Q: I live in a humid first floor apartment with poor ventilation and I cannot keep potatoes good for any amount of time. They sprout incredibly fast and get really mushy. Right now I keep them in a paper bag with a few holes punched in. The paper bag is in a wicker basket with onions. 

Looking for a fresh idea for how to store your pots and pans when you've run out of space in the cupboards? Repurpose a ladder as a pot rack! As far as small space storage solutions go, this is a nice twist on the more common wall or ceiling mounted pot rack or pegboard. It reminds me of this copper pipe utensil rack, but on a larger scale. What do you think? Would you ever try it?

What do you use to store your oil and vinegar? One reader sent us this really pretty setup he created for almost nothing out of Perrier bottles, which turn out to be rather good-looking, once you peel off the labels. Here's his rationale... 

What's the proper way to hold a knife? How should you open an avocado or chop a clove of garlic? More importantly, what are the ways you should never hold or use a knife? The folks behind First We Feast asked Henry Molina, a cook at Mission Chinese Food in New York, for a few quick knife tutorials, which they've illustrated in GIFs! Ah, the wonder of the GIF comes through again. 

Q: I'd like my household to be completely plastic- and foil-free — and the freezer seems to be the last holdout. It isn't an issue for hot meals because we use glass but I'm struggling with how to package items like breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and burritos to freeze without plastic wrap or foil or freezer bags.

Item: 64 oz Wide Mouth Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Growler
Price: $49.99
Overall Impression: This is a fantastic product for keeping beer and other beverages cold — and hotter foods hot — for hours. Works like a charm.

Love. Love. Love. I love this growler. I love it for keeping my beer carbonated and chilled all the way to the party. I love it for keeping my big batch of soup hot for the potluck. I even love it for keeping my milk cozy at it turns into yogurt. I just love it. Times a million.

I found a surprising note on the new nonstick pan I purchased. While the instructions noted that the pan had been fully seasoned and was ready for use, it suggested seasoning the pan twice a year to maintain its finish. Hold on a minute, we're supposed to season nonstick pans?  

A good knife is any cook's most important tool. We've shared our favorites, but it's always cool to see what the pros use. Six rockstar chefs recently shared their top knife picks with Details magazine, and interestingly enough, they all had one thing in common:

Item: Vitamix Professional Series 300
Price: $559.00
Overall Impression: Versatile, powerful, and worth the hype! 

The Vitamix has achieved cult-like status, but I always considered this high-end blender outside my price range. Plus I never cared for the industrial design, which is functional but not particularly stylish. Well, after putting the newer Professional Series 300 model through its paces, you can call me converted. The Vitamix Pro 300 has quickly become an indispensable and beloved tool in my kitchen — one that I would buy in a heartbeat, and possibly save in a fire.