FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF NOV. 9, 1998:
We’d like to store water for emergencies. What containers should we use and how should we make sure they’re clean enough?
For emergencies, assume each person will need at least six gallons of water each week, says University of Idaho extension educator Marilyn Bischoff. Store that water in food-grade glass or plastic containers–ones in which you bought food or beverages from the grocery. (Never re-use bleach bottles or other cleaning-product containers.)
To sanitize glass or food-grade plastics for long-term water storage: (1) wash them with hot, soapy water, (2) rinse well with plain water, (3) rinse with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon chlorine bleach per pint of water, and (4) rinse one more time with clean water. Clean the lids thoroughly, mark and date the containers, and store the water in a cool, dry place away from plastic-degrading sunlight.
Water from a public water supply has an indefinite shelf-life but will taste better if you replace it every six months to a year, Bischoff says.
For more information about storing and treating emergency home water supplies, request University of Idaho Current Information Series 1004 from Ag Publications at (208) 885-7982, http://info.ag.uidaho.edu, or Ag Communications, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-2332.
As the weather gets colder, we spend more time over dinner. How much time do we have to put away the leftovers?
Perishable foods should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than two hours, says Sandy McCurdy, University of Idaho extension food safety coordinator. Either refrigerate them--at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly below--or freeze them in shallow containers. (Yes, you can freeze leftover turkey and trimmings.)
If you’re planning to reheat the turkey, don’t put it away intact, McCurdy says. Slice the breast meat and cut off the wings and legs.
Eat refrigerated leftovers promptly: stuffing and gravy within a day or two; cooked turkey and other cooked dishes within three or four days.
Will switching to low-fat and no-fat foods help me lose weight?
Only if you don’t consume more calories in the process. Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist, says many Americans are making the mistake of filling up on low-fat snacks that are actually quite high in calories. Fats furnish 9 calories per gram while carbohydrates and proteins contribute only 4 calories per gram–but all those calories add up. If that no-fat snack is loaded with calories from carbohydrates, you’ll still gain--rather than lose–weight, without having consumed a single gram of fat.
To drop pounds, Raidl recommends that you concentrate instead on whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
What bedding do you recommend for my horse this winter?
Besides being affordable and available, bedding should be absorbent, dust-free, easily disposed and something the horse would prefer not to eat, says University of Idaho extension educator Kathy Roy.
Every 100 pounds of dry straw can absorb 210-375 pounds of water. "Straw is an excellent choice for foaling stalls because it’s less likely than shavings to stick to the newborn’s body or cause breathing difficulty," Roy says. But it’s highly combustible, can be inconvenient to dispose of, and it’s tasty enough that horses may eat their ways out of house and home.
Shavings may be more expensive than straw but they’re easier to manage. Choose relatively large particles to prevent dust-related respiratory problems. And use softwood rather than hardwood shavings because they’re twice as absorbent.
Shredded newspaper is pollen-free, more comfortable and less dusty than either straw and shavings, and absorbs 400 pounds of water per 100 pounds of dry newsprint. But it’s also quite combustible.