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30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You

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Every person who finds themselves in a kitchen every now and then has a cooking secret. Or two, or tons, if you ask experienced chefs.

Think of a splash of OJ in banana bread, lemon zest in garlic butter, a chicken stock cube to the pasta as it cooks, the tricks are endless. And although some may sound pretty bizarre at first, we gotta remind you that cooking is an adventure. There’s no strict instruction to follow and the more you experiment, the better the outcome will be (which translates into sighs, empty plates, asking for another one and endless compliments).

So if you’re in the mood for trying some out-of-the-box cooking hacks, this illuminating thread from the Cooking subreddit is a place to start. “What’s your 'weird but life-changing' cooking hack?” someone asked and the responses came rolling in, so take your notes out and let’s see what’s cooking!

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#1

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You I don’t think it’s weird but I save all the scraps of my vegetables — onions, garlic, bell peppers, carrots, celery, herb stems, tomatoes, mushrooms — and collect them in a freezer bag and when it’s full I turn it into stock and then use that stock to replace the water while cooking rice, quinoa, lentils, etc.

Grendels-mum Report

Final score:

116points

Cee Mor 2 years ago

All the great French chefs I have seen on TV do the same thing. Waste not, want not.

32points

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“Cooking hacks can be great,” Beth Moncel, a food lover and the founder of “Budget Bytes,” where she has been sharing her passion for cooking and delicious recipes, told Bored Panda. “Some cooking hacks you'll see online are just clickbait and aren't really practical in real life, but if you see a hack that will make your life easier, definitely use it! I support any tip or trick that will help you stick to the habit of cooking at home.”

#2

Okay, people call me crazy, they call me nuts, they laugh at me, and they downvote me every time I bring this up. But...

The microwave is extremely useful for potatoes in a pinch to speed up the whole process.

For baked potatoes, I microwave in plastic wrap for 5 minutes, then throw them in the oven for 15. Perfect baked potatoes in 20 minutes instead of 60, can’t complain.

Even better, for frying up crispy potatoes for breakfast or dinner, chop up and toss with a little olive oil and salt and pepper, then microwave with a lid for 5 minutes, then straight into a cast iron pan to get them crispy. You can oven roast from there too, 10m at 425 or so.

It just speeds everything up and they come out delicious.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/id8d5j/whats_your_weird_but_lifechanging_cooking_hack/g27sgj1/ Report

Final score:

113points

Pharmtechgurl 2 years ago

I ALWAYS start baking potatoes in the microwave! Who wants to wait 1.5 hours for a potato

35points

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#3

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Lemon zest in garlic butter, specifically for garlic bread. It's an absolute game changer, even just a little bit.

PhatChance52 Report

Final score:

93points

Mad Dragon 2 years ago

I was planning on making linguini tonight anyway. I'll try this tip on the garlic bread and the chicken stock in the pasta water.

23points

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#4

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Never using chicken breasts and always substituting chicken thighs. Seriously, they’re a little fattier sure but make chicken dishes taste amazing vs average.

Gratchki Report

Final score:

91points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

Oh yes, Those chicken breasts can be so dry. And you can get the thigh meat off the bone at the butchers to make life a little easier.

15points

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When asked what are some of the most common mistakes that people with no pro background in cooking make, Beth said that it’s trying to make meals more complicated than they need to be. “For everyday meals, stick to simple recipes. Don't try to cook like a gourmet chef every night of the week. That's exhausting! Save that for days when you have time to have fun in the kitchen.”

“Making substitutions in recipes without considering how the new ingredient will change both the flavor and texture of the final dish,” Beth said and added that she’s all about modifying recipes to meet your needs, however, it’s best to “be aware that if you change an ingredient, it will change the outcome.”

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#5

If you're making a messy sandwich (such as sloppy joes), forget hamburger buns: Hot dog buns make the mess easier to control. Instead of giving the sauce multiple escape vectors, the worst it can do is move down the length of the bun.

Thrabalen Report

Final score:

84points

John C 2 years ago

upvote for accurate use of the phrase "multiple escape vectors"

104points

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#6

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Cutting hot peppers and don't want an unfortunate accident in the bathroom (peeing, changing contacts, etc) later? When done, rub a little neutral oil (canola, vegetable) on your hands, then wash with a little dish soap. The capsaicin (spicy chemical in the peppers) essentially binds with the oil, then the dish soap takes care of the oil on your hands.

CorneliusJenkins Report

Final score:

82points

Jo Johannsen 2 years ago

Sounds logical, but am I brave enough to test it?

