Heart of the Home

Celebrate Your Mother This Sunday

Mother's Day was officially entered into the U.S. calendar in 1914 as a holiday, with roots that trace back to ancient Greece and Rome. According to History Ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals honoring Rhea and Cybele, two mothering goddesses. This celebration eventually shifted to the United Kingdom during the Lenten season when people would return to their "mother churches".

A woman with blond hair, a young boy and a young girl sit smiling on a bed with a tray of breakfast foods and flowers.

The current day celebration of Mother's Day varies within each family but typically involves creating a day to honor her through relaxation and gifting your mother with special things - a card, a beautiful homemade meal, perhaps a gift that speaks to her individuality or her favorite hobby. This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 13th. Are you ready to honor and celebrate your Mom?

Start with a homemade breakfast in bed after you let her sleep in. Kids will love to help in the kitchen by whipping up these Hey Girl Chocolate Muffins from Genius Kitchen and Mom will love them because they're chocolate! The nonstick interior of the Ceramabake BC6000 12 Cup Muffin Pan offers premium food release which means the baking and the clean up will be easy!

A White Ceramambake 12 cup muffin pan sits on top of a gray granite countertop, a metal whisk and a clear bowl with chocolate powder and an egg yolk in the center sit off to the side.

Track down the craft supplies and gather 'round the table to add a personal touch with a homemade card. She'll treasure the time and effort it took to create a homemade card. If you're looking for ideas on where to get started, check out these examples and DIY tips from Better Homes & Gardens. If you'd rather print a card for Mom, check out this collection of printable cards from Country Living.

A smiling man and young girl sit on the floor. Coloring paper and supplies sit on two small white tables in front of them.

Take advantage of beautiful, seasonal weather and head outdoors. Get in touch with nature and give your Mom the opportunity rejuvenate, perhaps by walking or hiking through the park. She'll love using her Range Kleen Go Caddy™ to hold her favorite water bottle, cell phone, keys and other items. She'll simultaneously enjoy being hands-free and hydrated. Or she may enjoy lounging in a hammock with a good book. A packed picnic lunch featuring her favorite foods along with a soft blanket is a fun, relaxing way to enjoy a meal together.

A black GoGaddy water bottle bag with plastic water bottle and long black strap fill the center of the photo. Assorted travel items such as passport, credit card, and hand wipes sit around the water bottle bag.

In an outdoor setting surrounded by trees, a red hammock shows the view of two human legs, with the feet crossed, relaxing.

We hope you'll find a special way to give back to your mother this Mother's Day.

Wishing all Mother's a Happy Mother's Day from everyone at Range Kleen.

Posted on May 09, 2018

Skip the E. Coli: How to Kleen Produce

Various fruits and vegatables sit beneath water, some splashes of water are visible.

Within the past week, a major food producer recalled about 9,000 pounds of lettuce (including ready-to-eat varieties) due to an E. Coli outbreak that has sickened dozens of people. At last count, the E. Coli outbreak had spread to eleven states. Yikes. If you're wondering how produce can become contaminated with pathogens such as E. Coli, Listeria, Salmonella and many more, you're not alone. Sources of contamination include livestock feces, heavy rains of which run-off can spread pathogens from livestock feces, produce handlers, farming and harvesting equipment and more. With Spring comes the return of the robust, fresh and delicious seasonal produce. But how do you enjoy your favorite seasonal fruit and veg without getting sick? By kleening your produce, of course.

According to experts at the FDA, you'll only need fresh tap water to clean produce. Begin by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water (scrubbing hands using soap for about 20 seconds).

Produce with a bumpy surface (such as artichokes, broccoli, etc) should be soaked for 2 minutes in cold water, then rinsed. Soaking will allow dirt from the nooks and crannies to release.

A tough skin (such as potato, melon, cucumber) will need to be scrubbed under running water with a vegetable brush (found at most groceries stores and major retailers).

Softer skinned produce requires a delicate touch. Produce such as mushrooms or tomatoes, should be cleaned by gently rubbing the skin under running water.

Lettuce can be tricky. For leafy varieties such as romaine lettuce, remove the outer layer of lettuce, then remove the roots and discard. After separating the leaves, rinse under running water and place on a cloth to dry. Iceberg lettuce should have the core removed, then rinsed under running water and drained.

Other greens, such as spinach, can be swirled in a bowl of water for about 30 seconds. Then drain in a colander.

