How To Brown Butter For The Most Flavorful Recipes Ever

The white worms we occasionally spot in salmon fillets are parasites called roundworms. Though these worms are more noticeable in salmon due to the contrast in color, they can be found in many white fish too — they’re just camouflaged.

But we shouldn’t be freaking out.

Despite the fact that our knee-jerk reaction is to panic and consider things contaminated, roundworms are as natural to fish as insects are to fruits and veggies. A teeny white worm in your salmon is the equivalent to an aphid, thrip, or mite in your recently harvested greens. Yes, it’s still yucky AF, but totally natural.

The good news is that roundworms don’t pose health risks when fish is thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the FDA’s recommendation. When it comes to lightly preserved or raw fish — like sushi, sashimi, ceviche, or gravlax — as long as the product was commercially frozen to an internal temperature of -4 degrees Fahrenheit for at least seven days prior to preparation, parasites are terminated. (High five, fellow sushi lovers!)

Just be sure to avoid sketchy sushi joints; when you hear about people getting sick from eating at low-profile all-you-can-eat sushi spot, it’s because they aren’t handling their fish properly.

It is believed by some that wild-caught fish are more susceptible to roundworms due to the fact that they interact with an external ecosystem, while farmed fish are segregated from the wild and are fed pellets treated for parasites. This isn’t something *we* can confirm, but it’s food for thought nonetheless.

If you really want to feast on fish but paranoia has now gotten the best of you, there is an at-home method you can try: fish candling. This method has you place a bright light beneath a fillet of fish so you can see the shadows of any worms present. You can then grab some tweezers and remove, then discard of the worms yourself. (This method obviously isn’t for the faint of heart.)

We say, thoroughly cook your fish and pretend worms never happened!

1. Never keep your loaf in the fridge

Turns out, storing your bread in the fridge – where the temperatures are significantly cooler – can turn it stale quicker than if you kept it at room temp. Making use of a bread box or a cool, dry cupboard is much better for keeping it in tip-top shape, according to Hardin.

Additionally, she has a good tip for the slow bread-eaters out there: "Is sliced bread getting stale before you can finish the loaf? Pop it in the freezer! Take out a slice or two as needed, toast straight from frozen, and enjoy fresh-tasting bread every time."

2. Keep certain fruits and veggies separated

Certain fruits and veggies (like apples, avocados, and melons) naturally release ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening process for other pieces of produce.

Hardin says the best practice to avoid expedited (and often unwanted) ripening is to store apples, avocados, and melons away from leafy greens, broccoli, and berries (which are especially ethylene-sensitive).

3. Wrap fresh herbs in damp paper towels

Herbs seem to be especially prone to wilting, no matter how you store them. To keep them crisp and flavorful for longer, Hardin wraps the bunches in damp paper towels before placing them in a resealable plastic bag or container in the refrigerator. So smart!

"If you try this and still don’t use them quickly enough, then try storing fresh-cut herbs in an ice cube tray with oil and freezing them into portions," she offers. "This works for fresh garlic, chili, and ginger, too."

4. Vinegar-bathe your fruits and veggies

"Washing your fruits and vegetables in a mix of water and vinegar will remove bacteria and disinfect the produce, keeping it fresher for longer," Hardin says.

To do a vinegar bath, you'll mix a 1:3 ratio of vinegar to water in a large bowl and let the produce sit for about 15 minutes. Then, rinse them off and let them dry completely before storing them away in their respective places around the kitchen.

5. Keep potatoes, onions, and garlic out of the fridge

Contrary to what you might be doing already, potatoes, onions, and garlic don't belong in the fridge. They thrive (and keep fresh) better in "cool, dark places," says Hardin.

Be mindful that storing potatoes and onions next to each other isn't optimal for freshness either, since onions release ethylene gas, like the apples, avocados, and melons mentioned before. Separate them, and enjoy fresh taters for a lot longer than you may be used to!

6. Add salt to your milk

Another trick Hardin offers is adding salt to your milk to keep bacteria from growing. The salt acts as a preservative!

"When you first open your milk, add a pinch of salt, give it a good shake, and place it in your refrigerator as soon as possible," she says. "Ensure you're also using the coolest areas of your fridge to keep your milk fresh."

7. Follow the first in, first out (FIFO) rule

Most of us who've worked in food service know about the FIFO rule: first in, first out. This means trying to use the oldest products first to avoid unnecessary food waste.

"When restocking your pantry or refrigerator, move older items to the front and place newer items in the back," Hardin says. "This encourages you to use up older ingredients first, reducing the likelihood of them expiring before they're used."

8. Remove groceries from their packaging

Unpacking certain groceries can help extend their shelf live by a lot.

"Removing foods from their original packaging into specialized storage solutions like produce savers can lengthen the shelf life such as strawberries, other fruits, and even cheese," Hardin says. "Additionally, try adding a paper towel to absorb the moisture from berries and salads."

What is the next Sherman Palladino show?

Following our beloved Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino's next series is Étoile, which is set at two world-famous ballet companies in New York City and Paris. When both companies run into some trouble, the decide to swap their most talented stars in a last-ditch effort to save themselves.

And based on the first set leaks from New York City, it looks like Étoile will definitely be packing on the drama. This short clip shows Luke Kirby standing outside Lincoln Center in a serious conversation (probably about the fate of his ballet company, TBH).

"Well, guess that plan for early retirement will have to wait," Dan and Amy said in a joint statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Instead, we’ve decided to embark on an international journey with an unbelievable group of players and the most talented ballet dancers in the world. We will sleep when we’re dead."

But this isn't the first time ASP has forayed into the world of ballet! Her ABC Family series Bunheads (which premiered on June 11, 2012) follows Michelle (Sutton Foster) who moves to her hometown of Paradise and starts working at her mother-in-law's dance studio The Paradise Dance Academy. The best part is that the role of Michelle's mother-in-law is played by Emily Gilmore herself, Kelly Bishop!

When does Étoile premiere?

We don't have an official release date yet, but considering THR recently revealed the show will finish filming soon, we're hoping to see Étoile in 2025. Just like Gilmore Girls is the ultimate fall rewatch, maybe Étoile will be the ultimate winter rewatch!

Who's in the Étoile cast?

So far, we know that Étoile will star Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick, Camille Cottin, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge, and David Alvarez. Yanic Truesdale, who played our favorite Gilmore Girls concierge Michel, has also joined the series as a recurring character! I'm so excited to see Yanic working with Amy Sherman-Palladino again — it's like a Gilmore Girls reunion!

What does Étoile mean?

Étoile translates to "star," and there are so many different connections here! We have the ballet stars themselves, but you also wish upon a star and reach for the stars when you're working towards a dream. If you ask me, Étoile is the perfect name for this series.

How many episodes does Étoile have?

The first season of Étoile will have eight episodes total, but considering Prime Video ordered two seasons, we'll definitely be getting more episodes.