21 ingenious and valuable cooking tips and tricks that most people don't know of

One of the things I like to do best is cooking. In the past, cooking a meal for me was to just take a sandiwch, pour mayo on it, throw a meat slice, and there, I had a gourmet meal.

But as I got older (and watched countless cooking programs) my love for good food and cooking increased, and slowly I learned more tricks that helped me in the kitchen. But no matter how many tricks and tips you learn, there are always new ones that will surprise you, and when I came across this article I felt like it must be shared with everyone.

So I collected some wonderful tricks that every cooking fan needs to know - from preparing the food, to cleaning and organizing the kitchen.

Some of them are ones I'm sure you never thought of!

Cooking tips and tricks

1. How to remove seeds quickly from vegetables

To remove seeds and seeds quickly from gourd or squash, use an ice cream spoon. Its sharp edge easily scratches the seeds from the vegetable. You can also use it to cut thin slices into a salad.

2. How to remove excess fat from cooked food

If the dish you cooked is too oily you can easily get rid of excess fat with a few ice cubes and a paper towel. Wrap the ice with the towel paper and wipe the top of the dish. The ice acts like a magnet, and sticks the fat or oil to the towel paper.

3. Use plastic wrap like a professional chef

Is your plastic wrap not uniformly torn or you can't find where the edges are? Store it in the fridge like professional chefs do. Cold cling nylon works better, sticks and tears better, saving yourself frustration and nerves.

4. Peel citrus fruits easily

Is peeling orange or grapefruit too difficult for you? You don't want to destroy the manicure or the nail polish? Put them in the microwave for 20 seconds and they will be much easier to separate the peel from the fruit.

5. Easily peel hard-boiled eggs

Add baking soda or vinegar to the water in which you boil the eggs. These ingredients enter the shell and make it easy to peel.

6. How to squeeze more juice from citrus fruits

To squeeze the last drop of lemon, first cool the fruit in the refrigerator, then put it in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

7. How to scrape soft cheese without making a mess

Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes before you scratch it. The cheese hardens, and doesn't stick to the grater.

8. How to cut onions without crying

This is where the freezer will also help you. Put the onion for 30 minutes before you begin to cut it. It is important to remember that this trick is effective only if you want to fry the onion, so if you cut onion for salad, cut it as usual, without cooling.

9. The smart way to boil pasta

If you don't want the water to pour out of the pot when it is bubbling, place a wooden spoon on the pot (as in the picture above). The wood will prevent the bubbles from spilling.

10. How to roast a whole chicken

When you roast a whole chicken, place it on its chest. The reason is that the chest contains the largest amount of meat; The closer it is to the heat source, the faster and better the chicken will be.

11. Cupcakes baking paper

If you don't have special plates for cupcakes, use baking paper instead. This method has an advantage in that it produces non-standard cupcakes that look much more interesting.

12. The right way to heat pastries

When you heat a pizza or any other pastry in a microwave, put a glass of water next to it. The moisture will prevent the pastry from drying up and keep its crispness.

13. The perfect eye egg

Break the eggs into a pan if you are going to fry them, but instead of oil, add water and then put the pan on the fire. The result will be perfect omelets with a tasty liquid yolk.

Tips and tricks for storage

1. How to keep herbs

If you freeze herbs in an ice tray, their nutritional value will be preserved. Try to freeze them with water or olive oil.

2. The right way to store nuts

Freeze peeled nuts to maintain their nutritional value, taste and aroma. Put them in tightly closed tools before putting them in the freezer. Do not roast or fry them before, otherwise they will lose their taste. The nuts should be fresh and uncooked. Nuts stored thus will not get the bitter taste that nuts get when storing them at room temperature.

Tips and tricks for cleaning

1. The right way to clean a frying pan from cast iron

To avoid rusting in a pan, avoid rinsing it with regular dish soap. Use salt instead. This method will also remove unpleasant odors that have been stuck to the pan.

2. How to get rid of unpleasant smells stuck to your hands

To get rid of stubborn garlic or onion stains, use table salt or lemon. Rub them on your hands and rinse with cold water.

3. How to return the shine to metal kitchenware

To return the shine to the kitchen utensils, rinse them with a mixture of vinegar and water. If there are no iron parts, you can achieve the same effect by soaking the dish overnight.

4. Return wooden spoons to life

In time, wooden spoons lose their appearance and have an unpleasant smell. Looks like the only thing you can do is throw them away, right? Definately not! Boil the wooden spoons in water and leave them to dry in the sun. It will hide the unpleasant smells and give them a new life.

5. The right way to clean a wooden cutting board

To get rid of smears and food residues on the cutting board rub it with coarse salt and wait 10-15 minutes. Then wipe with half a lemon and dry. Your chopping board will smell and look like new!

6. How to keep your recipes clean

When we cook, we often use a recipe book or a page with a recipe to not forget what we need to do. But it can be difficult to lay the recipe in the kitchen without getting it dirty. To keep your recipes, use a regular hanger with clips and hang it over the work area where it will be safe.