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Remember the wonderful cartoon "Kung Fu Panda" and the protagonist's adoptive father, who cooked delicious noodles with a secret ingredient? Yes, of course, later it turned out that there was actually no ingredient (we hope this was not a spoiler!), But it often happens that every person who is fond of cooking has their own secrets.

Just let's recall the famous secret mixture of 11 herbs that glorified Colonel Sanders and his chicken dishes all over the world - almost eighty years have passed, but KFC still keeps its composition top-secret. In general, there is always some little thing that can turn an ordinary meal into a real masterpiece.

There was a thread in the Reddit Cooking community a few days ago, whose topic starter asked just one simple question: "What is your secret ingredient?" The Original Poster also admitted that they use a tbsp of cocoa powder when they make lentil or black bean chili (wonderful idea, we support it!) Other redditors liked it too, and now the original post has almost 1.2K upvotes and over 1.2K different comments.

Bored Panda has collected for you a selection of the most popular, interesting and original ideas, whose authors are confident in their kitchen magic. So feel free to scroll to the very end, and don't forget to share your own cooking secret (especially if you're a KFC top manager!)

More info: Reddit

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#1

Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Butter, it is always butter

drostan , oatsy40 Report

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Kookamunga
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always. Watch the old Julia Child french cooking shows. Butter, cream.....fat is delicious.

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    #2

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better More of a baking one than cooking, but I always double/triple the vanilla in EVERYTHING, and always add a little vanilla if the recipe doesn't list any. And I always add more ginger/cinnamon/nutmeg than the recipe lists.

    Sparklypuppy05 , Bill Holsinger-Robinson Report

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    jena-evans89 avatar
    Jena Evans
    Jena Evans
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you're making a glaze or anything that requires boiling, always add it at the very VERY end, otherwise it will just evaporate.

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    #3

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Use coffee instead of water for brownies

    DarkNFullOfSpoilers , Zacharias Korsalka Report

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    jena-evans89 avatar
    Jena Evans
    Jena Evans
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can also use espresso for a stronger flavor, and if you want it super good, just add instant espresso powder to the batter. You won't regret it.

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    #4

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Smoked paprika

    RedneckLiberace , Christine Olson Report

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    #5

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Shallots shallots shallots. They elevate any dish and take olive oil based pasta sauces to a whole new level.

    ebianco123 , F Delventhal Report

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    #6

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Lemon zest, usually.

    lolgal18 , Robert Couse-Baker Report

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    fallfun12 avatar
    Fall F.
    Fall F.
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you think, you miss something from your dish, but can't tell, what exactly is that, 90% of cases is some kind of acid, like lemon zest. Also helps with a bit too salty dishes.

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    #7

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better General squeeze of lime in chicken noodle soup

    Impressive_Net_2836 , Henry Zbyszynski Report

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    #8

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Powdered mushroom. I put in in everything savory that has a liquid base. It’s essentially an Umami bomb. I buy dried shiitakes at an Asian market where they are cheap, powder them in the vitamix, and store in vacuum sealed mason jars.

    hmmmpf , Andrea Nguyen Report

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    #9

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Better Than Bouillon

    webbitor , Better Than Bouillon Report

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    CrazyDogLady
    CrazyDogLady
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably getring downvoted, but I checked the ingredients in this and sorry, but I would not use such product. It (among other things like loads of salt) contains E631 and E627, use of both is restricted in Europe (can be used but in low amounts) and in my country both are flagged as potentially harmful to children and people with e.g. kidney diseases or generally sensitive.

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    #10

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Depending on the dish - Worcestershire Sauce, Siracha, Pickle Juice, and Mustard.

    Moppy6686 , jules Report

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    #11

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Miso Paste or Tahini

    GallantKillerk , Fooding Around Report

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    #12

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Nutmeg in mac and cheese.
    Molasses in chile.
    Dash of acid in anything rich (not a secret but it feels like one!)

    greensandgrains , Simone Bosotti Report

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    Jaden Alexander
    Jaden Alexander
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In mashed potatoes it's great. I have people always asking why my pots are always so good. Nutmeg and something else but mostly nutmeg.

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    #13

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Cayenne. It started with *Food Wishes* and now I put a little dusting on many recipes

    EugeneHarlot , Brian Crawford Report

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    #14

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better A little creamy peanut butter thickens a sauce (like a roux would) and adds a complex toasted umami component to the flavor. Just don't overdo it.

    phytomanic , rusvaplauke Report

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    Nilsen
    Nilsen
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just PLEASE tell that you've done it. Someone could eat it without expecting peanuts (or other nuts) and could be seriously ill. More people than one would expect are allergic

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    #15

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Cornstarch. Not a flavour thing, but a texture thing. Dredge proteins for crisp-crunch. Add into baked goods for super softness. Thicken sauces quickly for cling and gloss.

    and msg, especially in super simple vegetable heavy dishes, like zoodles.

