57 Kitchen Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Updated: Feb. 28, 2024
These clever kitchen hacks will change how you cook!
While cooking is incredibly satisfying, there seems to always be endless challenges and time consuming tasks in the kitchen. That’s where these kitchen hacks come in as total lifesavers. Say goodbye to all the kitchen stress, these hacks will undoubtedly change how you work in the kitchen.
Peel Garlic Bulbs in the Microwave
The microwave never fails to make our lives infinitely easier. Peeling garlic is no exception. If you cut the tops off a few garlic cloves and microwave them for 20-30 seconds, the skin will pop right off. It’s just one of the lifesaving garlic peeling hacks we can’t get enough of.
Stop Ice Cream from Melting with Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a powerful insulator. While on the road, keep your artisan ice cream from melting by wrapping the pint in plastic bubble wrap. It’ll stay firm for hours.
Pit Cherries with a Chopstick
Want to pit cherries without a pitter? Here’s a kitchen hack you probably haven’t heard about. Put a cherry on top of an empty beer bottle, then use a chopstick or reusable straw to push the pit right in the bottle. Super handy and effective.
Shuck Corn in the Microwave
Let’s face it, shucking corn can get tiring quickly. Not to mention, it can be super time consuming. Use the magic of the microwave to eliminate both of these issues. Microwave your corn for 30 seconds to a minute on high heat. Voila! Corn shucks, be gone!
Keep Brown Sugar Soft with Marshmallows
Here’s another kitchen hack that works like magic. And it involves marshmallows. Yup, marshmallows! Place a few marshmallows into a container of brown sugar and tightly seal it. This softens the sugar in a day, but you can keep the marshmallows in the container for up to a few weeks. It’s just one of the genius ways to keep brown sugar soft.
Use Butter Wrappers to Prevent Microwave Splatter
Ever make a complete mess of your microwave when melting butter? We have. Those days are will melt away after you try this simple hack. Repurpose your butter wrapper as a cover for your microwavable dish. So long, splatter!
Chill Wine in Salt Water
Soften Cookies with a Slice of Bread
To keep cookies and other baked goods soft after baking, add a slice of store-bought white bread to an airtight container. Your cakes, cookies and muffins will keep their day-one softness. Friends and family will think they’re fresh! Try this trick with our Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies…if you have any leftovers.
Simmer Tomato Sauce with a Carrot
Carrots take away the acidity in tomato sauce by adding subtle sweetness. If you find your sauce has gotten too acidic, peel a whole carrot, simmer it with the sauce and remove before serving.
Dice Eggs with a Cooling Rack
Genius kitchen tip—use a cooling rack to dice eggs! You can push a cooling rack through a hard-boiled egg to smoothly dice it. This kitchen hack works on avocados, too.
Organize Snacks with Cupcake Liners
Have picky eaters? Prevent Goldfish from touching peeled fruit by using cupcake liners to organize a lunchbox into separate sections. Jazz things up with fun colors and patterns on special days. Don’t miss our full list of easy lunch box ideas every parent should know.
Cube Butter to Soften It Faster
Don’t you hate it when you forget to take butter out of the fridge before baking? If you forget to bring that butter up to room temp in advance, it’s OK. You can soften butter quickly. The easiest way is to cut butter into cubes and let it sit on the counter for about 20 minutes. The smaller pieces will soften up faster than a whole stick.
Extend the Life of Herbs with Water
Nothing is worse than buying fresh herbs and having them wilt the next day. Keep herbs like parsley and cilantro bright with this simple storage tip. Trim the stems and place them in a small glass of water. Then place a plastic bag (like the one you got at the grocer) over top and secure by tying the plastic in a knot or wrapping it with kitchen twine. Store in the fridge or on the counter for up to two weeks! Find more tips for storing fresh herbs.
Mise en Place with Sheet Pans
Sheet pans: They’re not just for cooking dinner. Use your trusty baking sheet to stay organized while you meal prep. Keeping ingredients in one place helps you stay efficient and expedites cleanup, too. Psst! Food prep doesn’t have to be a drag—especially when you break out the tips professional chefs learned in culinary school.
