You’ll Wish You Knew These Sooner
While many people seem to enjoy cooking, not everyone can seem to get the hang of it. With endless challenges and time-consuming jobs, it’s no wonder cooking can sometimes feel more like a chore than an enjoyable task.
Don’t worry, we have a solution—many of them, actually. These genius kitchen hacks will save you time, stress, and even money, and hopefully make cooking fun again.
Peel Garlic Bulbs in the Microwave
Peeling garlic can most definitely be a daunting task. But instead of opting for more expensive, already peeled garlic at the market, try this method first.
Cut the tops off a few cloves and microwave them for 20-30 seconds. The skin will slide right off.
Use Bubble Wrap to Stop Ice Cream from Melting
Sounds weird, right? But it works!
Bubble wrap is a powerful insulator. If you happen to be traveling with a tub of ice cream, wrap your pint in bubble wrap to give it an extra layer of insulation. It will keep it firm for hours.
Pit Cherries with a Chopstick
If you want to pit cherries but you don’t have an actual pitter, try this. Put a cherry on top of an empty beverage bottle, then use a chop stick (or even a reusable straw) to push the pit right in the bottle.
This hack easily removes the pits, and also keeps them neatly in the bottle.
Shuck Corn in the Microwave
Once again, the microwave never fails to make our lives easier. Shucking corn is both time-consuming and exhausting.
Try microwaving your corn for 30-60 seconds on high heat. The corn husks will come off easily, quickly, and cleanly.
Vadim Zakharishchev, Shutterstock
Keep Brown Sugar Soft with Marshmallows
This hack works like magic. Avoid hardened brown sugar by simply placing a few marshmallows into the container and sealing it tightly.
It will even soften already hardened sugar in about a day, and the marshmallows can stay in the container for up to a few weeks.
Use Butter Wrappers to Prevent Microwave Splatter
Melting butter can often result in a mess inside your microwave. An easy way to avoid this is to repurpose your butter wrapper as a cover for your microwavable dish.
Most butter wrappers are made of vegetable paper, which is heat resistant similar to wax paper and parchment paper. If your wrapper contains foil, avoid this hack and use a square of wax paper instead.
Chill Wine in Salt Water
Lukewarm vino isn’t exactly enjoyable. So, if you have unexpected guests, you can chill a bottle quickly by immersing it in ice water mixed with a secret ingredient: a handful of salt.
Turn the bottle every few minutes, and you should have an ice cold bottle in 20 minutes or less.
Angela Llop, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Soften Cookies with Sliced Bread
To keep your freshly baked cookies soft, simply store them in an airtight container with a slice of store-bought white bread. This trick works for cakes, cookies, muffins, and other baked goods. It will keep that day one freshness for longer.
Simmer Tomato Sauce with a Carrot
Carrots help take away the acidity in tomato sauce by adding a subtle hint of sweetness. If you find your sauce is too acidic, simply add a whole peeled carrot to the sauce and simmer it together. Remove the carrot before serving.
Dice Eggs with a Cooling Rack
This hack makes a time-consuming task so much easier. After you’ve peeled your hard-boiled egg, place a cooling rack over a bowl and push the egg through it.
Alternatively, you can push the cooling rack over top of the egg, but this may be a little messier depending on how “sharp” your cooling rack is.
This hack also works for avocados!
Organize Snacks with Cupcake Liners
This hack has become popular in recent years with families who have small children. Not only does it help keep lunch containers cleaner, it also helps keep food from touching—which is important if you have picky eaters.
Use the reusable cupcake liners to separate foods in a lunchbox. At the end of the day, toss the liners and cut down on dishes.
Cube Butter to Soften it Faster
If you forgot to take your butter out of the fridge before baking, you can soften it (without the microwave) quickly by cutting it up into smaller cubes and leaving it to sit on the counter for about 20 minutes.
Smaller pieces will soften much quicker than the whole stick.
Extend the Life of Herbs with Water
Do you ever find your fresh herbs already wilting the day after buying (or harvesting) them? We have a hack for this too.
Trim the stems of your herbs and place them in a small glass of water. Then, put a plastic bag (like the one you got from the grocery store) over top and secure it with a knot of kitchen twine.
Store in the fridge or on the counter for up to two weeks, and keep your herbs bright and fresh.
Mise en Place with Sheet Pans
Sheet pans are not just for cooking. Use your baking sheet to stay organized while you meal prep. It also keeps things tidy! You can also use your sheet pan as a serving tray if you need to carry multiple things out to the patio for dinner.
DIY Mason Jar Shakers
This hack comes in handy when you buy spices or sprinkles in bulk.
Save the lids from Parmesan shakers and screw them onto small mason jars. You instantly have a DIY shaker for your bulk products.
Cut Homemade Potato Wedges with an Apple Slicer
You can make homemade potato wedges just like the ones from your favorite restaurant, and save time doing it. Cut one end of the potato for stability, place it down on the counter and push an apple slicer through it.
