Ever feel like cooking takes too much time or effort? Whether you love spending hours in the kitchen or prefer quick and efficient meals, a few clever hacks can make all the difference.
These simple tricks will help you cook smarter, reduce waste, and enhance the flavors of your favorite dishes. Read on to discover how you can make cooking easier and more enjoyable!
1. Keep Herbs Fresh for Longer
Fresh herbs can take a dish from good to gourmet, but they tend to wilt quickly. To extend their life, store them in a jar with water like a bouquet, covering the tops with a plastic bag.
Alternatively, chop and freeze them in an ice cube tray with olive oil, which is perfect for tossing into a hot pan when cooking.
2. Use Ice Cubes for Leftover Sauce and Broth
Leftover sauce, broth, or even wine often goes to waste. Instead of letting them spoil, freeze them in ice cube trays. These handy portions can be used to enhance soups, stir-fries, or pasta sauces later.
3. Peel Garlic in Seconds
Peeling garlic can be tedious. To speed up the process, place cloves in a jar and shake vigorously for a few seconds. The skins will loosen and slide right off, saving you time and frustration.
4. Revive Stale Bread with Water
Don’t toss that stale baguette just yet! Sprinkle it with water and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes. The moisture rehydrates the bread, making it taste fresh again.
5. Prevent Pasta from Sticking
Tired of spaghetti clumping together? After draining, toss it with a little olive oil to keep the strands separate. If you’re adding sauce immediately, there’s no need for oil; the sauce will prevent sticking.
6. Keep Brown Sugar Soft
Hardened brown sugar is a kitchen nightmare. To keep it soft, store it with a slice of bread or an apple wedge. The moisture prevents the sugar from turning into a rock-hard lump.
7. Get More Juice from Citrus Fruits
Before squeezing lemons, limes, or oranges, roll them firmly on the counter with your palm. This breaks down the fibers inside, making it easier to extract more juice.
8. Use a Spoon to Peel Ginger
Instead of struggling with a knife, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the ginger skin. It’s faster, safer, and prevents wasting the flesh.
9. Ripen Bananas Quickly
Need ripe bananas for baking? Place them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 15 minutes, and they’ll soften beautifully. If you have more time, store them in a paper bag with an apple to speed up ripening naturally.
10. Freeze Butter for Easy Grating
Cold butter is tough to incorporate into dough. To make things easier, freeze it and then grate it directly into your flour mixture. This technique works wonders for pastries, biscuits, and pie crusts.
11. Keep Avocados Green Longer
To prevent cut avocados from browning, store them with the pit in an airtight container. Sprinkling a bit of lemon or lime juice also helps by reducing oxidation.
12. Avoid Tears While Chopping Onions
Tired of watery eyes when chopping onions? Try chilling them in the fridge for 15 minutes before slicing. Alternatively, cut them under running water to reduce the amount of irritating fumes released.
Caution and Precautions
While these hacks are safe, remember to handle sharp tools carefully, especially when grating butter or peeling ginger. When freezing liquids in ice cube trays, leave space for expansion to avoid cracking.
Notes
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Freezing herbs in water instead of oil also works if you prefer a lighter option.
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If you don’t have a plastic bag for storing fresh herbs, a damp paper towel wrapped around them can work just as well.
FAQs
Q: How do I keep my cutting board from sliding?
A: Place a damp kitchen towel or a silicone mat underneath to keep it steady while chopping.
Q: Can I freeze eggs?
A: Yes! Crack them into an ice cube tray, beat them slightly, and freeze for later use in baking or cooking.
Q: What’s the best way to store leftover cooked rice?
A: Keep it in an airtight container and refrigerate. Reheat with a splash of water to restore moisture.
12 Brilliant Cooking Hacks to Save Time and Boost Flavor
