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Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones My pet peeve is the 'one sheet pan dinner' recipe videos where they spread everything out on the pan, THEN add oil and seasonings AS UNEVENLY AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE and just shuffle around poorly with their hands.

just toss it all in a big bowl beforehand, goddamn

mah_ree , Isha Zubeidi Report

Final score:

134points

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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

Oh yes, and then seeing done by a socalled influencer with nails so long it's actually gross ;P

104points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Any hack that appears on TikTok gets an instant NO from me. I swear that place makes everything more complicated than it should be, or validates some people's horrific food ideas.

Chopping board, chef's knife, peeler, mixing bowl, frying pan, saucepan/stockpot- 90%+ of kitchen jobs can be solved with these. Good quality ones - you use them every day, so invest in them.

Source: ex-chef from a 2 Michelin star kitchen.

Lt_Forks , nordskovmedia.dk Report

Final score:

129points

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Aisling Raye 2 years ago

Amen to this!

42points

TheLadyEve , Joanna Bourne author Report

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Cooking things in the dishwasher. That started in the 70s, now it's a tik tok thing, but it's always stupid.

Final score:

128points

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Headless Roach 2 years ago (edited)

Cooking in what? Like in "I like to have pieces of yesterday's pasta in my today's steak"?

61points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Those tiktok people who think cutting cake with a wineglass is somehow easier or convenient.

BridgetteBane , theroseperiod Report

Final score:

120points

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Scout Finch 2 years ago

WHY?

88points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones It's not really "cooking" but I saw one that made peanut butter sandwiches 'easier'. It involved creating frozen slices of peanut butter between two small sheets of selophane, which could then be taken out of the freezer and put between bread, and would then melt creating a peanut butter sandwich.

I have no idea how that was less time and effort than just making them the normal way, and it doesn't really extend the shelf life of peanut butter in any meaningful way, and with the added drawback that you can't eat them right away since the peanut butter needs to melt.

Blew my mind for all the wrong reasons.

gazhole , Craig Murphy Report

Final score:

116points

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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

I completely know what you mean, this is just silly ;)

45points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Using a plastic water bottle to separate egg yolks. And by extension, using any tool to separate yolks. Just use your hands.

Ok_Chapter8131 , ebrunar Report

Final score:

115points

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Lizzy Crit 2 years ago

I use the shell

233points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones For me it's people saying to use mayo instead of butter on their grilled cheese. Mayo just doesn't provide the flavor or crunch I want. Butter is the way

waitthissucks , Joel Kramer Report

Final score:

110points

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Aisling Raye 2 years ago

I try my best not to judge others BUT I judge the ever living he!! out of the mayo is better than butter people. Honestly mayo people, who hurt you?

62points

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Not that I hate them, but I've tried loads for hummus that don't work.

Blend with ice, blend when chickpeas are hot, used dried/ canned chickpeas, cook them more, take all the skins off, blend the tahini and lemon juice on its own first, soak with baking soda, etc.

Just blend everything together, and make sure there's enough liquid in the blender that it blends properly to get it smooth. Then add salt until it tastes really good

Rabaga5t , Whitney Report

Final score:

98points

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Green Tree 2 years ago

Simple hummus that always gets compliments: 1-1-1-1. One each lemon (juiced), garlic clove, can of chickpeas and spoonful of tahini. Blend with olive oil till smooth and season.

28points

#10

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Food hacks that show up on 5 Minutes Crafts

Educational-Fan-8475 , Stephanie Report

Final score:

92points

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LuckyL 2 years ago

Because they are just 5-minute-lies. But somewhat entertaining...

43points

#11

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones That the hole in the center of the spaghetti spoon is a single serving. If I wanna eat a whole box I will.

Ass2DRegMan , A Yee Report

Final score:

86points

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Aisling Raye 2 years ago

Pasta is measured with your heart. Also, don't buy extra dumb kitchen stuff you don't need - why does anyone need a dedicated spoon for spaghetti?

55points

#12

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Peeling ginger with a spoon. I just use a knife and square it off. I’m okay with losing a little bit of it if it means not grabbing a spoon and spending twice as much time prepping it.

Also, a new one I’ve seen is using a cooling rack to dice avocado, mango, egg, etc. whoever came up with that has either never cleaned a cooling rack or doesn’t own a knife.

Agree with the veggie scraps one.

gustriandos , Kjokkenutstyr Net Report

Final score:

80points

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EvilNob 2 years ago

I used teaspoons for peeling ginger even before it was "cool". Spoiler alert: I also get rid of fishscales with a tablespoon. There is nothing wrong with it.

