Useful Cooking Hacks, Habits, and Tips For Beginners

Useful Cooking Hacks, Habits, And Tips For Beginners 03.02.
2021, 15:43
40+ Cooking Hacks That'll Make

You Say, "How Come Nobody Told
Me This Earlier?"
These are legitimately useful.
Posted on Jan 28, 2021
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Useful Cooking Hacks, Habits, And Tips For Beginners 03.02.2021, 15:43
BuzzFeed
Whether you're just starting out in the kitchen or

you already consider yourself to be a great at-home
chef, there's *always* more to learn when it comes
to cooking.
Here are some of the very best small (yet super effective!) hacks, habits,
and tips that can make a big difference in the kitchen. If you've got one to
add, leave it in the comments!
1. For pancakes that always turn out extra fluffy

(not flat), leave a few lumps in the batter.
@cooksillustrated / Via instagram.com
In a test, Cook's Illustrated used two identical batches of pancake batter and found the way
they were stirred made a huge difference. You want to stir very gently — *just* enough to
barely combine ingredients, making sure to keep some of the lumps intact. Doing so will ensure
super airy pancakes with height.
2. For the fudgiest brownies you've ever tasted,

split the baking time.
buzzfeed.com
That's according to Alton Brown — who swears by letting his brownies bake in the oven for 15
minutes, letting them rest on the counter for another 15 minutes, then putting them *back* in to
finish off.
@testkitchen / Via instagram.com
As America's Test Kitchen explains, tossing ground meat with a bit of baking soda helps lock in
moisture. Without it, that liquid pools out and prevents deep, even browning on the meat.
4. Mix soy sauce and butter to instantly boost the

flavor of savory dishes.
Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed

As a smart Redditor sums up: "I never tried mixing butter and soy sauce in the same dish until I
was in my late twenties, but once I tried it, it quickly became one of my favorite flavor
combinations. It's excellent in just about any savory dish. It works especially well with
mushrooms."
5. To make baked chicken taste fried, add a bit of

mayo to the egg-and-breadcrumb coating before
baking.
thekitchn.com
As it bakes, the mayo crisps up the individual breadcrumbs, and adds a boost of flavor (and fat)
that mirrors traditionally fried chicken. Read more here.
6. Freeze lime juice into ice cube trays to make

ready-made margarita starters.
reddit.com
When the craving strikes, just add tequila and sweetener — and you're all set. This is also a
great way to get more mileage out of dry (or about-to-spoil) limes.
7. And when juicing those limes, cut the bottom

off first — so all the juice runs through, rather than
getting trapped in the rind.
8. Use a nonstick pan sparingly — it's only good

for a few things.
Lauren Zaser / BuzzFeed

Nonstick pans are great for eggs, pancakes, or French toast — and not much else, says NYC
chef Amanda Cohen. That's because they give off a very specific type of heat — one that's not
quite as hot (or as conducive to crispiness) as a regular pan. When in doubt? Stick to your
standard set.
9. Add a tiny bit of salt to your coffee to make it

less bitter.
youtube.com
Alton Brown explains further: "Not only does salt cut the bitterness of coffee, but it also
smooths out the 'stale' taste of tank-stored water," Brown says. "Research has proven that salt
is actually better at neutralizing bitterness than sugar."
10. When pouring marinades or leftovers into a

Ziploc, roll down the top of the bag over itself so
the closure (and the outside) doesn't get messy.
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Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed

This also makes it a little easier to shape the bottom of the bag so that it can sit upright on the
counter on its own. (Which will make the pouring part easier for you!)
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11. Shrink a sheet pan with a simple strip of foil.
food52.com
This is a great hack for any time you want to downsize surface area — like if you're making
pizza or an egg bake, but don't have enough ingredients to cover the whole thing.
12. Convert a regular cake pan into a bundt pan by

placing an empty bean or soup can in the middle
of it.
Tasty
Just use uncooked rice or dry beans to weigh the can down and keep it in place.
13. Remember that the Instant Pot comes with a

built-in lid holder.
facebook.com
TBH, I was late to the game in learning this, but it's been a game changer ever since. (Shoutout
to my fellow Instant Pot owners with limited kitchen counter space!)
Read more: 18 (Seriously Useful) Instant Pot Tips, Tricks, And Hacks
14. To prevent guacamole from browning, cover it

with a thin layer of pico de gallo until it's time to
serve and eat.
thekitchn.com
When it's time, just scoop up and eat the pico de gallo (or mix it in fully) and you're left with
perfectly green guac underneath.
15. Grate ginger with a microplane instead of

