Author: Anoop Yersong

Top 13 Essential Nigerian Food Ingredients

Post author By Anoop Yersong
Post date August 8, 2020
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Cooked to perfection with spices and brimming with delicious sauces, that’s the ultimate comfort food in Nigeria. Nigerian cuisine is a culinary delight that never fails to satisfy your palate. The fact that it is so homely and so comforting just adds to the entire experience. It has several delicacies, all of which, besides being finger-licking good, are made with delicate herbs and spices. The aroma that lingers in the air will make you drool while the flavors bursting in your mouth will tantalize your taste buds.

If you are on a mission to find the freshest produce for your loved ones and get groceries delivered in Nigeria or want to order groceries to whip up a Nigerian stew, Now Now Express is an ideal place where your quest can end. But before that, you must acquaint yourself with these simple, yet flavorful ingredients that swear to take any dish up a notch. Since Nigeria has around three hundred tribes, each tribe features unique dishes, but some ingredients are common to most Nigerian recipes. Here is a list of the top 13 essential Nigerian food ingredients that you must have in your pantry. Check them out!

1. Rock Salt:

Rock Salt is a pretty common ingredient that works well as a tenderizer. It works by making the meat really succulent, tender, and juicy while retaining the lovely flavors. Apart from being a handy ingredient, rock salt also has several health benefits. It improves the digestion and boosts the metabolism. One may even sprinkle it on some beets or bananas for some extra taste.

2. Herbs:

There are a handful of herbs that are a part of Nigerian cuisine. Thyme, sage, rosemary, oregano, and Yoruba Efirin are some of the herbs which are frequently used as a seasoning for different kinds of meats. You can add these to stews and soups and make them more flavorful.

3. Spices:

Herbs and spices go hand in hand in Nigerian food. Nutmeg, bay leaves, turmeric, suya spice, paprika, etc. are commonly used in the dishes. Nigerians definitely like their food spicy, so every meal hits you at a different spot. Isi Ewu, Suya, Asun, and Kilishi are some of the spiciest delicacies you should not miss.

4. Onions:

Onions are often used as a base for several stews and soups. It adds a unique flavor to the dishes while also adding to the nutritive value. Plenty of traditional recipes call for caramelized onions. Fry them or caramelize them, they taste delicious whichever way you make them. In some meals, you can even use spring onions for a refreshing touch.

5. Flours

Flours, especially Cassava flour and Yam flour, are widely used in Nigerian cooking. Moin-Moin, Chin Chin, Amala, and Tuwon Garin Shinkafa are recipes that call for diverse kinds of flour. Nigerian meat pie can be a perfect choice if you want to make something mouthwatering and fulfilling. Plantain flour, beans flour, and rice flour are some variants of flour that can be used to create delectable dishes.

6. Stock Cubes

Stock cubes are a handy ingredient that you can simply toss in soups or any other dish. What makes them so unique is the fact that they are versatile and easy to use. Stock cubes are essentially solid, savory cubes of meat broth or vegetable broth that add a yummy flavor to any dish. They can be added to gravies, soups, stews, sauces – basically, any recipe that requires this savory goodness.

7. Yams

Yams are a staple in African countries, and rightly so, plenty of Nigerian recipes call for this nutrient-laden ingredient. In fact, you can successfully incorporate this ingredient in almost any dish or even have it as a side dish. Pounded yam is easy to make, and it goes excellently with soups.

8. Pepper

This one is a common ingredient in Nigeria and one of the most crucial components of traditional Nigerian pepper soup. Alligator pepper that is also known as grains of paradise, has an alligator-like skin, which is where it got its name. It is used to add a lovely aroma and a hint of spice. Notes of this ingredient can be recognized in many soup recipes.

9. Plantains

While plantains are members of the banana family, they are higher in starch and lower in sugar. Unlike bananas, they retain their shape during cooking. They are served with Jollof Rice and are sometimes added to stews for more flavor. Dodo or fried plantains are also a sumptuous snack

10. Crayfish

Dried crayfish powder is added to a bunch of dishes to have a kick of flavor. It is used as a seasoning, and it adds the authentic traditional taste to soups and gravies. If you’re new to Nigerian cooing, you can experiment with this unique ingredient by adding it to fried rice.

11. Palm Oil

Palm oil is a staple that is used in several recipes in Nigerian food. Toss it in stews or add it to Abacha (African salad). Palm oil is extremely versatile and can be added to almost any dish. Palm oil Jollof rice is a hearty, family meal that you can whip up with a handful of ingredients.

