Category: Kitchen Tips

Twelve Essential Kitchen Secrets

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We all live busy lives, so who doesn’t appreciate making our time in the kitchen as efficient as possible? Below, we’ve curated a list of kitchen time-savers that you won’t want to live without:

Prevent Bananas from Browning

Don’t think you’re going to eat bananas right away? Avoid separating them until you plan to eat them – keeping them in a bunch prevents them from spoiling as easy. 

Scissors 101

Cutting something sticky? Dip a clean pair of scissors into water before using them.  The wetness of the blades will keep sticky items, such as marshmallows or dried fruit, from attaching to the shears, making them easier to cut through.

Shaved Chocolate Extraordinaire

Does your recipe called for shaved chocolate? If so, whip out a vegetable peeler – it’s much easier (and safer) than using a knife!

Don’t Let Cookies Harden

Separate crispy and chewy cookies by keeping them in different containers.  This way, the moisture from the chewy cookies won’t affect the crispy ones. 

The Fresh-Egg Test

Unsure if your eggs are fresh?  An easy test is to see how it behaves in a cup of water:  if it’s fresh, it will sink.  If rotten, it will float. 

Keep Your Kitchen Bug-Free

A bay leaf is all you need to stay pest-free.  Simply slip one into a container of flour, pasta or rice to repel bugs.

Protect Brown Sugar from Hardening

To prevent your brown sugar from hardening, keep it in the freezer.  Already hardened? Not to worry: soften it by microwaving on High for 30 seconds. 

Substitute Yogurt for Cream

For those watching their waistline, this easy swap is a no-brainer.  Yogurt can be substituted for cream in recipes that don’t require cooking.  However, yogurt can curdle when cooked, so in this case, it’s best to stick with whole milk or half-and-half. 

Ripen Fruit Quickly

To ripen fruit overnight, place it in a paper bag with an apple.  Apples release ethylene gas, which accelerates the maturation cycle. 

Clean Stainless Steel

If your appliances need a good polish, simply pour a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and wipe over problem areas. 

Keep Pasta Moist

We’ve all had this problem … stash leftover cooked pasta in a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate.  Once you’re ready to serve it again, throw the pasta in boiling water for a few seconds to restore moisture. 

Extend Veggie Freshness

Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s drawer with paper towels.  This will absorb the excess moisture of the vegetables and prevent rot.

 

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