Most of us love to eat and just love food. ”Food is love, food is life,” as they say. However, when it comes to food preparation and cooking, not everyone likes it.
Thankfully, we can still gradually master the art of cooking with the help of experts and a smart guide to love your kitchen. You don’t need to be a food geek, yet with practice and love, you can improve each day.
Moreover, here are the 53 food preparation and cooking tricks that you can refer to and actually love your kitchen too! These amazing hacks are for you and me, whether you are a professional or just a beginner.
1. Brine your chicken breasts to get tender, juicy meat.
Cooking chicken is a delicate process: just a small mistake can make the difference between meat that’s juicy and tender and meat that’s dry and stringy. To get a tender chicken breast, soak it in salt water for 15 minutes before cooking.
Source:
Good Dinner Mom
2. Know how to make perfectly crisp meat.
It’s actually pretty straightforward: salt the meat, rinse it, pat it dry, and sear it on high heat. This process ensures that the outside of the meat isn’t too moist, which means you’ll have a great crisp.
Source:
The Pompeian
3. Don’t overmix your cake batter.
The key when you mix a cake is to combine the ingredients, not whip them. When you mix too much, you can overdevelop gluten, which results in a dense, bread-like texture.
Source:
Baking Kneads
4. Keep salmon moist and flavorful with Greek yogurt.
Fish is delicious and healthy but if cooked wrong, it can become a dry, grainy mess. Keep salmon moist by coating liberally with Greek yogurt before you pop it into the pan or the oven.
Source:
One Family Meal
5. Reduce the bite of raw onions by giving them a cold-water bath.
Some people find raw onions delicious, while others find them too pungent to enjoy. If you’re adding them to a dish, give them a bath in some ice for a few minutes to reduce their sting.
Source:
The Kitchn
6. Make the best cup of coffee ever by adding cinnamon and salt.
Salt cuts back on a little of the bitterness of coffee, making a smooth, flavorful cup without the bite you typically taste. Cinnamon, meanwhile, intensifies the flavor and takes the flavor to the next level.
Source:
Alton Brown
7. Use paprika. A lot of it.
Just like wine and acid, paprika is an element that can be the answer for that “something” your dish is missing. It’s an awesome, versatile spice, so sprinkle it everywhere. Don’t be afraid of spice!
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SPICEography
8. Use kosher salt.
Kosher salt has a couple of things going for it, but it pretty much comes down to the size and flakiness. Large salt crystals flavor more effectively and improve the texture of your dish.
Source:
Small Footprint Family
9. Velvet your meat.
The term might sound a little odd, but it’s really just a method of coating meat using a mixture of egg whites and cornstarch before cooking it. The result is a soft texture that helps distribute moisture and prevent overcooking.
Source:
Pinterest
10. Know your cake ratios off the top of your head.
You don’t need a recipe to make a cake if you know the correct ratio of ingredients. Just remember to keep the weight of sugar to flour and fat to eggs roughly equal. You’ll make a delicious cake and wow everyone with your culinary know-how.
Source:
Baker Bettie
11. Remember that dessert needs salt.
Salt isn’t just for making dishes — well, salty. It’s a natural flavor enhancer, which means it makes every flavor taste more like what it is. It’s especially important to add a sprinkle of salt to dessert, to make every flavor stand out.
Source:
The Daily Meal
12. Thicken and enhance sauces with mustard or peanut butter.
It might seem like an odd idea, but a couple of tablespoons of mustard or peanut butter added to a sauce can intensify flavor while creating a nice, thick texture.
Source:
WikiHow
13. Try a basted egg.
Basted eggs are essentially a better version of poached eggs. All you have to do is steam them in a pan with some water while covered. The result is delicious, softly-cooked eggs.
Source:
The Cookful
14. Enhance flavors with balsamic vinegar.
Vinegar is another flavor enhancer, and it can be paired with almost anything. Gourmet chefs frequently use it in desserts and with fruit dishes for an added pop and a more intense taste.
Source:
Food Network
15. Mix breadcrumbs into burgers.
When you’re preparing ground meat for burgers, don’t forget to add a binder to keep them from falling apart on the grill. Breadcrumbs are a perfect choice. They add texture but without drying out the meat.
Source:
Taste of Home
16. Learn the right way to brown meat.
There are three steps to getting perfectly browned meat. First, pat it dry with a paper towel before cooking. Salt thoroughly. And cook in a hot pan that isn’t too crowded.
