You live a busy life, so you probably want to spend less time in the kitchen. If there is a way to be more efficient all while still being able to make tasty, satisfying, and healthy meals, why wouldn’t you go for it?
Luckily, there are a variety of ways you can make your life easier and save time in the kitchen. By following these easy tips, you will be able to make all of your favorite dishes with ease. Here’s what you need to know.
Cover Your Guacamole with Warm Water
Have you ever tried to save guacamole? If so, you know it can get brown and nasty-looking pretty quickly. One easy way to make sure it stays looking fresh is by covering it with some lukewarm water.
For Intricate Cakes, Use Fondant
Frosting can be tricky to work with. Therefore, if you are trying to be creative with an intricate cake design, you should try to use fondant instead of frosting. It is much easier to work with if you’re going for a very specific look.
Roast Your Sweet Potatoes
Making whole sweet potatoes? Roast them instead of putting them in the microwave. That will allow the sugars in the potatoes to caramelize, making them sweeter and tastier. That way, you don’t even have to add any seasonings for a delicious treat.
Put Meatloaf on a Baking Sheet
Cooking meatloaf on a baking sheet instead of inside a loaf pan will keep it from getting too soggy or greasy. That way, it will crisp up nicely. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy the tastiest piece of meatloaf you have ever tried.
Don’t Overhandle Ground Beef
No matter what you’re making with your ground beef, be sure not to work it too much. Doing so can cause the meat to become tough and lose its tenderness, which is the last thing you want. Shape the ground beef appropriately, but don’t handle it for too long.
Season Veggies First
Always season your vegetables before you cook them. That allows them to absorb the most flavor, and it also prevents you from over-seasoning when they are done cooking. That’s an easy way to make your meals tastier.
Wash Your Rice
Do you love fluffy and delicious rice? If so, make sure to rinse your rice before you cook it. This prevents it from getting too sticky while you cook.
Never Add Olive Oil to Cooking Pasta
You might think that it’s a good idea to add some olive oil to the water you’re cooking pasta in. Some say it helps keep the pasta from sticking together. However, this can actually prevent the sauce from sticking to the pasta.
Don’t Rinse Your Pasta
Don’t rinse your pasta after you cook it. This actually removes some of the sticky starch on its surface. This means that the sauce might not stick as well.
For Crispy Potatoes, Use an Ice Bath
For crispy potato dishes, put your potatoes in an ice bath before you cook them. This will remove the extra starch from the outside of the potato. This method will give you the crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside taste you adore.
Use a Thermometer to Check Chicken
Instead of cutting your chicken open to see if it’s cooked enough, you can just use a thermometer. This will keep the heat and juices inside the chicken. Besides, the color of the meat isn’t a failsafe indicator of doneness.
Sharpen Your Knives
Hate cutting vegetables? Sharpen your knives, and it will be easier than ever. Plus, using a dull knife can be really dangerous.
Bring Your Steak to Room Temperature
Bring your steak to room temperature before cooking it instead of cooking it cold. This will help the steak cook more evenly. All you need to do is let it sit on the counter for up to 30 minutes before cooking.
Use Salt
Don’t be afraid to use salt. It makes a huge difference! Make sure to add salt at the beginning of cooking for the best results.
Preheat Your Pan
Preheating your pan prevents food from sticking to it. For most pans, it only takes a minute or two to preheat. Cast iron takes a bit longer to come to temp.
Turn to Medium Heat
Once you start cooking, reduce the temperature to medium. Otherwise, you might burn your food. Cooking food at too high a temperature can also ruin the flavor and the texture.
Cut Your Chicken Before You Cook
Tired of how long it takes to cook chicken to a safe temperature? Slice or cut your chicken before you cook it. This will allow it to cook much faster.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
