Everyone loves eating, but not everyone is thrilled to prepare the food. Preparing and cooking food can be both stressful and relaxing. For people who treat cooking as a hobby, slicing the ingredients and the whole preparation process can be relaxing. 

However, for people who think cooking is a necessity, preparation and aftercare can be burdensome. Nonetheless, whether you are cooking for relaxation or cooking for necessity, these cooking hacks can come in handy. From food preparation to food storage, you can put these hacks to good use.

We have chosen ten areas of food preparation and prepared these kitchen hacks for you:

 

1. Food Storage

• If your recipe involves some shredded or diced potatoes, add cold water to it to prevent it from turning brown.
• Wrap the end of bananas with a plastic wrap to prolong its freshness.
• Place fruits in a paper bag to make them ripe faster. The paper bag can concentrate on ethylene gas that will make fruits ripen more quickly.
• Add one part honey and two parts water to keep sliced fruit from turning brown.
• Use shower caps to cover leftovers. Aside from protecting your food from bugs and other unwanted particles, it is also reusable.
• To check if your eggs are still edible, try to sink the egg in cold water. It the egg sinks, it’s always good to go. But if your eggs float, it means the eggs are old.

2. Removing

• Remove vegetable seeds using an ice cream scoop.
• If you need to get rid of broken eggshells in your mixture, use another piece of that eggshell to scope out the unwanted one. Eggshells act as magnets to each other.

3. Peeling

• Peel your ginger using a spoon instead of a peeler.
• Roll citrus fruits first before starting to peel them. This way, you can peel them faster.

4. Pitting

• Remove cherry seeds by placing the cherry on top of an empty bottle. Use a chopstick and push it against the cherry until the seed comes out.

5. Food Preparation

• Tired of crying while chopping the onion? Freeze them first before you make the cut.
• In a hurry to use your butter? You can either grate it or put it in a plastic bag and flatten it with a rolling pin.

6. Cooking

• Avoid overboiling by placing a wooden spoon across your pot.
• Use a metal mesh strainer to make a perfect poached egg. It can get rid of excess egg white, and you can use to lower the egg into the water.

7. Reheating and Storing Leftovers

• Convert your leftover rice, pizza toppings, and grilled chicken into casseroles or frittatas.
• Place a cup of water in the microwave when reheating your baked goods to prevent them from drying out.

8. Freezing

• Place fresh chopped herbs and water or olive oil in ice cubes so it will still be fresh when used later.
• Extend your shelled nuts life by putting them in the freezer,

9. Kitchen Safety

• Avoid cross-contamination by using one chopping board for raw meat and another one for other things you need to cut.
• Use a wine cork when keeping your knives in a drawer to avoid any untoward incident.

10. Kitchen Organization

• Hang your measuring tools inside your cabinet for easier access and to prevent clutter.
• You can also make a floating can organizer so you can keep your kitchen utensils well organized.

 

These kitchen hacks can genuinely make your life easier. From storing food to extending its shelf life to organizing your kitchen tools, it’s amazing how you can make the most out of your ingredients and how much time it saves you.