You don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen when it comes to cooking good food. Sometimes, all you need are simple tricks that would help you get the same result, without the complicated process!
So, we have compiled 50 very useful but simple hacks that will surely aid you in being the best version of your home cook self. Happy reading!
1. Grate butter to make spreading easier
Butter can be difficult to spread. To aid in the process, you may want to grate the right amount of butter on your toast. This trick is even done by chefs to ensure the perfect butter amount on their meals.
2. Mashed potato hack
Having trouble in keeping your mashed potato perfectly mashed? Here’s a good tip: use a mixer in doing the job!
3. Use a banana hanger to slow down the ripening of bananas
Bananas go ripe easily and also, affect other fruits in the basket. The trick is to keep the air movement free around these fruits, thus you’ll get a lot of savings and better bananas if you buy a banana hanger.
4. Use vegetable water when cooking gravy
Cooking gravy can be more packed with vitamins and nutrients. Instead of just using the juices from your roasted meat, make sure to use water from boiled veggies as well.
5. Keeping the pizza soft
The problem with microwaving pizza is that it gets harder and tougher when reheated. To avoid this from happening, include a small glass of water when you heat pizza in the microwave. This will lock in the moisture and keep the pizza from hardening.
6. Use overripe bananas when baking banana bread
Here’s another useful banana hack for you that will help in saving money. If you have overripe bananas, just know that they are the perfect ones to make yummy banana bread with.
7. Add nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor
Did you know that nutritional yeast can add a rich cheesiness to dairy-free dishes? In fact, this product is quite popular with a vegan who can still enjoy a cheesy flavor without the dairy product in it.
8. For the iced coffee lovers
You can have iced coffee without the ice watering the rich flavor down. The solution is to make iced coffee cubes! It will only add to the flavor as it melts.
9. Place herbs in water vases or glasses
Just like how flowers are stored, herbs should also be placed in containers with water. This trick can help them be available for longer.
10. Soften the kale thru massaging
If you are eating raw kale in salads, then you probably noticed that they have a tendency to be hard to munch on. To keep kale soft and perfect for your salad, you may want to massage it with olive oil just enough so it can be eaten easily.
11. Correctly pair your pasta and sauce
Did you know that certain kinds of pasta should be paired with certain kinds of sauces? An example would be conchiglie or popularly known as pasta shells. They need to be paired with thick sauces for the best results.
12. Revive old and tough bread using water
Bread became hard and tough? Revive it by sprinkling water on it before reheating in the oven.
13. Save your burnt biscuits using a grater
Burnt biscuits? There’s still hope! Using a grater, carefully remove the blackened part.
14. Use ice cube trays in storing leftover sauce
Ice trays are highly useful kitchen containers. They can even store your leftover sauce. Keep the cubes in the freezer until such time that you’ll need the sauce again.
15. Add sugar to savory dishes and salt to sweet dishes
Let me teach you a great hack on balancing flavors on your dishes. The acidity of tomatoes or vinegar can be tempered using salt while adding sugar to your savory dishes can highlight the juicy protein in your recipe.
16. Peel tomatoes like a pro
Making salsa? One of your priorities is to remove the tomato skin completely. The trick is to boil the tomatoes for 15 -20 minutes, then drop them on icy water. Once cool enough, the tomatoes should be peeled very easily.
17. Use ice cream scoop for measuring meatballs
Measure meatballs correctly and fast by using an ice cream scoop. The meatballs will be in uniform sizes without yu sweating over it.
18. Microwave lemons before juicing
Juicing lemon sounds easier than it actually is. Most of the time, the juice you get is not that much. To increase the juice, microwave lemons first.
19. Say goodbye to stained food storage containers
Cleaning stained food containers due to greasy and colored sauces is something we don’t want to do. Say goodbye to all of that because all you need is baking powder to do the job. Wipe the inside with a paste made with water and baking soda. Let is sit for a few hours and wash it down to remove the leftover stains.
20. Prepare ahead for smoothies
Smoothies are delicious and are amazing superfoods that can kickstart your day. Save yourself from the stress of preparing it hastily each morning by preparing your ingredients beforehand so mornings are not as hectic.
21. Try the hedgehog mango trick
How do you cut mangoes for serving? Well, here’s a really great way to do that. Slice the mangoes and take each side. Make a grid and puff it out. Should be easier to eat it, right?
22. Orange juice for marinades
You may be used to utilizing lemon juice for your marinades but here is another juice that will give you nice results. Orange juice! It pairs nicely with ginger and honey.
23. Reuse sauce bottles for pancakes
There is no need to ladle pancake syrup anymore. Using old sauce bottles, pouring syrup on your breakfast can now be very easy and less messy.
24. Say goodbye to syrup sticking to your spoons
There are two ways to prevent the syrup from sticking on your spoon. Dip it in hot water first before getting the syrup or you can also wipe it with oil right after using it for the syrup.