29points

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#7

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You I never tried mixing butter and soy sauce in the same dish until I was in my late twenties, but once I tried it, it quickly became one of my favorite flavor combinations. It's excellent in just about any savory dish. It works especially well with mushrooms.

PotusChrist Report

Final score:

70points

Evil Little Thing 2 years ago

It's especially good with sushi grade soy.

6points

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Another common cooking mistake people make is assuming that following a recipe to a "T" will yield perfect results. “The truth is, there are hundreds of variables in the cooking process, far more than can be specified in a written recipe. Cooking requires intuition, which is a skill learned over time. That's why you most likely won't be cooking like Julia Child on your first try,” Beth explained.

Beth said that grocery prices are, without a doubt, going up. “The best defense against rising grocery prices is to be more diligent with your planning in order to reduce waste and take advantage of sales.” She also tries to “tweak the ratios in my recipes a bit more to include more of the inexpensive ingredients, like potatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, rice, beans, etc. and less of the expensive ingredients like meat, dairy, and nuts.”

#8

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You I keep parmesan rinds in my freezer for stock, sauces, and stews. I just throw it in after everything else to simmer. It makes a remarkable difference especially in tomato sauces. Almost every benefits from a little alchohol. Wine, whiskey, bourbon, ect depending on what makes sense with your flavor profile.

Jerkrollatex Report

Final score:

63points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

Peel the waxy outer part first. Great for minestrone.

12points

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#9

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Adding a splash of orange juice to pumpkin or banana bread. The acidity really adds some brightness against the spices

Final score:

62points

Jiminy 2 years ago

Lime juice in banana bread is amazing too.

15points

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#10

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You A lot of great endorsements or kitchen shears/scissors as a cutting utensil in this thread.

Just an advisory, make sure if you’re going to do this that you buy a pair that can be taken apart because otherwise harmful bacteria can get trapped in between the blades or in the rivet where they’re attached.

DreadandButter Report

Final score:

61points

g90814 2 years ago

Just put them in dishwasher.

21points

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#11

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Keep ginger in the freezer. Use a micro plane or grater to grate the frozen ginger into sauces, fried rice, etc.

Edit: Lots of people asking; No, you don't have to peel it first. You can if you want. I don't, just wash the skin.

Final score:

61points

Jody Brown 2 years ago

But why the cactus flowers in the photo?

26points

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#12

If you're really feeling boujee, try better than bullion. Holy s**t. Life changing. I use it with rice as well.

guitargirl478 Report

Final score:

58points

Tom Hanlin 2 years ago

Bullion: bulk gold or silver. Bouillon: soup stock.

46points

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#13

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You I use olive brine/pickle brine to add flavour a lot of dishes like casseroles, stews, etc. It adds a nice depth of flavour.

skakkuru Report

Final score:

53points

Nena Rosebud 2 years ago

I also will save pickle brine and slice up a cucumber and throw it in. Not as pickle-y tasting but still really good.

16points

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#14

Buy the biggest damn cutting board you can fit on your counter. Having actual room to work instead of trying to squeeze into a space smaller than your knife will save you time and headaches beyond belief.

BigSweetness Report

Final score:

53points

John C 2 years ago

When I remodeled our kitchen, I got a butcher block top for our island - not some expensive fancy thing that we're afraid to cut on; I spent <$200 for the whole thing at Lowes and we USE it. Every month or so I treat it with mineral oil overnight, and as time goes on it just keeps looking better and better.

11points

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#15

Steaks make their own sauces.

That stuff on the bottom of your pan? Deglaze it with some stock.

Now stop eating t-bones with ketchup.

-Butcher.

MahjongNucleus Report

Final score:

53points

Shelley Dawson 2 years ago

Learn how to make Bernaise sauce. It really is worth the practice.

13points

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#16

I don’t think anyone will see this but if you have bread that’s close to going stale, put it in the freezer and use it for garlic bread, bread crumbs, French toast, and other things.

ima_strange Report

Final score:

52points

Ace Girl 2 years ago

Or cut a slice you want to eat, cover it with a damp paper towel and nuke in the microwave for a few sec. Voila: fresh as new!

14points

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#17

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You When roasting meat, add your herbs and spices in order of coarse to fine.

I noticed that when I didn't pay attention to the order of things, I'd cut into a nice piece of chicken or pork and half the seasonings would fall off onto the plate.

Now I'll do something like thyme, then coarse black pepper, then cayenne, then garlic powder, and everything sticks to the meat far, far better.