Cut away any areas of the produce that appear to be bruised or damaged. It is important to note that cleaning the produce before cutting can prevent bacteria from contaminating the inside of produce. Lastly, dry any produce with a clean cloth and prepare to enjoy it!

Unfortunately, there is no absolute guarantee against contaminated produce, but these helpful tips can go a long way in keeping in your food safe to consume. Stay tuned for more helpful household tips from Range Kleen.

Posted on April 18, 2018

Kleen Your Way Into Spring: Refrigerator Edition

A woman reaches for a food container, smiling. The fridge is filled with food and has a white interior.

It's been a long Winter. Depending on where you live, you might've noticed signs of Spring pop up. Annual bulbs are beginning to sprout and birds are chirping as temperatures begin to warm, so we thought we'd get a headstart on Spring Kleening. Research indicates that Americans open their refrigerators about twenty times per day, which means there are a lot of fingerprints to clean. In addition, there can be grease, sticky residue and even odors. Follow these simple steps to seasonally clean your refrigerator.

As always, we recommend you adhere to manufacturers instructions. To begin, remove anything that is spoiled or past its expiration date and toss or recycle accordingly. Experts recommend emptying the perishable contents of your fridge into a cooler, while you work. shelves and crisper drawers. To avoid cracking, let these items warm to room temperature before washing. Bins and shelves can be soaked in a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Scrub with a gentle sponge, then dry and set to the side. Use a sponge to clean the door seals with the same mixture of water and mild dishwashing liquid.

Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning the interior of your fridge as food can absorb cleaning product odors. For an easy, green alternative mix half a gallon of hot water with 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda (which will help with odor absorption), or a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar, then wipe the interior of the fridge with a damp rag. Dry the interior of the fridge.

An image of clear bottles labeled Vinegar and Baking Soda with ingredients inside sit on a white background with cut lemons and limes as accents. Sponges and a bowl of baking soda sit in the background.

Return the shelves and bins to the fridge. As you return food and condiments, wipe jars, food storage containers, and bottles that have any sticky residue on the bottom or sides. If you're in need of a little organizational help, check out the Range Kleen line of organizational bins (use code FF2018 to save 20% on your order). Finally, wipe down the exterior of the fridge, paying special attention to handles using a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar. If the appliance is stainless steel, use CeramaBryte Stainless Steel Cleaner.

Stay tuned for more kleening tips from Range Kleen!

Posted on March 13, 2018

Celebrating Valentine's Day

Black and white image shows a portion of man representing St. Valentine aiming bow.

The origins of Valentine's Day lie in the romance of secret marriages performed by St. Valentine. During his reign as Roman Emperor, Claudius II thought unmarried men made for better, more focused soldiers. In an effort to strengthen his army, he forbid men to marry by placing a ban on marriages. According to National Geographic "...Valentine, it is said, flouted the ban, performing marriages in secret. For his defiance, Valentine was executed in A.D. 270—on February 14, the story goes." Hence the celebration of Valentine's Day occurring on February 14th.

Thankfully modern day celebrations are more cheerful and often extend beyond celebrating with your significant other. For many, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to express how much they care for their romantic partner, children, close friends and even pets.

To start your morning off with a little charm try dressing waffles up with this delicious Simple Berry Compote by Minimalist Baker. Sift confectioners sugar over the waffles for a finishing touch.

A round waffle made of multiple heart shapes has sprinkles of confectioners sugar and a blob of red jam on top. The waffle sits on a white plate.

A homemade Surf and Turf dinner for your partner adds a bit of decadence while dining from the comfort of your own home. As an added bonus, you'll likely save money and forgo long restaurant waiting times. This Taste of Home recipe is sure to please.

A cooked fillet mignon steak, a cooked open lobster tail and asparagus sit on a plate.

Add a heart-shaped touch with a Caprese Salad, using a cookie cutter to easily cut the mozzarella.

A caprese salad with heart shaped cheese, tomatoes and basil sit on a white plate.

If you're looking for Valentine card ideas, Good Housekeeping has several cute DIY cards. There is a host of charming printable Valentines for children to share with classmates and friends from Mommy Evolution. For adorable "punny" Valentines, check out these chuckle-filled cards from Lauren Conrad.

White table background featuring hands cutting a heart out of red paper. Red paper, pencils and other art supplies sit on the table.