25. Popcorn with soy sauce
Yup, you read it right. Popcorn with soy sauce is for real!For best results, blend soy cause with butter before using i with your popcorn!
26. Being creative with ketchup
Ketchup is not made just to make your fries yummier. It is also used for marinating for barbecue. It can also be used for glazing poultry.
27. Bulk out sauces with lentils
Meals with lentils are great for budget savers, plus they are also filled with healthy goodness. To add more textures and size to your sauces, you can use lentils to bulk it out.
28. Herbs and butter
Butter and herbs are great, and there is a very useful way of storing them for less space and hassle. Using ice cube tray, you should have more buttered herbs ready for use anytime.
29. Make and freeze breakfast burritos
Burritos are great for breakfast but they can be time-consuming to prepare. it’s a good thing you can make them the night before and just freeze it so it can be easily reheated the next morning.
30. Invest in ovenproof storage containers
Buying glass containers that are also microwaveable is a very good investment. They ar perfect for storage and reheating, and are less prone to stains and mess, too.
31. Quick-cook bacon in the microwave
Bacon should not be hard to cook. It can also be less greasy if you microwave it instead of cooking it with a lot of oil.
32. Hash brown on your waffle maker
Waffle makers are not just made for waffles. They are also perfect in just about cooking anything, including potato hash, even eggs!
33. Blanching vegetables
Want to keep the bright color of green in your veggies when eating them? There’s a solution to that: blanching! Boil them in water for a few minutes and move them to iced water to maintain the nice green color.
34. Try out making mug omelets
Breakfasts should not be too complicated. Even mugs can be used in making omelets using the microwave. Wow!
35. Don’t throw out pasta water
Never throw out pasta water. It is perfect for cooking the paired sauce, giving it a silky texture that you and your family will love.
36. Easy way to make frothy coffee
You don’t have to be a barista to make beautiful and frothy coffee. Fill a jar halfway with milk, place the lid on and shake. Once foamy, take the lid off and microwave for half a minute. Your froth will double in size and will be perfect for your morning coffee.
37. No more soggy sandwiches
Soggy sandwiches because of tomatoes? Lessen the juice by patting the tomatoes with a tissue before putting them in the sandwich.
38. Beetroot in brownies
Children love brownies. One way to make it more healthy for them is sneaking beetroot in them.It adds moisture and healthy goodness, too.
39. Store onions and potatoes separately
Potatoes not staying good for long? Your onions might be too close to them. These produce release gases that make other veggies spoil faster so don’t place them together with others.
40. Utilize a cupcake tin for egg muffins
Egg muffins are great for a big family breakfast. Do them fast and perfect using cupcake tins.
41. Cake fails no more
Failed with your cake? No problem! They don’t have to go to waster. Create cute cakes in tiny jars for the family to enjoy.
42. Quick way to bake potatoes
Here’s a trick to getting perfectly baked potatoes in just a few minutes. Prick the potatoes with a fork and put them in the microwave for 10 minutes. Then, move them to a preheated hot oven to achieve crispy skin for 10–20 minutes.
43. Don’t use boiling water for coffee
If you pour boiling water straight over your coffee, this scorches the grounds and will result in a mediocre brew. Try hot water that’s not boiling and you’ll taste the difference.
44. Score your meat before cooking
Meat shrinking away from your meat while cooking? scoring them before popping in the oven will solve this concern.
45. Improve your mac and cheese with mustard
Increase the cheesy flavor of your mac and cheese by adding piquant mustard. It will highlight the cheese and make your recipe the new family favorite!
46. Mug cakes
Craving for cake but don’t have the time? Why not do mug cakes? Just mix ingredients in your ceramic mug, pop it in the oven for a few minutes, and voila, instant cake.
47. Save your split hollandaise
Did you hollandaise curdle? Here’s a way to rescue it. Whisk fresh egg yolk using a separate bowl with a knob of butter and warm water. Slowly whisk the split sauce into the new one until it becomes smooth again.
48. Make French toast in the slow cooker
As it turns out, slow cooking is not made just for meat. It can also be great for making the perfect toast. Just whisk two eggs with two egg whites. Add a little honey, cinnamon, and milk. Put the bread in the bottom of the slow cooker, pour over just the right amount of mixture to wet the bread, then layer again using these steps. Cook on high temperature for about two hours or for around four hours on low.
49. The float test
Did you know that there is a way to check if eggs are fresh without having to break them? This is the float test. Using cold water, put the eggs and see if any of them floats. That floater is not fresh anymore.
50. Poach eggs using cling film
And finally, this cling film hack that you need for making the perfect poached eggs. Place cling film in a bowl, lightly oil the inside, and crack in an egg. Gather up the sides of the cling film and secure it tightly on top of the egg. Drop it in boiling water for two to four minutes and there you have it, perfectly poached eggs.
Source: Love Food