7 seriously smart cooking hacks that save you time and effort, #2
We write about them often, because there are so many great kitchen tips to be found: everyone who cooks has their own habits in the kitchen, and often these are things you no longer even think about. But something that comes naturally to you can be a real golden tip for someone else! Do you already know these smart cooking hacks?
And sometimes, of course, you know that your own kitchen hack or tip is pure gold, and you’re more than happy to share it so others can benefit from it too. This happens, for example, on internet forum Reddit in the subreddit r/Cooking; you can find genuinely great and simple advice from home cooks there. Such as these:
Crispy chicken
Try sprinkling the skin of your chicken legs with a pinch of baking powder before they go into the pan or oven. This gives you an extra crispy crust without having to go through the whole breading or deep-frying process.
Mayo coating
But if you’re going to bread something anyway, try using mayonnaise instead of egg before coating the item in question with, for example, panko (Japanese breadcrumbs). It is said to keep the chicken or fish in question wonderfully tender. Worth trying!
Juicy fish
Another tip to prevent, for example, salmon from drying out in the oven: coat it with a little Greek yogurt before letting it cook gently in a baking dish or on a lined baking sheet. It also adds a fresh flavor. You can also use it to marinate raw chicken (and ‘regular’ full-fat yogurt works too); the acids break down certain structures in the meat, making it more tender after cooking.
Instant noodles upgrade
Instant noodles generally aren’t very good for you, but occasionally slurping up a tasty spicy soup with strands of noodles is truly wonderful. Want to enrich it just a little more? Add a small knob of butter. The broth will cling to the noodles better; delicious!
Best of both worlds
A fan of Mac ’n’ Cheese and craving an umami-rich, creamy twist on this ultimate comfort food? Replace the milk in the recipe with creamy tomato soup, Reddit user Hannah suggests.
Balanced tomato sauce
Many people know the tip of adding a pinch of sugar to tomato sauce while it cooks to balance the acidity of the tomatoes. (I do this almost every time, including with homemade tomato soup.) A delicious alternative is to add a splash of balsamic vinegar instead of sugar for a richer, more complex flavor, not too long before the end of the cooking time.
Home butcher
Are you going to cut raw meat for, for example, a stir-fry such as steak with broccoli, onion and oyster sauce? Or stewing meat for boeuf bourguignon? In any case, make sure your knife is well sharpened, but also put the piece of meat in the freezer for about fifteen minutes before cutting it; slicing will be much easier. Just make sure it returns to room temperature before putting it in the hot pan with oil or butter, otherwise it may become tough.
Read also:
- Upgrade your instant ramen
- In three steps: how to get your Airfryer sparkling clean again
- Shopping tips from professional chefs
Source: Tasty, image: Julius Jaspers’ Bolognese sauce