In lieu of traditional Chocolate Covered Strawberries, consider finishing the evening off with a home-baked good. Try these Raspberry and White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Ahead of Thyme which bakes beautifully on the Range Kleen Ceramabake BC4010.

Round cookies dusted with confectioners sugar feature a heart in the center of each cookie filled with red jam.

If you're looking to treat your Valentine to a gift, check out our entire collection of bakeware and use code FF2018 to save 20% on your order.

Posted on January 31, 2018

Counting Down to Super Bowl Sunday!

A mother, father, daughter and son sit on the couch. Arms angled up, mouths indicate that they are cheering and excited. The son is holding a football.

In less than two weeks the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will fill to capacity as it hosts the 2018 Super Bowl! Fans rooting for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will gather to watch this exciting football event unfold. Justin Timberlake will light up the half-time show and fans around the country will gather around television screens to cheer on their favorite team.

Last year the Super Bowl drew almost 112 MILLION viewers! People gathered in homes, bars, restaurants, and even libraries to watch the game. According to Shape Magazine, an estimated 50 million cases of beer will be consumed alongside 30 million pounds of chips, popcorn, and nuts. And of course pizza. Lots of pizza. If you're headed to a watch party or hosting your own, we've got some great recipes to share to make your Super Bowl Sunday rock.

Blue bowls heaped with hearty chili sit on a wooden table, with cheese and other toppings in the corners of the image.

Try Spicy Touch Down Chili from Taste of Home to please hungry fans. In addition to traditional beans and ground beef, this hearty chili contains ground pork sausage and crumbled bacon for added savory flavors.

Image features a football and football themed decorations sitting on a table. The table is topped with a plate of grilled hotdogs, a plate of vegetables and drip and some amber glass bottles sit off to the side.

Dress up a classic ballpark frank with some of the Spicy TouchDown Chili or dress it up in a pretzel roll as suggested by Food and Wine. From topping with avocado to wasabi there are several ways to satisfy everyone's taste.

A heart shaped pizza topped with tomatoes and basil sits on pachment paper on a wooden table.

Did you know that the Super Bowl is also the largest pizza consumption day of the year? Experts caution for excessive wait times on delivery so you may consider baking your favorite pie at home. Check out this Homemade Pizza recipe from Taste of Home and be sure to bake it on your favorite Range Kleen Pizza Pan.

You'll need a little dip to accompany all of those crunchy snacks. For a twist on traditional game-day dips with Skillet Bread Spinach Artichoke Dip, Baked Goat Cheese dip or a Loaded Baked Potato Dip.

A cast iron pan holds a bread bowl full of creamy, green dip.

Wishing you a happy Super Bowl Sunday from everyone at Range Kleen!

We'd love to hear whom you're rooting for in the comments. May the best team win!

Posted on January 25, 2018

Sous Vide: What Is It? What You Should Know About It

Raw steaks, in individual vacuum seal bags sit on a wooden counter top with potatoes, a garlic bulb and rosemary sprig.

Sous Vide, a French cooking technique which translates to "under vacuum" has become quite popular. This French technique involves cooking food that has been vacuum sealed in a water bath at a precise temperature. The advantage of cooking the food at a precise temperature in a water bath is that the food cooks evenly throughout while retaining moisture.

If you're wondering what the difference is between cooking sous vide vs boiling in water, you're not alone. When cooking sous vide, the vacuumed food sits in a stable bath water using a temperature that does not exceed boiling point. In addition, the temperature remains steady throughout the cooking process.

To cook Sous Vide you need an immersion circulator, a pot (experts often recommend a pot that you make pasta in, such as the Range Kleen CW7102 12 Quart Multi Cooker with Steamer and Pasta Insert ), a vacuum bag (or Ziploc bag) and depending on your immersion circulator device you'll likely need a smartphone app to control the device. Instructions vary between manufacturers but the general concept is to bag the food, fill a pot with enough water to cover the items you're cooking (leaving a little water above the food).

You'll want to protect the space your cooking on from the heat during the cooking process, so we recommend placing the pot on a Range Kleen Counter Mat on top of a stable surface. Place the immersion circulator into the pan and begin cooking using the app. Typically after food is cooked using the sous vide method, it is finished off on a grill or on the stove top to add a little browning to the meat or vegetables. Do you think you'll be cooking Sous Vide anytime soon? We'd love to hear about on our Facebook Page!

