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Writer's pictureSarah K

Kitchen Hacks: Simplify Your Culinary Journey with These Time-Saving Tips

Updated: Nov 10, 2023

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The kitchen is the heart of the home, where delicious meals and cherished memories are crafted. But let's be honest; it can also be a place where endless chores and intricate preparations can take up more time than we'd like. That's where kitchen hacks come to the rescue, offering you smart shortcuts to simplify your culinary adventures. In this blog post, we're about to uncover some handy kitchen hacks that will not only save you time but also make your cooking experiences more convenient and enjoyable. From effortlessly peeling garlic to whipping up your buttermilk, you're in for a treat.

  • The Magic of Garlic Peeling garlic can be a fiddly, time-consuming task. But there's a clever hack that makes it a breeze. Instead of struggling with each clove, separate the bulb into individual cloves. Then, place them in a small container with a lid. Shake vigorously for a few seconds, and voilà! The peels will loosen, making it easy to retrieve the garlic cloves without the hassle. Alternatively, these peeler work like a charm as well!

  • DIY Buttermilk Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a recipe that calls for buttermilk, only to realize you're fresh out of it? No worries! You can create your buttermilk substitute. Simply add one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and fill it with regular milk until it reaches the one-cup mark. Give it a good stir and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Your homemade buttermilk is ready to use.

  • Fast Avocado Ripening Craving some creamy avocado toast but your avocados are rock hard? Speed up the ripening process by placing the avocados in a paper bag along with a banana. The ethylene gas released by the banana will accelerate the ripening of the avocados. Check after a day or two, and you'll have perfectly ripe avocados for your meal. Or, Alternatively this is the perfect bag for the job!

  • Easy Banana Peeling Bananas are a quick, healthy snack, but peeling them can sometimes be a hassle. To make it easier, try peeling a banana from the bottom instead of the stem. Simply pinch the end opposite the stem and peel it back. This method helps you avoid the frustrating stringy bits that can cling to the fruit.

  • Speedy Cherry Tomato Slicing Slicing cherry tomatoes one by one is a tedious task. Instead, grab two plates of the same size. Place your cherry tomatoes on one plate and then cover them with the other plate. Use a sharp knife to cut through the gap between the plates, slicing multiple tomatoes at once. It's a simple trick that saves you time and keeps your tomatoes uniform. Or just pick one of these handy tools, perfect for the job.

  • No-Stress Eggshell Removal Cracking eggs for your morning omelet only to end up with tiny pieces of shell in the mix? Use a larger piece of the eggshell to scoop out the smaller bits. The shell acts like a magnet, making it easy to remove any stray pieces. And then theres this magical tool for your hardboiled eggs too!

  • Effortless Egg Separation Cracking eggs can be a delicate operation when you need to separate the yolks from the whites. Use an empty plastic bottle to make this process a breeze. Squeeze the bottle slightly, position it over the yolk, and release to let it suck up the yolk. No more mess or fuss.

  • Ice Cube Magic Do you have leftover herbs that are on the verge of wilting? Don't let them go to waste. Chop them up, place them in ice cube trays, and cover them with water or olive oil. Freeze them into herb-infused ice cubes that you can pop into your dishes for an instant flavor boost.

  • Non-Stick Measuring Cups To prevent sticky ingredients like honey or peanut butter from adhering to your measuring cups, give them a light spray of cooking oil or a quick wipe with a neutral-flavored oil like vegetable oil. Your ingredients will slide right out, leaving no mess behind.

  • Efficient Corn-on-the-Cob Enjoying corn on the cob can be a delightful but sometimes messy experience. Make it mess-free by sticking the cob through the center of a bundt cake pan. This will catch any errant kernels and butter, leaving your hands clean.

  • Quick-Cooling Wine or Beer Need to chill a bottle of wine or beer in a hurry? Wrap the bottle in a wet paper towel and place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. The damp paper towel helps the bottle cool faster, ensuring your beverage is ready to enjoy sooner.

  • Ice Cream Softening Avoid the struggle of scooping rock-hard ice cream by storing your carton in a ziplock bag. The extra insulation from the bag will keep your ice cream softer and easier to serve, without freezer burn.

  • Crispy Leftover Pizza When reheating pizza in the microwave, it can become soggy. Instead, warm it in a non-stick skillet on low heat. Place a lid on top to trap the heat and melt the cheese while keeping the crust crispy. You'll feel like you're enjoying fresh pizza all over again. Also airfryers are amazing at reheating pizza. If you dont already have one your missing out.

  • Lemon Juice Without Seeds When you need lemon juice for a recipe, but you don't want seeds in it, insert a fork into the lemon and squeeze. The fork will catch the seeds, and you'll get seed-free lemon juice.

  • Revive Stale Bread If your bread has gone a little stale, don't toss it. Sprinkle it with some water, wrap it in foil, and heat it in the oven for a few minutes. It will come out warm and freshly baked.

  • Instant Pancake Mix Prepare your pancake mix in advance by combining all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) and storing them in an airtight container. When you're ready to make pancakes, just add the wet ingredients (milk, eggs, etc.), and you'll have a quick and easy homemade pancake mix.

  • Clean Your Blender Easily After blending your ingredients, don't spend time scrubbing the blender. Fill it with warm water and a drop of dish soap, then blend for a few seconds. Rinse, and it's clean!

  • Peel Ginger with a Spoon Peeling ginger with a knife can be tricky. Instead, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin. It's faster and safer.

  • Stop Boiling Over To prevent pots from boiling over, place a wooden spoon across the top. The spoon will burst the bubbles before they overflow.

  • Keep Brown Sugar Soft To prevent brown sugar from hardening into a solid block, store it with a piece of bread or a marshmallow. They'll help maintain the sugar's moisture.

These kitchen hacks are all about making your life in the kitchen more convenient and enjoyable. Whether you're a seasoned chef or just getting started, these tips will help you save time and effort, allowing you to focus on the joy of creating delightful dishes. With these tricks up your sleeve, your culinary adventures are sure to become a whole lot smoother and more enjoyable.


Happy cooking and bon appétit!


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