    ElyJellyBean , Casey Fleser Report

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    tobiasulrich_1 avatar
    T.
    T.
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't like the taste of cornstarch in sauces (probably won't smell it in gravy but a light white wine sauce) You can use potatoestarch instead.

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    #16

    Acid in beans. Squirt of lemon, splash of vinegar, depending on the dish. Makes a huge difference even though you can't actually identify it as being in there.

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    #17

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better For me it's fish sauce. A little bit of fish sauce in the sauce goes a long way. I recently saw people on here debating on what the best brand of fish sauce is. I've always been a Three Crabs guy but the consensus seemed to be for Red Boat. I bought a bottle of Red Boat and I've been using it but I'm not sure which I like better yet.

    tubarizzle , Sarah-Rose Report

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    #18

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Gochujang paste.

    CothersMunt , Alpha Report

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    #19

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better A tiny amount of tarragon in fries (frozen or homemade), not enough that you get flecks of green on every fry, just a bit enough to get the aroma but people usually have a hard time wondering why the fries taste so good.

    BuyTheBeanDip , Lars Plougmann Report

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    #20

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Salt + sweet dessert

    Eaglefrost4 , Leonid Mamchenkov Report

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    #21

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Nobody has mentioned pomegranate molasses yet, so I am putting in a word for that. It is a tasty and versatile ingredient. For starters, try adding some to a vinaigrette for a salad.

    phthophth , jules Report

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    craig_becker avatar
    Craig Becker
    Craig Becker
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never tasted it. But it seems like it might be similar to balsamic vinegar?

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    #22

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Allspice anytime you use black pepper, especially meats, soups, and stews. Adds some aromatic, earthly, warmth and a touch of sweetness.

    Crushed red pepper is my go to spicy add on, I prefer it over cayenne as it has a brighter taste imo.

    Savoury anytime I use woody herbs like oregano or thyme but I think that might be a cultural thing.

    I've also been adding anchovies to a lot of dishes that require cooked onion/garlic mixture. I could use fish sauce or Worcestershire but I like watching the filets melt away.

    iguessimtheITguynow , barockschloss Report

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    #23

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Shaoxing wine in my poor man’s Bulgogi inspired pot roast.

    Infinite_Eye_2575 , wyinoue Report

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    alisa-fender avatar
    Honu
    Honu
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For the celiac/gluten sensitive folks and those who cook for them: This is another one on the list where people might not realize it usually has gluten.

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    #24

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Sumac powder

    MarshallApplewhiteDo , liz west Report

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    AndThenICommented
    AndThenICommented
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes! If no one mentioned I was going to. It just adds that slight, can’t put your finger on it, lemony zing. Also, cumin

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    #25

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better 2-3 Tbs of masa harina in a large pot of chili. It thickens and gives a subtle corny flavor. Now I want chili.

    bluecoastblue , Nenad Stojkovic Report

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    #26

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Horseradish spread for sandwiches in my coleslaw. The kick gives the slaw something special

    IsFluffBear , winhide Report

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    #27

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Msg

    Hairy-Motor-7447 , Brand: Spice Supreme Report

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    jena-evans89 avatar
    Jena Evans
    Jena Evans
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The whole msg causes cancer thing is bs. Check it out online.

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    #28

    Preserved lemon is a game changer

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    #29

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Fish oil or anchovy paste do wonders for savory dishes

    Sea_Entrepreneur3719 , mgessford Report

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    jenjoyner avatar
    Xenon
    Xenon
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Again, tell people its in there. Some people are really allergic to seafood.

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    #30

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Vinegar-based hot sauce in mac and cheese (Frank's). The spice enhances the flavor and the vinegar cuts the richness of the cheese sauce.

    DHELMET47 , woodleywonderworks Report

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    #31

    Home Cooks Reveal 32 “Secret” Ingredients They Use To Make Food Taste Better Liquid smoke in my chicken salad.

    Mascarpone cheese to thicken a “brothy” soup and give it a silky texture.

    Taminella_Grinderfal , Alex Shultz Report

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    joeanna9876 avatar
    Anna
    Anna
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't stand the stuff myself. We do smoked brisket/pork quite alot and did a comparison using this instead of the smoker, flavour was dreadful, tastes like creosote and after looking it up appears we aren't alone on that one.

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    #32

    1. When people ask me why my food tastes so good, I tell them that I use a secret ingredient. When they ask what the secret ingredient is, I wryly respond with "Love". But it's not really a joke. I think when people really care about the food they make, and the people they're serving, the food will taste better.

    2. For a more practical tip: I rarely use salt. If I need to season something, I use something savory and salty. So stuff like soy sauce, miso paste, grated parmesan rind, or my personal favorite: chicken bouillon powder

    bigtcm Report

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    09-dandy-gist avatar
    John Hancock
    John Hancock
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    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1. Nope. "Love" or "care" will not make your dish better... It will just make people around you to say what you want to hear. 2. Well, that's awkward. The stuff you listed are loaded with salt.

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