Cooking may be an art, but it is also a science. It is the perfect melting pot between these two distinct fields. Every cook has their own little short-cuts or handy tips to make life easier in the kitchen or to bring out the best in certain ingredients. Sharing this knowledge is a wonderful way to educate and inform our nearest and dearest of the wonders of the kitchen. Although the list is practically endless, here are ten suggestions to make your life in the kitchen a little easier, all while making your cooking even more delicious. A little know-how about utensils, temperatures and magic ingredients like baking soda and lemon juice can go a long way.
- Placing a wooden spoon across a saucepan of boiling water will prevent it from overflowing. Perfect when you need to leave the kitchen whilst your pasta or rice is on the go!
- If your rice is overcooked, run it under cold water to remove any excess starch. Drain it and heat it in a frying pan over low heat.
- Butter cannot handle high temperatures. To prevent it from burning or blackening when panfrying meat or vegetables, add a drizzle of oil so that your butter can heat up without burning.
- If your leafy greens are not looking their best, soak them in a mix of cold water and sugar for an hour, and they will regain their full crunch.
- Are you sick of crying when you chop an onion? Wearing goggles doesn’t seem to do the trick? Place it in the freezer for 10 minutes before peeling and cutting it. You can also put it in a bowl filled with cold water and keep it cool for 30 minutes. Onions don’t like the cold so they won't release their gas.
- To keep half an avocado and prevent the flesh from browning, dribble some lemon juice on top: the acidity will stop the avocado from oxidizing.
- Pour a little sparkling water over a chicken you want to roast so it will brown perfectly in the oven. The minerals in the water improve cooking and soften the meat.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice when making caramel to make sure it doesn’t go runny. Citrus fruit prevents sugar from crystallizing.
- To keep crepes warm and soft, simmer some water in a saucepan and cover it with a plate. You can then place the crepes on the hot plate one by one as you make them. Cover them with a cloche so that the water vapor keep them warm and moist.
- When melting chocolate in a bain-marie, the bowl should not touch the water. Use a large bowl over a small saucepan. The water vapor will melt the chocolate, not the boiling water.
Now that you are well and truly equipped with all these useful recommendations, it’s over to you to put them to use in your own home. Don’t hesitate to share them with family and friends too, of course. Enjoy!