Craft DIY Mason Jar Shakers
Your bulk spices and baking supplies are ready for an adorable upgrade. Save the lids from Parmesan shakers and gather your small Mason jars. Screw the lid on and you’ll have a handy way to sprinkle and measure.
Cut Steak Fries with an Apple Slicer
Craving those scratch-made potato wedges from your favorite restaurant? There’s a kitchen hack waiting in your utensil drawer. Cut one end of the potato for stability, then push an apple slicer through. Add your fave seasonings or follow our recipe for Parmesan Potato Wedges. Bonus: You can try it with sweet potatoes, too.
Freeze a Soup Starter in Resealable Bags
Want garden-fresh flavor year round? Freeze vegetables in resealable bags during peak season. (Just remember to blanch vegetables before freezing!) You can make a classic soup starter with carrots, onions and other farmers market finds. Vegetables will last 8 to 12 months in the freezer, so you can enjoy the tastes of summer when gloomy, cold weather hits.
Put Baking Essentials on a Lazy Susan
Proof Bread in the Oven
Sometimes the kitchen is just too cold to get a good proof on homemade bread. If that’s the case, pop the dough in the oven—don’t turn it on. Instead, place a pan of simmering water below your dough and shut the door. The warmth and humidity from the hot water will help you get the lift you need.
Be sure to read up on other proofing techniques, too.
Freeze Sauce Cubes in Egg Cartons
Become an upcycling master! Egg cartons are ideal for freezing small portions of homemade sauce. (Especially when you need to use your ice trays for, well, ice—or one of these other genius uses.) Cover and freeze leftover pesto and transfer cubes to a resealable freezer bag. To use, thaw cubes in your fridge for 2 hours.
Use a Damp Dish Towel to Keep Bowls Steady
Need an extra hand? Professional chefs will tell you that a damp dish towel under your mixing bowl will keep it from slipping and sliding on your counter as you mix. This tip works well with a cutting board too.
Make Frozen Rolls Taste Homemade with Egg Wash
Elevate your bread basket by adding a little extra sumthin’ to frozen rolls. Thaw, then brush tops with egg wash and dip into your choice of seasoning blends, seeds or cheeses, Be as gentle or generous as you’d like! Bake according to recipe or package directions. When you’re really looking to impress, try a recipe for homemade rolls.
Lower Eggs Temperature to Room Temperature in Warm Water
When baking, it’s important to use room temperature ingredients (unless otherwise specified). If you forget to take your eggs out of the fridge in time, don’t worry. Just place them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.
Label Jars with Rubber Bands
Don’t have a label handy? Just reach for the rubber bands. Wrap ’em around your Mason jars and you’ll never mistake salt for sugar again. As an added benefit, they help make jars easy to open. Here are more reasons why rubber bands are the ultimate kitchen tool.
Store Peanut Butter Jars Upside-Down
Getting tired of mixing the oil back into your natural peanut butter? There’s an easy solution: Store the jar upside-down. When you’re ready to make one of our favorite PB desserts, simply turn it right-side up. The oil will try to rise back to the top and the peanut butter will be much easier to stir.
Prep Your Cheese Grater with Cooking Spray
Grated cheese really makes a difference but it can be a pain to prep. For easy cleanup, use a quick spritz of cooking spray on your cheese grater to keep the cheese from sticking. You’ll never go back to pre-shredded again.
Use Your Ironing Board as a Cooling Rack
The ironing board is your new kitchen BFF. It can be used as extra counter space or even a makeshift cooling rack after you remove the cover. Mind blown! Try it out the next time you make one of our big-batch cookie recipes.
Note: Pans, paper liners, parchment or other barriers should be used between the rack and baked goods.
Lift Hot Dishes with Canning Tongs
It can be tricky to remove ramekins from a hot water bath to cool. Our solution: Use canning tongs. The edges are round and non-slip which makes it easy to lift the ramekin out without risk of splashes. Try it out with our Burnt Custard recipe.
