Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned pro, everyone can benefit from some kitchen hacks to make meal preparation easier and more efficient. By incorporating these 10 kitchen hacks into your routine, you’ll be able to transform your cooking game and impress your friends and family with delicious dishes in no time.
1. Freeze herbs in ice cube trays – Instead of letting fresh herbs go to waste, chop them up and place them in ice cube trays. Cover with olive oil or melted butter, then freeze. When you’re ready to use them in a recipe, simply pop out a cube and add it to your dish for an instant flavor boost.
2. Use a muffin tin to portion out ingredients – When prepping ingredients for a recipe, use a muffin tin to keep everything organized. This will not only save you time, but also ensure that you have the perfect amount of each ingredient for your dish.
3. Grate butter for easier mixing – If a recipe calls for cold butter, try grating it with a cheese grater before mixing it in. This will help the butter incorporate more evenly into the other ingredients and make for a smoother batter or dough.
4. Use a potato masher to crush garlic – Instead of painstakingly mincing garlic with a knife, use a potato masher to quickly crush cloves. This method is much faster and results in evenly crushed garlic that will distribute its flavor more uniformly in your dish.
5. Store onions in pantyhose – To keep onions fresh for longer, store them in pantyhose. Simply tie a knot between each onion, hang the pantyhose in a cool, dark place, and cut off onions as needed. This will prevent them from sprouting or going bad too quickly.
6. Use a spoon to peel ginger – Instead of struggling with a vegetable peeler or knife, use a spoon to peel ginger. Simply scrape the skin off with the edge of the spoon, and you’ll be left with perfectly peeled ginger ready for grating or slicing.
7. Microwave citrus fruits before juicing – To get the most juice out of your citrus fruits, microwave them for 15-20 seconds before juicing. This will help loosen the juices and make it easier to extract every last drop.
8. Use a pizza cutter to chop herbs – Instead of spending time finely chopping herbs with a knife, use a pizza cutter to quickly and easily slice through them. This method is much quicker and gives you more control over the size of the pieces.
9. Use dental floss to cut cakes – For perfectly even slices of cake, use dental floss to cut through the layers. Simply slide a piece of floss underneath the cake, cross the ends over the top, and pull gently to create clean, straight cuts without any crumbs.
10. Use a slow cooker to make meal prep easier – If you’re short on time during the week, use a slow cooker to prepare meals in advance. Simply throw all the ingredients in the pot in the morning, set it to cook on low all day, and come home to a delicious, ready-to-eat meal.
By incorporating these 10 kitchen hacks into your cooking routine, you’ll be able to save time, minimize waste, and elevate your dishes to a whole new level. Give them a try and see how they can transform your cooking game for the better.
