7 great tips to become even more handy in the kitchen
Do you also have those kitchen and cooking tips you picked up somewhere, and which you can no longer imagine ever doing things without? Completely understandable, because the more time you spend in the kitchen, the more handy tricks you pick up. Like these tips & tricks, for example!
Everyone has something they do because it saves time or effort, right? Or have you ever had one of those aha moments when you discovered something? For example, I never peel garlic cloves that I’m going to grate afterward anyway—there’s no need, and your fingers stay cleaner too. These ten tips can also come in very handy:
The ketchup-and-copper trick
You can use ketchup to clean copper. Copper oxide (the stains that appear) dissolves when it comes into contact with mild acids and salt, and ketchup contains both. Copper polish is of course the best option, but if you happen not to have any at home…
Saucepan with salt and baking soda
You can leave a burnt stainless-steel pan overnight after sprinkling the bottom with baking soda, five tablespoons of (cheap) table salt and covering it with a layer of warm water. Give it a scrub the next day and the pan should be much cleaner.
Save Parmesan rinds
We can’t say it often enough: don’t throw away that rind after grating all the Parmesan (or simply eating it in cubes at the counter, as I usually do). Save the rinds and let them simmer along in stock, soups and stews for a delicious umami flavor. Just fish them out before serving the food.
Potato croquettes from mashed potatoes
Have you got perfect mashed potatoes left over? Probably not, especially if you make this incredible Joël Robuchon mashed potato recipe… But if it does happen? Let the mash cool and firm up in the refrigerator, shape it into balls or croquettes, dip them in beaten egg and then in panko or breadcrumbs, and deep-fry them in a layer of oil. Delicious!
Remove odors from plastic food containers
If you waste very little food (good for you), you may store a lot in Tupperware-like containers. Unfortunately, they can retain odors even after washing. Tip: put a piece of crumpled newspaper inside, put the lid on, and hopefully the newspaper will absorb the food smells. Be sure to wash it again before the next use.
Save scorched milk
If you let milk burn in a saucepan on the stove, sprinkle in a very small pinch of salt. This should temper the burnt smell and taste, and if you’re worried that the salty taste will dominate: don’t worry, sea-salt hot chocolate, for example, is very trendy.
No more bugs in your flour
Have you also read Sabina’s horror story about bugs in cornstarch? They also sometimes find a place to nest in flour, rice or pasta. What can help is putting a dried bay leaf in the package or jar where you store it; apparently, the smell repels them.
Also read:
- Chefs share 14 tips for cooking more easily and better
- 10 absurdly handy kitchen hacks
- 6 top hacks for your used tea bag
Source: Delish