12. Beef

Nigerians love their beef, and it is a critical ingredient in a lot of flavorful recipes. It is added to stews for that meaty flavor and extra protein, plus it is loaded with nutrients. The Nigerian beef stew is a wholesome and inviting delicacy that goes well rice and fried plantains.

13. Parboiled Rice:

Parboiled rice can be used in any rice recipe. They are pre-cooked rice, which is comparatively healthier than regular white rice. What makes them great is that they are convenient and can be added instantly without much preparation. To add to that, they also absorb sauces or other ingredients without any fuss, resulting in a flavorful and delicious treat.

These were some popular ingredients that are widely used in Nigerian food. Find these ingredients on Now Now Express and easily send food to Nigeria while sitting anywhere in the world. You must consider including them in your meals to add more flavor and texture to them. The Nigerian cuisine is loaded with intensely flavored gravies and sauces, traditional herbs, and plenty of spices, and it will surely leave you amazed.

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Tips for Grocery Shopping During Coronavirus

Post author By Anoop Yersong
Post date August 6, 2020
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grocery shopping during coronavirus - now now express

The threat from the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced most countries to put their cities under lockdown. Citizens have been advised to follow social distancing, stay at home, take care of their health, and maintain personal hygiene. The worldwide lockdown has restrained residents of all cities from stepping outside and allowing going out only to buy essential products or during emergencies. All this has also led to new challenges for Nigerian immigrants and emigrants to travel and even to shop essential groceries.

During these challenging times, getting groceries can be a serious difficulty for everyone. Even if it sounds easier to go to the store, but if you venture to the grocery stores, you may find slim pickings in most of the aisles, that too wasting a lot of your time and risking yourself. The scarcity of needed products in grocery stores can go beyond delivery time slots. Most of the grocery items that people are looking for are running out of stock. The steps supermarkets are taking everywhere to make their locations feel safe can also make shopping more cumbersome.

While having groceries online delivered and most importantly, a no-contact dropoff at doorstep means potentially less exposure to the virus. So it’s no wonder that you may find it a more convenient and safe way to shop groceries online. Here are seven simple tips for shopping for essentials during COVID-19:

1. Plan Ahead

Before you start grocery shopping, take stock of what you have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. Use this time to toss out any perishable food item that has spoiled or turned rancid and expired food products. Make an inventory list of what is required so that you have it handy when you plan order groceries. Make a list of every food item you need to buy, as this will avoid overspending and missing out on essential food products. If you are still not sure, you can also opt for a bundle of essential foodstuffs. It compromises most of the essential food items that one should always have in their kitchen.

2. Buy at least for a Couple of Weeks

Try to buy food items in adequate quantities that can be stored and supply for at least two or three weeks. This will eliminate any possible shortage or expiry of foods. If you don’t know what all will be needed a week from now, just start with the top 10 to 15 grocery items you usually buy for an average week and begin from there. For example: Buy semi-perishable items such as potatoes, which can be stored for a long time. People who have kids can stock breakfast bundles to continuing providing healthy and tasty breakfast every morning. Also, don’t forget to buy disinfectants and immuning boosting foods such as Green tea. Try ordering bundles instead of small quantity single food items.

3. Place Order After Midnight

In the new reality created by the coronavirus and all the protests happening around the world, a once-normal weekly chore, i.e., grocery shopping, has become a more intimidating task. A little bit of smart planning can easily make your grocery shopping a little less stressful. One quick tip that is great for late sleepers is to start checking out the grocery orders during the late hours of the night. Since the site traffic is low and you can easily browse through the product range and easily place your order in a hassle-free manner.

4. Advantage of Paying Online

A wise move is paying the bill online instead of opting for cash payments at the time of the delivery. As it is advised to use a cashless mode of payment as much as possible. This helps in eliminating the possibility of transmission of the virus while transacting with the delivery person as well as help in saving cash and not rushing to ATMs every now and then during the lockdown.

5. Keep Patient

You may encounter brief moments when you’ll find it difficult to get your deliveries on time. Don’t panic at all as it has nothing to do with the supply chain process but with retail operations, who are continually trying to adapt to the situations and keep up during these tough times. They are extensively following all safety measures and imposed movement rules in most cities, due to which the delivery process might get a little delayed. But, your supplies will reach you in the shortest time and safest way possible.