54points

S Mi 2 years ago

Agreed. It's extra easy if it's frozen or even partially frozen, too!

7points

Nikolett Simon 2 years ago

It takes no effort to peel it with a spoon and u won’t lose produce..

10points

Adam Belaire 2 years ago

You mean you shouldn't use a peeler for peeling ginger?

10points

JMil 2 years ago

Peeler all the way.

5points

Zedrapazia 2 years ago

I don't even peel the ginger ... Is that bad?

6points

Gayla Ann 2 years ago

No, I came hear to say this. I have Asian friends and they say only white people peel their ginger when cooking.

1point

IDGAFabtyourfeelings 2 years ago (edited)

Peeling ginger with a spoon is an East Asian thing that goes back hundreds if not thousands of years...

6points

Small Galaxy 2 years ago

I like using a spoon to peel ginger. I think it's easier.

5points

InvincibleRodent 2 years ago

No, this one is a good technique. Squaring it off creates too much food waste for me.

3points

BasedWang12.3 2 years ago

Most the time you can just leave the skin on tbh

2points

Izzy_ 2 years ago

I use a potato peeler for the ginger

2points

Natasha 2 years ago

potato peeler does a great peeling job with ginger.

2points

Viau Anna 2 years ago

This is not a stupid hack. It works. Much better and much faster than with a knife.

1point

JayWantsACat 2 years ago

They're not peeling ginger with the knife. They're literally cutting the root into a rectangle buy cutting the skin off. So its way easier and faster than with a spoon. But you do lose a lot of product using that method.

1point

badger 2 years ago

just use a freaking peeler - you wouldn't peel potatoes with a spoon ffs.

1point

Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

I didn't even know it was a thing ;) I just use a very sharp knife, and then take a nice chunck to make tea with it. Gingertea with lots of ginger for me is like drinking liquid pepper, I drink it every morning half an hour before breakfast, not because I like it, but it's healthy as heck for my body ;)

1point

Tamalyn Karp 1 year ago

Sooooooo..... The cooling rack for dicing egg is a common pro-hack. Mostly when we have to prep enough eggs to feed several hundred. Wouldn't do it for mango, but avocado *might* work. Depending on how ripe the avocados are.

0points

Linda Johansson 1 year ago

It’s way easier to peel ginger with a spoon than a knife. And you lose more than a little bit using a knife.

0points

Robin Rush 1 year ago

In the restaurant I used to work in when I made the egg salad and needed 100 eggs diced, we used a cleaned fry basket. That’s when something like a cooking rack (or basket) makes sense for dicing eggs. If it’s for even just a dozen, just use a knife

0points

Untamed Snark 1 year ago

I freeze the bits I cut off and put them in tea with lemon

0points

Anh Aline Vuo 1 year ago

This is the best and quickest method to peel ginger. The OP knows absolutely s**t about cooking.

0points

Alice 1 year ago

I actually like this one because it does make it easy without me risking to chop my fingers off

0points

Celtic Pirate Queen 2 years ago

I use a potato peeler on fresh ginger.

0points

Michelle Cherry 2 years ago (edited)

If cooking just for myself I just use my thumbnail... It's there dang it why not. If for other people; I do use a spoon. I don't mind spending time doing it right and not wasting the hard work of a farmer who grew my food. Also, 'real' ginger is expensive. What most people call ginger isn't actual ginger anyway... Still, respect the fricking food and don't waste it!

0points

jenjie.newt 2 years ago

I don't even peel my ginger, I just microplane it. The peel gets shredded finely enough that it's not even noticeable

0points

Mike Loux 2 years ago

Spoon works fine for me. So does a paring knife. To each their own.

0points

Maggie Dinzler Shaw 2 years ago

You don't have tp peel it at all. I like that advice.

0points

Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago

I tried this, it's actually not bad.

0points

Joe Rusynyk 2 years ago

It's actually easier to use a spoon, and safer, so you can go faster. Saving product is just a nice side result. Learn to use a spoon and never look back.

0points

Beverly 2 years ago

A sharp knife does the trick for me. I can't imagine using something dull to peel anything.

0points

DumYum 2 years ago (edited)

Also use a ceramic ginger grater (the kind you get at an Asian market, usual round with little teeth in the center) if you want a paste-like consistency.

