Kitchen Tips and Tricks

Are you looking for a few hacks that save you time and money? We have been spending more time at home in the past year, which gives us the opportunity to learn new things. Since eating out has become less common, families are cooking at home more than ever.

If you have visited friends and family, it’s common to find that the kitchen typically ends up being the main room of the house. A place where you spend time with family, make new friends, and to be enjoyed. Whether you’ve committed to eating healthier this year, which is proven to be easier when you meal prep, or you just want to save some time, try these kitchen hacks on for size.

Did you know that you can easily half an apple without a knife and without knowing any special professional chef tricks? Did you know that you can pit a cherry using a chopstick and a beer bottle? Now that we have your attention, let’s look at some easy-to-remember hacks.

Peel garlic

Smash your garlic cloves with a bowl, then place them in a container and shake until you’re a little dizzy. We’re kidding, sort of. The shaking separates the cloves. All you have to do now is dump everything on the counter and use what you need.

Peel a hard-boiled egg

Either stick a pushpin in one end of the egg before boiling or add baking soda to the water and your egg will be much easier to peel. We realize the pushpin thing is strange but it works!

Keep pots from boiling over

Place a wooden spoon on top of a boiling pot of water to prevent the water from boiling over. Why does this work? A boil-over is when the bubbles of vapor surface but don't pop, and they build up until it goes over the edge of the pot. The spoon pops the bubbles quickly before they have a chance to build up. Easy-peasy!

Baking eggs

If you’re planning to freeze a batch of breakfast sandwiches, you can make perfectly-sized eggs in a muffin pan. Crack the eggs into a pre-greased tin and bake in the oven at 350°F for 12-15 minutes. They will fit perfectly in English muffins and bagels.

Cut corn off the cob

Using the center of a Bundt cake pan and using the center spike, hold a corn cob vertically while shaving the kernels with a paring knife. They will fall into the cake pan neatly to serve as a side or add to your favorite recipe.

Check if an egg has gone bad

Drop an egg in a pan of water, and if it sinks, it’s edible. If it floats, don’t crack it—just toss it out.

Make crunchy taco shells from tortillas

Since store-bought crunchy taco shells go stale quickly, make your crunchy taco shells from your soft tortillas when you need them. Drape the tortillas over your oven rack in the shape of a crunchy taco shell until crispy. It is not suggested to use this technique in commercial ovens or restaurant ranges.

Check if your avocado is ripe

Simply look at the skin under the stem of the avocado. If it’s yellow or green, you’re good to go! If it’s brown, throw it out or don’t buy it. Green means go, brown means garbage.

Quickly ripen bananas

If your bananas are still too green to eat but you want one, place it unpeeled on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven. Bake at 350°F  for just a few minutes.

Baking powder freshness

Baking powder in an opened container loses its strength after about six months, so always test it by stirring a teaspoonful into a 1/2 cup of hot water. If it doesn't bubble up in a lively way, throw it out.

Clean a scorched pan

Fill the pan with water, adding 2 tbsp. of baking soda per quart. Simmer 10 minutes, turn off the heat, cover and let soak for several hours overnight. The black residue should scrub off easily with a stiff brush.

Baking soda + hydrogen peroxide

This dynamic duo of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide comes in handy for many things. To restore your baking sheets, simply sprinkle your sheet with baking soda, followed by a few sprays of hydrogen peroxide, then finish with another layer of baking soda. Come back in a few hours to wipe your baking sheets clean.

Garbage disposal guard

Food waste can get stuck on the underside of your sink's garbage disposal guard without you being aware of it. Soak a toothbrush in a degreaser and turn the flap inside out. Move the toothbrush around the guard to scrub off any food waste.

Clean your microwave

You can clean that messy microwave with just water and a lemon! First, fill a cup with water and add some lemon to it. Put it in the microwave and heat it, as the steam will make the grease a lot easier to remove.

Do you have a favorite life hack that has changed the way you were previously doing something?

Let’s hear it!

If you are looking for some new recipes for dinner, check out this post!