6. Getting Deliveries

Online grocery shopping ensures the utmost safety as it allows you to receive the deliveries without in-person contact. You simply just need to ask the delivery personnel to leave the package in your preferred safe spot outside the house. While maintaining the 6 feet distance rule while collecting the order.

7. Don’t Forget to Wash Hands

Upon you receive the delivery, make sure to sanitize your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub with 60% alcohol or wash with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. This will ultimately deplete the possibility of contracting the virus.

While it might be becoming difficult for Nigerian emigrants and immigrants to go outside to buy essentials amidst coronavirus and all on-going protests, online grocery shopping services have become a lot more efficient and convenient in recent times. It is better to follow precautions and minimize the trips out to the public as much as possible. As the COVID-19 crisis continues, most people are shifting to online grocery deliveries to get essentials delivered to them and their loved ones as they try to stay socially distanced. It’s a great option, especially for those people who are at a higher risk from the virus.

But if you have never shopped for groceries online, now may be a particularly confusing and chaotic time to start. As most of the grocery stores and supermarkets are stretched thin, dealing with increased demand. If you’re struggling to find the best option or if you aren’t sure where to begin, we’ve have got all the essential food items for you. If you are looking to buy groceries online or get it delivered in Nigeria to your loved ones, Now Now Express is always here at your service.

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How to cook Nigerian Jollof Rice – The Best Nigerian Rice Recipe

Post author By Anoop Yersong
Post date August 4, 2020
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Cooking is an art. I am sure; nobody will ever oppose this statement. The making of delicious food is not easy. It requires patience, and you need to be aware of how to do things correctly. I am sure at least once all of us have tried to make a dish or some food. And also I am sure it is one of the beautiful memories you relish. The fact for some of you it is a bad dream to forget! Since cooking is an art, to become an artist, you need a perfect guide. Well, why do you think we are here? We are going to teach you how to prepare traditional Nigerian Jollof rice.

Nigerian Jollof Rice

Without the Jollof Rice, we Nigerians won’t consider anything as the celebration, isn’t it? I know with the mention of this dish you are getting water on the mouth. Jollof rice is just like burgers in the USA. All African people enjoy eating this, but the taste and preparation method differ in each country.

People have the notion that the mouthwatering taste of Jollof rice comes because of its method of cooking. The traditional way of cooking this rice is by using firewood. But nowadays, using wood is difficult and not a viable option. But do you know without the firewood, we can prepare Jollof rice, and it will not lose any deliciousness?

Then why to wait, let us look at how to do that.

How to prepare the classic Nigerian JollOf Rice?

To make this delicious food, there is no need to have many ingredients. This can be done with a minimal amount of components. And these ingredients won’t require some unpronounceable food chemicals!

It typically takes just fifteen minutes for the preparation and about an hour for cooking. Hence within an hour and fifteen minutes, you are able to taste this dish.

Ingredients

Four cups of long-grain uncooked rice
6 Medium chopped tomatoes or 400 gram tin of tomatoes
6 cups of stock (vegetable, chicken or beef) or water
Four large red bell peppers with seeds discarded
Medium-sized 3 red onions
one scotch bonnet peppers
1/3 cup of coconut oil
Three tablespoons of tomato paste
Curry powder of two teaspoons
One Teaspoon of dried thyme
Two dried bay leaves
Two tablespoons of unsalted butter
Salt for taste

The usage of butter is optional, and out of 3 onions, you need to slice one thinly and chop the rest two roughly.

Instructions for Cooking

Step 1

Rinse the rice; it will make you get rid of the starch. Then partly cook the rice. After this boil, the rice with 2 cups of the stock (or water) then keeps cooking on medium heat. Keep it covered and cook for 12 to 15 minutes. After this, rice will still be hard and a bit of white. Remove this partly cooked rice and stock from heat and keep aside.

Step 2

With the help of a mixer, blend tomatoes, red bell peppers, chopped onions, and Scotch bonnet. Continue to blend till it becomes a smooth paste. It takes about a minute or two. Now you will have roughly 4 cups of mix.

Step 3

Take a large pan, heat oil, and add sliced onion to it. Season it with a pinch of salt, stir and fry for two minutes. Add tomato paste, curry powder, bay powder, and dried thyme. Continue to stir for another 2 minutes, add the mixture prepared in step 2. and stir. Continue to stir for 12 minutes on medium heat. By this time, the raw taste of tomato and mix cook will go.