0points

Leta Schoeller 2 years ago

I use a potato peeler

0points

JayWantsACat 2 years ago

I'm with OP, at least right now. I tried the spoon method and it wasnt for me. So I basically cut the skin since I dont use ginger that often so don't really care how much I lose as long as I end up with the amount needed. Having said that, I do hate that it's wasteful so I'll be giving the spoon method another try when I'm not in a hurry.

0points

Hayley Futter 2 years ago

Double the prep time? It's already so fast with a spoon and less waste

0points

Liz Carroll 2 years ago

The spoon only really works with young ginger where the skin comes off easily. A lot of chefs use this trick, so it isn't just a silly TikTok hack

0points

Nope 2 years ago

Was told by a chef that you don't need to peel ginger at all & that he never did. Just microplane it & viola. Tried it. No difference in taste whatsoever. Try it yourself.

0points

SabbeRubbish 2 years ago

Potato peeler works perfect here people

0points

Alice Bowden 2 years ago

Honestly, I really like using a spoon, but I guess I'm very particular about waste. So if you can afford it, a knife is easier.

0points

Nichole Harris 2 years ago

I use grapefruit spoon to peel ginger

0points

Fat Harry 2 years ago

I have never heard of this. Any of it. I use a knife to peel ginger because it's quick.

0points

Red Ruffensor 2 years ago

I'm lazy, I just use ginger from a jar.

0points

#13

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Using a straw to de-stem strawberries by poking a hole through the bottom of the berry.

Just rip it off

QQcumber , Fried Dough Report

Final score:

78points

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Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago

And if you can't rip it off, use a paring knife. If you don't feel comfortable doing that, there's a little device called a strawberry huller (or corer, I think it's called) and it works. I've tried that straw "hack" and I can confirm that it doesn't work.

41points

#14

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Putting olive oil in when the pasta is boiling so it doesn't stick. Give that pasta a stir when you put it in the pot and once every few minutes and save your olive oil for salad dressing. If you don't stir the pasta when you drop it in, no amount of olive oil will keep it from sticking anyway.

the_nomads , Prem Sichanugrist Report

Final score:

73points

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Bubbles and sparks 2 years ago

Pasta needs to be a bit sticky, its made that way so the sauce will stick to the pasta ;) It's all about timing, so you have your pasta sauce ready when your pasta is done and then serve it.

55points

Snorlax_Sprinkles , Chris Chen 陳依勤 Report

#15

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Breaking eggs with one hand. Get out of here with that black magic b******t

Final score:

65points

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Fat Harry 2 years ago

I can crack two eggs in each hand at the same time :)

52points

#16

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones I hate any gadget that a decent knife and a modicum of coordination can replace. I cook multiple times most days but my wife couldn’t make a wish sandwich if you stacked to pieces of bread on a plate for her. So she always shows me videos of kitchen gadgets she thinks I need. 99 times out of a hundred you can do the same thing with a knife in less time and don’t have an extra hard to clean gadget.

Match_Specialist , Chris Hoare Report

Final score:

58points

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N Gregory 2 years ago

Gee. Good for you for having "a modicum of coordination" and not rheumatoid arthritis. I would like to get rid of about five gadgets in my kitchen but then I wouldn't be able to cook half the meals I enjoy. Maybe, just maybe not *all* gadgets are useless. (Also - what's a wish sandwich?)

102points

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#17

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Peeling garlic by shaking it in a container, doesn't work for me. Slicing cherry tomatoes in half by placing a plate on top.

Competitive_Dress671 , Rebecca Siegel Report

Final score:

54points

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Benita Valdez 2 years ago

Garlic hates me and does whatever it can to make sure I have a hard time peeling and cutting it; always have a green center that I have to cut out

24points

PM_ME_SERATONIN , Marco Verch Professional Photographer Report

#18

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Making milk froth for coffee in an empty foaming hand soap bottle. Just BUY A MILK FROTHER they are like $10 at target

Final score:

49points

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Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago

Wait, that's not a prank? Sheesh. I don't do this, but I'd spend the $10.

20points

#19

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Pulling stems of cilantro through a hole (in a microplane, grater, colander, etc) to get the leaves off. Has never worked for me. It's much faster for me to just pull the leaves off by hand.

okokimup , Jason Bachman Report

Final score:

44points

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EvilNob 2 years ago

Or do not have clintaro at all, because it tastes horrible (like dirty dishwater). And no, I'm not picky. I just have an extra gene and better smelling sense that lets me smell and taste the real clintaro. (Google it.)

