17 Kitchen Hacks You’d Never Think Of
1. Proof Dough in the Oven
If your kitchen is cold or drafty, place your dough in the turned-off oven atop a pan of boiling water. The residual heat and humidity create the perfect environment for it to rise.
2. Test Egg Freshness
Fill a bowl with water and gently submerge an uncooked egg. If it sinks, it’s fresh; if it floats, it’s best to discard it, as being buoyant means it’s developed an air pocket inside.
3. Bring Butter & Eggs to Room Temperature Fast
- Cut cold butter into small cubes on a plate—smaller pieces soften much faster.
- Grate the butter for instant softening and easier blending into doughs.
- Warm eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes to temper them.
4. Make Mini Pancakes with Cookie Cutters
Place heat-safe metal or silicone cookie cutters in your pan, then pour pancake batter inside each shape. Use a precise batter dispenser for even, mess-free pouring.
5. Get Perfectly Smooth Cake & Cheesecake Slices
Chill cakes for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Use a smooth, wide blade (or a serrated knife for layered cakes), heating and wiping the blade between cuts. You can even slice an entire cake at once with dental floss or a cake slicer.
6. Remove Excess Fat Quickly
Wrap ice cubes in paper towels and skim over the surface of hot soups or stews—the cold solidifies fat, and the paper soaks it up instantly.
7. Deodorize & Clean Wooden Boards
Sprinkle coarse salt on the board and rub it with half a lemon. Let sit 10–15 minutes, then rinse and air-dry to lift odors and food particles.
8. Keep Recipes Clean & Handy
Use a bamboo or similar stand for cookbooks, phones, or tablets to keep them off the counter and protected from spills when following recipes.
9. Microwave Butter Without the Splatter
Cover your butter dish with its own paper wrapper when melting in the microwave to prevent greasy splatters. Heat in short bursts and check frequently.
10. Extend Herb Freshness
Trim stems and stand herbs in water, covering the leaves with a plastic bag. Or wash, dry thoroughly in a salad spinner, then vacuum-seal to keep them fresh longer.
11. Froth Milk Without a Frother
Shake warm milk vigorously in a sealed jar until frothy, then microwave 30 seconds to stabilize the foam for cappuccinos and lattes.
12. Chill Drinks Without Dilution
Freeze grapes or use reusable chilling cubes to cool wine or cocktails without watering them down.
13. Make Breadcrumbs from Toast
Run toasted bread slices through a grater or mini-chopper to produce fresh breadcrumbs for coatings or mix-ins.
14. Rescue Jarred Chocolate Spread
Warm the jar of chocolate spread with hot milk poured directly into it and stir until smooth—then top with marshmallows for an indulgent hot chocolate.
15. Scoop Broken Egg Shells with Shell
If bits of shell fall into your egg bowl, use a half-shell as a scoop—it naturally attracts the fragments and removes them easily.
16. Measure Sticky Ingredients Easily
Spray measuring cups and spoons with cooking oil before adding honey or syrup to make release effortless and mess-free.
17. Repurpose Pickle Brine
- Re-pickle vegetables by heating the brine and pouring it over fresh produce.
- Add a splash to tartar sauce, dressings, or marinades for bright acidity.
- Use as steaming liquid for fish and veggies.
- Mix into cocktails like Bloody Marys for a savory twist.