MercuryCrest Report

Final score:

50points

Sander 2 years ago

When adding spices and herbs to a sauce or soup, keep in mind the toughness of the herb. Bay leave can hold itself a long time, while basil should be added when done. I believe that adding herbs too early, you lose a lot of aroma. That nice smell when cooking? Well, those aromas are gone by the time you eat it. So keep that in mind.

20points

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#18

When making biscuits or pie dough or anything that requires "Cutting in" you can instead just take a frozen stick of butter and grate it on the coarse side of a cheese grater. It makes perfect pea sized pieces in like 1/10 the amount of time.

Kristara789 Report

Final score:

49points

Ace Girl 2 years ago

Or do what my sister does and throw the frozen butter with the dry ingredients into the food processor. Works like a charm!

17points

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#19

I like to use a heavy glass ash tray as a spoon rest. Super easy to clean and multiple resting spots are great for the stirring spoon, tasting spoon, etc.

Got it from my mom who was never a smoker. But keeps things clean next to the stove and they're widely available in second hand shops.

CelebratingPi Report

Final score:

48points

Aleksandra 2 years ago

I usually use whatever is handy at the moment, if I used canned tomatoes, the can is now my utensil rest, if not, a plate that i would use for eating the dish. Less cleaning. But if i had cute decorative ashtray for that purpose i think i would use it sometimes too

1point

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#20

If you're working with parchment paper and are sick of it curling up on you, just crumple and uncrumple the s**t out of it before you put it on your baking tray or whatever.

Final score:

46points

John C 2 years ago

or spray the pan with a mist of water and it'll stick down

24points

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#21

People always look at me weird when I use scissors to cut things, but I’ll be dammed if they don’t cut pizza better than a pizza cutter could ever hope to

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/id8d5j/comment/g27bjsh/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:

45points

John C 2 years ago

you must have an awful pizza cutter. how could cutting pizza get any easier than a single quick motion? I don't understand this at all.

30points

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#22

chopsticks: the hitchhiker’s towel of the kitchen. went on a long camping trip and needed to travel light, opted for chopsticks instead of carrying multiple utensils both for cooking and eating, discovered how versatile they are. now i continue to use them all over the kitchen even though i have plenty of other utensils handy. i have a caddy full of wooden chopsticks that i reach for constantly while cooking. (they’re easier to clean than a whisk/tongs too!)

• use in place of tongs (flip stuff, move stuff around)
• use in place of a whisk when making a thin batter/sauce
• scrambled eggs: use to whisk, and to stir while cooking
• (specifically for wooden chopsticks) testing temperature of hot oil: put chopsticks in the oil, if tiny bubbles form around the chopsticks the oil is hot enough for frying!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/id8d5j/comment/g292xdg/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:

43points

Glirpy 2 years ago

Can confirm that chopsticks do not work as well as a whisk or a fork. Also, once you cook enough you’ll notice when oil is hot enough because it becomes shimmery.

18points

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#23

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Stop cutting the ends off of things before cutting them. Use the end as a handle

MMCookingChannel Report

Final score:

41points

Olga Aftyka 2 years ago

This seems the only logical thing to do, and yet my hands are often faster than my brain :D chop chop

23points

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#24

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Toss noodles in toasted sesame oil after they’ve drained. Takes them to another level.

Final score:

41points

dido74 2 years ago (edited)

That sounds like tomorrow’s dinner!

0points

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#25

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You When you're cutting broccoli or cauliflower, turn it upside down. Then rotate it as you cut the stem part. SO MUCH CLEANER than cutting through the flowery part from the top, and you get really nice florets

January1171 Report

Final score:

40points

Caro Caro 2 years ago

That's not a hack but plain common sense.

44points

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#26

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You When I bake, I grease my pans, but instead of using flour to coat it, I use granulated sugar. It makes the edges sweet and crunchy, and saves me from needing to use icing or frosting.

topazlacee Report

Final score:

38points

Olga Aftyka 2 years ago

Flour and sugars both seem strange to me - here we coat buttered pans with fine breadcrumbs

11points

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#27

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Pre-toast flour for roux. Spread flour in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake at 400F, stirring often, until it’s toasty. Cool and store, and use it as the flour in any roux to dramatically speed up the process. If you have toasted flour on hand you’re basically halfway to gumbo at any moment, and it’s a nice flavor boost for other kinds of flour-based sauces and gravies!

whateverpieces Report

Final score:

38points

jk nbt 2 years ago

watch closely, it takes only one minute of over-cooking to burn it

15points

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#28

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You For easy minced garlic anytime, blend up a bunch of peeled garlic with a little olive oil. Pour into a freezer ziplock, squeeze out excess air, and freeze flat. Snap off a chunk anytime you need. I’m too lazy to actually peel and mince garlic in the middle of cooking a weeknight dinner.

