First, cut your stone fruits or avos into two equal halves and twist them in opposite directions. Next, use your thumb or a butter knife to remove the pit. With your avocado pitted, consider throwing it into a creamy, bright green Avocado Lime Smoothie.
Make hulling strawberries simple by using a straw. From there, use your strawberry slices to decorate everything from cheesecakes to cupcakes. This rustic Strawberry Ricotta Galette is complete with lots of fresh, sliced strawberries and is perfect for a light, sweet and summery dessert.
If youre grating soft cheeses like mozzarella, pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes so they firm up. When you go to grate, it will be much easier to do so because the cheese wont be as soft. Try this cooking hack on our Perfect Pizza Crust made with Bobs Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour. The only thing missing for the perfect Friday-night pizza is the cold beverage of your choice.
If youre pressed for time and need butter softened for baking, cut it into cubes to allow your stick to soften faster. Then youll be able to whip up a batch of Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies in no time. Oh, and did we mention theyre gluten free?
Use cooking spray to coat your measuring cups before measuring out sticky ingredients like honey, nut butter or molasses. The oil helps these ingredients slide into the mixing bowl with ease! Put this cooking hack to the test with our recipe for Peanut Butter and Honey Cookies, two of the stickiest and tough-to-measure ingredients around.
Youve probably seen those fancy parchment paper crowns at bakeries. But have you ever considered making them on your own? When youre in a pinch (and out of cupcake liners) use 5-inch squares of parchment paper instead. Spray each piece with cooking spray then press them into the muffins tins. Elegant and easy! From there, bake a batch of your favorite muffins or cupcakes. We think these gluten free Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream will do just the trick.
When your last pickle has been picked from the jar, think twice before tossing that brine. Instead, add in a bit of garlic, carrots, cucumbers or green beans for all things crunchy and pickled. Use these tasty tidbits in a charcuterie spread for your next dinner party gathering. We suggest pairing them with our gluten free, vegan and paleo-friendly Sunflower Crackers.
Say farewell to the days of bacon grease-filled skillets and messy clean ups. Make your bacon in the oven by lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil to keep the grease contained and allow it to cook evenly with minimal effort on your end. Bonus: add packed brown sugar and chili flakes to the bacon and serve it alongside these Fluffy Gluten Free Pancakes.
Luckily, if you have a vegetable peeler on hand, you can make ribbons for just about anything. Use your peeler for chocolate, butter, cheese or veggie strips (like beets and carrots). And if we may say so, peeled chocolate is a fantastic and delicate addition to this Roasted Blueberry Ice Cream.
If youre looking to bake up a loaf of beautiful banana bread (but have unripe bananas) theres no need to fear! Simple throw the bananas on a baking sheet for 5 minutes in a 350F oven to make them ripe and sweet. Then you can bake the day away and create multiple loaves of The Best Ever Super Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread.
To stop your fish from sticking to the grill, grill it on a bed of sliced citrus (like lemons, limes or grapefruit). If youre in the mood for salmon, try this recipe for Late Summer Vegetables and Salmon from Chef Billy Parisi. Instead of doing your fish in the skillet, try the citrus hack for a bright and refreshing twist on Billys dish.
Whether youre cutting butter to soften it up for your best baked goods or saving your pickle brine for a massive charcuterie spread, we hope these 20 cooking hacks and cooking tips help you with all your prepping, chopping and baking needs.
Have any favorite hacks that didnt make this list? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below.
Wed love to hear how you make your life in the kitchen easy, efficient and enjoyable.