Posted on January 15, 2018

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New Year, New Resolutions

White background with an open journal, a pen, and a succulent plant. Journal pages read "New Year" and "Goal" "Plan" and "Action" each with a checkmark checked to the right of it.

With another new year upon us, we have 365 days on the horizon filled with opportunities for self-improvement. Chatter about new years resolutions is everywhere: in the locker room at the gym (hello, swell of new members!), in the aisle of the grocery store as quinoa and kale fill up carts, and of course all over social media.

Resolutions vary for everyone as they're based on personal goals. Top resolutions include weight loss for health, making exercise a consistent habit, consuming more wholesome foods, consuming water consistently and to pay off debt.

The best way to succeed in your resolution is to establish a goal, create a plan and track your actions. It may come as no surprise to you that most resolutions fail within the first week of February, according to a statistic from US News & World Report. If you want your resolution to succeed past February, follow these tips below.

Start small. If your ultimate goal is to run a marathon and you're not a runner, create small goals that build on each other, leading up to your ultimate goal. You're more inclined to continue to pursue your ultimate goal if you reward yourself for completion of smaller goals along the way. Making your goals feasible and realistic is key!

Track your goals. Dr. Gail Matthews, a professor at the Dominican University in California found you're 42% more likely to complete your goals if you write them down on a regular basis.

Reward yourself, celebrate your successes! Human beings are heavily reliant on instant gratification. We want what we want, and we want it now. Rewarding yourself with small rewards in pursuit of your longer termed goals will help you feel euphoric and encourage you to continue pursuing the next reward.

Utilize tools to help you on your journey. Using tools to help you achieve your goal is a great strategy. For example, if your goal is to run in a 5K you might try downloading an app to your smartphone that directs your exercise each day leading up to the event. If your goal is to consume more water on a daily basis, you may try a water printable to track your intake. Range Kleen recently launched the Go Caddy compact tote which is great for carrying a water bottle along with identification cards, keys, money, and even sunglasses while remaining hands-free.

White background features black Go Caddy water bottle holder with clear plastic bottle. Assorted travel items sit around water bottle holder such as passport, credit card, hand wipes, and more.

Save 20% on your next order using code FF2018! At Range Kleen, we wish you luck in the coming months as you work to tackle your resolutions!

Posted on January 04, 2018

Post-Holiday Kleening: Oven Edition

Beige and cream colored backsplash and countertop surround a kitchen sink overflowing with dirty dishes. Bottles of cleaner and plants are off to the side and back of photo.

Your oven probably worked as hard as you did this holiday season. From roasting the Thanksgiving turkey to the holiday ham, baking cookies and pies and all sorts of goodies in between. Give your oven a well-deserved kleening without harsh chemicals to remove any grime from the holidays! You'll need baking soda, vinegar in a spray bottle, a wet rag and a sponge. That's it!

Before cleaning the oven should be completely cooled. Remove the oven racks and soak in the kitchen sink in hot water with a 1/2 cup of vinegar. (If your oven racks don't fit in the kitchen sink you can soak them in the bathtub, be sure to place a towel underneath to avoid scratching your tub). If possible, allow soaking overnight.

While the oven racks are soaking, make a baking soda paste. Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with water to form a paste. Spread the paste inside the oven on the base and along the walls, avoiding the heating elements. (Hint: It's normal for the paste to turn brown). Leave the paste to sit overnight.

Use a wet rag to wipe up as much of the paste as possible. This is a great time to use your Range Kleen Scrape and Kleen to scrape paste residue. Spritz remaining paste with vinegar.

Wipeout remaining vinegar and baking soda residue. Give the oven racks a light scrub with a scrubbing sponge, rinse with water and return to them to the oven.

Check out the Range Kleen reusable, trimmable Oven Liner to make kleening your oven even easier next time!

Posted on December 29, 2017

A block of butter features two cut pieces and some butter shavings on a white paper on top of a brown cutting board. A blue checkered towel and knife are off to the sides of the photo. The image image is on a blue background.

Butter Late Than Never! A Quick Read on Butter

Butter is in just about everything and there are many different kinds of butter available. Regular salted butter. Unsalted butter. Organic salted and unsalted butter. Butter from grass-fed cows. Butter from goats or sheep. Clarified butter. With so many butter varieties to choose from, it comes as no surprise that you might be a little confused on what kind of butter to buy and what purpose it serves.