Used to buy so many of those frozen garlic cubes from Trader Joe’s (seriously like 8 packs at a time) before doing this.

magenta_mojo Report

Final score:

38points

Jiminy 2 years ago

Honestly, if I peeled and chopped a bunch of vegetables, the garlic doesn't really make any difference to me...

14points

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#29

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You A splash of vinegar in the water to boil potatoes for either potato salad or for roasting after boiling

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Final score:

35points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

Anyone know why? Curious.

12points

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#30

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Mixing in some soy sauce to eggs adds good flavor. Mix in some toasted sesame seed oil and a dash of smoked paprika, and they take on a faintly bacon like taste.

ArachisDiogoi Report

Final score:

32points

Christopher Bowers 2 years ago

What I do a lot to make scrambled eggs various ways, sometimes I will mix in salsa, sometimes i mix in chopped olives (add salsa and ham too when making breakfast burritos that I bake to get a crispy tortilla), sometimrs I mix in baby spinach and then add hot sauce after, sometimss I make it with polk salad mixed in and then hot sauce after, and finally mixing scrambled eggs in sausage or bacon grease is very amazing (add some sausage or bacon grease to gravy and mix those eggs in with biscuits gives you a good southern style breakfast!

7points

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#31

Probably 80% of the dishes I make use bell pepper and onion. A while back, I started freezing little bags that each have 1 bell pepper and half an onion. I’ll spend a few hours on a Sunday every other month or so just chopping bell pepper and onion. It makes cooking during the week so much easier for me.

WinstonNilesRumfoord Report

Final score:

23points

kaycee14 2 years ago

I do this too! I keep them in separate containers, but I prep and freeze bell peppers, jalapenos, ginger, canned chipotles in adobo, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and herb infused olive oil for sautéing. For the canned stuff and olive oil, I lay a piece of plastic wrap loosely over an ice cube tray and measure a tablespoon into each section. Then freeze and pop them into a freezer container.

1point

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#32

Clean all your dishes during / after cooking. Then clean-up just becomes part of the cooking process and you don't even have to think about it anymore.

alphadax Report

Final score:

21points

Pezor Zass 2 years ago

i'm thrilled that this works for some people, but i can't do both. If i clean while i'm cooking, my cooking gets messed up.

9points

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#33

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Not sure if it counts as weird but cooking my vegetable in the last few minutes of boiling water for my pasta dish. They soak up that starchy deliciousness and it turns many of my recipes into one-pot cooking recipes.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/id8d5j/comment/g27evk4/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:

20points

Leo Domitrix 2 years ago

Always! :-) One pot, less mess!

2points

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#34

Kind of run of the mill, I know, but sauteeing onions/garlic/herbs/whatever in oil or butter in the saucepan as a first step to rice or soup was definitely a game changer for me and put me on the bullet train to flavortown. My favorite is mushrooms.

MunDaneCook Report

Final score:

19points

Nena Rosebud 2 years ago

"The bullet train to Flavortown"...😂

7points

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#35

I know I'm late to the party but anchovies in pasta/pizza sauce. It really ups the flavor and doesn't taste fishy at all.

ElviraMorticaVampira Report

Final score:

19points

Gia SDP 2 years ago

I've always put anchovies in my homemade pasta sauce. They melt right in and my kids were never the wiser!

6points

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#36

Stop being afraid of MSG. "Chinese restaurant syndrome" is a racist myth. You can elevate many of your savory dishes using MSG to enhance the umami sensation. It's also really good on things like popcorn.

And, speaking of popcorn, get yourself a Whirley Pop. It takes just about as long to make popcorn on the stovetop as it does in the microwave, but it's so much better.

MadMike22089 Report

Final score:

19points

Bettie-Jean Neal 2 years ago

If a recipe calls for salt, I use 1/2 salt, 1/2 msg. Love it!

5points

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#37

Brown butter basting a steak after searing it. Obviously it hikes up the calorie count but it's filthy and delicious.

FemmeFatale427 Report

Final score:

17points

Ace Girl 2 years ago

adding "filthy and delicious" to my daily lexicon.

6points

#38

I use a cutting board on top of another cutting board to mass crush and peel garlic.

TheLadyEve Report

Final score:

17points

John C 2 years ago

another garlic peeling hack: bang them around in a big container with a lid (e.g. large tupperware). they'll be super easy to peel after that.