Step 4

Put two cups of the stock ao the cooked tomato sauce along with a teaspoon of butter and insert the parboiled rice. Stir and cover it with a second piece of foil and put a lid on the pan. It helps to seal in steam and helps to lock the flavor. And cook on low heat for 15 minutes more. Now stir again and add the remaining cup of stock. Also, adjust the seasoning to taste. Stir it again and cover with foil and let it cook for 20 minutes. Don’t forget to stir again and again as it prevents burning. Now rice becomes cooked, and grains will become separate.

Step 5

Don’t hesitate to add more water or stock by the half cup and stir gently if you find it a bit hard. After this is fully cooked, take off the heat and remove the cover of the pot. Put a tea cloth over the top and keep aside for a half-hour till it becomes ready to serve.

Step 6

To give a classical touch, you are just away from a step. If you remember in the beginning, we were told that we would teach how to give traditional firewood cooking taste. So, now once the rice is cooked, turn up the heat with the lid on and leave to burn for 3 to 5 minutes until you hear the rice crackle sound. And the toasted smell will follow. Now turn off the heat and leave with the lid on till serving the rice.

Now your delicious food is ready.

Dos and Don’ts

For getting better results, one has to give attention while preparing rice. Here are the dos and don’t for cooking the rice.

Things to Do

Wash the rice to remove impurities. You need to wash it at least two to three times before cooking.
Soaking rice gives extra taste. Ideally, brown rice should be used after overnight soaking, and for white rice, soaking for two hours is enough.
You need to put water, depending upon the cooking method. For cooking on a pressure cooker, put 1:2 ratio of water if you are cooking on an open pot, use one ltr of water for a cup of rice.

Things to Avoid

Avoid storing the rice in a gunny bag, jute bag, and cloth bags. It attracts pests.
Avoid storage of rice in damp areas.

These are the way to prepare classical Nigerian Jolle rice. Just follow these steps and enjoy the party with your loved ones! If you are in the USA and want your family back in Nigeria to have fun? They don’t worry, you share this recipe for preparing yummy Nigerian rice and order the required ingredients here.

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Top 20 Nigerian Food You Need to Try

Post author By Anoop Yersong
Post date August 1, 2020
No Comments on Top 20 Nigerian Food You Need to Try

Nigerian cuisine has some of the mouthwatering, tastiest dishes from around the globe. They use some
of the commonly available ingredients around the World to make some of the unique dishes which you
could crave about all your life. The west African cuisines predominantly use herbs and spices to create
tasteful and aromatic dishes, and Nigerian is no exception. The common forms of dishes include soups
and rice/ meat that is intensely flavored. Let’s have a look at some of the best Nigerian recipes.

