Floss is Your Friend: Floss Your Way to Culinary Success: A Dentist's Kitchen Hacks

The holiday season is upon us! Kitchens everywhere are buzzing with delicious scents and creative energy, as friends and families gather to share meals. Whether you’re hosting a traditional family dinner or a lively Friendsgiving, you’ll want every dish to look and taste its best.

As dental professionals, we know floss is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. But did you know it can also be a powerful tool in the kitchen? Here are five clever ways to use dental floss that will make holiday food prep easier and more professional looking!

Pro Tip - Use Unwaxed, Unflavored Floss

Before diving into the medicine cabinet and grabbing that floss, remember that unwaxed floss works best in the kitchen. While minty floss is great for freshening breath it can add unwanted flavors to your food. Unflavored and unwaxed floss keeps your ingredients tasting just the way you want.

1) Cutting crumbly or soft foods easily

Cutting crumbly, soft foods can be frustrating - especially when they stick to the knife. Dental floss is an ideal solution. Simply pull out a length of floss, wrap it around your fingers, and slice through the food, giving you clean, precise slices with no sticking. This trick works wonders with:

• Soft cheese like goat cheese or mozzarella
• Semi-hard cheeses like cheddar that tend to stick
• Hard-boiled eggs

2) Slicing cakes and desserts

Whether you are serving a cheesecake or a multi-layer chocolate cake, using floss for slicing keeps your dessert presentation perfect. Dental floss slides cleanly through cakes without disturbing frosting or filling, unlike traditional knives that can leave a sticky mess. Just pull out a length of floss, wrap it around your fingers, and carefully draw it through each slice for picture perfect pieces every time.

3) Trussing and tying meats

Not everyone has kitchen twine on hand, but many of us have dental floss! Unflavored floss can be used to truss turkey legs, wings, or even secure a roast or tenderloin into the ideal shape. Dental floss is a cost-effective, accessible alternative to kitchen twine, so you can always keep your dishes in perfect form - even in a pinch.

4) Portioning and cutting dough

Perfectly portioned cookies, cinnamon rolls, and other baked goods are easier with dental floss. A knife can smush dough and displace fillings, but floss slices cleanly without altering the shape. Simply slide the floss under the dough, pull the ends together, and enjoy uniform pieces for a beautifully consistent bake.

5) Making a bouquet garni

Want to sound like a professional chef? Try creating a bouquet garni - a bundle of herbs used to infuse flavor into soups, stocks, and braises. Use floss to tie your herbs into a tight bundle, and you’ll achieve rich flavors without the need for chopping. When the dish is done, simply remove the bundle, leaving the flavors behind.

Final Thoughts: Floss is Your Secret Kitchen Weapon

Next time you’re in the kitchen, remember that dental floss isn’t just for your oral care routine – it’s also a versatile tool that can simplify holiday food prep and elevate your cooking game. Happy cooking and enjoy the season!