18points

#20

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Any microwave plate or tray that is supposed to "cook" an item better. Anyone remember the "Bacon Wave" that came out in the 80's? It was a tray that was supposed to cook bacon crisp in the microwave and drain the fat at the same time. Problem was that it splattered grease all over your microwave and took about the same time as it does to pan fry it.

I've seen these for every type of egg dish, bacon, coffee, ramen noodles, steaks, and just about anything else. A pointless waste of money.

And Foreman Grill types of presses. It's an over glorified sandwich press and only good if you have no other cooking options. (I admit I had one when I lived in the barracks and had no access to a kitchen.)

atombomb1945 , wEnDy Report

Final score:

41points

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JMil 2 years ago

The one microwave device I like is the "potato pocket". Makes a pretty decent "baked" potato in a small fraction of the time it takes in the oven.

21points

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#21

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Those dumb videos where people dumb dry pasta and slices of cheese and milk in a casserole dish and cook it all at once.

FearlessFreak69 , U.S. Department of Agriculture Report

Final score:

35points

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Headless Roach 2 years ago

The dry pasta is for that extra crunch to chip your tooth or what?

18points

#22

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones "Use your garlic press to quickly press ginger as well"

Would not recommend.

MrReynevan2 , Joe Hall Report

Final score:

33points

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Gourdeous 2 years ago

It's too fibrous, it doesn't work

42points

#23

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones I'll go first. I hate saving veggie scraps for broth. I don't like the room it takes up in my freezer, and I don't think the broth tastes as good as it does when you use whole, fresh vegetables.

Honorable mentions:

Store-bought herb pastes. They just don't have the same oomph.

Anything that's supposed to make peeling boiled eggs easier. Everybody has a different one--baking soda, ice bath, there are a hundred different tricks. They don't work.

Microwave anything (mug cakes, etc). The texture is always way off.

secret-snakes , citymama Report

Final score:

30points

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EvilNob 2 years ago

Saving veggie scraps for broth helps you to save money and being more eco friendly at the same time. It doesn't take up too much place in your freezer (except if you have a tiny one) and you can make it as soon as you peel the vegetables. I usually make the veggie meal, then the broth, put it for one night in the refrigerator and the next day I make a yummy soup or other meal out of it.

70points

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#24

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Putting cream in risotto

NorthernAphid , Herry Lawford Report

Final score:

29points

POST

Nikki Sevven 2 years ago

Why would you? The whole point of risotto is the process, which creates the creaminess from the rice's starches. If you need cream, you've done it wrong. Or you've used the wrong type of rice.

54points

#25

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones premade marinades almost always suck. My only exception to date is Soy Vay veri teriyaki.

SueBeee , Eric Sonstroem Report

Final score:

27points

POST

Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago

Upvote for "Soy Vay"

31points

#26

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Somebody once told me to try using one of those wire egg-slicers to slice mushrooms. I gave it a shot and ruined my parents' egg slicer. Would not recommend.

Haephestus , Cheryl Report

Final score:

25points

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Beth L 2 years ago

1) that is not a mushroom, and 2) that is not an egg slicer

144points

#27

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Cooking in the microwave. I just don't do it. The microwave for me is for reheating or defrosting only.

Ineffable7980x , CJ Sorg Report

Final score:

23points

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Timmy Pillinger 2 years ago

Nothing wrong with the microwave once you know how to use it.

84points

Citoyen_Riqueti , David Leo Veksler Report

#28

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Ok Kenji, I’ll concede brining shrimp in baking soda makes a difference, but this m**********r be putting baking soda in *everything*

Final score:

17points

POST

Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 2 years ago

That's a new one. I've heard of using baking soda for cookies, but not this.

12points

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#29

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones Making pesto with a hydraulic press

nattiecakes , Rebecca Siegel Report

Final score:

10points

POST

EvilNob 2 years ago

Hydraulic press?! 😂 What kind of videos did OP watch?

8points

#30

Members Of This Online Community Are Debunking Cooking “Hacks”, Here Are 30 Of The Worst Ones In the same vein as your example of using veggie scraps for broth/stock, I also think that using cooked chicken carcasses (looking at you, rotisserie chicken) always makes an inferior broth/stock when compared to that made with raw chicken carcasses.

96dpi , espring4224 Follow Report

Final score:

-22points

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Jihana 2 years ago

I have the feeling this one is more for poorer folks. Rotisserie chicken is very inexpensive. And an inferior broth is better than no broth at all. It's an additional meal that costs next to nothing.

114points