Jollof rice:
Jollof rice is the most popular dish in Nigeria. It is not only famous in the country but also across
Ghana and other West African countries. Jollof rice is famous across every part of Nigeria, and to
our surprise, the dish doesn’t use rare and fancy ingredients but the most common items you
can find in almost every kitchen around the globe. The components required in preparing jollof
rice are rice, onions, tomatoes, and spices such as pepper. While some people serve it with
chicken, fried fish, or beef, this dish can also be simply served with vegetables, for an easy and
straightforward vegetarian option.
Garri:
Garri is also known as Eba and is a dish made from ground cassava. This dish is, without any
doubt, the staple food of Nigeria. The households of various ethnic groups and a regional
population of Nigeria consider Garri as a part of their regular meals. The process of preparing
this dish starts with peeling off the skin from the harvested cassava, washing and grinding this
root vegetable. Later, you will have to drain off the water wholly, add hydrocyanic acid and little
starch to it, and then the mixture is sieved and fried in a hot pan. Garri is ready to be served.
Pounded yam:
Nigeria is one of the top producers of yam in the world, and hence, undoubtedly serves as the
home to the best recipes of yam. Pounded yams are soft fufu recipes, usually served with stews
and soups. Their physical resemblance is to mashed potatoes; however, the texture is stretchy.
The preparation process begins with peeling and washing the yam. Then, boil the yam and mash
until it turns into a soft dough-like texture. Yorubas, a native group to Western Nigeria, enjoy
pounded yam the most, and it is also popular amongst the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria.
Akara:
Akara is a bean cake, deep-fried in vegetable oil. It is usually a breakfast item, however, can also
be taken as a snack, anytime throughout the day. Beans are rich in proteins, and hence, this dish
is nutritious and at the same time, snacky. The majority of the people use peeled brown beans to
make this recipe. These peeled beans are then ground and mixed along with onions and spices.
Such a mixture is deep-fried in vegetable oil, and it’s ready to be served. It is said to be enjoyed
better with Agege bread, which is a bread typical to African countries.
Boli:
Boli is the simplest of the snacks and popular street food in Nigeria. The main ingredient is the
plantain fruit. The plantains are roasted, salt added to taste, and served with peanuts. Some
enjoy boli with grilled fish, too. If you wish to make the dish more fancy and flavorful, you may
include a sprinkle of paprika, pepper sauce, and also a few minced jalapenos in the recipe.
Suya:
Suya is meat skewers perfectly grilled in an open flame. The traditional recipe includes beef,
with a spicy peanut seasoning. Suya is one of the famous street foods of Nigeria and more
favorite of the Hausa community of Northern Nigeria. It is a tasty snack item that derives its
flavor from the Suya sauce, made from cayenne pepper, peanuts, salt, and other variety of
seasonings. This suya sauce is steeped into the meat, before grilling, thus giving it a rich, spicy
flavor that forever, stays in your tongue.
Zobi:
Zobi is a refreshing drink from a plant native to Western Africa. It uses Roselle, which is a
therapeutic plant and is a part of the Hibiscus family. The drink uses the flowers of this plant. It
is a non- alcoholic drink that best suits a hot day or a hectic day of work. This drink can be highly
customized. The drink has a sweet and tangy flavor, and you can add any fruit of your choice to
this drink. You can also add some chilies, lemonade, or even some sparkling water and enjoy the
exhilarating experience.
Ogbono soup:
Ogbono is also known as African mango. The ogbono soup consists of ground Ogbono seeds,
added to stock, spices and palm oil. It is effortless to cook and has a lot of variations. Based on
preferences of tastes, one can include vegetables, fish, meat or only okras or melon seeds. It has
a slippery texture and is a perfect combination to fufu or pounded yam.
Moin Moin:
It is easily one of the favorites for the vegan people. Moin Moin is a steamed bean cake that
can be either consumed as a side dish or as a part of the main dish itself. It has a nutty texture
and contains peeled brown beans, which is typical of Nigeria. These peeled beans are ground
together with bell peppers and onions, a variety of spices, and palm oil. Traditionally, the
procedure is to steam them on banana leaves. However, regular vessels are used for the same
nowadays. If you aren’t vegan, you can explore the flavors of this dish by adding hard-boiled
eggs, flakes of fish or even ground beef and enjoy the delicious recipe.
Dodo:
Dodo is a special dish in terms of a variety of reasons. One can never go wrong in preparing a
dodo. It is the easiest of the recipe and has no specific procedure to make it. Dodo is plantains
cut into slices and deep-fried in oil. Some people prefer to cut the plantains into circles, some
into diagonal slices and some as cubes. Depending on personal taste buds, people can either
choose to add salt or not. Dodo is a full meal, by itself, or it can be had as a side dish or even as a
snack. Such a versatile recipe is commonly a part of a party menu.
Edikang Ikong:
Edikangikong is a native dish to Nigeria’s Cross River region. It is a dry vegetable soup made out
of iron-rich green, leafy vegetables. The ingredients included in this dish are gbure, which is also
known as waterleaf, and ugwu, which is fluted pumpkin leaf. In case these vegetables are not
available, people sometimes substitute them with spinach, which is also leafy, green and is rich
in iron content. The other variations of this dish did add meat or fish to the soup mixture and
served hot.
Puff puff:

These are simply dough balls that are deep-fried in oil. Puff puff is a type of doughnut and is a
traditional snack in Western Africa. People in certain parts of Western Africa also make a
variation of this dish, known as mandazi. The dough consists of flour, eggs, butter, yeast, sugar
and water. Then roll this dough into small balls and deep fry in vegetable oil, to make soft dough
balls.