3points

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#39

It’s a well known trick to soak fries in ice water to make them crispy, but standard practice is to soak them for a few hours. Whenever I’m cutting potatoes for frying or roasting in oil, I throw them in a bowl of ice water as I go. When I’m done, I swirl them to wash off excess starch, drain, and pat mostly dry. They don’t soak for more than a few minutes, but even this short period is long enough to make them really crispy and significantly reduce how much they stick.

A little lemon juice or vinegar can bring most dishes to a new level.

I always add a little acid to baked goods using baking soda/powder to make them fluffier.

Keep a bowl on your counter for scraps bound for the garbage/compost as you cook. Saves you some trips.

cellists_wet_dream Report

Final score:

16points

Nena Rosebud 2 years ago

I'll often add a small capful of apple cider vinegar to my potatoes after I finish pan frying them. Delicious!

0points

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#40

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Wipe a large spoon with vegetable oil and use it to put batter into cupcake pans. The mix wont stick to the spoon and makes the process much neater .

Final score:

15points

JenKutCo 2 years ago

Nah, use an ice cream scoop

1point

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#41

my older neighbor taught me this one: soak fish for no more than 10 min in a diluted vinegar solution to remove the fishy smell and taste from it. Pat dry and season as usual afterwards. I also cut the fillets into chunks and bread them to airfry them. Fish Poppers! takes me less than 20min to make the entire meal :)

Edit to add: I also soak my strawberries this way to keep them from growing mold. They tend to last twice as long!

BanginBetty Report

Final score:

15points

Tom Hanlin 2 years ago

If it smells fishy, it's not fresh and may not be safe to eat.

9points

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#42

More a cleaning hack, but for heavy duty cookware, like cast iron or stainless steel cleaning the pan immediately after cooking is 100% easier than waiting for everything to cool to room temp

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Final score:

14points

John C 2 years ago

...and Barkeeper's Friend.

6points

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#43

Always everytime I brown some protein in a pan, I toss the side dishes in after taking out the protein.

So there's not the brown stuff in the pan to wash away and the side dish becomes more tastefull

Final score:

14points

Nena Rosebud 2 years ago

Great idea! So much flavor!

1point

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#44

If you have a gas stove, try heating them directly on the grate. The flames will create toasty spots and the tortillas seem to get much warmer and tastier

nativeangel213 Report

Final score:

14points

IDK_Something 2 years ago

I can only see myself turning for .5 seconds, then turning back to a tortilla fire. I've roasted veggies this way, though.

1point

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#45

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You If your soup/stew is too salty, a splash of vinegar usually balances it out

I'm sure this has been said before, but using mayo in place of butter when frying grilled cheese makes it so much better

misfireish Report

Final score:

13points

John C 2 years ago

I tried the mayo thing for grilled cheese and I disagree. I personally prefer butter instead of mayo, but I'll allow for different taste preferences - so I'll conceded that some people may prefer mayo... but it's not some enormous difference that's "so much better".

11points

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#46

This is a simple one, but salt your pasta water. However much you’ve been salting it - add more.

When you get in the habit of salting that water like the goddamn ocean itself, you’ll notice the flavors in your sauce/meat comes through a lot stronger.

zacattack62 Report

Final score:

13points

Thalia Lovering 2 years ago

Are there people who don't do that?

0points

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#47

Save and freeze bacon grease then use it to cook a variety of foods. Popcorn is one of those foods.

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Final score:

12points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

First sentence - definitely. Second sentence - oh h*LL no.

7points

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#48

Use a wet knife to cut onions.

It turns out when you cut an onion, it releases a gas called, Propanethiol S-oxide. When mixed with certain enzymes in the onion, it creates a sulfur gas. These gases then get to your eyes and create a mild acid which irritates the eyes.

Most of the gas will react with the water on the knife and less likely to make you tear up.

VollcommNCS Report

Final score:

12points

Nena Rosebud 2 years ago

Sometimes I'll pop the onion in the freezer for a few minutes. I find it makes it easier to chop because the layers stay in place.

0points

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#49

If you're going to microwave any food with bread or breading (fried chicken, nuggets, pizza, etc.), put a small cup of water in with your food. Not ON the food, just with it on the side, and it doesn't matter the size...just any contained amount of water, that way the moisture doesn't get sucked out of the food which makes it dry.

Final score:

12points

Hann 2 years ago

finally. a solution.

1point

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#50

Life pro tip: pour the stock into an ice cube tray so then you can have frozen flavor cubes!

