7 Culinary Hacks & Simple Solutions
Jan 08, 2021 07:07 AM
Genius hacks and simple solutions are amazing because they make our lives easier, save time, and minimize effort. Today I’d like to share with you some more kitchen hacks, including an easy way to cook muffins, useful tips to keep your mashed potatoes warm, some ideas for the last-minute dinner, and more. I hope, these simple ideas and tips will make your time in the kitchen a little bit more pleasant!
Stuffing muffins
One of the greatest holiday essentials is the crisp topping of baked stuffing. To please everyone at the table, bake individual portions of stuffing in muffin tins so that there is plenty of crispy goodness to go around: the sides and top of each “muffin” become browned and crunchy. (a bonus: the baking time for the stuffing is also reduced.)
Holding mashed potatoes
Finishing the mashed potatoes at the same time as the roast, the gravy, and the green beans can become quite a juggling act. Free up some of those precious few last minutes (and some valuable stovetop space) by making your mashed potatoes a couple of hours ahead of time and keeping them warm in a slow cooker on the low setting. All they need is a quick stir before serving.
Keeping food warm
Tired of burning butter that’s being melted and scorching mashed potatoes while trying to keep them warm over low heat? Try this easy way to tame the flame: place a cast-iron skillet over a low flame, then place your saucepan right in the skillet.
Gravy carafe
To keep gravy warm at the table, as well as easy to pour, try using an insulated coffee carafe. It cuts down on spills and keeps gravy hot throughout the meal.
Last-minute side dish
For a quick way to make a bowl of steamed broccoli or cauliflower for the dinner table, just put the vegetables in a microwavable zipper-lock bag or microwave-safe dish with a cover with two or three ice cubes. Microwave for a minute or so for a super-fast side dish.
Emergency meatballs
Need quick meatballs for that impromptu spaghetti dinner? Try this shortcut, which uses sausages.
1. Remove all of the sausage filling from its casing.
2. Roll small sections of the filling into balls and fry them in a skillet. Make sure to cook thoroughly.
1. Remove all of the sausage filling from its casing.
2. Roll small sections of the filling into balls and fry them in a skillet. Make sure to cook thoroughly.
Pasta water replacement
If you forgot to save pasta water for thinning sauce and instead poured it all down the drain, there’s an easy fix: mix ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 cup of water and microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes until hot. A splash or two of the slightly thickened liquid creates a sauce with just the right consistency.
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