Chin chin:
For all the sweet tooth people, Chin Chin is the best tea time pastry that gives a mouthwatering
experience. The ingredients are butter and sugar. Cut into cube shapes or slices; this is a butter-
based pastry deep-fried and also coated with high levels of sugar.
Obe egusi:
Obe egusi is a variety of stew made from melon seeds. Egusi is a type of melon seed that is
typical to Nigerian land. The recipe involves grinding egusi and cooking it in palm oil. Then you
add a variety of items to the cooked egusi, such as meat, leafy greens, locust beans, and ground
crayfish. There are ample types of variations to this basic recipe. Some people use seafood
instead of meat. As far as the leafy greens are concerned, an authentic method includes ugwu
and ewuro. But many people substitute these greens with only spinach, the reason being the
former are difficult to source, these days. There are differences in the way people cook egusi.
Some fry egusi, some add an egg to the stew, and some prefer not to clump the egusi. You can
serve this dish with pounded yam, ebu, or amla.
Pepper soup:
It is a drinking soup that has a thin consistency and has a spicy taste to it. Pepper soup is highly
customizable. The recipe is as simple as adding any amount of chunks of meat or seafood to the
soup and enjoying a great sip. Some of the shared preferences of ingredients are catfish, goat
meat, and boiled plantains or yam and not to forget a dash of palm oil.
Banga:
Banga is typical to the Urhobo community and is a soup based on palm fruit. Though it is
authentic to and commonly consumed across the Delta region, there are variations of this recipe
that exist across Western Africa and even beyond that. People tend to try this soup based on
ingredients commonly available around their place. Such components include assorted meat,
fish and other seafood, and not to forget their regional spices. The combination of palm fruit,
meat, and shellfish creates a delicious taste and offers a unique texture, which makes it a
favorite amongst many people. Many prefer to have this soup with eba.
Igbin:
Igbin is a recipe for peppered land snails. The taste of Nigerian land snails is unique and hard to
explain. However, the general opinion is that they have a fantastic texture and flavor to them.
A basic igbin recipe involves taking deshelled land snails and cooking them in pepper sauce and
adding some onions to it. There are other variations to this dish, where some people also add
fried plantains and tomato sauce to the basic recipe. Such additives bring in a variety of flavors
to the plate and make it more interesting.
Efo rice:
Efo rice is a classic dish of the Yoruba community of Nigeria, and they are said to be the best at
stew recipes. Efo rice translates to “mixed greens” in their language. It is such a versatile dish,

which you can have with absolutely anything, and it can be customised based on your taste
preferences. However, certain ingredients cannot miss out on a traditional recipe. Efinrin, the
African spinach and efo soko, the Lagos spinach are mandatory in an authentic recipe. They also
prohibit tomatoes from being added to this dish since it creates a sogginess that is not suitable
for the plate. Some people also include bell peppers, locust beans, blended scotch bonnets and
onions to this recipe, to make it even more fragrant and rich in flavour.

Ekpang nkukwo:
Ekpang nkukwo is a type of porridge typical to Nigeria. The origin roots back to the Efik
community of Nigeria and prepared during special occasions. The main ingredient is the
cocoyam. First, you will have to take cocoyams leaves to wrap the cocoyams, and then cook it
along with greens, periwinkle, and palm oil. This recipe is so rich in flavor and has a creamy
consistency, which feels like heaven to the tastebuds.
Ewa Agoyin:
Ewa Agoyin is one of the famous street foods of Nigeria, having its origin to one of the native
communities of Nigeria. Ewa translates to “beans” in the Yoruba language, and Agoyin refers to
the Beninoice community in Nigeria; those people originated the dish, and hence it is named
after them. Ewa Agoyin is a snack that uses white or brown beans. Firstly, you will have to smash
the beans and cook until it turns soft. Then add palm oil sauce to the beans. An authentic palm
oil sauce would be smoky and highly pigmented, which adds a unique flavor to the recipe.
Later, add onions and dried peppers to infuse the spice to the dish and serve it hot. Some
people prefer to include grounded crayfish to this recipe, and the taste still comes out well.
It is time to take your tastebuds on a fun trip and enjoy the authentic, tasty dishes of the Nigerian land.

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When and How to Use Hand Sanitizers?

Post author By Anoop Yersong
Post date July 30, 2020
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The outbreak of Covid – 19 has created a large amount of demand for the hand sanitizer. Scientists and doctors consider the sanitizers with alcohol content a potent cleanser for protecting us against bacteria and other microorganisms.

The usage of alcohol as an antiseptic is not a new thing for humans. If you see the history of humanity, you can figure out that alcohol usage as antiseptic exists from the 13th century itself. But scientists discovered using the alcohol as a raw material in the 19th century. The vast usage of hand sanitizers in Europe started after the 1980s.

