http://www.amazon.com/Farberware-Classic-2-Ounce-Pepper-Shaker/dp/B005NKJVGQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1384198114&sr=8-4&keywords=salt+shakers Old school shaker with big holes.
It is hot enough to make a tender brisket and it is hot enough to kill the bad stuff esp since it has been cured with nitrate already. Weight doesn't matter as much as thickness in SV. Thickness comes into consideration in shorter SVs, but at 36 hrs this meat will be at temp for a very long time....probably >35.5 hours.
Well it wasn't wormy when I bought it. Eggs hatched etc. I'll happily eat cold invisible eggs, but webs and worms are where I draw the line.
It was a couple years ago. I've only had a stray pistachio at a bar since then.
To a degree (heh) heating is heating, but there are differences between microwave and stovetop. To my way of thinking microwave is limited by the need to stop and stir frequently if the food is thicker than about a cm. Microwaves don't penetrate much deeper than that and heating of thicker inner portions is all done by conductance from the outer cm which is going to overcook. Microwave therefore is bad for heating a big chunk of steak or chicken, but just fine for a stir fry with little chunks you can stir a couple time to keep from getting too hot. Wouldn't do fish in a microwave ever.
What do I microwave? Liquids...frozen pizza slices to thaw them followed by a bit under the broiler of the breville smart oven...leftover Chinese...hot dogs sometimes.
A mandolin is critical for all kinds of stuff. Fine slicing 15 potatoes by hand is imprecise and annoying. 5 minutes or less with a mandolin and results are great if you don't cut off a digit.