33 Surprising Cooking Hacks That Will Transform Your Culinary Skills
1. Carrot-Enhanced Tomato Sauce:
Pureed or shredded carrots add subtle sweetness and reduce acidity in tomato sauce without added sugar. (Source: u/davy_jones_locket)2. Macaroni & Cheese Seasoning for Popcorn:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese packets elevate popcorn with a cheesy and savory flavor. (Source: u/pm-me-souplantation)3. Elevate Cookies with Kerrygold Butter:
Substitute unsalted Irish butter for regular butter when making cookies from a mix. Its salted flavor enhances the taste. (Source: u/Mikesicle)4. Hot Chocolate with a Pinch of Salt:
A touch of salt brings out the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness in hot cocoa mix. (Source: u/ouTPhaze)5. Secret Ingredient for Amazing Tomato Sauce:
Butter simmered into red sauce enhances its flavor without being detectable. (Source: [deleted])6. Horseradish in Mashed Potatoes:
A hint of horseradish adds complexity and depth to mashed potatoes, especially when paired with garlic. (Source: melc40e454224)7. Instant Ramen and Peanut Butter Delight:
Combine instant beef-flavored ramen with peanut butter and sriracha for a creamy, savory, and slightly spicy dish. (Source: meaganhibbert1)8. Mayo and Garlic Salt Grilled Cheese:
Swap butter for mayonnaise and sprinkle garlic salt on the bread for an incredibly flavorful grilled cheese. (Source: drolly)9. Richer Flavor with Chicken Broth:
Replace water with chicken broth when cooking grains like quinoa, rice, or couscous for a heartier and more complex flavor. (Source: u/envydub)10. Soy Sauce in Tuna or Chicken Salad:
Add a bit of soy sauce to tuna or chicken salad for a salty and tangy enhancement. (Source: u/helenfeller)11. Jell-O for Moist Baked Goods:
Substitute half the sugar in boxed cookie, cake, and cupcake mixes with Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding powder for soft and moist baked goods. (Source: u/Life_On_the_Nickle)12. Frozen Bananas for Sweeter Banana Bread:
Freeze ripe bananas and thaw them before using in banana bread. Freezing intensifies their natural sweetness. (Source: u/ncgirl105)13. Egg-cellent Mashed Potatoes:
Add an egg to mashed potatoes near the end of cooking. It imparts creaminess without overpowering the flavor. (Source: ailled)14. Cream Cheese for Mac ‘n’ Cheese:
Add cream cheese to the sauce of mac ‘n’ cheese to prevent it from drying out and keep it moist. (Source: NikkiSevven)15. Use Broth for Flavorful Grains:
Cook grains that don’t need straining with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth for a more flavorful result. (Source: lg98262669)16. Mayonnaise for Fluffy Eggs:
Add a bit of mayonnaise to beaten eggs before scrambling or making omelets for increased volume and fluffy texture. (Source: u/AlcuinCorbeau)17. Baking Soda in Grits or Polenta:
Reduce cooking time in half by adding a pinch of baking soda to grits or polenta. (Source: u/ChefSandman)18. Carbonated Beverage for Fluffy Waffles:
Replace some of the liquid in waffle batter with seltzer or a carbonated beverage for light and airy waffles. (Source: u/Professor_Burnout)19. Ice Cube for Moist Microwaved Food:
Place an ice cube on leftover food while microwaving to add moisture. It will not melt but will release steam. (Source: u/NeverSeenAMoose)20. Grated Breadcrumbs from Toasted Bread:
When out of breadcrumbs, toast a slice of bread and grate it into fine pieces. (Source: u/gooberdawg)21. Easy Flavored Butter:
Soften butter and add herbs, garlic, chili peppers, or other seasonings to create customized flavored butters. (Source: SpikeyBlue)22. Greek Yogurt for Moist Fish:
Apply a layer of Greek yogurt or mayonnaise on fish fillets before baking to prevent drying out and enhance flakiness. (Source: schmelendez)23. Bacon Grease for Flavor Boost:
Sauté onions in leftover bacon grease or use it as an alternative to olive oil or butter for added flavor. (Source: Andiepandie23)24. Pesto-Fried Eggs:
Fry eggs in a tablespoon of pesto for a savory and flavorful boost. (Source: Evelina Zaragoza Medina)25. Instant Ramen Spice Packet for Gravy:
Elevate mashed potato gravy with the spice packet from instant ramen seasoning. (Source: u/sifumokung)26. Extra Yolks for Decadent Scrambled Eggs:
Add extra egg yolks to scrambled eggs for a richer and creamier texture. (Source: u/theWet_Bandits)27. Chipotle Pepper for Smoky Ground Taco Meat:
Mix a chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce into ground taco meat for a smoky and flavorful twist. (Source: phillyfox)28. Mustard as a Secret Ingredient:
Add a bit of yellow mustard or Dijon to savory dishes when they lack something indefinable. Its secret effect enhances the flavor. (Source: meaghanb4a9ce5ff1)29. Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup for Balanced Flavors:
Add a touch of brown sugar or maple syrup to stews, soups, sauces, dressings, chilis, and marinades to balance sour and bitter flavors. (Source: buttdumpling)30. Sour Cream for Creamy Mac ‘n’ Cheese:
Add a dollop of sour cream to boxed mac ‘n’ cheese for a richer and creamier texture. (Source: u/HDitt)31. Marshmallow Fluff for Creamy Cheesecake:
Blend together cream cheese and marshmallow fluff and set in a graham cracker crust to create a unique and delicious cheesecake. (Source: u/Busker12)32. Grated Butter for Microwave Leftovers:
Grate a small amount of butter over leftovers when microwaving to add moisture and flavor without excessive liquid. (Source: pugvox)33. Instant Mashed Potatoes for Thickening:
Use instant mashed potatoes as a thickener for thin sauces or soups when you accidentally add too much liquid. (Source: u/PeachasaurusWrex)These clever cooking hacks are sure to enhance your culinary skills and bring new flavors and excitement to your meals. Experiment with these tips and discover the joy of cooking with ingenuity and creativity.