mincing it.
16. And store ginger in the freezer to make it even

easier to grate.
Tasty
17. For naturally sweeter lemonade, roast lemons

in the oven before juicing them.
Westend61 / Getty Images

Roasting them draws out their natural sugars and tones down their tartness. Depending on
your taste, you might not need as much sweetener later — or any.
Read more: How the Oven Will Help You Make Even Better Lemonade
18. Season mushrooms and zucchini *after* they

brown in the pan, not before.
thespruceeats.com
Both carry excess water — and salt will draw it out even more, causing the food to get soggy.
To avoid that, let mushrooms and zucchini pick up some color first and shed their extra liquid.
Then add salt. (Also, make sure they're completely dry before they hit the pan!)
19. And dry meat before searing it to drain excess

moisture too.
Alvin Zhou / BuzzFeed

Meat can carry a layer of moisture on the outside, so it's important to get rid of that if you want
the cleanest, sharpest sear when the protein hits the hot pan. The quickest way? Pat it dry first
with a paper towel.
20. When working with aromatics, add garlic last.
seriouseats.com
Because garlic burns easily, many recipes tell you to add it last, and that's a great blanket rule
— especially if it's minced or chopped.
21. For glossy, restaurant-quality sauces, finish

them with a pat of cold butter.
youtube.com / Via youtube.com

In culinary terms, this is known as "monter au beurre." Next time you're making a sauce, try
adding a few pats of cold butter at the very end to add richness and shine.
22. To easily clean a stubborn cast iron pan, just fry

the stuff on the bottom in oil. It'll pop right off.
Tasty
Here's another smart tip from a Redditor: "Anything that doesn't pop off with hot oil, add some
kosher salt and scrape again. Perfectly cleaned cast iron, every time. I spent years overthinking
this and having crusty pans."
23. Finish chilis and stews with a dash of vinegar.
Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed, gimmesomeoven.com

Just about any savory dish can greatly benefit from a bit of acid at the end — and that includes
chili. To instantly balance and brighten the slow-simmered flavors, finish with a splash of
vinegar.
24. Finish vinaigrettes with hot sauce.
Amazon
Here's another smart tip from a Redditor: "A little bit of hot sauce (like Crystal) or fish sauce
can be unrecognizable in a vinaigrette, dip, or sauce — but it's an absolute game changer. A
touch of heat, umami, sugar, or acid can turn a flat dish into something people crave. Little
drops, add more. Stop when you taste it and start salivating."
Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed

The tanginess of the Dijon will perfectly counter-balance the richness of the mac. Read more
here.
26. Always rinse rice with water before cooking it.
budgetbytes.com
You'll get a much better end product if you rinse rice in a bowl or quickly run it through a
strainer first. Doing so removes the surface starch that can otherwise make rice clump together
or get super gummy as it cooks.
27. Don't use olive oil when you're cooking steaks

or stir-fries.

Olive oil has a relatively low smoke point, or temperature at which it starts to burn. With
anything needing high heat — like seared steak or fried chicken — you're better off using a
neutral oil with a higher smoke point.
Read more: 12 Things You Shouldn't Be Cooking With Olive Oil
28. When reheating leftovers in the microwave,

place a damp paper towel on top.
BuzzFeed
As the water heats up and creates steam, it'll hydrate the food underneath and help prevent
toughness — especially in leftovers prone to dryness, like rice and pasta.
29. Caramelize onions in half the time by adding a

small pinch of baking soda.
seriouseats.com
For more on the magical science behind why this works, head over to Serious Eats.
30. Instead of turning the hand mixer, turn the

bowl.

When you're making things like thick batters, it takes less energy (and saves your wrist!) if you
spin the bowl rather than the mixer.
31. When making chocolate-flavored dough or

batter, use cocoa powder — instead of regular flour

— to prep countertops and pans.
Tasty
This will keep things from sticking — *without* the white cast that regular flour can give off on
darker baked goods.
32. If you're using a cake stand, pre-line it with

parchment — so it stays clean while you're
frosting.
Tasty
For those times when you want a pristine, bakery-worthy cake setup — including a spotless
stand! — put down strips of parchment paper around the base of your cake before you start
decorating it. Then just slip them out once you're done and ready to serve.
33. Keep cakes from sticking to pans with a

magical DIY paste.
Marie Telling / BuzzFeed

The paste is equal parts flour, vegetable oil, and vegetable shortening — and for us, it worked
like a charm.
34. To make whipped cream extra fluffy, refrigerate

your mixing bowl beforehand.
BuzzFeed
If you pop the bowl into the fridge before starting, you'll end up with whipped cream that's
more stable and peak-prone. Read more about why here.
35. To make oven-baked chicken breasts way more

flavorful, brine them first.
gimmesomeoven.com
Brining — or a quick soak in salt + water — helps meat retain moisture and stay juicy and
flavorful. This method is worth it every time, and it can be done in as little as 15 minutes. (Or:
The time it takes the oven to heat up!)
Recipe: Juicy Oven-Baked Chicken Breasts
View this photo on Instagram
@mestizako / Via instagram.com

