Have you ever wished that your kitchen could be a magical place where everything just falls into place? So you always fantasize about those simple tips that could make all the difference in the world of cooking? Dream no more!
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We’re going to dive straight into some amazing kitchen hacks that will transform your cooking experience. So get ready to take your culinary skills up several notches.
Preserving Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs, as we all know, add flavor to any dish, but many households still struggle with safely preserving them. On the other hand, olive oil is a useful method that’s worth trying for preserving fresh herbs.
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To begin, just slice up your favorite greens, like basil, cilantro, and parsley, put them in ice cube trays, and then completely cover them with olive oil before freezing. This way, you can have an herb and olive oil cube handy for your recipes.
Extending Meat Shelf Life
Have you been attempting to keep meat fresh while extending its shelf life? The secret is to freeze them briefly before storage. When you return from the grocery store with a large chunk of fresh meat, don’t just store it in the refrigerator or freezer.
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Cut them into the appropriate sizes, freeze them in parts separately, and then bag them all together for storage. This will improve the efficiency of food prep while extending the shelf life of your meats.
Keeping Cheese Fresh Longer
The freshness and flavor of cheese are prolonged when it’s preserved properly. You can preserve your cheese by placing it in an airtight container or plastic bag after wrapping it in parchment paper or wax to allow it to breathe.
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Then keep it in the refrigerator’s warmest section, usually the vegetable drawer. This process keeps the cheese fresher for longer, prevents the growth of mold, and preserves its flavor and texture.
Quick Mac ‘n’ Cheese Preparation
If you’re planning to make mac ‘n’ cheese soon, you can skip the steps that involve making a roux and melting cheese into it. Instead, use this shortcut: After cooking your pasta as usual, stir in butter, milk, and the contents of the spice packet of your choice.
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And depending on the spices you have available, you can try out different flavors using this quicker hack. Feel free to experiment by adding anything from an extra cayenne pepper to an exotic touch of curry powder.
Speedy Egg Boiling Process
Partially freezing eggs beforehand is the key to speeding up the boiling process. While we typically store eggs at room temperature before submerging them in hot water, boiling them somewhat frozen actually shortens the cooking time without compromising the quality.
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In order to properly accomplish this, freeze the eggs for approximately fifteen minutes before boiling. They also peel more easily after boiling.
Preventing Cross-Contamination
The most common cause of cross-contamination during food prep is using the same cutting boards for multiple tasks. Henceforth, only cut fruits and vegetables on wooden cutting boards because they are safer than their plastic equivalents due to the presence of organic compounds that kill bacteria.
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Additionally, always use a separate cutting board for raw meat, as the grooves created by knife cuts may harbor germs that are more difficult to remove. Cross-contamination can therefore be prevented when using specialized boards.
Homemade Bread Proofing
You can try using your oven as a makeshift proofing drawer if your kitchen is too cool for dough proofing. You can place a pan of simmering water beneath the dough in the oven without turning it on to help with bread rising.
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This simple hack will elevate your baking skills, and the result of your bread will have whoever gets a taste or feel of it give you compliments.
Efficient Cleanup with Parchment Paper
Do you know you can use parchment paper for more than just baking cookies? It also saves a ton of cleanup time when roasting meats or veggies in the oven. Simply line your baking pan with parchment paper before adding your ingredients to avoid having to scrub away any tough residue.
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You can guarantee that any fluids or oils that are released while cooking are absorbed by the paper and won’t stick to the pan when you apply this simple method.
Preserving Baked Goods with Aluminum Foil
You may already be putting leftover pizza slices in the fridge by wrapping them in aluminum foil, but did you know that this tip also works for other baked items? To keep freshly baked muffins moist longer or to prevent cake from drying out after they have completely cooled, just wrap them loosely in aluminum foil.
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With the loose wrap, moisture can be retained without becoming soggy, extending the shelf life of those delicious sweets by a few days.
Ice Molds Aren’t Just For Water
When it comes to inventive food storage, ice molds are your best friend. You don’t want to throw away any leftover lemon juice or tomato sauce if you’re not sure what you’ll do with it next.
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Simply place them in an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, remove the flavor cubes and place them in a plastic bag. This way, you may always have single-serving portions available whenever you need them.
The End
Now that you know how to use olive oil to keep herbs fresher for longer, you can boil eggs faster and more. Remember to make parchment paper and aluminum foil your new best friends for hassle-free cleanup after cooking sessions.
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All of the hacks are essentially meant to help you save time while still producing extraordinary results in the kitchen. It’s all about making things easier while still tasting good.
