steam different vegetables in the two steam baskets at the same time. Amazon reviews rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars. And if you don’t need a water bath, Try the one from Circulon.

G / O Media can receive a commission

$ 53

The Google Maps app now has a split-screen Street View option on Android. When you turn it on, you can use Street View and the map at the same time to find and navigate a destination – or explore the area virtually– much easier than just relying on the map or street view.

Street View with split screen is available to all users with Google Maps version 10.59.1 or higher. You can download the app and check for new updates on the internet Google Play Store.

How to enable Split Screen Street View in Google Maps

1. Open Google Maps on your Android device and search for your destination.
2. Tap the View Mode menu (it’s the circle button with the stacked squares on it) and select “Street view.”
3. Tap anywhere on the map to zoom in on Street View. It will open in portrait mode on the top of your screen or in landscape mode on the left shelf of the screen.

Screenshot: Brendan Hesse

In split view, you can either tap and drag the Street View window or the map to move around the area. All movements affect both views. You can tap “Expand” In the lower right corner of the Street View window, click the button to expand it to full screen mode and hide the map. Tap the button again to return to split-screen mode.

G / O Media can receive a commission

Once you’ve found your destination and are ready to go, there are other updated features that can help you get there safely. For those who want it, the app can show you where to go with it AR navigation. You can try that too detailed voice guidance option So you don’t have to stare at your phone while walking – which is also helpful for users with low vision. And when you drive make sure you do Connect your favorite music app to Google Maps So you can control your music with your voice without having to switch apps.