Source:
Better Homes and Gardens
17. Make a pie crust flakier with vodka.
This might seem like a strange hack, but trust us — it’ll make flaky pastry as you’ve never tasted. The alcohol cooks off, so it doesn’t add vodka flavor. Instead, it produces an incredible texture.
Source:
The Kitchn
18. Start your pie crust out cold.
Pie crust is all about flakiness, and the way to accomplish that is with cold ingredients. That means cold water and cold butter. Cut the butter into small pieces and toss them through the flour with your fingers until the dough resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Source:
Cook's Illustration
19. Thicken chili with tortilla chips.
Chili looking a little too thin? Crush up some tortilla chips and toss them in. They work like breadcrumbs and create great texture.
Source:
Sophia Gardner
20. Use cornstarch in scrambled eggs for perfect fluffiness.
Cornstarch is a versatile ingredient used to thicken baked goods, jams, frosting, and sauces. But it’s also a great way to get silky, fluffy scrambled eggs. Just add a spoonful before cooking and enjoy.
Source:
Budget Bytes
21. Salt veggies for a super crunchy salad.
This goes for juicy vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. These tend to leak, making a salad soggy. To draw out moisture, sprinkle them with a little salt and let them sit before adding to a salad.
Source:
Today Show
22. Add baking soda to your iced tea.
Iced tea is a delicious staple during the summer, but as it sits, the tannins tend to produce bitterness. To counteract this, add a spoonful of baking soda.
Source:
Southern Kitchen
23. Or to meat for extra tenderness.
Baking soda is also a great way to impart extra tenderness and juiciness to meat. Rub a little on before cooking to let the baking soda react with the muscle.
Source:
Cook's Illustrated
24. Treat your knives right.
Keeping your knives in great shape comes down to washing and storing them. Always hand-wash, as dishwashers are too rough on the blade. Store them in a woodblock to keep them sharp.
Source:
Epicurious
25. Make your plates as warm as your food.
There’s a reason that restaurants put your food on hot plates — it’s to keep dishes at the best temperature and avoid quick cooling. In general, match the temperature of your serving plates to the temperature of your food.
Source:
The Kitchn
26. Melt chocolate with hot butter.
Melting chocolate is a difficult process. For smooth, shiny chocolate, melt butter in a pan, then remove from the heat. Mix the chocolate into the hot butter in a bowl until melted.
Source:
What's Cooking America
27. Add an egg to your mashed potatoes.
You probably wouldn’t think of putting an egg in potatoes. But it’s the perfect way to make mashed potatoes extra creamy. Just mix the egg in as you mash and then put it back on the heat.
Source:
Scrumdiddlyumptious
28. Cook in stock, not water.
This applies to all sorts of dishes, from soups and stews to meat and more. If you’re using the liquid to cook, reach for some vegetable stock over water. It’s a great way to intensify the flavor of whatever you’re making.
Source:
Bon Appetite
29. Add a dash of coffee to your chocolate cake.
Want to add a layer of depth to your chocolate cake? Put in a tablespoon or two of coffee grounds. It’ll yield a rich, complex flavor that sets your cake a tier above the rest — pun intended.
Source:
Add a Pinch
30. Improve flavor with a splash of acid.
Never underestimate the role that acid can play in taking the flavor of food to the next level. Add a splash of citrus or vinegar to dishes to make them pop.
Source:
Ethical Foods
31. Add mayonnaise to the cake for a velvety texture.
Most people don’t put mayonnaise and cake in the same sentence but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Mayonnaise is mostly fat, so it’s perfect for enriching baked goods and imparting a super-smooth texture.
Source:
Wonder How To
32. And use it in place of butter when you’re making grilled cheese.
Traditional grilled cheese recipes involve pan-frying in butter. But if you want a sandwich that’s the perfect combination of golden, crunchy, and fatty, substitute mayo for the butter.
Source:
All Recipes
33. Use an oil with a high smoke point for high-temperature cooking.
Butter or olive oil have low smoke points, which means they burn easily. For high-temperature cooking, opt for vegetable or peanut oil instead.
Source:
The Olive Review
34. Season as you go.
Don’t wait until the end to add your seasonings. Doing so is a good way to over-season, especially when it comes to salt, which can ruin your dish.
Source:
Taste of Home
35. Add mustard to macaroni and cheese to make it gourmet.
Okay, “gourmet” might be a little farfetched, but it’ll add a pop of flavor to your macaroni that’ll take it to the next level. It’ll also improve the texture of a thicker, cheesier sauce.
