How Long to Thaw a Turkey It’s important to start cooking with a fully defrosted turkey. Our handy turkey defrosting guide shares full timing and methods for thawing your Thanksgiving turkey. Our favorite way to thaw a bird is to leave it in the refrigerator. You can keep a turkey in the fridge for up to four days before cooking. How Long to Roast a Turkey Once your turkey has been properly thawed and brined, seasoned, or stuffed as desired, roast in a pan at 325°F using these times as guidelines for unstuffed turkeys....

To experience optimal benefits, you need the right amount of sleep—every night. How much sleep depends on individual factors, including your age, health, and even DNA. The National Sleep Foundation provides recommended sleep duration guidelines by age, based on scientific research conducted over two years by 18 different sleep experts. Their verdict: Adults between 18 and 64 years old should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. (The CDC recommends “seven or more hours per night” for the same age range....

For starters, if you don’t already own a quality tape measure, buy one. Get one with a 25-foot-long blade that’s 1-inch wide and has a lock to keep the blade extended, such as the Stanley PowerLock Tape Measure ($11, The Home Depot). The wide blade extends a long way without buckling. If possible, get a tape measure that doesn’t have the first few inches divided into 32nds. These fine markings are rarely needed in carpentry projects and can be distracting....

Choose one of these solid flannel sets (from $17; target.com) in sophisticated colors, like indigo, white, and soft blush. And if you really can’t bear to part with cotton bedding, opt for twill sheets, like anelegant set from Brooklinen (from $189; brooklinen.com), which is woven from long-staple cotton but was made for cold winter nights. RELATED: How to Choose the Best Bed Sheets Also, consider the fill power, or the amount of space one ounce of down takes up....

What’s the best way to protect your vital documents (and cash) in case of a disaster? Keep copies in a fireproof safe; after all, you will likely need these documents to help you in the aftermath of said disaster. For example, you’ll need copies of your financial documents to contact your insurance providers and get help from government disaster relief programs. Luckily, there are tons of options out there when it comes to finding a safe—it’s about finding the one that fits your budget, needs, and, of course, one that has all the proper security features....

How to Prevent Stains on a Mattress The best way to keep a mattress clean is to prevent stains in the first place. “It’s always best to use a mattress protector to prevent stains altogether,” Corrow says. “Contrary to the noisy old vinyl ones that probably come to mind, the market now offers many inexpensive options made of soft fabric bonded to waterproof backing. Some even offer additional benefits like stain repellent, antimicrobial, and bedbug protection....

This guide will explain how to perform routine cleaning, how to remove stains and tangles, and how to deep-clean sheepskin rugs, both real and faux. The Basics of Caring for Sheepskin Rugs There are four main ways to clean sheepskin rugs, and you should be familiar with all of the methods in order to keep your rug looking attractive for years to come. Vacuuming is the primary way to clean a sheepskin rug; vacuum regularly to keep it looking its best....

Ramen is a major part of Japanese culture, although it is presumed to have originated in China. Luckily for us, ramen has now become widely popular beyond Japan. There are many different types of ramen, and the regional variations are vast. From the broth to the toppings, its components vary widely. And to throw a curveball into the mix, some ramen dishes, like mazemen, are broth-less and simply tossed in a rich sauce, or tsukemen, which are cold noodles served with a dipping sauce or broth alongside for dunking....

If you’re nodding your head in agreement, it’s likely you’re experiencing a bout of social anxiety, either for the first time or in a heightened way—and you’re not alone. Mental Health America reports that 15 million Americans have social anxiety disorder. While social anxiety can rear its ugly head in any scenario, experiencing it at work can be particularly challenging, especially if your office is a highly social environment. Luckily, there are ways to work through it and keep it from impacting your work performance and social interactions....

More specifically, dehydration can be a major cause (and remember that caffeine and alcohol are both dehydrating), as can a high salt intake, points out Sydney Givens, PA-C, founder of Skincare by Sydney. (Hence why you wake up puffy if you’ve had too many chips and margaritas the night before.) A lack of sleep, allergies, and even the weather can also contribute. The good news? There are easy things you can do, both to address the root cause(s) of the issue and to quickly de-puff when swelling does strike....