We'll start with discussing the basics. Regular salted and unsalted butter is made from cream skimmed off of cows milk - that is churned until it begins to form into butter. Unsalted butter is often used in baking recipes to allow users to control the salt content. Organic butter is made from organic cream. Livestock that produces organic cream are not given antibiotics, growth hormones, or parasiticides and are fed an organic diet. These cows are required to graze in a pasture a certain portion of the year, so many argue that organic butter has a better taste and is more animal-friendly. Just as it sounds, grass-fed butter made from grass-fed cows. Grass-fed butter tends to be more golden than regular butter as the cow's consumer higher rates of beta-carotene.

With a low melting temperature, goat's butter (yes, made from goats milk) is ideal at room temperature and is recommending for baking. It provides a rich flavor to butter cookies and other baked goods. Sheep's milk is reported to be the creamiest of all milk and is often said to have a sweeter taste than cows milk. Due to the creaminess of the milk, sheep's butter is luxuriously creamy and delicious.

Ghee is clarified butter and it is delicious (probably because it is 100% butterfat), without the milk proteins or water that regular butter contains. Ghee has gained popularity among the food allergy community as it is free of lactose and casein. In addition, it's a heat-stable cooking fat which makes it great for baking and sauteing. The higher smoke point of ghee also makes it suitable for frying.

There are plenty of other kinds of butter on the market, so stay tuned for another quick read on this enticing spread.

Posted on December 13, 2017

Hygge: Danish Coziness

Posted on December 05, 2017

An image of five Santas in a warehouse. One Santa works a large machine while another hoists a red bag. The other three santas stand in line.

Holiday Shopping Online? Here Are Important Order Cut Off Dates

Thanksgiving has already passed and we can hardly believe it. The hustle and bustle of the holidays are upon us. Are you embracing the excitement and spirit of the season? At Range Kleen Mfg. Inc, we certainly are.

If you still have holiday shopping to do, don't worry you're among good company. With plenty of days left to shop before Hanukkah which begins Tuesday, December 12th and Christmas which falls on Monday, December 25th, we wanted to give you a heads up on shipping.

As online shopping continues to grow, the demand for delivery does as well. To receive your items ordered, it's best to order as early in the shopping season as possible. To receive your Range Kleen orders before Christmas, you'll want to take note of the order cut off dates below. As always, enjoy free ground shipping* on Range Kleen orders over $39! A flat rate shipping charge of $5 applies to orders under $39.

The following are the final order dates for UPS/Fed Ex shipments to be delivered before December 25th.

UPS/Fed Ex Ground – Orders must be placed by December 13, 2017


UPS/Fed Ex 3 day – Orders must be placed by December 17, 2017


UPS/Fed Ex 2 day – Orders must be placed by December 18, 2017


UPS/Fed Ex Next Day – Orders must be placed by December 19, 2017


The final order date for United States Postal Service (USPS) will be December 10, 2017 NOTE: There is no guarantee that any shipments by USPS will deliver on time.

The order dates above apply to shipment to the 48 contiguous United States. Please contact us at info@rangekleen.com or call 888.391.2020 for information on other shipping locations.

Posted on November 29, 2017

A hand holds one carrot while peeling carrot with vegetable peeler. The background features a purple onion, yellow bell pepper, and bowl of other green vegetables.

Thanksgiving Prep to Tackle Before Thursday

A hand holds one carror while another hand holds onto a vegetable peeler, peeling the vegetable. The background features a purple onion, yellow bell pepper, and bowl of other green vegetables.

You have your grocery list. Hopefully, you've secured the turkey. What can you do in the meantime to prepare for Thankgiving? As it turns out, there are plenty of tasks to complete ahead of time.

We love these Make-Ahead Tips from Kitchn which detail food items that can be prepped ahead of time.

Monday is a popular day to begin thawing depending on the total weight of the turkey. Various sources state it takes about 24 hours to thaw a turkey in the fridge for every 4 to 5 pounds. Butterball has a great guide on how to thaw your turkey here.

On Tuesday, cranberry sauce and green beans can also be prepped, refer to the Kitchn article above for tips. Wednesday is an excellent day to bake your desserts, chop any vegetables and prepare centerpieces.

We'll be sharing quick dinners on facebook through Wednesday night to help you keep the stress to a minimum!

Posted on November 20, 2017

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