Photo by Alyson McPhee on Unsplash

 

Whether you’re the throw-a-few-ingredients-in-the-pot-to-see-how-they-come-out type of cook or you pride yourself on your Julia Child-esque ways in the kitchen, we’re going to bet you’d enjoy learning a few handy cooking hacks that could make your life easier. The following six hacks will change your life for the better:

1. Buy the Right Tools

Not so much a hack as it is sound advice, using the right tools for the task at hand can really save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run. When you buy top quality cookware, for example, you don’t have to worry about things like food sticking to the pan or hot spots that cook food unevenly. Avoiding cooking pitfalls like these will definitely make life much sweeter in the kitchen.

2. Forget About that Bacon Mess

Everyone loves bacon, but no one likes having to clean up the greasy mess it leaves behind. You can forget about that greasy mess the next time you cook bacon by baking it in the oven.

Place several strips on a lined baking sheet and pop it in a 400-degree oven until it reaches your desired crispness. The bacon will be cooked to perfection, there will be no mess to clean up, and your bacon strips will lay flat for a change.

3. Shuck Corn the Easy Way

Shucking corn the old-fashioned way is a pain in the you-know-what. Stop fighting the stringy mess by cutting off both ends of the cob while it’s still inside the husk. The cob will slide right out – no strings attached!

While we’re on the subject of corn, make cutting kernels off the cob easier too by placing it in the hole of a Bundt pan. Run a sharp knife down the cob and watch as the kernels collect neatly in the pan instead of scattering across your countertop.

4. Ripen Fruit and Veggies Fast

The grocery store isn’t always the ideal place to find ripe fruits and veggies. Demand often means these foods get picked before they’re ready. Speed up the ripening process by placing unripe fruits and vegetables inside a brown paper bag for a couple of days. The paper helps to better trap and concentrate the gases responsible for ripening the food, which speeds up the process.

5. Save the Herbs!

Most great cooks love using fresh herbs. However, the fact is, they don’t last very long once you bring them home from the store. You can save money and save those herbs by chopping them up, placing them in ice cube trays, filling them with olive oil, and freezing them. The herb/olive oil cubes will keep for up to a year in the deep freeze, and they’re easy to pop out and into a skillet when needed.

6. Clean-up’s a Breeze – Even if You Run Out of Dishwasher Soap

Cleaning up afterwards is part of cooking, but when you realize you’ve run out of dishwasher soap, it can put a downward spiral on an otherwise delightful meal. Rather than jump in the car and head to the store for more, try this hack instead.

Combine 3 tablespoons baking soda with1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap. Scoop the mixture into the powder compartment of your dishwasher and run.

Whether you love to cook or not, learning simple tricks and tips to make life in the kitchen easier is almost always appreciated. Be sure to try one or all the cooking hacks listed above for a life-improving experience.