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51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

Chef’s aren’t special. In fact, we just happen to know a few special kitchen hacks that make our cooking game much easier and down-right awesome. Ā Want to be awesome? Ā Give my kitchen hacks a try…I promise it will only make everyone wonder when you went to culinary school. Ā 


51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

1. ALWAYS use butter in your eggs…trust me on this one. Ā It’s MAGICAL. Ā Butter transforms eggs. And you only need a sliver and it will do the trick.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

2. Ā If you need to use a lot of onions or shallots and want to skip the tears…place them in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Ā This will solidify the sulfenic acid that makes you cry and you can chop away tear free. Ā Also, always make sure to have a SHARP knife. Ā This will prevent you from bruising the onion cell walls and releasing the acid.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

3. Ā Step up your mincing game by getting a microplaner. Ā REALLY! Ā This is one of my ULTIMATE shortcuts. Ā Use it for garlic, ginger and even shallots and onions. Ā No more smelly hands šŸ™‚

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

4. Ā Feeding mashed or roasted potatoes to a group? Peel them and cut them the night before and store them in the fridge in water. Ā The next day, rinse and prepare. Ā You just saved yourself quite some time of prep!

5. Ā Want to keep your knives sharp? Ā NEVER place them in the dishwasher. Ā The soap dulls the blade. Ā **Want more knife tips? Check out my 101 on Knife Skills***

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

6. Ā When you want to add raw onions to a salad but don’t want the sharp taste, just soak them for 2 minutes in cold water. Ā The sharp oniony bite will be all gone…as will the bad breath šŸ™‚

7. Ā Need parsley or cilantro garnish for a party? Ā Chop them up finely, place in a paper towel, wet the towel, squeeze the water out and you are all set! Ā Place in a bowl and use them to garnish all day and night without them wilting.

8. Ā Cook meat like a pro…from steaks, roasts to burgers, buy yourself a digital thermometer. Ā Seriously. Ā All the chef’s use it. Ā THAT’s one of our secrets to roastsĀ and steak perfection. Ā This one in particular is my fave now… I love that it’s bluetooth and I can see the constant temperature right on my phone. Ā Genius!

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

9. Ā Get your knives professionally sharpened. Ā Treat them well and they will treat you well.

10. Ā Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast to spruce up old recipes when you grow tired of chicken breasts. Ā Plus… it’s cheaper šŸ™‚

11. Ā Take a look at your local cooking schools or stores (ie, Sur la table, Williams and Sonoma) they offer free cooking classes or majorly discounted ones when they do not fill them up.

12. Ā Get a mandoline. Ā They are awesome! Ā Slice potatoes thinly for your morning breakfast potatoesĀ and impress everyone with your pommes dauphinois. Ā  It does not need to be expensive. Ā I bought this one for $20 on Amazon several years ago… and it’s still fantastic. Ā But do be careful these suckers are SHARP!

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

13. Ā When buying tomatoes on the vine, take them OFF the vine immediately. Ā They will go bad a great deal faster WITH the vines.

14. Ā When making quinoa or rice…make the whole darn bag! Ā ALL OF IT. Ā Why?!? Whatever you do not use, place in gallon size bags and freeze. Ā Your freezer will always be full of last minute side dishes on a busy week night.

15. Ā Speaking of freezers, don’t be afraid of frozen veggies or fruits. Ā They are picked at peek freshness so they are great especially in the off season. Ā I religiously keep frozen corn, broccoli and my very favorite pearl onions. Ā For me pearl onions are the biggest pain to peel so why not let the grocer do it for you? Ā They caramelize just as gorgeously as they do when they are fresh.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

16. Ā Canned roasted red peppers will make almost any dish a superstar. Ā Add them to salads, sammies, pasta and plain hummus to transform classic hummus to a zesty roasted red pepper hummus!

17. Ā Only use San Marizano tomatoes for marinara sauce. Ā Seriously. Ā It’s worth it. Ā I promise. Ā Buy the gigantic cans, make a ton of sauce and freeze it.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

18. Always haveĀ homemade chicken broth or stock in your freezer. If not, then just get a good box of low sodium store bought stock or broth. Ā It serves as a quick solution to many weeknight troubles…soup is always a great answer to a last minute dinner. Ā Pair it with an easy salad and a hunk of crusty bread and everyone is happy.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

19. Ā Roast your veggies. Ā Those leftover baby carrots and tomatoes from the veggie platter the other night…can be transformed into something deliciously amazing for dinner the next day!

