It’s almost impossible to run out of new cooking hacks that claim to be the magic wands for a better kitchen experience. This is all thanks to social media and our amazing online chefs—the gifts that keep giving.
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But more than just acknowledging every new cooking tip that comes our way, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. Do these hacks really work or have we all subconsciously signed up to living a lie?
Kierin Baldwin Spills the Beans
Are you a home cook? Then, you try out new hacks not for the money or recognition, but simply because you want to cook up a storm to tantalize your taste buds. For this reason, you want nothing less than the honest truth. We feel you!
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So, we’ve decided to draw from the knowledge of Kierin Baldwin, a trusted Chef Instructor from the Institute of Culinary Education. She has set the record straight regarding what cooking hacks are worth your consideration and the ones to drop like it’s hot. Let’s go!
When a Wine Bottle Saves the Day
Have you ever tried making pizza only to discover too late the rolling pin is nowhere to be found? Don’t fret, it happens to even the best of us too.
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Baldwin says a clean wine bottle can replace the rolling pin in situations like this. In her words, “It works! I think it would drive me nuts though, because it’s so much shorter than a normal rolling pin. I would only do it in extreme circumstances.”
Garlic-Peeling Made Easy
Peeling multiple garlic can be tedious if your strategy is smashing or picking individual cloves. But with this hack that Baldwin swears by, your days of struggling to peel these bulbous herbs are O-V-E-R!
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All you have to do is add garlic cloves to a jar with a lid (alternatively, place them between two small metal bowls) and shake vigorously. It’s that easy.
The Dental Floss Hack for Cutting Through Cheese or Baked Goods
While this may not work for other food items, dental floss sure knows how to work its magic with a variety of baked goods and cheese. Unlike a knife blade, slicing your cheesecake with a dental floss wouldn’t create drag.
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Baldwin says this hack is perfect for making cinnamon rolls and similar meals. She also adds that straightforward and waxed floss produces cleaner cuts than the mint and textured ones.
Use Cooling Racks to Dice or Mash
Baldwin says this hack is one of her favorites, so listen up! Instead of mashing or dicing your potatoes, avocados, roasted squash, etc., why not try it with a gridded cooling rack? With just one attempt, you’d never want to make your pureed dishes any other way again.
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The process is simple—smash your ingredients through the rack with their skin facing upwards. Not only does this separate the flesh from the skin, but it also cuts them up into chucks for easy smashing, in just one step.
The Perfect Hacks for Cooking Pasta
Tired of congealed noodles? Baldwin says all you need to do is cook it in a large pot with adequate water and stir repeatedly. For extra measure, add a few drops of oil to the water before introducing the pasta.
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Placing a wooden spoon over the top of an open pot can also prevent it from boiling over.
The Deli Lid Hack
Save cooking time by cutting multiple spherical items (grapes, tomatoes, cherries, etc) at once with a deli lid. “Basically you put one lid on your work surface right side up, put a layer of whatever you’re cutting on top of the lid, and then invert a second lid on top of that,” Baldwin says.
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“Then slide your knife horizontally in between the two lids to cut everything in half all at once. It’s so much quicker than cutting each one individually.”
Meal Prep Made Easier with Ice Cube Trays
Are you used to freezing your ingredients in large quantities? Then, you already know how difficult it is to break them up when it’s time to cook. Fortunately, there’s a better way—freeze them in ice cube trays.
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“I usually just use a small amount and then freeze the rest, and freezing things in ice cube-sized quantities makes it so much easier to use up bit by bit,” says Baldwin.
Freeze Your Garlic
Think about all the things that are so much better when frozen, then add ginger to the list. “I just keep it in the freezer…whenever I need some, I take out the microplane and just grate however much I need,” Baldwin says.
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This method eliminates the need to peel your ginger. “It’s so much easier than any other way,” added Baldwin.
When Scissors Does It Better Than Pizza Cutter
Not everyone knows how to use a pizza cutter perfectly and that’s okay. You can still achieve smooth cuts by ditching the cutters for culinary scissors.
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“Just make sure they’re clean scissors, and that they’re ones that have the hinge that comes completely apart for proper cleaning.” Thank Baldwin (and us, of course) later.
There’s More Where Those Came From
Have you had a good time reading about the cooking hacks that actually work? We bet you did. Now, go right ahead and implement your favorite ones. Don’t forget to be a darling and share the tricks with friends and family too.
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Plus, if you’re a cooking enthusiast looking for better and more efficient ways to prove your prowess in the kitchen, you’ve found the right page. With us, there’s always something to look forward to.
