You Probably Didn't Know The Stove Top In Your Home Can Do This

A stovetop range is so versatile that there are endless recipes that you can create without ever needing to reach for your oven. However, not all stoves are created equal. There are two basic types, electric-powered and gas-powered stovetops. Electric stovetops have metal coils or elements heated through a power source created by electrical current energy. According to Forbes, these stovetop ovens tend to heat your items at a slower pace. However, they're easy to clean, especially the flat glass-top models. Gas stovetop ranges are what you may commonly see in a restaurant and your kitchen at home. They have gas lines running up through to the burners and need to be lit with a match to get started. The flame can then be adjusted higher or lower, giving you more control over the temperature.  

You can use the stovetop for homemade soups that can be cooked using deep caldron pots to boil down your own chicken stock. If you are craving a big juicy burger, there's no need to trek outside to light up the barbecue. Instead, grab yourself a skillet and fry up a few patties. From pasta sauces and sauteed vegetables to grilled cheeses and even stovetop popcorn, your household stove can do it all. But what if we were to tell you that it's capable of so much more?

You may consider yourself a master chef. With ease, you can flip omelets without spilling the delicious interior, your sauces gently bubble but never burn, and your pan-seared salmon may put seaside restaurants to shame. You can play the dials on your gas-powered stove top like a maestro can conduct a symphony from an orchestra. However, there might be one cooking technique that you haven't tried yet.

Utilizing the open flame on your gas-powered stovetop can bring out a fantastic smokey flavor in your vegetables. According to Food & Wine, all you need are a few items to start adding this cooking style to your chef skills. Roasting veggies like bell peppers, onions, or asparagus over an open flame can blacken the outside and create a savory, smoky flavor when adding these veggies to soup stocks, sauces, or other dishes. First, make sure your overhead hood fan is turned on or the window to your kitchen is open. Then you need a pair of cooking tongs and a metal mesh cooking rack that is graded to handle high heat. To get the perfect char on your veggies, you can either lay them out over the mesh and cook them quickly over the flame or grab the veggies with your tongs and hold them over the flame until you've reached the optimal charred look.

Your stovetop is ideal for making amazing recipes, but these creations can be used for more than just delicious meals. Whether you have a gas-range or electric-range stove, you can create a delightfully smelling simmer pot to spread fragrances throughout your home. A simmer pot is a combination of ingredients that can be boiled at low heat so that the scents are slowly released into the air creating an inviting environment, according to the Food Network.

Simmer pot recipes that include cinnamon, apples, and nutmeg create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that would be perfect around the holiday season. In the summertime, think of bringing a combination of lime and mint to a low boil to zest up your home and make you think of those tangy margaritas. Also, nothing gives off the fresh, zesty smell like adding lemon and rosemary together. Simmer pots are a great alternative to using incense or chemical-filled plug-in air fresheners. These air fresheners can trigger allergic reactions in some people, and incense releases unnecessary smoke into your room. Simmer pots use fresh, natural ingredients that are also environmentally friendly, as you can compost the ingredients once you are done.