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    Home / Collections

    10 Kitchen Hacks You Didn’t Know Existed

    By Lisa MarcAurele · Sep 19, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosures.

    Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen newbie, there are always new tricks to make cooking, cleaning, and organizing easier. These kitchen hacks will save you time, reduce waste, and even help improve your meals with little effort!

    Person using a glass bottle to roll out green dough on a floured surface, with a knife resting on the table.
    Photo credit: Yayimages

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    Close-up of whole and peeled garlic bulbs and cloves on a light surface.
    Photo credit: Pixabay

    Peel Garlic in Seconds with a Jar

    Tired of peeling garlic by hand? Place garlic cloves in a mason jar, screw on the lid, and give it a good shake for about 15 seconds. The skins will peel right off, and your hands stay garlic-free!

    Close-up of fresh basil leaves in a brown paper bag and a bundle of green thyme sprigs placed next to it.
    Photo credit: Yayimages

    Keep Herbs Fresh with a Damp Paper Towel

    If you’ve ever bought fresh herbs only to find them wilted a day later, this hack is for you. Wrap your herbs in a damp paper towel, place them in a resealable bag, and store them in the fridge. This will keep them fresh and vibrant for days longer.

    Oil being dripped from a bottle onto fresh herbs in an ice cube tray.
    Photo credit: Depositphotos

    Use an Ice Cube Tray to Freeze Leftover Herbs

    Instead of letting extra herbs go to waste, chop them up, place them in an ice cube tray, and cover them with olive oil or broth. Freeze the tray, and pop out the cubes when you need them for cooking—instant flavor boosters for soups, stews, and sautés!

    Loaf of bread sliced open with a pat of butter on one slice.
    No Knead Italian Artisan Bread. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

    Revive Stale Bread with Water

    Don’t toss that stale loaf just yet! Simply run your bread under a little water, then bake it in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes. It will come out soft, warm, and as good as new!

    A white pot contains melted and partially melted yellow butter with a wooden spoon resting over the top.
    Photo credit: Depositphotos

    Prevent Boiling Over with a Wooden Spoon

    To prevent pots from boiling over, place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot. The spoon will pop the bubbles and keep your stove spill-free—no more messy cleanup!

    A hand is slicing red tomatoes on a wooden cutting board with a knife. Fresh basil leaves are visible in the background.
    Photo credit: Pexels

    Slice Cherry Tomatoes in Half with Two Lids

    Slicing cherry tomatoes one by one can be tedious. Instead, place a handful of them between two plastic lids (like those from takeout containers), hold the top lid down gently, and slice through the tomatoes with a sharp knife in one smooth motion.

    Person using a glass bottle to roll out green dough on a floured surface, with a knife resting on the table.
    Photo credit: Yayimages

    Use a Wine Bottle as a Rolling Pin

    No rolling pin? No problem! An empty wine bottle works just as well, and the smooth glass surface makes it easy to roll out dough for pies, cookies, or pizza.

    A red silicone mold holds six different colorful sauces or purees, set on a rustic wooden surface.
    Photo credit: Depositphotos

    Use a Muffin Tin for Condiments at Parties

    Hosting a party? Instead of cluttering your table with multiple bowls for condiments, use a muffin tin to hold ketchup, mustard, salsa, and other dips. This makes for easy access and saves space!

    A half-full blender jar with remnants of a blended mixture inside, placed on a metallic base, against a dark blue background.
    Photo credit: Pexels

    Easily Clean a Blender with Soap and Water

    Instead of struggling to scrub the inside of your blender, add a few drops of dish soap, fill it halfway with warm water, and blend on high for 30 seconds. Rinse it out, and your blender will be spotless!

    A person peeling a piece of ginger using a spoon, with lemons and fresh herbs in the background.
    Photo credit: Depositphotos

    Peel Ginger with a Spoon

    Peeling ginger with a knife can be tricky and wasteful. Instead, use the edge of a spoon to gently scrape off the skin. This method helps you peel ginger more efficiently without losing too much of the root.

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    About Lisa MarcAurele

    Lisa MarcAurele is a blogger and cookbook author. She created Little Bit Recipes to help people save money by minimizing leftovers when cooking for one or two people. Lisa is also a co-founder of Daily Life Travels, where you can discover new places to visit and things to do. You can sign up for her recipe emails to see all her latest content.

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