Kitchen Tips & Hacks
Useful techniques, time-saving tricks, and practical advice for home cooks who want to work more efficiently in the kitchen.
Recipes That Put These Tips Into Practice
See how kitchen techniques improve real, everyday recipes.
Kitchen Hacks for Everyday Cooking
Straightforward techniques to make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable and efficient.
Place a garlic clove on the cutting board and lay the flat side of a wide knife over it. Press down firmly with the heel of your hand — the skin loosens immediately.
Bring eggs to room temperature before cooking and use a well-seasoned cast-iron or ceramic pan. Heat the pan before adding oil, then reduce to medium heat before the eggs go in.
"Mise en place" (French for "everything in its place") means measuring and preparing all ingredients before cooking. It reduces stress, prevents mistakes, and speeds up assembly.
Chill onions in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting. Cold temperatures slow the release of the irritating compound. Cutting near a ventilated area also helps.
Pasta water should taste noticeably salty — roughly 1 tbsp of salt per litre of water. This is the only chance to season the pasta itself, not just the sauce.
Place soft herbs (parsley, coriander, basil) in a glass with a small amount of water, like a bunch of flowers. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and refrigerate — they keep for up to two weeks.
Place a firm avocado in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Ethylene gas from the fruit accelerates ripening. Check after 24–36 hours.
Chop fresh herbs and pack them into an ice cube tray. Fill each cell with olive oil and freeze. Pop out one or two cubes to add directly to a pan — ready-to-use herb oil.
Microwave lemons or limes for 10–15 seconds before squeezing. The brief heat loosens the interior membranes and noticeably increases juice yield.