Pop the bacon sheet tray into the oven, then top it with parchment paper and *another* sheet
tray. This will prevent the bacon from curling and keep it perfectly flat.
Read more: 17 Practical Cooking Tricks I Learned While Working in Restaurants
37. To cut onions without crying, pop them in the

fridge or freezer first.
buzzfeed.com
We tested ten of the most popular tricks for cutting onions without tearing up, and chilling
them in the fridge or freezer first made the biggest difference. Read more here.
thekitchn.com
To clean out tiny bits of grime that won't budge even after a spin in the dishwasher, run a
folded piece of wax paper through your can opener. It'll dislodge the gunk — plus lubricate the
gear. Full instructions here.
39. Use olive brine or pickle brine to upgrade

savory dishes or as the base of a vinaigrette.

It adds a perfect subtle punch to things like chicken salad, tuna salad, or any favorite
vinaigrette or dressing.
40. Remember that electric stoves can get much

hotter than gas stoves.

When cooking, the difference is important to keep in mind. For example, cooking on the 'high'
setting for awhile can yield a different result depending on which type of stove you're cooking
with. (Gas = nice sear! Electric = likely burnt.) You'll always want to adjust accordingly.
Tasty
This is especially key when you're making batches of things from the same prepped mixture —
like meatballs. Pan-fry one, taste it, and if it's off (needs more salt?), edit the mixture before
cooking the rest.
42. Lastly, when in doubt? Double the garlic.

"This tastes like it has too much garlic." —said no one, ever.
What's a kitchen or cooking habit you wish you'd

known about sooner? Share it in the comments!

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Useful Cooking Hacks, Habits, And Tips For Beginners 03.02.

40+ Cooking Hacks That'll Make

Whether you're just starting out in the kitchen or

1. For pancakes that always turn out extra fluffy

2. For the fudgiest brownies you've ever tasted,

4. Mix soy sauce and butter to instantly boost the

Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed

5. To make baked chicken taste fried, add a bit of

6. Freeze lime juice into ice cube trays to make

7. And when juicing those limes, cut the bottom

8. Use a nonstick pan sparingly — it's only good

Lauren Zaser / BuzzFeed

9. Add a tiny bit of salt to your coffee to make it

10. When pouring marinades or leftovers into a

Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed

11. Shrink a sheet pan with a simple strip of foil.

12. Convert a regular cake pan into a bundt pan by

13. Remember that the Instant Pot comes with a

14. To prevent guacamole from browning, cover it

15. Grate ginger with a microplane instead of

16. And store ginger in the freezer to make it even

17. For naturally sweeter lemonade, roast lemons

Westend61 / Getty Images

18. Season mushrooms and zucchini *after* they

19. And dry meat before searing it to drain excess

Alvin Zhou / BuzzFeed

20. When working with aromatics, add garlic last.

21. For glossy, restaurant-quality sauces, finish

youtube.com / Via youtube.com

22. To easily clean a stubborn cast iron pan, just fry

23. Finish chilis and stews with a dash of vinegar.

Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed, gimmesomeoven.com

24. Finish vinaigrettes with hot sauce.

Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed

26. Always rinse rice with water before cooking it.

27. Don't use olive oil when you're cooking steaks

Lauren Zaser / BuzzFeed

28. When reheating leftovers in the microwave,

29. Caramelize onions in half the time by adding a

30. Instead of turning the hand mixer, turn the

Lauren Zaser / BuzzFeed

31. When making chocolate-flavored dough or

batter, use cocoa powder — instead of regular flour

32. If you're using a cake stand, pre-line it with

33. Keep cakes from sticking to pans with a

Marie Telling / BuzzFeed

34. To make whipped cream extra fluffy, refrigerate

35. To make oven-baked chicken breasts way more

View this photo on Instagram

@mestizako / Via instagram.com

37. To cut onions without crying, pop them in the

39. Use olive brine or pickle brine to upgrade

Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed

40. Remember that electric stoves can get much

Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed

42. Lastly, when in doubt? Double the garlic.

Melissa Jameson / BuzzFeed

What's a kitchen or cooking habit you wish you'd

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18. Season mushrooms and zucchini after they