Kitchen Tips and Tricks
Better Homes and Gardens
I really like having the right tool for a job…problem is sometimes that tool is no where to be seen. So, what’s a thrifty gal to do?
Improvise!
Over the years I have learned some tips and tricks that can make cooking much easier. And when it comes to cooking easier is always better!
Here are some the tips that have helped me:
(These first two are from my Mother. Thanks!)
1. Whenever you need to cut something sticky, like brownies, use a plastic knife. For some reason the goo doesn’t stick to plastic like it would to a metal knife. Go figure.
2. Need to cut a cake into layers? Use un-flavored dental floss. Use about 12″, pull tight, get behind the cake and “saw” the floss toward you. The cake will cut easily and there will be very few crumbs.
3. Do you have a pastry cutter? Think it’s a single use tool? Think again! Use it to cut up eggs for egg salad and keep avocados a little chunky for guacamole.
4. Need to cool something down in a hurry? Fill your sink with cold water and add some ice cubes. Set your pot down in the water and stir. Your food will cool down quickly.
5. Coffee maker broken? Try this rustic cup of joe. First boil some water and put a paper towel into a small strainer. Next put about 2 tablespoons of ground coffee into the paper towel. Finally, hold the strainer over your mug and pour the water over the grounds. Dump the grounds and paper towel into the trash and enjoy your coffee!
October 20th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I like to spray non-stick cooking spray on my knives and spoons when working with something sticky.
I’ve also learned to rub my fingers on a metal spoon in cold water after I’ve been working with garlic. The smell rubs right out!
October 21st, 2009 at 7:22 am
Great tips! I’ll have to remember the coffee tip next time my caraffe breaks!
October 21st, 2009 at 8:47 am
All of these tricks are extremely helpful. I’ve never used the dental floss method of cutting a cake, but I always use a plastic knife for cutting brownies. I finally bought a big one just for that purpose because I make brownies so often. Now as for #4 — if you put a hot pot into cold water it will warp the bottom of the pot or skillet. Yes, I know this from experience!
October 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
The stainless steel spoon works for smelly onion hands as well! We used the dental floss trick to cut the many sheet cakes we had into servings when my parents celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The servings looked great and saved us so much time…so we could visit all the guests who came!
October 21st, 2009 at 11:05 am
Put cling film in the fridge, it will be so much easier to get off the roll than when it’s room temperature! Thanks for these tips. I knew the dental floss one, but not the other ones!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Kelly,
I rub my hands with a stainless steel spoon too! It really works.
Unfinished Mom,
Thanks for sharing about using the larger knife. I’ve got one that I use for cutting lettuce, so I guess I could use that.
Georgia (my Mother),
Using the floss really did save us a lot of time. I’m so glad we knew to do that then.
Nic,
That’s a great tip! Cling film has always clung more to me than to anything else. I’m always glad to find out a way to control that beast!
October 29th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Angie,
I’m the only one that likes coffee at my house, so this really works for me!