Use Your Stand Mixer to Knead Dough
Sometimes kneading bread dough by hand is too much work. If you have a stand mixer and a dough hook, though, you don’t need to worry. A few minutes on high gives you the same effect as kneading by hand. You can always try these no-knead bread recipes, too!
Add Crushed Ice to Appetizer Bowls When Serving
Want to serve shrimp, deviled eggs or another cold appetizer at your next get-together? This clever trick will keep your food cool. Fill a large bowl with a resealable bag of crushed ice and cover with lettuce leaves. Butterhead works nicely! Place your app on top and you’ll serve food-safe bites all night.
Store Picnic Essentials in the Cooler
Grab a plastic bin and place it inside a cooler. Fill it with all your picnic needs (such as serveware, games, sunblock and linens), so you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice. Here are a few more nifty tricks to know before your next picnic.
Make with Whipped Cream with an Immersion Blender
Ever need just a dollop of whipped cream? Reach for your immersion blender to make a single serving quick. The blender fits neatly into a tumbler or measuring cup, minimizing the mess of larger bowls. Whip up our recipe for Sweetened Whipped Cream before topping your favorite desserts.
Buy Special Cookies for Pie Crust
Have a recipe that calls for a graham cracker or cookie crust? Amp up the flavor by seeking out an unusual or seasonal cookie at the store. For example, Golden Oreos would make a sweet addition to this Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake recipe.
Warm Knives to Easily Slice Dessert
Dip the blade of your sharp knife in hot water to heat it up. Then wipe with a dry towel and cut your cake or cheesecake into nice, tidy slices. Repeat each time for pretty slices with a clean edge. Looking for simple cheesecakes that are super easy to make? Look no further. Prepped in under 30 minutes, these easy cheesecake recipes have you covered.
Create Extra Storage Space with Hooks
A well-organized kitchen is a joy to use. Install inexpensive hooks on the inside of your kitchen cabinets to maximize your storage space. Soon potholders, measuring spoons and extra gadgets will have a home!
Microwave Lemons Before Juicing
Next time you need fresh lemon juice, maybe for one of our lemon recipes, try this restaurant tip. Microwave a lemon for 7-10 seconds. Then, roll the lemon back and forth under your palm on the counter. When you squeeze, you’ll get more juice from the lemon with way less effort. This kitchen hack works for limes, too!
Hull a Strawberry with a Straw
Insert a drinking straw into the tip of the berry and push it through to the other end to quickly remove the stem. You’ll find this tip handy when making fresh strawberry pie or any other delicious recipe with fresh strawberries.
Add Herbs and Lemon to Butter
What’s the best thing since sliced bread? Flavored butter. Making it at home is as easy as adding lemon juice and herbs to softened a softened stick. (Check out our recipe for Lemon Tarragon Butter for details.) Want to get really nifty? Mold the flavored butter into a log shape by laying the softened butter on a square of parchment and shaping it using a ruler as a guiding tool. Twist ends to seal and freeze to use when needed.
Cook Tender, Juicy Meatloaf with a Beef-Pork Mix
We love a hearty meatloaf, but sometimes an all-beef mix can leave you with a coarse, gritty texture. Instead, try a beef-pork mix, like in this recipe for meat loaf. Since pork is a fattier meat, the combo has a much softer texture.
Shred Chicken with a Stand Mixer
Shredding chicken can be a fiddly task for even the most dexterous cooks. It might even deter you from cooking meals that require it. But did you know you can make fast work of shredding chicken with your stand mixer’s paddle attachment? Simply add your leftover chicken and give it a spin. Use the meat to make delish Pulled Chicken Sandwiches.
Bake Fish in Parchment
Cooking fish in parchment is a healthy, mess-free technique that seals in flavor. As you bake the packet, the fish is delicately infused with whatever ingredients you add in. Try the tip with our orange tilapia for extra citrusy flavor.
