Cooking can be a joy, but sometimes it comes with its challenges. From preserving freshness to improving flavors, a few clever tricks can make a big difference. These useful food hacks are tried and tested, ensuring they work. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, these tips will help you elevate your culinary game.
Contents
- 1 Keep Herbs Fresh with Paper Towels
- 2 Ripen Bananas Quickly with a Paper Bag
- 3 Peel Garlic Easily with a Microwave
- 4 Keep Brown Sugar Soft with a Marshmallow
- 5 Prevent Avocado Browning with Onion
- 6 Grate Butter for Easy Spreading
- 7 Revive Stale Bread with Water
- 8 Prevent Boiling Over with a Wooden Spoon
- 9 Remove Excess Fat from Soups with Ice Cubes
- 10 Use a Straw to Hull Strawberries
- 11 More From RetailShout
- 12 12 Affordable Costco Finds You Didn’t Know You Needed (All Under $20)
- 13 16 Tasty Salad Additions for a Nutritional Upgrade
Keep Herbs Fresh with Paper Towels
To keep your herbs fresh for longer, wrap them in damp paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. The moisture from the paper towels helps maintain the herbs’ freshness and prevents them from wilting. This simple trick can extend the life of your herbs by several days. Say goodbye to wasted cilantro and parsley!
Ripen Bananas Quickly with a Paper Bag
Need ripe bananas in a hurry? Place them in a brown paper bag with an apple. The ethylene gas produced by the apple speeds up the ripening process of the bananas. This hack is perfect for those last-minute banana bread cravings or smoothies.
Peel Garlic Easily with a Microwave
Peeling garlic can be a hassle, but microwaving it for just 15 seconds can make the skins slide right off. The heat loosens the skin from the clove, saving you time and effort. This hack is especially useful when you need to peel multiple cloves at once for a recipe.
Keep Brown Sugar Soft with a Marshmallow
Brown sugar tends to harden over time, but adding a marshmallow to the container can keep it soft. The marshmallow helps retain moisture, preventing the sugar from clumping and hardening. This simple hack ensures your brown sugar is always ready to use.
Prevent Avocado Browning with Onion
To keep a cut avocado from turning brown, store it with a piece of onion. The sulfur compounds in the onion helps prevent oxidation, keeping your avocado green and fresh. This hack is perfect for saving that extra half of an avocado for later use.
Grate Butter for Easy Spreading
If you need to soften butter quickly, try grating it. The small shreds will soften faster than a whole stick, making it easier to spread on bread or incorporate into recipes. This hack is great for baking or when you forget to take the butter out of the fridge in advance.
Revive Stale Bread with Water
To bring stale bread back to life, simply run it under water and then bake it in the oven for a few minutes. The water creates steam in the oven, which rehydrates the bread, making it soft and crusty again. This hack works wonders on baguettes and rolls.
Prevent Boiling Over with a Wooden Spoon
Placing a wooden spoon across the top of a pot of boiling water can prevent it from boiling over. The spoon breaks the surface tension of the bubbles, keeping them from spilling over. This simple trick can save you from a messy stovetop cleanup.
Remove Excess Fat from Soups with Ice Cubes
To easily remove excess fat from soups and stews, float a few ice cubes on the surface. The fat will solidify around the ice cubes, making it easy to scoop out with a spoon. This hack helps you create healthier, less greasy dishes.
Use a Straw to Hull Strawberries
Removing the hull from strawberries can be time-consuming, but a straw can make it quick and easy. Simply push the straw through the bottom of the strawberry, and the hull will pop right out. This hack is perfect for preparing large quantities of strawberries for desserts or snacks.
This article originally appeared on RetailShout.
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