Want to be a goddess in the kitchen? Save time, money and effort with this list of truly great and easy to do tricks and tips:
Follow the chart
Why did nobody ever tell you this before?
There are all sorts of things you can freeze in ice cube trays and when you’re ready just thaw out the portions you want. Do it with sauces, stock, purees, pesto, buttermilk …
Freeze your stick of butter then grate it for using in scones, biscuits, muffins and anything you “rub in”.
Store your ice cream tubs in bags. Remove as much air as you can before sealing the bag.
Use one of the shell halves to scoop it out.
Is the Jamie Oliver way. Put the unpeeled clove in a garlic crusher and press. The skin remains behind!
Freeze your fresh herbs in olive oil.
Get more juice from your citrus fruit by pressing and rolling them before squeezing.
Do you go to Starbucks because you can’t make a frothy cappuccino or latte at home? Kick coffee shop coffee to the curb and make your own at home. All you need is milk, a screw top jar and a microwave. Instructions here. thekitchn.com
How cool is this?
Put a damp towel under your board.
To slice your avocado with the skin on. It means you don’t have to deal with slippery avocado.
A wooden utensil over a boiling pot ensures that it will not boil over.
Next time you need to shred chicken, make it easy on yourself.
And they’ll always be a great shape too.
Frozen grapes are fabulous to drop in glasses of wine. And why not try frozen strawberries or raspberries and blueberries too.
Store your lettuce in the fridge with kitchen paper. You can store it in a bag or a bowl. The kitchen paper absorbs the moisture which makes lettuce soggy and causes it to rot. It works for fresh herbs too.
If you don’t want cloudy ice cubes – use boiled water. The water will also freeze faster.
You can use dental floss to cut soft food like cheese and cakes. Remember to use unflavored floss though.
Plastic wrap around the end of a hand of bananas will delay the oxidization process.
It’s so much easier than using a knife or peeler.
You can not only measure out your batter easier for pancakes but you can make a batch of batter and keep it in the bottle in the fridge for a couple of days.
Wash your hands. It will provide a barrier between your skin and capsaicin. Careful though , because it will make the knife slippery.
Remove pan from the heat and place a piece of white bread on top of it for about ten minutes. This will extract and absorb the burnt flavor. The rice should be fine to eat, but leave the blackened pieces on the bottom of the pan.
But it will only work if you use an airtight container.
Spray your measuring cups with oil (or wipe round some oil on kitchen towel) when measuring out sticky liquids such as syrup, treacle and honey. Make sure it is a flavorless oil.
Why should one bowl of food get cold while the other heats?
Microwave a jug or bowl of water on high for 5 minutes. The steam created will loosen any stuck food particles. Some people swear by putting lemon juice or vinegar in the water.
Now you have no excuse to eat the whole bag of chips in one session.
Use a potato peeler.
Some salt on the board will prevent your herbs flying about.
Ready to get baking but your recipe calls for soft or room temperature butter? Cut a stick straight from fridge into slices.
Do you have any brilliant kitchen tricks and tips to share?