Freeze a Soup Starter in Resealable Bags
Freeze vegetables in resealable bags during peak season so you can enjoy the tastes of summer when the gloomy, cold weather hits—just be sure to blanch them first.
Blanched vegetables can last 8-12 months in the freezer. A classic soup starter can include carrots, onions, celery, and any other veggies you enjoy.
Use a Lazy Susan for Baking Essentials
Next time you’re decorating cakes or cookies, organize all your baking essentials (like icings, sugars and sprinkles) on a lazy Susan or tiered tray.
This will make for an organized—and fun—decoration session.
Proof Bread in the Oven
Sometimes the kitchen is just too cold to get a good proof on homemade bread. When this happens, pop the dough in the oven—but don’t turn it on.
Place a pan of simmering water below your dough and shut the door. The warmth and humidity from the hot water will help you get the lift you need.
Freeze Sauce Cubes in Egg Cartons
Similar to the ice cube tray hack, plastic egg cartons are ideal for freezing small potions of homemade sauce. Cover and freeze your leftover sauces and then transfer the cubes to a resealable bag.
Rlsheehan, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Use a Damp Dish Towel to Keep Bowls Steady
To stop your bowl from slipping around on the counter while you mix the contents, put a damp dish towel under the mixing bowl.
Professional chefs use this trick all the time. Yes, Chef!
Vashchenkova Kateryna, Shutterstock
Make Frozen Rolls Taste Homemade with Egg Wash
Frozen rolls can be tasty too. Just thaw, and then brush the tops with an egg wash and dip into your favorite seasoning blends, seeds, or cheeses. Use as much as you’d like!
Baking according to package directions.
Bring Cool Eggs to Room Temperature in Warm Water
When baking, it's important to use room temperature ingredients (unless otherwise specified).
If you forgot to take your eggs out of the fridge sooner, simply place them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. Not too hot, though, or you'll end up with a soft-boiled egg.
Label Jars with Rubber Bands
Don’t have a label handy? A rubber band will work! Choose a thicker band, wrap it around your jar, and write on it as you would a label.
Store Peanut Butter Jars Upside-Down
If you buy natural peanut butter, you know the struggle of having to mix the oil back into the spread before you use it.
Here’s an easy solution: Store the jar upside down. When you turn it right-side up, the oil will try to rise back to the top, making the peanut butter much easier to stir through.
Prep Your Cheese Grater with Cooking Spray
Grated cheese can be a pain to prep. Not only is it time consuming, but the cheese can make a gunky mess of the grater. To make this task easier, give the grater a quick spritz of cooking spray before you use it. It will keep the cheese from sticking.
Use Your Ironing Board as a Cooling Rack
If you’ve never thought to bring your ironing board into the kitchen, this will be life-changing for you.
Your ironing board is a quick way to gain extra counter space. Removing the cover will transform it into a makeshift cooling rack, too. Just be sure to use a pan, paper liners, or parchment paper as barriers between the rack and the baked good.
Lift Hot Dishes with Canning Tongs
A solution for removing ramekins from a hot water bath without burning yourself is to use canning tongs. The edges are round and non-slip, making it easy to lift the ramekin out without risking any hot water splash.
Use Your Stand Mixer to Knead Dough
Kneading bread by hand can be a lot of work. But if you have a stand mixer, there’s another way. A few minutes on high gives you the same effect as kneading by hand.
Add Crushed Ice to Appetizer Bowls When Serving
When serving shrimp, deviled eggs, or another cold appetizer, keeping them cold is key to keeping them fresh.
Fill a large bowl with a resealable bag of crushed ice and cover it with lettuce leaves. The lettuce hides the bagged ice and makes a nice backdrop for your food. Place your appetizer on top and you’ll have safe and fresh snacks all night.
Store Picnic Essentials in the Cooler
Do you ever feel instantly overwhelmed when packing for a picnic? You can avoid the last-minute panic by placing a plastic bin inside a cooler and filling it with all your picnic needs—such as paper plates, sunblock, etc.
When your family requests a picnic this afternoon, you’ll have everything you need already organized.
Make Whipped Cream with an Immersion Blender
When you just need a single serving of whipped cream and want to avoid breaking out the whole blender, use an immersion blender instead. It fits neatly into a tumbler or measuring cup—avoiding more unnecessary dishes later.
Buy Special Cookies for Pie Crust
Take your pie crust to the next level by using your favorite cookie. Similar to graham cracker crust, you can cookies—Golden Oreos are particularly nice—for a sweet addition to your cheesecake.
Warm Knives to Easily Slice Dessert
Warming your blade in hot water (and drying it off) before slicing it through your cold cake or cheesecake will make it easier to cut through and create nice, neat slices.
Repeat each time if needed.
Create Extra Storage Space with Hooks
A well-organized kitchen is key to making it an enjoyable experience. Easily install affordable hooks on the insides of your kitchen cabinet doors to maximize your storage space and make things easier to find.
Microwave Lemons Before Juicing
This tip is used in restaurants everywhere.
