These tricks can save time, reduce waste, and make cooking more efficient and enjoyable:
Keep a clean workspace: Before you start cooking, ensure your workspace is clean and organized. This will make it easier to find ingredients and tools and maintain proper hygiene during food preparation.
Mise en place: Practice "mise en place," which means having all your ingredients measured, chopped, and ready to use before you start cooking. This ensures a smoother cooking process and prevents any last-minute scrambling for ingredients.
Freeze herbs in olive oil: Preserve fresh herbs by chopping them finely and placing them in ice cube trays. Fill the trays with olive oil and freeze them. These herb-infused oil cubes can be easily added to dishes for extra flavor.
Use a damp paper towel under a cutting board: Place a damp paper towel or a damp kitchen cloth underneath your cutting board to prevent it from sliding around while you're chopping ingredients.
Salt to save a burnt dish: If you accidentally burn a savory dish (like soup or stew), adding a pinch of salt can help balance out the flavors and reduce the burnt taste.
Make your own buttermilk: If a recipe calls for buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to one cup of milk. Let it sit for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.
Revive stale bread: Sprinkle a little water on stale bread and then pop it in the oven for a few minutes. The moisture and gentle heat will help freshen it up.
Use an eggshell to remove eggshell pieces: If a small piece of eggshell falls into your cracked egg, use a larger piece of the shell to scoop it out easily.
Quickly cool beverages: Wrap a wet paper towel around a beverage bottle or can before putting it in the freezer. This will chill the drink faster.
Store ginger in the freezer: Keep fresh ginger in the freezer to extend its shelf life. Grate the frozen ginger directly into recipes as needed.
Test freshness of eggs: To check if an egg is fresh, place it in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs sink, while older eggs will float.
Prevent pot boiling over: Placing a wooden spoon over the top of a pot can prevent it from boiling over by breaking the bubbles.
Use dental floss for cutting soft foods: Dental floss can be handy for slicing soft cheese, cake, and rolls without squishing them.
Keep bananas fresh longer: Wrap plastic wrap around the crown of a bunch of bananas to slow down ripening and keep them fresh for a few extra days.
Use an ice cream scoop for cookie dough: An ice cream scoop can be a quick and efficient way to portion out cookie dough evenly.
These are just a few kitchen tricks that can make cooking and food preparation more convenient. There are countless other hacks and tips out there, so feel free to explore and find what works best for you in the kitchen!