Hand sanitizer is a gel or liquid used to reduce the power of infectious bacteria and viruses. The World Health Organisation has included alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the list of essential medicines. And now the world is behind the masks and hand sanitizers because of the pandemic effects.

How to use hand sanitizers?

The hand sanitizers are very convenient to use and easy to carry with you. But to get the effectiveness of sanitizers, select the sanitizer, which comprises at least 60 percent of alcohol. The other non-alcohol based sanitizer or alcohol portion with less than 60 percent is not effective since they just reduce the growth of germs instead of killing them. It contains Ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which kills the germs and bacteria immediately.

The usage of these products is simple. Place the recommended amount of hand sanitizer on one of your palms. (To get the right idea of how much quantity is optimal, read the manufacturer’s instructions printed on the package). Rub your hands together by covering all parts of the hands, including between your fingers. And continue to rub till it becomes dry.

To work it effectively, one has to apply in large volume as directed in the package, and one should wait until it dries automatically. The little quantity and improper application of the hand sanitizer will not benefit since the germs will not die if you do so. The other important thing to remember is that the alcohol content should be over 60%, but don’t get the notion that a higher alcohol percentage is more beneficial. Because to work sanitizer at an ideal level, it needs some water content, increasing the alcohol content reduces the water and makes it less potent.

When to apply hand sanitizers?

The question many people have about hand sanitizers is, can we apply the sanitizer all the time? The answer is NO. Because, as per the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Preventions) recommendation, one should use the hand sanitizers only when one cannot be able to wash the hands using water and soap.

Hence, we should remember one thing, that is sanitizers are not the substitute for soap and water. But it is the last option in situations when there are no accessibilities to water and soap. Washing the hands with soap and water will kill the germs and microorganisms living on the hands. But we cannot wash our hands every time. Hence the necessity of hand sanitizer arises.

Hand sanitizers quickly reduce the number of microbes on the hands, but it won’t kill norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Cryptosporidium. Usage of soap can kill these elements. However, it protects the common viruses and bacteria by destroying them entirely.

However, you can use the hand sanitizer as an additional cover. After washing the hands with soap, applying the hand sanitizer will help to kill the microbes which are still living in your hands. It acts as double insurance for a healthy and safe living.

The advantages of Hand sanitizers are.

It requires less time to wash your hands compared to water and soap.
Immediately kills the germs.
Easy to carry and use.
Suitable for many kinds of skins, as a result, skin allergies will be less.
Easily accessible than sinks, water, and soap.

Hence keeping a hand sanitizer in the pocket or your bag is a great precaution you can take while traveling.

When Not to Use the Hand sanitizers?

If you know what not to do things in life, knowing what to do comes as a free package! As we already discussed, using sanitizer is appropriate only when you cannot be able to use water and soaps. But there are other situations where you should avoid using the sanitizers.

When your hands are visibly dirty and greasy, avoid using the sanitizer, and using it with water is highly recommended. However, some studies show that hand sanitizers work well in case when hands are slightly greasy and dirty. But there is no concrete evidence to prove that. Hence sticking with basics works here.

We do not recommend hand sanitizer usage for the removal of harmful and strong chemicals. There are chances of adverse effects if you use the hand sanitizer to remove pesticides, heavy metals, and chemicals. In these cases, also usage of water and soap is the optimum solution.

Our Recommendation – Septol Hand Sanitizer 500ml.

With the outbreak of pandemic disease Covid -19, the essentialness of hand sanitizers is increased. In many of the countries, we see the acute shortage of hand sanitizers to cater to the needs of all people.

But we have the stock of the hand sanitizer. The septol hand sanitizer is the product we offer to the public to order online. You can place an order online and send this essential medicine to Nigeria with a few clicks.

This hand sanitizer comes with a 500ML bottle. This product has produced as per the guidelines of WHO. It means this sanitizer has over 60% of alcohol content. It eliminates germs and bacteria, causing dangerous diseases within a matter of seconds. Adding to this, it is very affordable, and it gives excellent value for money.

You can get this product at just $10.85 here. We are providing a discount of $10 for the first purchases of $50 or more.

To sum up, because of the handiness, portability, and convenience, the usage of hand sanitizer is suggested. To get additional protection over many viruses and germs, it is necessary. Just you need to ensure when not to use this product, that’s all! So, are you ready to combat Covid-19 and many more germs and viruses that exist and are coming? If not, buy the sanitizer and be prepared, because it is better to be safe rather than sorry!