Food Prep Tools Archives - HLCooking https://hlcooking.com/category/hotlogic-equipment/food-prep-tools/ Mastering Your HOTLOGIC® Personal Oven Tue, 21 May 2024 22:08:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/hlcooking.com/wp-content/uploads/untitled.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Food Prep Tools Archives - HLCooking https://hlcooking.com/category/hotlogic-equipment/food-prep-tools/ 32 32 215873330 Portable Refrigeration https://hlcooking.com/portable-refrigeration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=portable-refrigeration Wed, 12 Apr 2023 22:20:34 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=1553 When traveling by car or camping, portable refrigeration safely stores the ingredients for the meals you cook in your HOTLOGIC®.

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]]> When traveling by car or camping, portable refrigeration will safely store the ingredients for meals cooked in your HOTLOGIC®. The most common method is using an ice chest packed with ice. The difficulty is keeping the food cold for several days without having to continually add ice. If you have a power source, then using a portable refrigerator is an option. Let’s look at these solutions for chilling food on-the-go in more detail.

Ice Chest or Cooler Bag

The first solution is using an ice chest or cooler bag to keep food chilled while traveling. In order to keep the ice from melting quickly, the most important feature is good insulation. A common hack is to take a cheap ice chest, drill several holes into the top and add spray foam insulation. YouTube has many videos showing how to improve the insulation for a cheap, plastic cooler. This video insulates the lid and more.

Mojecto Extra Large Cooler Bag for 3-4 Days Trip (XXX Large-17x14x10 in). Dual Thickly Insulated Compartment, Heavy Duty 1680D Polyester, Removable Liner, Sturdy Zippers.
Mojecto Extra Large Cooler Bag for 3-4 Days Trip (XXX Large-17x14x10 in). Dual Thickly Insulated Compartment, Heavy Duty 1680D Polyester, Removable Liner, Sturdy Zippers.

If you select a cooler bag, the manufacturer may specify they can only be used with ice packs. Otherwise, the next item to consider is what ice to use: cubed, block or dry ice. The video below answers that question by testing the different types of ice. SPOILER ALERT! The results show that a combination of dry ice and block ice work best. The dry ice will keep the block ice frozen longer adding 2-3 days of cool temperatures to what either dry or block can do by itself. The downside is that dry ice freezes everything, so it is not a good solution for chilling sodas or fresh vegetables.

Electric Coolers

If electricity is available, you can look for a portable refrigeration option. Be aware that the cheaper devices tend to be ambient coolers. They cool the interior of the appliance down 20-40°F from the outside temperature. This works okay if it is used in areas where the temperature does not get above 80°F. Most of these devices will run on either 110V AC for home use or 12V DC for car use. 

Koolatron Electric Portable Cooler Plug in 12V Car Cooler Bag, 26 qt (25 L) Black/Gray Soft-Sided Portable Car Fridge w/DC Power Cord, Adjustable Shoulder Strap, Cord Storage, Road Trip.
Koolatron Electric Portable Cooler Plug in 12V Car Cooler Bag, 26 qt (25 L) Black/Gray Soft-Sided Portable Car Fridge w/DC Power Cord, Adjustable Shoulder Strap, Cord Storage, Road Trip.
FRIGIDAIRE Portable 10L, 15-can Mini Fridge Brushed Stainless Rugged Refrigerator, EFMIS188-SS
FRIGIDAIRE Portable 10L, 15-can Mini Fridge Brushed Stainless Rugged Refrigerator, EFMIS188-SS
Northclan 15L Mini Fridge for Bedroom, 110V AC/ 12V DC Portable Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer Small Refrigerators for Home, Dorm, Office and Car, Skincare, Cosmetic, Beverage, Removable shelf, Black
Northclan 15L Mini Fridge for Bedroom, 110V AC/ 12V DC Portable Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer Small Refrigerators for Home, Dorm, Office and Car, Skincare, Cosmetic, Beverage, Removable shelf, Black

Portable Refrigerator/Freezer

True portable refrigerator/freezers, which allow you to set the temperature, start around $140 and go up from there. Some have dual zones allowing you to set compartments to be refrigerator/refrigerator, refrigerator/freezer, or freezer/freezer. They come with two cords, one for 12V DC and one for 120V AC. The portable refrigerator/freezer typically use only 40W-60W.

Alpicool Y16T Portable Fridge 12 Volt Car Refrigerator 16 Quart Freezer for Fishing, Camping, RV, Truck, Boat-12/24V DC
Alpicool Y16T Portable Fridge 12 Volt Car Refrigerator 16 Quart Freezer for Fishing, Camping, RV, Truck, Boat-12/24V DC

Electricity

You can use a portable, power station to easily power either type of portable refrigeration. See Select a Portable Power Supply for Your HOTLOGIC® for assistance in selecting a power station with the correct capacity for your needs.

Hot Logic portable refrigeration

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]]> 1553 How to Add Maillard Reaction (Browning) to HOTLOGIC® Cooking https://hlcooking.com/maillard-reaction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=maillard-reaction Sat, 01 Oct 2022 02:49:02 +0000 https://hlcooking.com/?p=378 The browning can easily be done by using a chef torch...

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]]> The one thing people miss when cooking in a HOTLOGIC® is the browning (Maillard reaction) of the food. The Maillard (pronounced “my-YARD”) reaction causing caramelization (the sugars to brown) typically happens starting at 300ºF. Since the HOTLOGIC® only goes to the mid-170’sºF or the mid-180’sºF, depending on your device; it cannot cause the Maillard reaction which gives a delicious smell and taste to foods. The browning can easily be done by using a chef torch either before or after the food is cooked in the HOTLOGIC®.

Applying the Maillard Reaction When Cooking

This video shows how easy it is to perfectly cook a steak and create Maillard reaction with a chef torch. He uses a water bath (sous vide) method for cooking the steak instead of a HOTLOGIC®, but the principal is the same.

Tools

So now that you know how to do it, what tools would help you do this yourself?

A metal pan provides a safe dish to hold your meat while torching, There are some that can fit in the HOTLOGIC® Mini and Max/XP.

(Click images to see in Amazon.)

Fits a Mini

Right sized for a Mini

Fits a Family Size

To safely handle the meat while torching it, metal tongs or a meat fork will work. These two suggestions are each under $6 on Amazon at the time of writing this post.

A meat thermometer with wire probe will let you know when your meat has reached your desired internal temperature. You can check the temperature with your HOTLOGIC® zipped closed.

Of course a butane chef torch is required.

If you don’t already have one in your kitchen, it’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher in easy reach, like this one pictured. Click image to see in Amazon.

For more information on how to select a fire extinguisher, click here.

With these tools to create the Maillard reaction when cooking in a HOTLOGIC®, it should be easy to prepare food with the caramelized finish. This will give you a larger selection of food prepared in a HOTLOGIC® that looks, tastes and smells delicious.

stock photo-juicy chicken breast seared golden and sliced.
Grilled chicken breast served with salad

Hot Logic Maillard Reaction Cooking

Techniques

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