How to

The Magic Ingredient: Transform Your Meals Overnight

Introducing the ultimate spice, a true culinary powerhouse that will revolutionize your dishes and take your taste buds on an unforgettable journey. Uncover the secrets of this magical ingredient and discover how it can transform your cooking, elevating every meal into a true masterpiece. Read on to explore the wonders of this extraordinary spice and unlock a world of flavor.

Administrator

2 September, 2024

Mẻ is a nutritious and flavorful addition to any meal, packed with protein, amino acids, and vitamins. It enhances the taste of food while offering various health benefits, including improved digestion, stimulated appetite, and a boost of beneficial nutrients for the digestive system.

Mẻ is also a wonderful natural cleaner, especially for stubborn stains on pots and pans. Here are three effective methods to utilize mẻ for cleaning:

1. Apply mẻ to the bottom of the pot or pan and let it sit overnight

Coat the bottom of the cookware generously with mẻ and let it sit overnight. By morning, the mẻ will have dried and adhered firmly to the surface.

Soak the cookware in water, and the mẻ will soften and lift the grime away. Use a steel scrubber to easily remove any remaining residue. This method effectively removes stubborn grease and stains, leaving your cookware sparkling clean.

Apply mẻ and let it sit overnight. (Photo: Trần Quỳnh)

2. Direct contact with boiling mẻ

Boil water in a large pot or pan. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, add mẻ to it. Then, carefully place the bottom of the stained cookware directly into the boiling mẻ mixture.

Keep it there for about 3 minutes, and then remove it. The bottom of the cookware should now be clean and shiny. If there are any remaining traces of dirt, use a steel scrubber to easily wipe them away.

Alternatively, you can boil water and mix it with mẻ in a 1:1 ratio. Soak a cotton ball or a piece of toilet paper in the hot mẻ mixture and apply it to the stain. Leave it overnight, and in the morning, simply remove the cotton ball and rinse the cookware with clean water.

Sparkling clean pot bottom after using mẻ. (Photo: Hà Nguyễn)

3. Combine mẻ with baking soda

Mix 500g of mẻ with 100g of baking soda until well combined. Apply this mixture to the bottom of the stained cookware and cover it with a layer of paper towels to retain moisture. Let it sit overnight.

The next day, remove the paper towels and scrape off the majority of the dried mixture. Then, use a steel scrubber to clean the cookware thoroughly.

The effectiveness of mẻ as a cleaner lies in its content of lactic acid, which has a mildly acidic nature. Acid is known for its ability to remove iron rust and effectively eliminate stains from cookware, restoring their shine.

Combining mẻ with baking soda, a mildly abrasive and alkaline substance, doubles the cleaning power. The reaction between the two creates a bubbling effect, helping to lift and remove burnt-on residue from the cookware.

However, it’s essential to use thick, unfiltered mẻ for this purpose, as the store-bought filtered variety may not be as effective. Additionally, this method works best on fresh stains, so regular cleaning of your cookware is recommended to avoid stubborn, long-lasting stains.

A simple way to make mẻ at home

When cooking rice, add a little extra water. Once the rice starts boiling, drain some of the water and continue cooking as usual. When the rice has cooled, transfer it to a clean glass, ceramic, or porcelain jar.

Add water that was used to cook the rice in a 1:1 ratio, for instance, 3 spoons of rice to 3 spoons of rice water. Loosely cover the jar, allowing some ventilation to prevent spoilage. Place the jar in a cool, well-ventilated area with a temperature of around 35-37 degrees Celsius.

Let it ferment for about 5-7 days, and then check on it. When it has developed a pleasantly sour aroma, it’s ready. If you notice any black, gray, or moldy spots, discard it as it has gone bad.

To continue cultivating mẻ, add a portion of cooked rice to the jar when the level of mẻ decreases, spreading it evenly on the surface to ferment.

Frequently asked questions

The ‘magic ingredient’ referred to in the article is simply planning. By planning your meals ahead of time, you can save money, reduce waste, and eat healthier.

When you plan your meals, you can create a targeted grocery list, avoiding impulse purchases and unnecessary spending. You’re also less likely to order takeout or waste food, as you buy only what you need and use what you buy.

Meal planning helps you buy only what you need and use what you have before it spoils. This reduces the amount of food wasted, which saves you money and benefits the environment.

Absolutely! Planning your meals allows you to make healthier choices. You can ensure you’re getting a balanced diet, and it’s easier to accommodate special diets or food preferences. It also gives you the opportunity to try new recipes and ingredients.

Start by evaluating your current eating habits and patterns. Take inventory of your pantry and fridge, and plan meals around ingredients you already have. Then, decide how many meals you want to plan for the week, and choose recipes or meal ideas that fit your schedule and preferences.

Use a meal planning template or app to stay organized. Create a shopping list as you plan, and stick to it when you go grocery shopping. You can also prepare and portion some ingredients in advance to save time during the week.