Helpful Kitchen Hints (2024)

Jan. 4 -- Sara Moulton is Good Morning America’s “kitchen aid.” She’s got clever fixes for common cooking catastrophes.

Last time she was on the show, she taught us to cut cheesecake with dental floss and to keep brown sugar soft with foil. And she has come up with some more tips. And GMA is asking you to e-mail us your tips.

Here are tips from Sara:

1. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays. For example, if you open a bottle of wine, a can of tomato sauce or a bottle of pesto and only use a small amount, freeze them for later use.

2. Run a knife around the edges of a cheesecake when it comes out of the oven to prevent cracks from forming.

3. Liquefy onions in a blender before adding to your tomato sauce so kids won’t see the onion and will eat them. You can use a blender, a food processor, or any chopper you prefer.

4. Soak fish in milk half an hour before cooking to remove iodine taste and fishy smell. To remove the flavor or taste out of the shrimp or fish you bought, soak it in milk for about a half hour before cooking.

5. Bake a double crusted pie with two strands of spaghetti sticking up in it to absorb any excess liquid. Let the top part of the spaghetti stick up a few inches. When the pie bakes, if there is any excess liquid inside of it, the liquid will climb up the spaghetti instead of pouring out the of the sides or the top.

6. Remove hot chili burns from your skin by rubbing your hand with half a tomato. Try to use gloves when working with hot jalapenos or habaneros, but it will still get on your hands, so the tomato helps.

7. Stick a wooden spoon handle into hot oil. If it bubbles around the handle, it is ready.

8. Cook bacon on a meat rack in a roasting pan for 20 minutes at 350 degrees to allow greases and oils to drip below. The oil will drip to the bottom it provides for perfect bacon (and crispness) every time.

9. Microwave a lemon for 20 seconds and you will triple the amount of liquid you can get out of it and make it very easy to squeeze.

Helpful Kitchen Hints (2024)

FAQs

What is a good kitchen hack? ›

9 Best Cooking Hacks to Save Time, Hassle and Money
  • Use a wine bottle as a rolling pin. ...
  • Peel garlic by shaking it in a jar. ...
  • Use dental floss to cut cheese or baked goods. ...
  • Dice or mash with a cooling rack. ...
  • Add oil to your pasta water to prevent sticking. ...
  • Use deli lids to cut through multiple round items at once.
Mar 24, 2023

What is the 1 rule in the kitchen? ›

1. Kitchen hygiene 101: wash hands. Making sure your hands are clean is at the top of the kitchen hygiene rules list. It's easy for bacteria to be transferred, so wash your hands throughout prepping and cooking food.

What is the number one rule in any kitchen? ›

1. Wash Your Hands. Handwashing in commercial kitchens is vital for preventing the spread of germs and bacteria. Washing your hands after dealing with raw food or changing tasks is especially important.

What is the most important thing to do in a kitchen? ›

Besides speed, cleanliness is the most important aspect of a working kitchen: every surface is constantly being wiped down, no food is ever left on a cutting board, and knives are always clean.

What is the hidden kitchen trend? ›

Central to the invisible kitchen concept is sleek, built-in storage solutions – think tall cabinets and large pantry cupboards – which can hide bulky appliances when they're not in use. Want to embrace minimalism and jump on the trend?

What are the 4 golden rules in the kitchen? ›

  • Choose foods processed for safety.
  • Cook food thoroughly.
  • Eat cooked foods immediately.
  • Store cooked foods carefully.
  • Reheat cooked foods thoroughly.

What is the 80 20 rule in the kitchen? ›

The 80/20 rule means eating nutrient-dense food 80% of the time, and "soul foods" the remaining 20%. Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine follows the rule and eats chocolate every day. She also aims to eat 30 different plant-based foods throughout the week.

What is the golden rule of cooking? ›

Remember, you should always follow the five golden rules of cooking: quality ingredients, preparation, tasting, cleanliness, and timing. These simple tips can help you improve your cooking skills and impress your friends and family with show-stopping dishes.

What is the most basic rule in cooking? ›

1. Read the recipe. Of all the important advice out there about cooking, this by far has to be the number 1 rule of cooking: read your recipe completely before getting started.

What is the golden rule for kitchen design? ›

A Golden Rule for Kitchen Design

A kitchen work triangle is made up of three areas; the sink, cooktop, and refrigerator. By connecting these three areas within a certain length, you can create a more efficient kitchen design.

What is the first thing to do in the kitchen? ›

Before you start cooking, here are some simple things you can do to ensure you have a smooth and efficient cook.
  • Give yourself space. ...
  • Get all of your equipment ready for the recipe you're cooking. ...
  • Gather all your ingredients ready on your workbench. ...
  • Remove proteins from the fridge.

What is a kitchen checklist? ›

A comprehensive kitchen checklist is used to assess if kitchen operations such as menu planning, kitchen service preparation, kitchen hygiene, and food storage management are performed efficiently by kitchen staff.

What is the most useful thing in the kitchen? ›

The 25 Kitchen Products Every Home Cook Needs
  • A Chef's Knife. Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef's Knife. ...
  • A Wood Cutting Board. John Boos Chop-N-Slice Maple Cutting Board. ...
  • A Cast Iron Skillet. ...
  • A Versatile Knife Set. ...
  • A Large Capacity Stand Mixer. ...
  • A Sharp Paring Knife. ...
  • A Large-Capacity Food Processor. ...
  • A Hand Mixer.
Apr 26, 2024

How do you make a kitchen look expensive? ›

We spoke to a range of experts to find out how to make your kitchen look more expensive than it really is.
  1. Choose stylish functional pieces. ...
  2. Switch up your hardware. ...
  3. Add in some natural elements. ...
  4. Be considerate with color choice. ...
  5. Focus on finishing touches. ...
  6. Add or replace lights.
Feb 8, 2023

How to make a kitchen quirky? ›

Color. If you are going for quirky don't be afraid to mix in some color! Choose a color for your accent walls and then mix that into your appliance selections and other decor. And don't be afraid to contrast color schemes to really make the space “pop”.

What's on trend for kitchens? ›

In general, warm neutrals, lighter woods, and earth tones are growing in popularity, while stark white kitchens, gray cabinets, over-the-range microwaves, and trash compactors are on their way out. Read on to find out more details on what you'll see in the newly designed kitchens of 2024.

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