Airbell12 Report

Final score:

12points

Jiminy 2 years ago

And an ice cube tray that tastes forever like stock...

3points

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#51

Two things:

Keeping a squirt/spray bottle of water next to my stove.

There's soooo many dishes where a spray or squirt bottle to create steam elevates the dish.

Grilled cheese? Squirt a little water on the griddle and cover to make the cheese EXTRA gooey inside.

Noodle stir fry like Pad Thai or 3am drunken ramen and leftovers? A squirt of water to make some steam will help cook the noodles evenly and distribute whatever sauce/seasoning you added.

Really, the only thing the squirt bottle hasn't helped me with are sauces (who wants watered down gravy?) and most veggies (water is built in).

Salting my (almost all of) veggies after cooking, never before

There are some exceptions like eggplant that need salting beforehand to sweat it make it stir-fryable. But most veggies need salt for finishing, otherwise they will release water faster than a home cooking range/oven can sizzle off, turning all your veggies into boiled veggies.

Salting after things are cooked and rested allows the veggies to maintain their textures, and if you're roasting or frying, gives them a good sear.

itsmevichet Report

Final score:

11points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#52

I add marmite to dishes to add umami and salt!

Final score:

10points

CrunChewy McSandybutt 2 years ago

Question for the Brits and Aussies: are Marmite and Vegemite the same things?

2points

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#53

If you're whipping or creaming butter and it's sticking to the side of your bowl, that means it's still too cold. Use a hairdryer on the side of the bowl until it just comes together. No chances of overshooting like the microwave does, no need to put your bowl in the oven, etc.

My hairdryer makes more miles in the kitchen than it does in the bathroom.

Pindakazig Report

Final score:

10points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#54

Buy a rice cooker. You can get them for as little as $15. Changes the game for rice (so easy), quinoa, cous cous, etc.

Add a little salt and oil to the water when cooking rice. Really ups the flavor. Or, replace 1/3-1/2 of the water with canned coconut milk for coconut rice.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/id8d5j/comment/g28k3co/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 Report

Final score:

10points

Lousha 2 years ago

The way I learned to cook rice eliminates the need for a rice cooker. You sear the raw rice on a bit of oil first, over middle heat. I add the salt at this point too, better than forgetting it later. When about half of the rice is already white, add twice the amount of the rice (by volume) in water. Simmer it without a lid for x minutes (stir a couple of times), then with a lid for x minutes. Take off the stove, stir, cover back up, wait 20 minutes. Consistent and always great. The "x minutes" depends on the stove and the pan used, so I always use the same spot on the hob and the same pan, and that way I need 8 minutes. With my previous hob it was 9. Whenever I read cooking hacks about using the leftover "rice water" I'm always surprised first, then I remind myself that not everyone cooks things the same way :)

2points

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#55

Don’t pour out the left over juice from your Pickle and Pepper jars that you get from the store. If you have any left over veggies in your crisper drawer than cut them up and put them in the jar with the extra juices for a quick pickled or spicy veggie topping for burgers, hot dogs, deli sandwiches and etc.

frankdatank_004 Report

Final score:

10points

Ace Girl 2 years ago

this is a really good idea, I'll have to try this!

3points

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#56

A few storage things

For fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley; if you don’t use the whole bunch at once don’t worry! Get a mason jar and place you fresh herbs into the jar. Fill the jar with water and then place a plastic bag over the tops of the herbs. Fresh herbs will last up to a month or more!

Celery will wilt if left out in the fridge. Cut celery stalks in half and place in a mason jar or other container and cover completely with water. Will stay firm and fresh for 2-3 weeks.

Nobody likes reheated pasta. If you have leftover spaghetti or pasta, lightly rinse or toss with warm water before storing. Upon reheating pasta will taste much fresher.

ItsCioffi Report

Final score:

10points

Adrian 2 years ago

We have herb keepers for this - tall plastic jars with a water reservoir at the bottom that live in the fridge door. We usually have 4 -6 of them at any one time with different fresh herbs.

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College Student Does Exactly As Told After Roommates Demand They Keep Their Stuff In Their Room

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#57

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Baking powder on your chicken skin for extra crispy

Final score:

9points

Jiminy 2 years ago (edited)

This is a Schnitzel, not a chicken with skin...

6points

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#58

Tossing meat in the freezer for a quick ~20 minutes before cutting. Makes it vastly easier to slice thin.

mthmchris Report

Final score:

9points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#59

Buy a thermometer. Go big and buy one instant read probe, and another with a probe you can leave in the meat. It makes cooking outrageously simple.

scottz0313 Report

Final score:

9points

John C 2 years ago

+1 among the best purchases I've made for my kitchen are thermometers - leave in deep fry, infrared, instant read, and probe-with-alarm.