Microwave a lemon for 7-10 seconds. Then, roll the lemon back and forth under your palm on the counter. When you squeeze, you’ll get more juice with less effort.
This works for limes too.
Hull a Strawberry with a Straw
Quickly remove the stems from your strawberries by inserting a drinking straw into the tip of the berry and pushing it through to the other end.
It only takes a few minutes to do a dozen berries.
Add Herbs and Lemon to Butter
Believe it or not, you can easily make flavored butter at home. It’s as easy as adding lemon juice and herbs to a softened butter stick.
You can even make it fancy by molding it into a log shape, using parchment paper to roll into shape. Twist the ends to seal and freeze to use when needed.
Cook Tender, Juicy Meatloaf with a Beef-Pork Mix
Meatloaf can come in many forms. Our favorite way to avoid a course, gritty texture is to use a beef-pork mix instead of just beef. Since pork is a fattier meat, the combo has a much softer texture.
Shred Chicken with a Stand Mixer
Shredding chicken can be a challenging task, even for the most dexterous cooks. But there’s a quick and easy solution—use your stand mixer.
Using the paddle attachment, shredding chicken only takes a few minutes.
Bake Fish in Parchment
Cooking fish in parchment doesn’t only seal in flavor, but it creates less mess too. As you bake the packet, the fish is gently infused with whatever ingredients you add in.
Ryzhkov Photography, Shutterstock
Freeze Your Gingerroot
When you are finished grating fresh ginger, freeze the leftover root in a plastic container or resealable bag. When you’re ready to use it the thawed ginger will taste just as fresh as the first day.
Drain Meatballs on a Baking Rack
Drain away the excess fat from meatballs while baking by placing meatballs on a baking rack on top of your baking sheet.
The fat will drip away as they cook, and you’ll keep that browned, caramelized outer coating you know and love.
Slice Herbs with Your Pizza Cutter
A pizza cutter actually has many uses (it should really have a different name). The wheel of a pizza cutter is perfect for cutting herbs, green onions, and many other similar ingredients.
Turn Wine into a Cocktail
Transform your wine into a fizzy, spritzer cocktail by simply pouring it over ice and topping it with sparkling water. This works well for both red and white. Add fresh fruit as a garnish.
Not only does this make a whole new tasty drink, it also makes a bottle of wine go further.
Use Homemade Broth Instead of Store-Bought
Sometimes making things home made sounds daunting and so many people skip over to the grocery store instead. But making homemade broth is easier than you think.
After bringing your chicken and vegetables to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 hours, skimming the foam as needed. Remove the chicken and veggies and strain the broth into a jar. Let it cool and then skim the fat off the surface.
Broth can last in the fridge up to five days in an airtight jar. But it can last in the freezer for up to one year. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before your next use.
Decorate Cookies Before Baking
After cutting out your cookie shapes, use the cookie cutter to frame the cookie and top it with sprinkles or colored sugar. The cookie cutter will keep the toppings from going everywhere on the counter.
Bake as you normally would. Your cookies will then be presentable straight from the oven!
Rimma Bondarenko, Shutterstock
Rescue a Salty Soup with Raw Apple or Potato
Next time you accidentally over-salt a soup, toss in a few wedges of raw apple or potato. Simmer for 10 minutes and discard the wedges to get the flavor back to normal.
This method is often used by professional chefs.
Juice Lemons with a Skewer
Make juicing a lemon be easy-peasy lemon squeezy. This method avoids cutting the lemon. Simply take a skewer, knitting needle, or chop stick and poke a hole through the non-stem end of the lemon. Squeeze for a stream of lemon juice.
Roast Veggies in a Preheating Oven
Believe it or not, you don’t always have to wait for the oven to reach full temperature before placing your food inside.
When roasting veggies, put them in the oven while it’s still pre-heating. This helps create more evenly roasted veggies, and saves time too!
Halve Tomatoes with Two Plates
This hack sounds tricky, but it is apparently quite effective.
Cut a tomato right in half with the help of two plates or lids. Place grape tomatoes in between two plates or lids and then cut across between the two for perfectly even tomatoes.
To avoid a squishy mess, use a sharp blade, avoid too much pressure, and slice slowly, letting the blade do the work.
Miro Vrlik Photography, Shutterstock
Spray Measuring Spoons with Nonstick Spray
Make your life easier by spraying measuring spoons with a nonstick spray prior to measuring sticky ingredients.
Save Butter Wrappers to Grease Pans
Tossing your butter wrappers after unwrapping the butter is the best way to waste it. Instead, gently fold them and save them in a baggy in the fridge. Next time you need to grease a pan, reach for the butter wrapper.
There is more leftover butter stuck to it than you may realize.
Microplane Ginger and Garlic
Microplane ginger and garlic instead of mincing. Not only is this so much easier, it is also much less time-consuming.
This is only one of the reasons you need a microplane.
Put a Fork in Potatoes for Easy Peeling
Making peeling potatoes faster and easier by sticking a fork in them to hold them steady. Rotate the fork as your peel.
