Since the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of us have been cooking more often. Whether that’s to save money or limit contact with other people, it’s a life skill everyone should have. Cut back on prep time and make cooking a breeze with these ingenious hacks we wish we knew earlier.
Peeling Ginger Skin
Vegetable peelers are handy tools to have in the kitchen. But when dealing with ginger, you’re better of using a spoon to pry off the skin.
Peeling Garlic Skin
Peeling garlic skin doesn’t have to be a tedious task. Smash the cloves with your hand into the counter or whack them with a chef’s knife to get the skin to come off instantly. And if you mince a lot of garlic, buying a jar of pre-minced garlic might be worth the time you save in the kitchen.
Tearless Onion Cutting
Bon Appetit recommends slicing onions under ice-cold water for five minutes to eliminate the liquid and gas that triggers your tears. To make slicing more efficient, don’t forget to sharpen your knife.
Pre-cut Vegetables
Another time-saving cooking hack is buying pre-cut vegetables. Your local market vendor or supermarket chain usually has an assortment of vegetables packed for a specific recipe. Since they’re portioned out, you’ll also cut down on food waste.
Separating Egg Yolks
Passing the egg yolk between the halves of the shell is a tried and tested method. But those who aren’t confident with their skills might want to try the water bottle method. Squeeze the clean plastic bottle to suction the yolk into another bowl. If eggshells get into your bowl, easily remove them by scooping them out with the other half of an already cracked eggshell.
Can Opening Hack
If you struggle to scrape out all the contents of the canned goods, try opening both ends. This works especially well for less soupy contents, like canned meat and tomato paste. With both sides open, just push the contents through the other end.
With these time-saving cooking hacks, you’ll get through the tasks much quicker. You might also want to add some of these kitchen gadgets to your arsenal so you’re better equipped when preparing meals.