Cooking can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be a daunting and time-consuming task. If you’re a home chef looking for ways to make the cooking process smoother, faster, and more efficient, you’re in luck. There are countless hacks that professional chefs and experienced cooks use to save time, enhance flavors, and make the kitchen a more enjoyable place. Here are some of the best cooking hacks every home chef should know, ensuring that you spend less time stressing over recipes and more time enjoying the delicious dishes you create.
1. 保持你的刀锋利
A dull knife can be one of the biggest obstacles to efficient cooking. Not only does it slow you down, but it also increases the risk of injury since you have to use more force to cut through ingredients. Make it a habit to sharpen your knives regularly. A sharp knife makes slicing and dicing faster and more precise, and it allows you to handle delicate ingredients like herbs and tomatoes without crushing them. Keep a sharpening stone or a knife sharpener in your kitchen and give your blades a quick touch-up every few weeks.
2. Use a Damp Towel to Steady Your Cutting Board
Ever struggled with a cutting board that slips around while you chop? To solve this common problem, simply place a damp kitchen towel or a piece of non-slip shelf liner under your cutting board. This creates traction and keeps your board steady, allowing you to chop and dice safely without the hassle of a wobbly surface.
3. Prep Ingredients in Advance
One of the secrets to cooking like a pro is to have all of your ingredients ready before you start cooking. This practice, known as “mise en place,” makes the cooking process smoother and prevents you from scrambling to chop vegetables or measure spices while something is already cooking. Spend a few minutes prepping ingredients in advance, and you’ll be amazed at how much more streamlined your cooking process becomes.
4. Room Temperature Ingredients for Baking
When baking, using room temperature butter, eggs, and dairy products can make a big difference in the texture of your final product. Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and help create a smoother batter, leading to fluffier cakes and more consistent cookies. If you forget to take your ingredients out ahead of time, try placing eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes or softening butter in the microwave at low power in short intervals.
5. Freeze Leftover Herbs in Olive Oil
Fresh herbs are a fantastic way to add flavor to dishes, but they often wilt before you have a chance to use them all. To avoid waste, freeze leftover herbs in olive oil using an ice cube tray. Simply chop the herbs, place them in the tray, and cover them with olive oil. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to a freezer bag. These herb-oil cubes can be added directly to sauces, soups, or sautés, providing a burst of flavor whenever you need it.
6. Grate Butter for Pastry Dough
When making pie crusts or biscuits, using cold butter is key to achieving a flaky texture. Instead of cutting the butter into cubes, try grating it on a box grater. Grated butter is easier to incorporate into flour, creating the small pockets of fat that result in a tender, flaky pastry. After grating, chill the butter again before mixing it into your dough to ensure it stays cold.
7. Peel Garlic the Easy Way
Peeling garlic can be time-consuming, but there’s an easy hack to speed it up. Place the garlic cloves in a jar or a bowl, cover with a lid, and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds. The skins will loosen, and you can easily separate them from the cloves. This trick is especially useful if you need to peel a large quantity of garlic at once.
8. Use a Spoon to Peel Ginger
Ginger root can be tricky to peel with a knife or vegetable peeler due to its irregular shape. Instead, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin. The spoon easily removes the thin peel without wasting much of the ginger itself. This method is quick, safe, and prevents unnecessary waste.
9. Make Buttermilk Substitute
If you need buttermilk for a recipe but don’t have any on hand, you can make a substitute in just a few minutes. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for about five minutes. The acid will cause the milk to curdle slightly, giving it the tang and consistency of buttermilk. This hack is perfect for when you want to bake pancakes, muffins, or other buttermilk-based treats without making an extra trip to the store.
10. Use a Bench Scraper for Easy Cleanup
A bench scraper is a versatile tool that every home chef should have. Not only does it help you gather chopped vegetables and transfer them to a pot, but it’s also great for keeping your workspace clean. Use it to scrape flour, dough, or other debris off your counter, making cleanup much easier. This tool is simple, inexpensive, and will quickly become one of your favorite kitchen companions.
11. Keep Plastic Wrap in the Freezer
If you’ve ever struggled with plastic wrap sticking to itself, try storing it in the freezer. Chilling plastic wrap makes it easier to handle, reducing its tendency to cling and stick to itself. This makes covering dishes and wrapping leftovers a much less frustrating task.
12. Test Eggs for Freshness
Not sure if your eggs are still fresh? Use the water test. Place the egg in a bowl of water—if it sinks and lays flat on its side, it’s fresh. If it stands upright, it’s still good but should be used soon. If it floats, it’s time to toss it. This simple trick helps you avoid using spoiled eggs in your cooking.
13. Use Parchment Paper for Easy Rolling
Rolling out dough can be a messy process, especially if it sticks to your rolling pin or the counter. To avoid this, roll your dough between two sheets of parchment paper. This eliminates the need for extra flour and makes transferring the dough to a pie dish or baking sheet much easier.
14. Zest Citrus Without the Mess
To make zesting citrus fruits easier and less messy, zest directly over parchment paper or plastic wrap. This way, you can collect all the flavorful zest without it getting stuck to your cutting board or counter. Use the zest to add a burst of citrus flavor to marinades, baked goods, or dressings.
15. Quickly Ripen Bananas
Need ripe bananas for banana bread but only have green ones? You can speed up the ripening process by placing the bananas in a 300°F oven for 15-20 minutes. The heat will soften the bananas and make them sweet, just like naturally ripened ones. Let them cool before using them in your recipe.
16. Save Parmesan Rinds for Soups
Don’t throw away the rind from your Parmesan cheese. These rinds are packed with flavor and can be added to soups, stews, or sauces for an extra depth of flavor. Simply drop the rind into the pot while your soup simmers and remove it before serving. It adds a rich, umami taste that enhances any dish.
17. Use a Waffle Iron for More Than Waffles
Your waffle iron isn’t just for breakfast. Use it to make crispy hash browns, quesadillas, or even grilled cheese sandwiches. The waffle iron cooks both sides evenly and creates a delicious crispy texture. It’s a versatile tool that can save you time and make meals more fun.
18. Cool Wine Fast with Frozen Grapes
If you need to chill a glass of wine quickly but don’t want to dilute it with ice, use frozen grapes instead. They cool the wine without watering it down, and they’re a tasty snack once you’ve finished your drink. This hack is especially handy for summer evenings when you want to enjoy a perfectly chilled glass of wine.
19. Keep Cookies Soft with Bread
To keep homemade cookies soft and fresh, store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread. The bread will release moisture, keeping the cookies soft while the bread itself hardens. This trick works wonders and ensures your cookies stay chewy for days.
20. Clean a Blender Easily
Cleaning a blender can be a hassle, but there’s a quick way to do it. After using the blender, fill it halfway with warm water, add a drop of dish soap, and blend for about 30 seconds. Rinse it out, and it’ll be clean with minimal scrubbing. This hack saves time and keeps your blender sparkling without the fuss.
By incorporating these cooking hacks into your kitchen routine, you can save time, reduce waste, and make the cooking experience much more enjoyable. With these simple tricks, you’ll find yourself cooking more efficiently and confidently, making the time spent in your kitchen both productive and fun.