Source:
Spicy Southern Kitchen
36. Cook potatoes in heavy cream instead of water.
For extra decadent mashed potatoes, boil them in heavy cream instead of water. Bear in mind, though, that these are extremely rich, so for the sake of your cholesterol, make them an occasional treat!
Source:
Cooking for Keeps
37. Use milk powder to intensify the flavors of baked goods.
Milk powder is a lesser-known flavor enhancer. It doesn’t have much of a taste on its own. What it does instead is to ramp up all the flavors that are already in your recipe.
Source:
Our Everyday Life
38. Put an ice cube in the middle of burgers to keep them juicy.
Burgers on the grill are delicious, but you have to take steps to keep them juicy. To keep them moist, put an ice cube in the middle of the meat before tossing it on the heat.
Source:
Oola
39. Toss some brown sugar into your spaghetti sauce.
An old-school secret, brown sugar in spaghetti sauce is the perfect way to cut back on the acidity of the tomatoes while adding an extra level of flavor. You don’t need more than a spoonful!
Source:
Tastes Better from Scratch
40. Sprinkle flour on bacon to keep it big and crispy.
Have you ever cooked bacon and been disappointed to see how much it shrank? A little dusting of flour will help it keep its size and soak up excess grease so it stays deliciously crispy.
Source:
Soup Addict
41. Improve frosting consistency with powdered milk.
Powdered milk is a really versatile pantry staple. Not only does it naturally enhance flavors, but it’s also a good way to thicken frosting without any graininess.
Source:
The Spruce Eats
42. Add a tiny bit of instant coffee to spaghetti sauce.
Here’s another unorthodox way to add an extra layer of flavor to spaghetti sauce: coffee. Not only will it make the flavor richer, but it’ll also cut back on some of the acidity for a more balanced taste.
Source:
The Kitchen Magpie
43. Cook bacon in the oven on parchment paper.
Want to get perfectly crisp bacon every time? Don’t fry it in a pan. Instead, bake it in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees, but make sure to lay it on parchment paper. This soaks up the excess grease so the meat stays crunchy.
Source:
Cook's Illustrated
44. Lay bacon out in a cold pan.
Cooking bacon in a hot pan causes it to curl up and cook before the fat has time to render, making it chewy instead of crispy.
Source:
Pinterest
45. Start your grilled cheese at room temperature.
This goes for butter, bread, and cheese. Why? Because the butter will spread evenly and the cheese will melt evenly — no more burning.
Source:
Closet Cooking
46. Lay salmon on a hot sheet pan for perfect searing.
When cooking fish, you want it to get a nice sear on the outside while staying juicy on the inside. The best way to do this is to heat your pan before laying the fish on it. Simply place the pan in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees and then place the salmon on and pop it back in to bake.
Source:
Tablespoon
47. Don’t rinse your pasta when you drain it.
Many people naturally run the faucet over pasta when they’re draining it, but this is a major mistake! In fact, don’t drain all that pasta water. It’s full of starch, which is essential to make sure your sauce sticks to the noodles.
Source:
The Kitchn
48. Make cookies extra soft with an extra egg yolk.
If you’re a big fan of soft, cake-like cookies, you’ll be happy to learn that they’re super easy to make! Just add one extra egg yolk than your recipe calls for. You’ll end up with cookies that are perfectly soft and chewy.
Source:
A Taste of Madness
49. Sift your flour to make baked goods light and fluffy.
Ask any professional baker and they’ll tell you: sifting flour is a must. Sifting flour makes it lighter, breaks up any lumps, and ensures that it mixes properly so that you have a perfectly combined result.
Source:
Bluprint
50. Cook tomatoes with sugar.
If you’re worried about the acidity of your dish, a spoonful of sugar is a great way to bring some balance. You can stir it into a sauce, salsa, or any other tomato dish — or any dish that has a high level of acid, even without tomatoes.
Source:
Art de Fete
51. Bring your apple pie to the next level with some lemon juice.
It’s amazing what a small addition can do to ramp up the flavor of food. For a truly delicious apple pie, add a splash of lemon juice. The contrast of sweet apples and tart citrus will brighten the taste.
Source:
Canola Eat Well
52. Rinse your rice before cooking.
Just ask your grandmother — she’ll tell you the importance of rinsing rice before cooking. This gets rid of extra starch that can affect the taste and texture while it’s on the stove.
Source:
Chowhound
53. Intensify flavor with wine.
Have you ever tasted a dish and thought that it was missing just a little extra something? Sometimes, the answer to that problem is a splash of wine. Wine can heal a lot of hurts, and a bland dish is one of them.
Source:
My Food Story
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