There are so many ways you can make cooking in the kitchen easier, which is why we partnered with Dannon Light & Fit for this helpful post.
I love cooking and spend a good amount of time in the kitchen. Along with making delicious dishes, there are so many helpful hacks that make whipping up good eats easier. Once you figure out how efficient and time-saving these solutions are, you'll wonder why you haven't been doing things differently for years. Get ready to have your mind blown.
1 Use a Tea Strainer For Poaching Eggs
This is a lifesaver at my house. Simply bring water to a simmer and add a drizzle of vinegar, which helps bind the white together, then top with a tea strainer. Crack in an egg and let set for 1 minute. Then, lift the strainer and dunk into the water for 3 minutes or until the white has set. Remove from the water and then use a plastic spoon to gently scoop the egg from the strainer.
2 Use Yogurt For Making Frosting
When making cupcakes or finishing a cake, you can whip up a fast frosting thanks to yogurt and powdered sugar. Mix 3 tablespoons Light & Fit Nonfat Greek yogurt with 1 cup powdered sugar for a creamy and smooth frosting that tops whatever you're baking. And you can use whatever flavored yogurt you love plus more powdered sugar if you prefer a stiffer frosting.
3 Grate Frozen Butter
The next time you need room temperature butter fast, use a cheese grater to make small slivers, which helps it warm up in minutes. You can also use this method when baking and want to add cold butter to biscuit dough for even distribution.
4 Keep Brown Sugar Moist
Never wrangle with dried-out brown sugar again thanks to the addition of a cracker. Pop one in the bag or jar you store your brown sugar in, which keeps the brown sugar in balance. It absorbs and releases moisture as you use the brown sugar so you won't need a knife to dig it out.
5 Use a Straw to Core Strawberries
No need to use a paring knife to cut the stems and core from strawberries — just grab a straw. Press it up through the base of the strawberry, which removes the core and pops the top of the berry.
6 Freeze Grapes For Keeping Wine Cold
The next time you're hosting a cocktail party, toss a big bowl of grapes into the freezer and then pop a few into wine glasses for keeping Chardonnay nice and cold. This also works for other cocktails that you want to keep cold without worry of watering down drinks.
7 Use Yogurt For Making Pizza Dough
This literally changed my world. Pizza is what everyone wants at my house, but waiting for the dough to rise is torture. Instead, mix 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour with 3/4 cup yogurt until you have a kneadable dough. Let it rest for 5 minutes and you're ready for pizza night! Bake at 450ºF for 10-15 minutes and you have a crisp-yet-doughy crust.
8 Freeze Stocks
I always seem to have a little bit of stock at the end of the container right before the expiration date. Instead of pouring it out, add to freezer trays for using when you need it. Drop frozen cubes into soups, stews, or sauces.
9 Make Your Own Buttermilk
There are so many delicious recipes that only ask for a quarter cup of buttermilk, so it makes absolutely no sense to buy a carton. Make your own by mixing 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice to 1 cup of milk. Let the mixture stand for five minutes, allowing the milk to thicken and curdle. It's ready to use!
10 Fold Your Plastic Bags
Everyone has a drawer or cabinet that is overflowing with plastic bags, which doesn't make it easy to grab a couple when heading to the grocery store. Plus, they take up precious pantry space in your kitchen. Make more space (and save your sanity) and start folding your plastic bags instead.
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