Recently, we reached out to our Instagram audience to uncover some of their favourite cooking hacks, and the responses were nothing short of ingenious! From taming olive oil glugging to giving stale bread a second chance, here’s a compilation of easy cooking tips to elevate your kitchen experience.
1. Invest in a spray bottle for olive oil
Say goodbye to unintentional olive oil glugs with this game-changing hack. Invest in a spray bottle to easily dispense just the right amount of olive oil. Not only is it practical, but it’s also budget-friendly, helping you save on your daily olive oil consumption. Now, you can coat your pans and salads with precision, avoiding accidental oil spills.
2. Cornflour slurry to clean used oil
Frying up a storm in the kitchen? Don’t fret about cleaning used oil anymore! Before turning off the heat, create a cornflour slurry by mixing cornflour and oil and frying it in the hot oil. The cornflour will act like a culinary superhero, absorbing impurities left behind in the oil. This simple trick ensures your cooking oil remains fresh and ready for your next culinary adventure.
3. Hard-boiled egg hack
Perfect hard-boiled eggs are just a simple trick away! Gently place your eggs in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Once the water starts bubbling, turn off the heat and let the eggs sit on the hot stove plate for 10 minutes. After a quick plunge into iced water, peeling those eggs becomes a breeze. Enjoy your hassle-free hard-boiled eggs!
Or try the air-fryer hack for jammy eggs, click here to find out more!
4. Revive stale crusty bread
Don’t toss that stale loaf just yet! Give it a second life by running it under water and baking it in a warm oven for about 10 minutes. The oven works its magic, steaming the stale bread and transforming it into a crispy delight. Say hello to fresh, crisp bread without any waste.
5. Browned butter to the baker’s rescue
Upgrade your baking game by swapping regular butter for browned butter. The rich, nutty flavour of browned butter adds a new dimension to your baked goods, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Elevate your cookies, cakes, and pastries with this simple yet impactful substitution!
RECIPE: Brown butter rando cookies
6. Microwave mielies
Short on time but craving mielies? Wrap them in cling wrap and pop them in the microwave for just three minutes. This quick and efficient method ensures each mielie cooks to perfection individually. Enjoy a hassle-free way to satisfy your mielie cravings in no time.
RECIPE: Bacon-wrapped corn on the cob with curry butter
7. Sauce saver hack
Planning to whip up a batch of your favourite sauce? Opt for the savvy approach and bulk it out. Freeze individual portions for later use, making your future cooking endeavours a breeze. No more last-minute sauce stress; simply thaw and enjoy!