1. Use a damp towel to keep a cutting board in place.

It can be so annoying to try to chop on a cutting board that keeps sliding all over the counter.
Lock it in place by placing a damp paper towel or dish towel underneath it.

2. Use a bench scraper to transfer ingredients from a cutting board.

It’s better than dragging a sharp knife across the cutting board, which dulls the knife over
time. Plus, the bench scraper is large enough to hold (or push) a lot of food at once.

3. Add baking soda to tomato sauce.

If you don’t want to add sugar to a pot of marinara sauce but the tomatoes are a bit acidic,
add a little baking soda. Simply stir 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon into the pot and cook for a few
minutes to take the bite out of the flavor. Then, add the sauce to your meal.

4. Add sour cream for extra-smooth scrambled eggs.

Sour cream will keep them soft and, well, creamy for a long time while you’re holding them
warm for a big brunch. Add about 1/4 cup per dozen eggs once you’ve removed the eggs
from the heat.

5. Give in and get that really good set of knives.

Knives are probably the most useful item in your kitchen, so it’s important to have a quality
set that will last for years. And whatever you do, don’t put them in the dishwasher!

6. Keep those knives sharp.

It really does make slicing and chopping so much easier. Plus, you’re less likely to cut
yourself with a sharp knife than a dull one, which would be prone to slipping on the food’s
surface and landing—ahem—somewhere else.

7. Do the mise en place thing to stay calm in the kitchen.

Simply put: Prep all ingredients before cooking. That way, you’re not scrambling to chop the
garlic when it needed to be in the pan 5 minutes ago.
 

8. Let meat rest.

It’s important to let meat rest for a while before slicing into it. The longer you can let it rest
the better; otherwise, the juices run onto the cutting board instead of staying in the food.

  

9. Use a small ice cream scoop to evenly portion out cookie dough.

It ensures each cookie is the same size, which means they’ll bake evenly. You can also use an
ice cream scoop to evenly divide batter into a muffin tin.

  

10. Add acid to perk up a dish.

Don’t be afraid of acid! If a dish is missing something and you just can’t put your finger on it,
chances are it could use a touch more acid, such as wine, lemon juice or orange juice.

11. Use an egg wash to make baked goods look irresistible.

Brush a light coating of egg wash (one yolk + 1 tablespoon heavy cream) over baked goods
while they’re baking to give them a shiny golden brown hue

12. Invest in a kitchen thermometer.

Take the guesswork out of doneness and invest in a quality kitchen thermometer to make sure
recipes are cooked to perfection.

Start using these tips today and you’ll instantly become a better cook!