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“Vacuum sealers remove oxygen from bags or containers, which creates an airtight seal that protects against freezer burn and spoilage,” said Sandy Wolner, RD and Test Kitchens Director at Pampered Chef. This allows you to keep food up to five times longer (particularly in the freezer) compared to other food storage methods.Our list of the best vacuum sealers has plenty of options to help you preserve everything in your freezer, including meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, snacks, and even pantry staples....

“The water you and your family drink should be safe,” said Kim Rose, RDN, CDCES, CNSC, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Florida. “Most municipal water standards haven’t been updated in over 20 years. A water filter pitcher removes anything that the city water treatment plant might have missed, and also removes what they added in, such as chlorine, and monochloramine.” To help determine which are the best water filter pitchers, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each water filter pitcher’s size, water capacity, filter lifespan, and price point....

1920s: Plants with Artful Elegance When home environments became more plant-friendly in the Roaring Twenties, houseplants soon became part of the lives of your average homeowner. Low-light plants such as graceful ferns quickly rose in popularity, often placed upon wrought-iron pedestals. Their tidy green foliage served as the perfect foil for the era’s geometric Art Deco-inspired furniture, textiles, and patterns. 1930s: Luxurious Leaves The Depression years didn’t stop people from refining their indoor gardens....

Plants for Creating the Fabulous Fall Garden Plan 3 Veronica spicata (‘Goodness Grows’): Zones 3–8 1 Yarrow (‘Achillea ‘Moonshine’): Zones 4–8 4 Chrysanthemum (‘Foxy Natasha’): Zones 5–9 2 New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘; Purple Dome’): Zones 4–8 1 Dwarf white aster (Symphyotrichum): Zones 4–8 4 Goldenrod (Solidago ‘Fireworks’): Zones 5–9 1 Blue fescue (Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’): Zones 4–8 1 Lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina ‘Helen von Stein’): Zones 4–8 1 New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Alma Pötschke’): Zones 4–8...

The fire pit has a 250 square foot radius, and it’s designed to be used with clean fuels, such as bioethanol or isopropanol. Not only do these fuels burn without producing any smoke or odor, but they’re also better for the environment than burning wood. It’s basically a win-win—you and your guests won’t leave your house covered in soot, and you’re being good to the environment at the same time....

What Is Lychee? Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is a fruit that belongs to the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, and is native to the provinces of Kwangtung and Fukien in southern China. A lychee tree grows between 30-100 feet and produces clusters of 2-20 fruit. Lychee exterior is red, oval-shaped, and about 1-2 inches wide. Beneath the skin lies the thick, translucent-white portion of lychee fruit covering a seed. Choose fresh lychee fruit that is reddish-pink (though browner skins are perfectly OK to eat as well)....

This year, as you prep your Thanksgiving table with DIY napkin rings, pretty placemats, and your best serving platters, think about adding a cornucopia. It might just be the perfect centerpiece to represent your plentiful spread and gratitude. The History of the Cornucopia Cornucopias are nearly 2,700 years old. The word cornucopia stems from the Latin words cornu copiae, which translates to horn of abundance. Cornucopias were first depicted in Greek mythology around 700 B....

1. Know Your Apple Trees When apple picking from your own backyard orchard, you’ll more easily be able to predict when to harvest the fruit if you know the varieties you’re growing. Use the variety name to research the harvest window for the tree. This provides a general time when the fruit should be ripe. Keep in mind that the harvest window can vary by several weeks, depending on the weather....

We did our research and found the absolute best roach killers available to buy to keep your home free from these nasty creepy-crawlies. We also spoke to Judy Black, VP of Quality Assurance and Technical Services at top pest control services company, Orkin, LLC, about what factors to consider when looking for the best roach killer. “The best strategy for the control of household cockroaches is to use baits,” Black tells BHG....

Whether you have a large area or a dedicated corner, turning your workout zone into an attractive, functional spot will help motivate you to actually use it. Consider your home gym goals accomplished. Related Video

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Buy It: Powdered Sugar Sifter ($11, Walmart) Buy It: IMUSA Citrus Squeezer ($8, Target) Buy It: OXO Good Grips Pastry Brush ($11, Bed Bath & Beyond) Related Video

Test Garden Tip: Avoid overwatering. More plants die from too much moisture than the other way around. Keep a plastic or ceramic plant saucer below the plant. This will keep moisture from damaging carpet or wood surfaces. Never let your houseplant sit in standing water. Growing Conditions: Bright, filtered light to low light and evenly moist soil Size: Up to 8 feet tall Buy It: Parlor Palm ($69, Bloomscape) Growing Conditions: Bright to low light; let the soil dry out between waterings Size: Up to 4 feet tall Buy It: Snake Plant ($68, The Sill) Moth orchids bloom once a year, but you can expect them to stay in bloom for weeks or even months before the blossoms fall off the flower spike....

Buy It: Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer ($100, Target) Buy It: Crock-Pot 4.5-Quart Slow Cooker ($25, Target) Related Video

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Apple Cider Vinegar Fly Trap Apple cider vinegar is the fruit fly trap hack you hear about most often (because it works!). For this DIY trap, begin by adding ½ cup of apple cider vinegar ($3, Target) to a glass jar. Add 2-3 drops of dish soap to the apple cider vinegar in the jar and swirl to mix. Cover the mouth of the jar with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band....

For starters, whenever you head out to harvest, you’ll want to ensure you’re picking at peak ripeness and storing them properly. These simple actions will help guarantee the best summer flavor from your fresh tomatoes for all of your summer salads and sandwiches. 1. Use a Sea Salt Fertilizer Try this trick to make tomatoes taste better: put salt on the plants themselves (it’s also tasty on the fruits). You might’ve heard before that salt can hurt plants, which is why you need to be careful applying it to sidewalks in winter to melt ice because it can kill whatever is growing nearby....

“Grass-free lawns are an emerging trend in the U.S., having started in the western states and moving toward the East Coast. We’re seeing more homeowners choosing to reduce the size of their lawn and plant edible landscapes, pollinator gardens, rainwater gardens, and native prairies/wildflowers, as opposed to grass. This dramatically reduces water usage and allows you to use fewer chemicals and resources—goodbye, lawnmower,” says Joe Raboine, Director of Residential Hardscapes at Belgard....

2. Verbena Another spreading plant and annual for containers, verbena is known for its “cascading” factor—whether trailing over pots, baskets, or retaining walls. Clusters of mini blooms typically come in white, pink, or purple. These blooms, which make a great accent plant, are a no-fail option for warm, dry conditions and do well in almost any pot. 3. Sweet Potato Vine Purple and lime green are the classic colors of this almost-can’t-kill-it-trailing vine....

It’s no surprise that protecting your belongings is always a good idea, but David Flax, president of Window Genie, points out that taking these extra steps can actually save you money by lowering your heating bills. Plus, it will help keep you comfortable throughout frigid temperatures. Preparing your home for the winter goes beyond getting the toys out of the yard or storing your mower for the season. To help you cross off the most important to-dos, Busch and Flax share their checklist for making sure your home is ready for the season ahead....