20 Easy Kitchen Tips for Effortless Cooking

1. Prep Ahead

• Tip: Chop and prepare ingredients like vegetables, herbs, and garlic in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge.
• Why: Saves time during cooking and keeps your kitchen organized.

2. Use a Garbage Bowl

• Tip: Keep a bowl on your counter for food scraps and packaging.
• Why: Saves trips to the trash can and keeps your workspace clean.

3. Sharp Knives are Safe Knives

• Tip: Regularly sharpen your knives or use a honing steel.
• Why: Sharp knives require less force to cut, reducing the risk of slipping and cutting yourself.

4. Easy Garlic Peeling

• Tip: Microwave garlic cloves for 10 seconds to make the skin easier to peel.
• Why: The microwave loosens the skin, making it easier to remove.

5. Maximize Citrus Juice

• Tip: Roll lemons or limes on the counter with your hand before juicing them.
• Why: This breaks down the fruit’s fibers and makes it easier to extract more juice.

6. Instant Fresh Herbs

• Tip: Store fresh herbs in a glass of water in the fridge like a bouquet.
• Why: Keeps them fresh for longer and makes them easy to grab and use.

7. Avoid Sticky Measuring

• Tip: Spray measuring cups with cooking spray before measuring sticky ingredients like honey or syrup.
• Why: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.

8. Prevent Boil-Overs

• Tip: Place a wooden spoon across the top of a pot to prevent it from boiling over.
• Why: The spoon pops the bubbles and prevents messy boil-overs.

9. Make Better Pancakes

• Tip: Let pancake batter rest for about 10 minutes before cooking.
• Why: Allows the gluten to relax and air bubbles to form, resulting in fluffier pancakes.

10. Quick Chill Wine

• Tip: Wrap a bottle of wine in a wet towel and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Why: The wet towel helps cool the wine faster than just placing it in the freezer.

11. Easy Eggshell Removal

• Tip: Use a piece of the eggshell to fish out any fragments that fall into the bowl.
• Why: Eggshell pieces are attracted to each other, making it easier to scoop them out with another piece.

12. Keep Brown Sugar Soft

• Tip: Store a slice of bread or a few marshmallows in your brown sugar container.
• Why: These items help retain moisture, preventing the sugar from hardening.

13. No More Tears with Onions

• Tip: Chill onions in the fridge or freezer for 15 minutes before chopping.
• Why: Cold onions release fewer tear-inducing chemicals when cut.

14. Use a Scale for Baking

• Tip: Use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients by weight for baking.
• Why: Provides more accurate measurements, leading to better results.

15. Rescue Burnt Rice

• Tip: Place a slice of white bread on top of burnt rice and cover for 5-10 minutes.
• Why: The bread absorbs the burnt smell and taste, saving your meal.

16. Easy Grating

• Tip: Freeze cheese for about 15 minutes before grating.
• Why: Slightly firm cheese is easier to grate and less likely to clump.

17. Peel Ginger with a Spoon

• Tip: Use the edge of a spoon to scrape the skin off fresh ginger.
• Why: A spoon easily removes the thin skin without wasting much ginger.

18. Keep Your Cutting Board from Slipping

• Tip: Place a damp towel or a piece of non-slip mat under your cutting board.
• Why: Prevents the board from sliding around, making chopping safer and easier.

19. Check Egg Freshness

• Tip: Place eggs in a bowl of water; fresh eggs sink, while older eggs float.
• Why: This simple test helps you determine if eggs are still good to use.

20. Reuse Pasta Water

• Tip: Save a cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
• Why: The starchy water can be used to thicken and add flavor to sauces.

These tips are designed to simplify your kitchen tasks, making cooking more efficient and enjoyable!