Kitchen Tips for Easy Cooking

To avoid spilling over of milk when boiling it: 

If you see yourself standing in front of the stove guarding it till the milk boils, here’s what you need to do. Before you pour milk into the pot for boiling, rub butter along the top edge and the inside lip of the pot. Due to this, the milk won’t overflow when it foams up.

To chop onions without crying: 

Onions are a great addition to a dish but chopping them can be frustrating, as they bring you to tears. Try peeling and cutting onions under running water or try chopping them near a gas flame. Refrigerating onions before cutting them is also a good idea.

To remove extra water from the batter:

When you’re making pakoras or vadas, see to it that you do not add extra water to the batter. In case the batter turns watery, there are chances of oil splattering when you try to fry it. Do not panic or throw away the batter. Add a tablespoon of ghee to it and the batter is ready to be fried.

 To make softer rotis: 

The next time you make paneer at home, do not throw away the remaining water. Keep it for further use in cooking. Whey (paneer water) is full of protein, calcium and digestive aids. It can be used for kneading soft dough for chapatis or for making soup. It not only adds more taste to the dish, but is also very nutritious.

To peel garlic skin easily: 

Removing garlic skin is tedious and can consume a lot of time, especially when you’re in a hurry. Warm garlic cloves in the microwave slightly and you’ll see the skin peeling off without difficulty. Also, you can submerge them in water for about 10 minutes before peeling the skin

To preserve lemons for longer: 

Do you shove lemons in the refrigerator in those flimsy supermarket plastic bags? Lemons, if stored at room temperature can only last a week before they start hardening. To preserve lemons for a longer duration, coat them with coconut oil and refrigerate them in an open container.

To get rid of excess salt: 

If you have read the recipe wrong and ended up adding a tablespoon of salt, rather than a teaspoon, don’t despair. You need not throw it away. Excess salt in any dish can be brought down by adding diced potatoes, tomatoes or a teaspoon of sugar.

 
To regain freshness in stale chapatis:

Just wrap them in a clean cloth and pack them in an airtight container that will fit into the pressure cooker and pressure cook for two whistles. Serve fresh and hot. Now, you can easily stock up on chapatis without worrying about them turning stale or hard. 

For instant tomato puree: 

Pressure-cook tomatoes with salt to taste. When cool, churn them in a mixer and strain the juice. Deep freeze the juice in an ice tray. Place the juice cubes in a box or a plastic bag and store them in the freezer. Use them to make tomato soup, vegetables and gravies when you’re falling short of time or have run out of tomatoes.

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Quick Kitchen Cleaning Tips

A Blender Cleaning Secret

Family physician and author Jill Grimes has a great tip to clean the blender. 'After you pour your drink, take the pitcher straight to the sink. Put in a little water and a drop of dish soap, put it back on the blender, and turn it on for 20 seconds. Rinse it out and you’re done.'

Microwave Cleaning Shortcuts

The quickest way to clean a microwave oven is to place a handful of wet paper towels inside and run it on High for 3-5 minutes. You don't need a science lesson to know that the steam from the towels will soften the grime. Once the paper towels cool down, use them to wipe the oven's interior. 

A Quick Coffee Pot Tip

 

The glass jug that comes with a coffeemaker can quickly develop a brown, blotchy haze – especially when you leave it on for long periods of time. For the quickest cure, you will need some ice, salt and a lemon. Fill the empty jug a quarter full of ice. Cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze two of the quarters into the jug. Add 2 tablespoons of salt. Swirl the mixture in the jug for 2 minutes and the inside surface will quickly come clean. Rinse under the tap. 

Clean a Cast-Iron Pan

                         Most cooks know that you should never use liquid soap on a cast-iron pan and never scrub it with anything abrasive if you want to maintain its well-oiled nonstick surface. So how do you clean it? Use salt. If the pan will not rinse clean with water and a soft dishcloth, rub it with a few tablespoons of salt and a paper towel, and rinse. Then replenish the oil film by coating the inside surface with a dab of cooking oil. 

A Coffee Grinder Trick

Run a small handful of uncooked white rice through the coffee grinder, especially if you use it for grinding anything other than coffee beans. Most coffee experts advise against using your machine for grinding dry spices since the smells from grinding ingredients, such as cinnamon sticks and dried basil, are nearly always impossible to get out

Cheese Grater Tip

Keep a clean pastry brush handy for removing every last remnant of grated food left behind in the tiny grates. It works like a charm on both sides of the grater. 

Coffee Cup Saver

Remove coffee stains from china cups by scrubbing them with equal parts vinegar and salt. 

Disinfect the Garbage Disposal

Deep clean and deodorize a waste disposal unit by grinding ice cubes made with half vinegar, half water. 

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