Kitchen hacks
Faster prep, less mess and fewer kitchen disasters.
Simple kitchen hacks that save time when you cook: peel garlic in seconds, keep herbs fresh, soften butter without a microwave and stop pots from boiling over.
12 hacks. Tap any hack to see how it's done.
Peel a whole head of garlic in 20 seconds
Shake the cloves in a closed jar and the skins fall right off.
Keep a pot from boiling over with a wooden spoon
Lay a wooden spoon across the pot and the foam pops before it spills, which buys you time to turn down the heat.
Bring stale bread back to life
A quick rinse and a few minutes in the oven make it crusty and soft again.
Check if an egg is fresh with a glass of water
Fresh eggs sink and lie flat. Older eggs stand up or float.
Keep fresh herbs green for a week in a jar of water
Store soft herbs like flowers and they last far longer.
Soften butter fast with a warm glass
Cover a cold stick of butter with a heated glass for a few minutes.
Seal a chip bag without a clip
Fold the top, tuck the corners and flip it inside out to lock it.
Slice soft food cleanly with dental floss
Unflavored floss cuts cake, soft cheese and cinnamon rolls without squishing.
Ripen hard avocados faster in a paper bag
Put the avocado in a paper bag with a banana or apple and it softens in a day or two.
Stop your cutting board from sliding with a damp towel
Lay a damp paper towel or dish towel under the board and it stays put.
Save leftover herbs by freezing them in olive oil
Chop the herbs, cover them with oil in an ice cube tray and freeze ready-to-cook portions.
Reheat pizza in a skillet for a crispy crust
A hot pan crisps the bottom, and a few drops of water steam the cheese.