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

20. Ā Don’t throw out your roasted chicken or rotisserie carcasses. Ā Collect them in a ziplock bag and throw them in a freezer. Ā When you have a few saved up, placeĀ them in a pot with some carrots, onions, celery and herbs and create a killer stock.

21. Ā One of my greatest secrets. Ā Keep your Parmesan rinds. Ā They create a world of difference in soups and sauces.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

22. Ā When cooking, set-up a garbage bag near by. Ā I like to close it in a kitchen drawer so it always hangs near me. Ā That way all your garbage can be easily thrown out immediately and not clutter your work space.

23. Ā Speaking of which. Ā Learn to keep your work area clean, you will be a lot more efficient.

24. Ā Always have a good crusty loaf of bread in the freezer. Ā Wrap it up in foil then place it in a ziplock. Ā You never know when you run out of bread or need to make breadcrumbs or a bruschettaĀ last minute.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

25. Ā Get a good dutch oven. Ā They are incredible. Ā No need to spend hundreds of dollars. Ā I bought this one and I love it! Ā My roast and stew game is forever changed.

26. Ā Get a cast iron pan. Ā I can’t live without mine anymore. Ā Steaks seared in a cast iron pan are just heavenly. Ā Plus it doubles as servingware that makes you look all country chic.

27. Buy cheap cuts of meat and learn how to transform them into succulent stews and ragus. Ā You will look like a magician when you transform them.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

28. Ā To get a good sear you have to cook at a high temperature. Ā Accept this and master the secret to a great sear. Ā Plus get a good fan and crack some windows open. Ā It’s gettin’ hot in herrrre!!!

29. Ā Learn how to flambe. Ā It’s a great technique for adding tons of flavor…plus what an awesome party trick!

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

30. Ā First lesson I learned in culinary school: grab a paper towel, wet it, ring it out, place under your cutting board. Ā Your cutting board will now stay in place. Ā Like magic!

31. Ā One of the greatest inventions is caremalized onions. Ā Always caremelize a few more than you need to… they wilt down to nothing and can be slathered on toast, thrown on top of a steak, mixed in with a mayo…the possibilities are endless.

32. Ā If you use butter often…keep it out on the counter. Ā It stays soft and ready to shmear. Ā Trust me… It’s the European way.

33. Ā If your brown sugar gets hard, stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Ā Voila!

34. Ā Always have a big bowl of Kosher or sea salt in your kitchen. Ā It’s easier to pinch and season. Ā I like this one.

35. Ā While you are at it, grind your own black pepper and have it in a designated black pepper bowl for easy pinching and seasoning.

36. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts are a must to have in the freezer. Ā Brush them with olive oil, salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Ā Roast for 25 minutes at 400 degrees until gorgeous and juices run clear. Ā The bone and the skin helps keep the chicken moist and delicious. Ā Store it in a tupperware container in the fridge and use in salads, pastas, soups, sandwiches or as the entree.

37. Ā Use a stand-up mixer and a paddle attachment to shred chicken in no time.

38. Ā Ever over cook chicken breast? Ā Use it in pastas and soups. Ā No one will know the difference.

39. Ā Pesto is a life saver. Ā Easy to make and can be used as a shmear, pasta sauce, soup garnish, part of a dressing, marinade…the possibilities are endless…

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

40. Ā Taste your food. Ā This may seem obvious but people forget. Ā Taste your food all the time, at every step. Ā Nothing worse than a beautiful soup that has too much or not enough salt.

41. Ā Ever over-salt your soup? Ā Throw a potato in there and it will take away some of the salt.

42. Ā Invest in a good slow cooker. Ā I love my Breville. Ā Particularly because the insert can be used in the oven, on the stove and in the slow cooker. Ā Plus I can make lovely and super easy pulled pork in it…

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

43. Ā Skip the mess and cook bacon in the oven. Ā It’s crispy and delicious. Ā I even have a how-to!