Freeze Your Gingerroot
When you are finished grating fresh ginger, freeze the leftover root in a plastic container or resealable bag. No more shriveled ginger in the produce drawer! Plus, you’ll get to cook way more mouthwatering fresh ginger recipes.
Drain Meatballs on a Baking Rack
Meatballs are a mainstay in the kitchen, but Nonna’s recipe isn’t always the best for your health. Drain away any excess fat while baking by placing meatballs on a baking rack. The extra fat drips away, you’ll retain that browned, caramelized exterior you know and love. Try it out with Great-Grandma’s Italian Meatballs.
Slice Herbs with Your Pizza Cutter
The wheel of a pizza cutter is perfect for cutting herbs in all directions. Bunch them up and wheel back and forth until you’ve reached your desired consistency. It shaves a lot of time off morning prep for this Cheesy Chive Omelet.
Turn Wine into a Cocktail
Use Homemade Broth Instead of Store-Bought
Making broth is as easy as cook, strain and serve. Broth can be covered and refrigerated up to three days or frozen up to six months. Use it in soups or casseroles, rice dishes and other recipes that require broth. Follow this video to learn how to make chicken broth. Or, if you’re a vegetarian, this vegetable broth recipe is top-notch.
Decorate Cookies Before Baking
For bakery-style decorations, place cutouts on the baking sheet. Then fashion the cutter over each cookie as a frame and carefully top with sprinkles or colored sugar. Bake as you normally would and your cookies are presentable straight from the oven.
Measure Ingredients on a Digital Scale
Ever find yourself using every single measuring cup and spoon in your arsenal? Give your dishwasher a break by measuring ingredients directly into your mixing bowl using a digital scale. Use our helpful guide to convert weights for your favorite baking ingredients and pretty soon you’ll be turning all of your favorite dishes into one-bowl wonders.
Rescue a Salty Soup with Raw Apple or Potato
Next time you oversalt a soup, toss in a few wedges of raw apple or potato. Simmer for 10 minutes and discard the wedges to get the flavor back to normal.
Cut a Bell Pepper Without Waste
Skip the mess when slicing bell peppers. To cut a bell pepper efficiently, start by cutting off its green stem. Then, cut that pepper into fours before opening each section. The seeds will be easy to clean out and peppers ready to go for all the best bell pepper recipes.
Juice Lemons with a Skewer
Want to make juicing a lemon easy-peasy lemon squeezy? Try out this tip that does just that without cutting them. Take a skewer, knitting needle, chopstick (or any similar tool of your choice) and poke a hole through the non-stem end of a lemon. Squeeze for a stream of lemon juice. It’s that easy!
Roast Veggies in a Preheating Oven
Who doesn’t love roasted vegetables? But, no one likes biting into a raw veggie when expecting it to be cooked. Place a veggie-filled sheet pan in the oven while it’s preheating for more evenly roasted veggies.
Halve Tomatoes with Two Plates
Cut a tomato right in half with the help of two plates or lids. Place grape tomatoes in between two plates or lids before grabbing a sharp kitchen knife. Then, cut across between the two for perfectly even tomatoes!
Spray Measuring Spoons with Nonstick Spray
This is one of the kitchen hacks you’ll never be able to live without. Make your life easier by spraying measuring spoons with a nonstick spray prior to measuring sticky ingredients. From honey to syrup, it’s a total lifesaver.
Save Butter Wrappers to Grease Pans
Before throwing out the paper that wraps your butter, not so fast. Opt to save them instead by placing them in a bag in the refrigerator. Then grab one to grease your pans before your next baking sesh.
Microplane Ginger and Garlic
Microplane ginger and garlic instead of mincing. It’s so much easier, and only one of the reasons you need a microplane ASAP.
Put a Fork in Potatoes for Easy Peeling
Peeling potatoes can be time consuming. That’s where this easy way to peel potatoes comes in. Hold a potato steady by sticking a fork in it. Then rotate the fork as you peel the potato!