“When we don’t have enough information about the future—when things are uncertain—it makes perfect sense to be anxious,” says Amelia Aldao, PhD, a clinical psychologist in New York City and the founder of Together CBT, a clinic specializing in group therapy for anxiety, OCD, stress, and depression. “Anxiety makes us worry about the future so that we can plan for scenarios. It increases our vigilance of our surroundings and engages the fight-or-flight response in case we need to defend ourselves physically,” she says, adding that “it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious when things are uncertain....

In fact, there is more food in landfills than any other kind of waste. As this food decomposes, it emits methane, a warming gas that the EPA says is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. All said, food waste produces some 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse-gas-emitting country in the world. If you’re thinking about all of the food your family tosses out every week, don’t worry....

So, how do you identify your curl type? Hairstylist Andre Walker started a curl typing system, which is still used today and provides a way to label hair types based on texture. It utilizes numbers 1 to 4, with one being straight hair and four being kinky texture and subcategories (A to C). A has the widest diameter or pattern size, and C has the smallest. It’s a lot to think about and remember when you’re shopping for products, looking for new ingredients, and trying to style them, so we asked professional hairstylists to break down the different types of curls, so you can easily ID your curls, shop better, and style smarter....

What Is Scalp Acne? Acne on the scalp is similar to acne on the face. “Clogged pores can occur on the scalp and often do, as this area tends to be densely populated with sebaceous or oily glands,” explains Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “Pimples form on the scalp when a pore is clogged and bacteria is trapped, leading to inflammation.” Scalp acne is usually located on the scalp and back of the head, and manifests as small pimples that are very similar to those that we can find on our face....

Cooking Salmon on the Grill: Prep Steps The prep needed for cooking salmon on the grill is very simple. Before grilling fish, rinse and pat dry with paper towels. If the fish is too wet, it may stick to the grill. Whether you’re cooking grilled salmon with skin or without, the best way to grill salmon with added flavor is to use a dry rub or sprinkle with spices or herbs (thyme, dill, or basil works well with grilled salmon)....

How to Care for a Fiddle-Leaf Fig Fiddle-leaf figs became the must-have houseplant in the mid-2010s, because the tree is big, dramatic, and can instantly enhance a dull room. “They’re still fan-favorites, but they tend to require a bit more extra care,” says Mast. The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a tropical plant native to rainforests in central and western Africa. In nature, a fiddle-leaf fig ($249, Bloomscape) can grow up to 50 feet tall, but don’t worry—your houseplant won’t break through your ceiling....

If you don’t have an existing garden, you can start your indoor herb garden with lavender transplants from your local garden center. Whichever planting route you choose, follow these nine tips to successfully grow and take care of lavender plants indoors to have a never-ending supply of this fragrant herb. 1. Select Dwarf Varieties to Grow Indoors There are more than 450 varieties of lavender, so make sure you research and select the best lavender to grow indoors based on how you’re going to use it....

“Sous vide is the process of sealing a product, be it steak or carrots, in a protective barrier, most often plastic, vacuuming out the air and cooking it in a water bath at a very precise temperature,” explains Chef Sean Wheaton, vice president of culinary at Cuisine Solutions, which sells gourmet sous vide meals for home and restaurant use. Unlike boiling, poaching, or steaming an ingredient, with sous vide cooking, the food isn’t touching the water, so it isn’t losing flavor during the cooking process....

Conventional heating systems create temperature zones in different parts of a room. These zones can make sections or levels of the room uncomfortable and prompt you to raise the heat setting to warm up the cool spots. Radiant floor heating warms the entire area to a consistent, comfortable temperature. It also heats without blower noise and dust. Most homeowners can expect to spend several days installing radiant heat flooring and should have electrical experience....

Off he went to the store to purchase the cake mix, only to return to find that we didn’t have the vegetable oil the recipe required. Instead of going back out to the deli, we decided to improvise with whatever we had on hand. Here’s how this off-the-cuff ingredient substitution created the best boxed cake we’ve ever tasted. Ingredient Substitution After going back and forth about what to use instead of vegetable oil, we decided to try coconut oil....