1point

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#60

Putting Accent (MSG) on food. People shy away from msg because of the stigma but it's been proven not to cause any issues and it makes food taste amazing. Especially fried rice.

WilliamMButtlicker Report

Final score:

9points

CelticElff 2 years ago

I'm pretty sure it's still a migraine trigger, so maybe don't state "it's been proven not to cause any issues". Signed, a migraine sufferer.

1point

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#61

I learned to use Sodium Citrate to make a cheese sauce. It lets the milk and cheese mix together smoothly, basically producing homemade velveeta. It’s revolutionized my mac n cheese game.

Final score:

8points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

Or, you could just use flour for a roux and avoid that processed cheese texture. Just sayin

6points

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#62

By far my biggest cooking hack is I buy almost all of our groceries at a restaurant supply place (that’s open to the public). It has better prices than Costco, and for $16 or so I can buy 50 lbs of flour, and I paid $18 for 40 pounds of chicken legs and thighs recently. A huge box of applewood smoked bacon was $42. I love their pork chops which are about $3 each and are the good thick ones. Their prime steaks are only $4 and $6 each, so I stock up when those are on sale because they’re quick to defrost, a good size, and obviously restaurant quality.

It takes me some time to repackage everything and get it sorted in the freezer or cupboards, but it’s totally worth it. The huge box of chicken took me about 30 minutes to process in to freezer bags of 2-3 chicken leg/thigh combos, perfect for pulling out for an average meal. They also have weekly specials, and huge roasts on sale/clearance where I can pick up really good cuts for less than half of what I might pay somewhere else.

Same with spices, condiments, tea and coffee, and anything else we might need. Onions and potatoes, garlic both raw and diced are also an amazing deal. This has saved us so much money, and I invested in the restaurant style storage containers (cambros)so everything stacks neatly and is bug proof. I printed out labels on my computer, and everything is easily accessible and makes my cooking experience easy and pleasant. Since the beginning of Covid, I’ve made just about every thing from scratch and still do for the most part.

You can also buy toilet paper and cleaning supplies, as long as you don’t mind the industrial sizes. They usually have lots of hand sanitizer and masks and gloves, too.

When everyone went crazy hoarding toilet paper and whatever else, these places still had everything in stock for the most part. Most people just drive right by and don’t even realize they can go in.

I live in Michigan, and the one I go to is GFS (Gordon Food Service). They also have an online ordering system that will gather your list and have it ready within about 2 hours, and they’ll bring it out to your car when you call and pull up. All of this can be contactless. It’s also 100x more reliable than waiting for an Instacart order to come through, with way less errors or replacements. If you have a business, you can get more discounts and points, too.

lapitaloca Report

Final score:

8points

John C 2 years ago

I make a special trip to GFS for the Vegalene cooking spray - it's superior in every way.

2points

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#63

Tip for sauces, batters, soups, etc:

If your recipe requires a tablespoon of something oily (butter, olive oil) and something sticky (honey, agave, maple syrup, molasses), do the oily thing first and don’t wash the spoon. The sticky thing will slide right out.

Likewise, coat a measuring spoon lightly in something oily whenever you have to measure sticky stuff, regardless of if the recipe actually calls for oil.

Final score:

8points

Olga Aftyka 2 years ago

So you put this oily spoon into the whole jar of hioney so the rest of it can have leftover oil? Nope.

0points

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#64

If a cake recipe calls for milk and eggs; a can of 7-Up (soda) works equally well. The cake is extra moist and light

guiltynate Report

Final score:

8points

Cyd Charisse 2 years ago

Any soda will do. Orange or cream soda is super yummy, Diet Coke makes it calorie-light, root beer adds a kick....

4points

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#65

I really don't know if this is common or not, but if I wanna warm up but also kinda steam a tortilla I keep a spray bottle in my kitchen and I just keep spritzing the tortilla as I flip it so I get that perfect balance of moist/chewy and toasted.

gladvillain Report

Final score:

7points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#66

Cutting basil with scissors will keep it fresh and green and delicious. I always keep a jar of mayonnaise, touch of olive oil and basil in the fridge. Goes with anything.

AxiasHere Report

Final score:

7points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

Metal will also oxidize it, and make it turn brown. So, no.

