By sonu.ziopix@gmail.com 
Cooking can sometimes feel like a chore, especially when you’re juggling multiple tasks or trying to get dinner on the table in a hurry. But with the right tools and tricks, you can make your time in the kitchen more efficient and enjoyable. Here are 10 kitchen hacks that will not only make your cooking process easier but also help you achieve better results!
If you want to make melt-in-your-mouth, tender meat without spending hours in the kitchen, turn to your trusty slow cooker. Whether you’re cooking chicken, pork, or beef, slow cooking allows the meat to cook at a low temperature for an extended period, breaking down the fibers and leaving you with a perfectly juicy and tender dish.
Hack: Add a little broth or stock to your slow cooker to keep the meat moist. If you’re cooking a fatty cut like pork shoulder or brisket, the slow cooker will work its magic to render the fat, making the meat fall apart effortlessly.
Instead of grabbing a knife to slice vegetables thinly, grab a vegetable peeler. This simple kitchen tool is perfect for slicing items like zucchini, carrots, or even potatoes into thin, even strips, which can be great for recipes like vegetable ribbons or garnishes. Plus, it’s faster than trying to cut perfect slices with a knife!
Hack: A vegetable peeler also works wonders for shaving thin slices of chocolate for a garnish, or even creating curly potato chips.
If you have leftover fresh herbs, don’t let them go to waste! A brilliant kitchen hack is to chop the herbs and freeze them in an ice cube tray, covering them with olive oil. This way, you can have pre-portioned herbs on hand for soups, sauces, and stir-fries.
Hack: You can also use this method with garlic, ginger, and other seasonings to create ready-to-use flavor cubes for easy cooking on busy nights!
When boiling pasta, soup, or milk, we’ve all been there—suddenly, your pot overflows, leaving you with a mess to clean. The next time you’re boiling liquids, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot. The spoon will break the bubbles and prevent them from overflowing.
Hack: This trick works because the bubbles that form on the surface hit the spoon and get disrupted, creating less foam and reducing the risk of boiling over.
Don’t throw away stale bread! Instead, revive it by lightly spritzing it with water and placing it in a 350°F (175°C) oven for about 5-10 minutes. The moisture will help soften the bread and bring it back to life, almost as if it were freshly baked.
Hack: For an extra crispy crust, wrap the bread in aluminum foil for the first 5 minutes, then remove the foil for the last 2-3 minutes to allow the bread to crisp up.
Peeling garlic can be a time-consuming task, but there’s a quick hack to make it faster: use a jar! Place the garlic cloves in a small jar, seal the lid, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. The skins will come right off, leaving you with peeled garlic in a fraction of the time.
Hack: You can also use this method to break up garlic heads before peeling the individual cloves.
If you need to chop a large batch of cherry tomatoes for a salad or pasta, save time and energy by using scissors! Place the tomatoes between two lids (like the top of a take-out container) and cut them all in one go. It’s faster and cleaner than using a knife.
Hack: This technique works well with other small fruits or vegetables, such as grapes or olives, when you need to slice many at once.
Achieving perfectly even baking can be a challenge, but a simple parchment paper lining on your baking sheets can help. It prevents sticking, helps with even heat distribution, and makes cleanup a breeze.
Hack: For cookies and biscuits, you can use parchment paper to help create evenly spaced cookies, ensuring they bake consistently across the sheet.
When you’re in need of a quick snack or need to fuel up before or after a workout, try making no-bake energy bites. Mix oats, nut butter, honey, chia seeds, and your favorite add-ins like chocolate chips or dried fruit. Roll them into balls and refrigerate for an easy snack that’s full of protein and healthy fats.
Hack: You can customize the energy bites by adding cocoa powder, shredded coconut, or a scoop of protein powder to match your tastes and dietary needs.
Flipping pancakes can be tricky, especially when you want them to stay intact. The next time you make pancakes, try using a fish slice (a wide, flat spatula) instead of a regular spatula. The wider surface helps you flip the pancake more easily and ensures it doesn’t break apart.
Hack: This trick is especially useful for flipping delicate foods, such as eggs or crepes, that might otherwise stick or tear with a thinner spatula.
Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. By using these 10 kitchen hacks, you can streamline your cooking process, enhance your efficiency, and make meal prep a breeze. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or a beginner in the kitchen, these tips will help you take your culinary skills to the next level.
Try these hacks the next time you cook and see how much they change the way you approach meal prep. Not only will they save you time, but you’ll also end up with tastier, better-prepared meals.