10 Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks You Need To Know

10 Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks You Need To Know. Graphic © herbshealthhappiness.com. Photos – Pixabay (PD)

Finding the time to prepare healthy meals in today’s hectic times is no easy task. Sometimes it is the simple ways that make the most impact. Here are 10 time and resource saving hacks you can use to keep things simple and fast in the kitchen.

1. Keep Garlic And Onions, Fresh Longer

Onions and garlic last longer when stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. To keep them fresh longer, put them separately in paper bags punched with holes. Once you have them inside the bag, secure it with a paper clip and store inside a cool dry drawer. This should keep your onions and cloves of garlic fresh for around 3 months.

Tip:

● Make sure the onions and garlic are dry to the touch before packing them inside the bag.

● Allow some space between them so that there’s ample room for air circulation.

● Don’t store onions and potatoes near each other. Onions and potatoes release moisture and gases that can make them spoil faster. ^[1]

● Don’t wash vegetables until you’re ready to use them. Washing them before storing can make them more likely to spoil.

2. Store Carrots Properly

Before storing carrots inside the fridge, make sure to cut off any green tops attached. The tops draw out moisture from the body, causing the carrots to go soggy and limp. Once a carrot is peeled and trimmed, you can make it last longer by keeping submerged inside a jar with water.

3. Keep Cucumbers At Room Temperature

Cucumbers do not go well with cold temperatures, surprisingly. Cold makes cucumbers spoil faster. To keep them crisp and firm, it is better to store them at room temperature. ^[2]

Tip:

● Cucumbers are sensitive to the ethylene gas produced by bananas, tomatoes, and apples. Keep them separate from these fruits to ensure maximum freshness.

4. Prevent Avocados, Apples, And Bananas From Browning

Exposing cut fruit to the air can cause it to brown due to oxidation. To prevent this, you can try brushing the fruit with either apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Tip:

● You can also apply the hack mentioned above to guacamole.

● Another thing you can try to keep avocados fresh is to store them with a slice of onion. ^[3]

● Keeping the pit of the avocado makes it last longer.

5. Freeze Nut And Seed Flours

Nut and seed flours are healthy alternatives to the typical wheat flour we use. However, we don’t use these flours as often as other food ingredients, which makes storing them a bit of a challenge. To keep bags of flour fresher longer, seal them inside zip lock bags and keep them in the freezer.

6. Shred Chicken In No Time

Shredding chicken using a fork can be tedious and time-consuming. If you have a standing mixer at home, use the paddle attachment on your cooked chicken fillet and let the machine do the rest.

7. Make Eating A Watermelon Easier And Less Messy

Watermelons are a staple summer fruit that can unfortunately be messy to eat, especially by children. To avoid this mess, slice watermelon into bite-size sticks instead of large slices. To do this, cut the watermelon in half and begin cutting sections with approximately one to one and a half inch thickness. Turn the melon 90 degrees, then repeat the process. Voila! You now have easy bite size pieces ready for serving.

8. Keep Egg Whites In Your Freezer

Leftover egg whites from mayonnaise, Hollandaise sauce, and flan recipes should not be wasted. Instead, opt to freeze them for future use. To freeze egg whites, use a silicone ice cube tray and fill it with the leftovers. When you’re ready to use them, simply pop out the amount you need and thaw it in the fridge.

9. Have Fresh Ginger Ready Anytime

Ginger is a fantastic spice you can use for teas, Asian cuisine, and baking. To have fresh ginger on hand, simply freeze your ginger root inside a plastic bag and grate it fresh as needed. This makes the root firmer and easier to grate while keeping the flavors preserved.

10. Use A Plastic Bottle To Separate Egg Yolks From Egg Whites

Separating these two can be a chore, especially if the recipe calls for a lot of egg yolks. Fortunately, a simple empty plastic bottle can do the trick. Simply crack open the eggs on top of a plate, squeeze the bottle them aim the mouth at the yolk. The suction created will magically pull it away from the white with ease.