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

44. Ā Use dental floss to cut soft cheeses and dough. Ā It comes out even and uniform.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

45. Ā Use a coffee grinder to grind spices. Ā No need to get fancy.

46. For the hot summer months, freeze lemons, limes or oranges in mini muffin tins with water. Ā Makes for the ultimate fancy ice cube.

47. Ā When purchasing garlic, take a few headsĀ and roast. Ā It’s super versatile, cheap and a must to have in the fridge. It will last for weeks if preserved in olive oil. Ā Add it to mayo’s, sauces, soups and just smear it on bread.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

 

48. Ā Peel the rest of your garlic, puree it with some olive oil in a blender of food processor and have chopped garlic ready to use in the fridge at any time. Ā I did this at every restaurant and catering company I worked at.

49. Ā Throw your limes, lemons and oranges in the microwave for 15 seconds before juicing them. Ā It will make the juices flow out much easier.

50. Ā Want a pop of freshness in your dish? Ā Dust some lemon zest right before serving. Ā It completely changes the flavor profile and makes everything stand out a bit more.

51 Kitchen Hacks to Look Like a Rockstar in your Kitchen

51. Ā USE MORE BUTTER. Ā Really. Ā The number one secret to a restaurant’s amazing food is: BUTTER. Ā Why does the fish taste so good? Ā Butter. Ā Why does my kid eat the vegetables? Ā Butter. Ā Why are those mashed potatoes so creamy? Ā Butter. (and maybe some cream) Ā The best part is…you do not need a lot… but it will make a WORLD of a difference.

 

That’s it guys! Ā Those are MY TOP HACKS!! Were they helpful?!? What are your favorite hacks to use in the kitchen?!?

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32 Comments

    1. Hi Milla šŸ™‚ Yes absolutely the hood makes a difference! In terms of splattering…get a splatter screen…there are adjustable ones that will fit all pan sizes! Make sure you turn on your vent BEFORE you cook to get the air circulating.

  1. I absolutely love these tips! šŸ˜€ I just had an omelette made with a little butter for breakfast and it was AWESOME!! I never knew about the knives and dishwasher… definitely those are never going in there again… šŸ™‚
    I love my mandolin too… but I had an accident with it that makes me nervous to use it (although I do use it… all the time) – let’s say I can really bend my thumb properly anymore…
    Definitely sharing this!

  2. To call these just helpful will not be enough! Love all 50 tips! And I haven’t made a recipe that requires flambeing in a while! Thanks for the reminder!

    1. Haha Trish you crack me up!!!! Thank you for the compliments!!!! Trust me I’m no genius I just live breathe and think about food and cooking all day every day šŸ™‚ and if I could I’d move my ass down to CALI any day!

  3. What an incredible list of incredible tips, thank you so much, Mila!! Quite a few I had never heard of (like discounted cooking classes and shredding chicken with the paddle attachment!). These will come in QUITE handy! YOU ROCK!

  4. I read every single word. These are GOLD Mila. Pure gold. Repeatedly pinning to share with the world! My god, I seriously don’t even know where to start, which one I love the most. The onion freezing tip is sensational. šŸ™‚

  5. Great information that I think I knew about but, as with everything at my advanced age, I need to reacquaint myself with from time to time.. Copied and filed… Thank you… :O)

  6. Wow fantastic tips and yes to butter always makes everything delicious
    Love all these tips so thanks so much Mila have booked marked them

  7. Mila, you’re fantastic. I am the egg meister in our house, making them every morning. I use a small amount of olive oil and a teaspoon of water in with my eggs. They come out fluffy and delicious. I also reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. This increases their volume. Near the end I turn off the heat as there’s enough residual heat left in the pan to finish the eggs.

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  10. I absoluley LOVE your site! I wish I could go to culinary school but its just not possible. You are second best. lol. Why is everything you recommend “currently unavailable” on amazon. Is it a conspiracy???

    1. HAHAHAHAH I have no idea! But I will check it out once we unveil the new site sometime soon! Additionally…did you know I have an online masterclass? I do! And its really very well versed! Let me know if you are interested!

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