Article: A variety of organizations (food manufacturers, restaurants, consulting companies, governments and universities) hire consumers to test food products. Being a consumer taste tester is not a full-time job, so you'll want to look for an opportunity close to where you already live. The best place to start is with a Google search for "taste testers" in your area. Consumer taste testers get paid approximately $15/hour or up, but sometimes are paid per test, instead of per hour. If you know of a specific organization in your area, start your search on their website. Some examples of where to look include the following: McCormick & Company is located in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The Consumer Product Testing Centre via the Government of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta. The National Food Lab is located in Livermore, California. The North Carolina State University Sensory Service Centre is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Organizations require that, as a taste tester, you be at least 18 years old to participate in their programs. And you cannot have any existing food allergies. You will also be required to complete taste tests during weekdays and during work hours. Each organization may have their own, specific requirements as well. You can confirm these requirements on their website when you complete an application. Also be aware that some organizations may have a limit on the number of times you can participate in a consumer taste test in a given year. Complete the required application or registration form from the organization's website. Most applications can be completed and submitted online, but a few are still require a paper application to be submitted via mail. Applications will require basic items like your name, address, phone number, email address, gender, and birthdate. You may also be asked about your food preferences, including whether you are a vegetarian or vegan. All the information you provide to a taste test organization is stored in a database. The organization then uses the database to find the right people to participate in each taste test - based on the information you've provided to them. In order to ensure they can find the right testers for each opportunity, the organization may send you questionnaires asking very specific questions about food. Be sure to answer any questions that are asked honestly, as your answers will impact what tests you'll be asked to participate in. For example, some tests may require males who are 20 to 35 years old. The organization will query the database to find all testers who are male and who are between the ages of 20 and 35. They will then reach out to some of those testers to see who may be interested in participating. In addition to reaching out to you on a proactive basis, some organizations have an online portal for testers only. You'll be able to sign into this section of the website to view potential testing opportunities. Keeping track of potential opportunities on your own will help ensure you're able to participate in more tests. Organizations, like FPI Testers, also post available tests on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. In order to make sure you don't miss any great opportunities, follow the accounts for the organization for which you're a member and keep track of what they post on social media. Once you're all setup with an organization, it's time to prepare for an actual taste test. Information about what to expect at a taste test can be found on the organization's website, and, if anything specific is required, they'll send that information to you directly. Before a taste test, the organization will send you information about the ingredients in the items you'll be testing. Review this information to ensure you won't have an issue with any of them. Some additional ways to prepare are included below: Be on time, or a little early. Do not eat or smoke within the 30 minutes before your test. Do not wear fragrant items like perfume or cologne. Do not bring children with you. You will also be required to turn your cell phone off when in the test. Depending on the type of test, you may also be required not to speak to anyone else while at the test.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Research consumer taste testing opportunities. Check eligibility requirements. Submit an application. Answer more detailed screening questions. Sign-up for taste test opportunities. Prepare yourself for tasting.
Article: This is particularly important if you are planning on baking pie(s). This is also a good time to make sure you have all the supplies and ingredients you will need--turkeys and pumpkin pie filling will be hard to find once the holiday arrives! If you decide to cook everything the day of, make a plan as to what will go in the oven when. Most of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes get baked in the oven, so you will need to plan a coordinated attack. Find out which recipes take longer to cook and put them in first. While your guests won't be arriving until the next day, it is still extremely helpful to set your table the day before. Make your dining table as long as possible (time to break out that additional piece) or bring in an extra table if you simply can't fit everyone at one table. Bring in all the chairs and place all the plates, napkins, cutlery, etc. on the table, spacing each setting out so that the guests won't be bumping elbows every time they go to lift a delicious bite to their lips. If you happen to know which of your guests are right handed vs. left handed, keep that in mind when setting the table. Placing a rightie next to a leftie will result in two guests smacking their elbows together all dinner long. While this is not necessary, having flowers in the house is always a nice touch. Its important to buy them the day before your dinner because if you buy them before then, they might wilt. Pick out bouquets that are fall-themed for an extra lovely touch. No one likes to be invited to a messy house, so tidy up the day before and make sure everything you won't need for the dinner is stored away. If you are short on time and need help with cleaning, get a family member or hire a cleaning service to assist.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Start cooking the day before Thanksgiving. Set your table. Buy some flowers. Clean your house.
Article: If you're obsessed with a crunchy crust, consider baking the pizza on a skillet. Place a cast-iron skillet over medium heat until the pan gets hot. Place one or two slices of microwaved pizza on the skillet using tongs. After about thirty seconds to a minute, use the tongs to lift the pizza and check the bottom. Cook until it's as crispy as you like it. Don't crowd the pan. If you put too many slices of pizza in the pan at once, the crust won't crisp evenly. If you want a crunchier finish, melt half a tablespoon of butter in the pan before heating up the pizza. This will add a buttery, deliciously flaky finish to the bottom crust. If you use a waffle iron to reheat your pizza, you can skip the microwave and oven entirely. First rearrange the toppings on the pizza. They should be clustered together in the upper left corner of the pizza slice near the crust. Then, fold the pizza. Bring the bottom point up to the top left corner and press the pizza to make a fold. Finally, press your pizza into a pre-heated waffle iron and cook for about five minutes, continually checking for doneness. If you have small pizza pieces or a large waffle iron you don't need to fold the pizza or rearrange the toppings. Instead, sandwich two pizza pieces together and press them in the waffle iron. Fresh ingredients such as basil leaves and sliced mozzarella are excellent additions to any pizza. Also consider adding some traditional pizza toppings such as olives, anchovies, and sliced bell peppers. Finally, try experimenting. Add leftovers such as diced chicken or taco meat to the top of your pizza for a fun twist. If you don't want to add new ingredients, consider using a dipping sauce such as ranch or bleu cheese dressing to spice up your leftovers.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Finish the pizza on a skillet. Finish your pizza in a waffle iron. Add gourmet ingredients to your pizza.