GENIUS KITCHEN HACKS EVERY HOME COOK SHOULD KNOW

Whether you’re just commencing your culinary voyage or you’ve been cooking up a storm for years, these 12 kitchen techniques will help you improve your cooking abilities and create delicious cuisine. We perused online internet forums and asked fellow chefs to find the best recommendations that you need to know about. From time-saving techniques to flavor-enhancing tactics, these insights will help you cook like a pro in no time!

ROOM TEMP MEAT

For flawlessly cooked meat, always allow it to come to room temperature before preparing. Whether you’re grilling steaks or roasting a chicken, this straightforward step ensures that your proteins prepare more evenly, resulting in juicier and more flavorful dishes.

CRACK EGGS FLAT

One home chef knows the secret to breaking eggs precisely, every time: “Crack your eggs on a horizontal surface instead of the edge of a pan. Once you get the knack of it, it sends a flawless split straight down the middle with no possibility of shell going into the egg.” I had no notion this was even a thing, but I’ve tried it now, and trust me, it works!

WEAR GLOVES

Donning mitts in the kitchen can be a game-changer, particularly when handling ingredients like chilies and garlic. These items can leave a residual fragrance on your skin, and the compounds from chile peppers can lead to skin irritation – or worse, if they come into contact with your eyes! Bonus tip: donning mitts when kneading dough or making meatballs is a game changer if you don’t like having your hands too filthy.

CRISP UP YOUR VEGGIES

If your vegetables have lost their crispness, but are otherwise acceptable, there’s no need to toss them out! Just saoek them in icy water for a few minutes, and they’ll firm right back up. This method works brilliantly for vegetables like celery, carrots, broccoli, and lettuce, so you can create salads with all that lovely texture.

SQUIRTER BOTTLES

Don’t toss away those empty squirter canisters; they can be immensely useful in the kitchen. Fill them with your preferred culinary oil or homemade salad garnishes for precise, mess-free application. This technique is incredible to ensure an even distribution of ingredients, whether you’re greasing a pan or drizzling vinaigrette on your greens. And if you don’t routinely buy food that comes in these types of vessels, you can get a set for inexpensive online!

PREP FIRST

Before you delve into preparation, take a moment to assemble all your ingredients and necessary kitchen equipment. This straightforward but often neglected phase is a must in professional restaurants and is called “mise en place”, which literally means “put in place”. Making this a habit in your home kitchen ensures you won’t find yourself seeking for that absent spice or utensil while your steak is overcooking. It creates an organized and effective culinary environment, enabling you appreciate the process even more – and become a better cook while you’re at it!

WEIGH YOUR INGREDIENTS

Culinary perfection often depends on precise measurements, and this is especially true if you enjoy pastry! Investing in a kitchen scale is a game-changer and ensures you’re using the correct quantity of ingredients. Whether you’re working with flour, sugar, or seasonings, a scale eliminates conjecture and guarantees consistent and delectable results. This does not mean you should toss out flavor testing – but for some dishes and ingredients precise measurements really are that essential.

CLEAN AS YOU GO

One gourmand has a zero waste policy in his kitchen: “I always start with a pristine kitchen and an empty dishwasher so everything goes efficiently and soiled dishes go directly into the dishwasher. My aim is always no tidy up after the supper is completed.”

And he’s on to something – keeping your kitchen orderly as you cook is a fantastic time-saving technique that also reduces post-meal housekeeping stress. Whenever you conclude using a utensil or ingredient, take a moment to cleanse or sanitize it, or put it in the dishwasher. This way, you’ll avoid a cluttered workspace and won’t be left with a mountain of dishes to tackle once your meal is ready. Embracing the “clean as you go” philosophy makes cooking so much more delightful! Trust me, I used to leave a mountain of debris behind – but now I follow the “clean as you go” method and I am enjoying it.

ZERO WASTE

Minimizing food waste is not only environmentally responsible but also budget-friendly. Get inventive by using every element of your ingredients! A fantastic strategy is to store vegetable trimmings, chicken carcasses and seafood shells in plastic bags in the freezer until you have enough of them to transform them into a flavorful homemade broth. And then continue on to the next kitchen technique to preserve that broth in the best possible manner!

STOCK ICE CUBES

Freeze your homemade broths in ice cube containers to create convenient portions for future recipes. This kitchen hack not only prevents food waste but also saves you time and money, and ensures you can add a touch of extra flavor to any dish that requires it.

STOP THE MOVING

Keep your cutting board from drifting around by positioning a moistened paper towel or kitchen towel underneath it. This straightforward workaround guarantees stability while you’re dicing and slicing, making kitchen prep safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable. And this technique also works for mixing containers!

STORE IT RIGHT

When it comes to keeping your fruits and vegetables fresh, appropriate storage is key. Certain produce items emit ethylene gas, which can speed up maturation and affect adjacent fruits and vegetables. To prevent this, store ethylene-producing fruits like apples and avocados separately from ethylene-sensitive ones, such as verdant greens and berries. Further, use perforated bags or containers to maintain optimal humidity levels, ensuring that your produce remains fresh and vibrant for extended periods. This storage technique not only minimizes food waste but also allows you to savor the flavors of your fruits and vegetables at their finest.

MEAL PREP

Planning and preparing your meals in advance can save you a ton of time and effort during the week. Spend some time on the weekend chopping vegetables, marinating meat, and portioning out ingredients. Not only does this expedite your culinary process, but it also encourages healthier eating choices by having nutritious dishes ready to go.

ALWAYS TASTE TEST

Taste testing is probably the most essential thing you can do to become a better home gourmet. It’s simple, but very effective. Everyone’s palate is different, and the seasonings and other ingredients you use are likely not precisely the same as what the recipe creator used. So don’t stress about following the recipe precisely. Sure, start there – but then flavor test as you go, and add more or less of whatever you need to make it “just right” for you.

Of course, you should never taste test items that can not be securely ingested like raw or undercooked poultry. But even in those cases, do make sure to flavor test once it’s thoroughly cooked, and season as desired!