-1point

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#67

Cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. Tastes just as good and you feel full but a fraction of the calories and I don't think any carbs. I lost 40 lbs changing my diet and this helped a lot

Throwaway-donotjudge Report

Final score:

7points

Evil Little Thing 2 years ago

Cauliflower always tastes like cauliflower, which BTW isn't rice, potatoes, or any other starch.

18points

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#68

Using a potato masher for browning ground beef

Final score:

7points

Jiminy 2 years ago (edited)

I don't really get the connection here. How does a potato masher brown meat?

2points

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#69

30 People Are Sharing Their Most Life-Changing Cooking Hacks, And They Might Actually Surprise You Rehydrate garlic powder/granulated garlic. About equal parts water to garlic (maybe more water) and let sit while prepping. Huge difference in handling and taste if it's all you have at the time.

This grosses out my wife and the few people I've told about it, but when making boxed Mac and cheese like Kraft, use mayo and little to no milk/butter. So damn creamy.

MisterCurtis Report

Final score:

6points

Silre 2 years ago

It grosses me out too

3points

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#70

Shredding chicken with a hand mixer. It’s so much faster!

teddy-bonkerz Report

Final score:

6points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#71

Buy a potato ricer! Most incredible mash, so easy and so satisfying

TommyMcInerney1997 Report

Final score:

6points

pebeli5510 2 years ago

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#72

Putting aluminum/tin foil over a potato masher, then using that to smash my burgers

MajesticSeeOtters Report

Final score:

5points

Becky Samuel 2 years ago

Why are you *smashing* your burgers?

6points

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#73

Draining boiled instant noodles/pasta from the pot by holding the lid open just a crack over the sink. And the hack is to wear an oven glove/mitt. Saves me from using and later washing a colander.

sevendeadlypings Report

Final score:

5points

John C 2 years ago

I'll do this sometimes, but often (like when I'm about to fry up some bread crumbs in butter to add to the noodles) I need the noodles well drained, and I need the noodles to sit somewhere while I do the breadcrumbs in the pot... so the colander comes out. It's not a chore to wash the colander if you get it while it's fresh before that starch dries on there.

2points

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#74

Something I love but rarely see, and is the only single-function item (well double, but close enough) I want in my kitchen is a food mill. I use it for tomato sauce and for mashed potato. In both cases, you can leave the skins on, and for the tomatoes is takes out the seeds, leaving you in both cases with fluffier, lighter, more delicious versions of the dish than I was ever able to make without one.

manonclaphamomnibus Report

Final score:

5points

Megan Curl 2 years ago

True, but I sure do hate cleaning that thing.

1point

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#75

I use zesty italian dressing packets for seasoning when I make breaded chicken cutlets. Mix with flour during the drege stage and taste the magic. You can use ranch packets or really whatever flavor you like

Final score:

5points

John C 2 years ago

regular italian dressing is my go-to salmon marinade. the funniest part is when eating the salmon you'd never guess italian dressing was used.

1point

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Liucija Adomaite

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Denis Tymulis

Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

Denis is a photo editor at Bored Panda. After getting his bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design, he tried to succeed in digital design, advertising, and branding. Also, Denis really enjoys sports and loves everything related to board sports and water.

What do you think ?

Kai David 2 years ago

When did everyday cooking and food prep techniques that have been used forever all of a sudden become a new hack??

4points

Lea S. 2 years ago

New people are born every day. People are learning new skills every day. No one can know everything about cooking. It doesn't say they are new hacks. Did you come out of the womb knowing every single infinite thing about this world?

2points

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Christoph 2 years ago

some of y'all need to go to Critical Panda. Dang

4points

jk nbt 2 years ago

when cooking Russett potatoes to make up mashed potatoes, most people peel before boiling them... much easier to leave the skin on and score a checkerboard pattern with one-inch squares on the raw potatoes... then boil them... when cool, you can peel off the skin with your fingers... so much easier that way than spending time with a potato peeler first...

1point

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Kai David 2 years ago

When did everyday cooking and food prep techniques that have been used forever all of a sudden become a new hack??

4points

Lea S. 2 years ago

New people are born every day. People are learning new skills every day. No one can know everything about cooking. It doesn't say they are new hacks. Did you come out of the womb knowing every single infinite thing about this world?

2points

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Christoph 2 years ago

some of y'all need to go to Critical Panda. Dang

4points

jk nbt 2 years ago

when cooking Russett potatoes to make up mashed potatoes, most people peel before boiling them... much easier to leave the skin on and score a checkerboard pattern with one-inch squares on the raw potatoes... then boil them... when cool, you can peel off the skin with your fingers... so much easier that way than spending time with a potato peeler first...

1point

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