Q: My husband got a smoker for Christmas this year. He is beyond excited but is lacking experience (as am I). We tried one recipe for smoked ribs that came with the instruction manual for the smoker but we were disappointed. I can't seem to find a well-reviewed cookbook on smoking meats and fish. Can you or any of your readers provide some advice?

Sent by Kara
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Q: Can you tell me the best way to clean and care for wood cutting boards? I am a newlywed now in charge of my own kitchen and I do not want to warp or ruin my beautiful new wood cutting boards.

Sent by Alethea

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Q: I recently installed a new range-hood microwave, which is a "convection" microwave. Scientifically, what does this mean? Practically, what will this allow me to do that I could not do with a normal microwave?

Sent by Carolyn More

Q: What is your favorite brand of electric vegetable steamer? I have heard they are brilliant for steaming veggies while you cook the rest of the dinner because they can be set and forgotten and your never have over-cooked vegetables! We all want to eat more vegetables, don't we? So I thought I would research a good brand. Thank you!

Sent by Debbie More

Q: I just read the recent post about using cast iron on a glass cooktop and all the comments from people who own one and hate it! I'm stuck with electric - no gas in our whole building - and wondering about your top recommendations for electric stoves. Thanks!

Sent by Emily More

Q: I would LOVE to be able to use a cast iron skillet on my glasstop electric Kenmore range. Do I really need to pay attention to the manufacturer's caution that it might damage the cooktop?

Has anyone ignored this warning and had good luck cooking with a cast iron pan on this type of cook top?

I know it would be imperative to be super careful. Any advice?

Sent by Debbie More

Q: I've only been living on my own for a few months, but the kitchen is quickly becoming my favorite place to be. As I slowly add to my ever-growing array of cooking equipment, it's becoming evident that one of my next purchases should be a cast iron skillet — but what size is a good bet for a first timer?

I live on my own, so I'm generally cooking just for me. I think I'll be using it for oven-cooked steaks, bacon and eggs, and I'd love to try to bake in it. What do you think?

Sent by Abigail More

Q: I was helping my friend unpack his kitchen and he had this strange gadget. He didn't know what it is for. The metal handle thing rotates.

Sent by Julie More

Q: Can readers suggest a good all-in-one kitchen machine for my wedding registry? I have an Oster Kitchen Center that was a family hand-me-down. It's a stand mixer, blender and food processor. Unfortunately, they are no longer making this great device so it's hard to get replacement parts, plus I dropped it and cracked the housing. It still works, but since I know I have a few relatives who would love to buy an heirloom quality kitchen wedding gift I figured I'd look around for a good replacement.

Is there something out there that would serve all these functions in one machine with attachments? I know everyone loves the KitchenAid but I don't need a meat grinder or ice cream maker. I do need the food processor and blender and use them all the time. I know your readers would be just the people to know the pros and cons of the different options out there!

Sent by Kate More

Q: I am on the hunt for the perfect flour sifter. There has been something wrong with every sifter I've owned. The traditional rotary/crank ones leave me with clouds of flour everywhere. Trigger style sifters eliminate that problem, but they can be tiring to use and I find that flour gets stuck in the mechanisms. Trying to clean them usually results with that stuck flour combining with water to form an even more frustrating blob of paste. Most recently, I tried a Cuisipro trigger style that eliminates the clean up challenge but still leaves me with a tired arm and this one also creates flour clouds and mess.

I recently saw a photo of a sifter on a baking blog that looked like the perfect sifter. Of course, now I can't remember where I saw it. I found a similar one online, but every site that sells it also offers mixed reviews. Does anyone have a flour sifter they love that also works?

Sent by Heather More