10 Unconventional Cooking Hacks That Work Like Magic
Like every other art form, cooking sometimes requires thinking outside the box to create something exceptional. Forget the norms and walk with us as we explore ten unconventional hacks inspired by cooking gurus in an online community.
1. Freezing Ice in Ice Cube Trays
Get some ice cube trays, fill them with water, and keep them in your fridge to solidify as always. Once blocked, you can drop them into sauces — they can neutralize the taste if a sauce is too salty. “Basically whenever you need just a little stock,” says a contributor who clarifies that this hack can also work with store-purchased stocks.
2. Using Mayonnaise for Grilling
One cooking hack expert advises swapping butter for mayonnaise when making grilled cheese sandwiches. In fact, they say that mayonnaise should also be used to grill steaks and fish. The result? A crispy, golden-brown crust that’s delightfully rich and flavorful. Plus, interestingly, many mayonnaise brands are dairy-free!
3. The Wonders of Baking Soda
Baking soda can work wonders in the kitchen besides aiding your baking process. First, they can make a very acidic substance less acidic. More to it, baking soda can serve as a substitute for texturizers. If you want your potatoes or chicken skin to have a crispy texture, then a bit of baking soda is your surest trick.
4. Sugar for Less Salt
We’ve all been guilty of adding too much salt to a meal and wanting to beat ourselves up for it. Worst-case scenario: You’ve made this meal for someone you’re trying to impress and were heavy on the salt. We’ve got you. Add a decent amount of sugar into that soup and see it chase all the excess salt like magic!
5. Cook Pasta in Less Water
Imagine you decide to make some pasta, which ends up looking like melted butter. An ugly sight, yeah? Save yourself the embarrassment and cook your pasta with just a little water. This will help each strand stand individually so that your plate is filled with something that looks like real pasta.
6. Roast White Chocolate in Oven or Microwave
The surest bet to enjoy those pancakes, banana bread, or cookies might be with roasted white chocolate. Roasting your white chocolate gives it a dark caramel flavor and color, resembling butterscotch and toasted marshmallow. At first, roasting your white chocolate in an oven or microwave might seem like a big mistake, but don’t stop until the above-described look is attained. You’ll have us to thank later.
7. Cook Mashed Potatoes in Heavy Cream
Sure, this hack seems excessive, but the magical outcome is something to look out for. Cooking your potatoes in heavy cream instead of water before mashing makes them creamy and adds more flavor. This is one hack you want to try; the outcome is extremely delicious!
8. Roast Pasta Before Cooking
Once you unwrap your pasta from its pack, put it in the microwave or oven to roast briefly before cooking. This will help give your pasta a nuttier and browner look, with an exceptional taste after cooking. These are a few ways to enjoy your pasta, especially if you’re not pasta-loving. Remember, your pasta has to be dried for this to work.
9. Sprinkle Egg Yolks on Meals
The process is quite simple, so long as you’re in for it. Here’s what to do: days before your guests arrive, extract egg yolks from the whites and blend them in a sugar and salt mixture. After some days, put them in an oven to dry out. When they do, grate the yolks on top of the meals you’ve made, and your guests will be licking their fingers.
10. Cook Rice With Vinegar
If you want to enjoy rice with a slightly different taste, go to the nearest store and get some vinegar. The trick is simple. Add a splash of vinegar to the boiling water when cooking your rice, and let it cook. This hack leads to fluffier rice grains and prevents sticking, making for a more enjoyable rice dish.
Source: Reddit.
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