How to Utilize Your Icebox in Your Cooking

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Sometimes the tools we need to take our cooking up to the next level are right in front of us but we can't see them.

Take the humble refrigerator.

Our fridge - Fingerprints and all

Here in the States, it's a rare household that doesn't have a chill chest.  Even going into the backwoods of more rural areas, you may find houses without air conditioning or an indoor toilet, but they will have an icebox. 

That's not an exaggeration.  My wife's grandmother passed just a couple of years ago.  All of her life she lived without a telephone, indoor toilet, or central heat.  She did have a window unit but only turned it on in the hottest of days (and only when she had company if the stories I've heard are true).  

But, she had an icebox!!

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Does your Refrigerator have a magnetic personality? It should!!

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Not a one-trick pony

While the storage capabilities of the refrigerator are well utilized, it's capacity to augment the flavors in a dish are mostly unused.

While the icebox was designed to keep food from spoiling so quickly, that's not all it can do!  It's cold, protective insides can be used to nurture flavors in order to grow them to magnificent proportions!!

Our current stash

Ok, that is just *a bit* of hyperbole, but the point is still valid.

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Make sure your fridge is cooling properly with a thermometer

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The rest that refreshes

One reason that many people love leftovers is that the time just chilling in the fridge gives all of the flavors time to react to each other as much as they can.  

If you've got a sweet and spicy dish then having it spend some alone time on a dark, cold shelf will give these two opposites time to get to know one another.  Then, when heated up again, they know how to work together on your tongue so much better!

This trick doesn't just work for opposite flavors.  All of the flavors in your dishes will benefit from spending some time in your chill box.

Here's more on the subject

Give it a try!

The next time you're going to make a meat sauce, soup, casserole, meatloaf, or just about anything else, make it a day ahead of time and give it time to chill.  

I think you'll be glad that you did!!

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