Lifehacks

For the kitchen

Definition

A lifehack is a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way

The incredible edible egg

Peeling Hard boiled eggs

Peeling hard boiled egg

1.Place boiled eggs in container of water

2.Shake

Peeling with spoon

1.Break the shell all around by gently rolling egg on table

2.Find the hollow spot at the large end of the egg and peel just a little, making sure to get under the thin membrane

3.Gently slide the spoon under the shell, applying slight pressure against the shell

4.Rotate egg in hand while keeping spoon under membrane

Other tips

When boiling eggs add a teaspoon of baking soda (or vinegar). This changes the pH and decreases adherence of the egg membrane

After boiling, quickly plunge eggs into cold water. Crack the eggs while cooling, to give the membrane a chance to absorb water

Important to get under the membrane

Is my egg too old?

Float test

1.Fill a bowl with cold water

2. Place eggs in bowl

interpretation

Good eggs sink to the bottom

 Very fresh eggs lay flat on their sides

 Best for boiling eggs sink but stand upright

Old eggs float to the top (don’t eat!)

Plate and sniff test

Fresh eggs…

Yolk bright yellow or orange

Albumen and yolk do not spread much

Little smell

Cool new product: the food pod

Great for containing, removing, and draining foods like eggs, seafood, vegetables

The foods are immersed and removed at the same time for even cooking

Acts as a strainer

Capacity of 1.75qt.; holds up to 12 eggs

Built-in grip clip

Heat resistant up to 675F

Top rack dishwasher and microwave safe.

$15 by Fusionbrands

Cool new product: Boil over Safeguard

Silicone device

Fits openings with a 6″ to 10″ diameter.

Heat resistant to 400 degrees.

Microwave and dishwasher safe.

By Jobar International $20

Tried and true

Cool new product:
silicone steamer

High walls with stay-cool handles for stable transfer

Flexible to accommodate pots with 7” or greater diameter

Handles fold inward and lock in place

Heat resistant up to 600°F

Dishwasher safe

By OXO; $20

Fruit and veggies

Slowing down banana ripening

1.Cover stems of banana with foil or plastic wrap

2.Wrap blocks ethylene gases from releasing out of the stem

3.Extends banana life 3 to 5 days

Halving cherry tomatoes

1.Place cherry tomatoes between two container lids

2.Slice horizontally through the bunch of tomatoes while pressing down the top lid for halved tomatoes

tomatoes

Store tomatoes stem end down

Prevents air from entering and moisture from exiting the scar where the tomato once attached to the vine

Store at room temp for longer life

Hulling strawberries

Press a straw through the bottom of a strawberry until it breaks through the top taking the stem with it

Remove any remaining leaves with your fingers.

Corn shucking

Microwave corn in husk (4 to 5 minutes; turn it over half way)

Cut off stalk end of cob

From silk end squeeze out cob

Cutting Onions
without tears

Place a piece of bread in your mouth

Let bread hang out while chopping to stop stinging eyes and tears when cutting onions

Other onion tips

If you will be cooking the onions…freeze onion before chopping (about 30 minutes)

Cut onions under a vent

Tight fitting goggles

Cool new product:
veggetti

The veggetti

Thicker is better!

Not well made but works as advertised

Preventing browning

Preventing browning of fruit

Soak fruit in a bowl of …

lemon water (1 TBLS lemon juice to one cup water) for 5 minutes

OR salt water (1/2 tsp salt to 1 quart water) for 5 minutes

OR honey water (1 tbl honey to one cup water) 30 second dunk

Good for apples, pears, potatoes and parsnips, etc.

Preventing browning: Salad

Place a paper towel in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. The paper towel works to keep the salad fresh and avoid sogginess

Other tips for salad

Use salad spinner

Spread the greens out on clean bath towels to air dry (or t-shirt, paper towels, linen towel etc.)

Roll the towels up with the greens inside and stored in the bottom shelf of fridge

Keeps greens cool and semi-moist but not damp

Cool new product: Food Huggers

Designed to increase the freshness of fruits and veggie

Less waste

A Kickstarter product

$9 for 4 assorted sizes

garlic

Peeling garlic

Take a head of garlic and hit with the heel of hand to separate cloves or use a plate to put pressure on the top of the garlic head

Place bulb of garlic into jar with lid

Shake

Shake

Shake

Other garlic tips

Preserve peeled garlic by placing in oil or in the freezer

Oh the smell! Suggestions:

Stainless Steel: Rub fingers over an item made of stainless steel (eg. sink, faucet, or spoon) under cold water

Coffee: rub a few whole coffee beans in your hand

Salt & Lemon: Rub hands together with a little lemon and salt

Cool new product: palm peeler

Slides onto finger and fits in palm of hand

$7

packaging

Plastic wrap

Did you know there were tabs on the side of the plastic wrap….Punch them in to hold the roll in place

Place the plastic wrap in the freezer to reduce its “clingy-ness”

Cool new product: Silicone suction lids and food covers

For use on all smooth surfaces: plastic, glass, stainless steel, melamine, and ceramic

Creates an airtight, watertight, and spill proof seal for reheating and storing

Microwave, oven, freezer, refrigerator, and dishwasher safe

5 lids for $20

Cool new product: eurosealer

Tried and true: shower caps

Opening tight jars

Stretch a thick rubber band around the jar lid, and give it a twist

The rubber gives a far better grip than your hand or a dishtowel

Cool new product:
adjustable measuring cup

Built-in silicone plunger pushes sticky ingredients into work bowl.

Top-rack dishwasher safe.

OXO $5 – 10 depending on size (1 or 2 cup capacity)

Herb scissors review

Stainless steel blades

Includes a blade cover which is also a blade cleaner

Makes cutting fresh herbs easy

Dishwasher Safe

Ball $20

Tip for fresh herbs

Save fresh herbs for later by freezing in ice cube tray, with water, olive oil or stock, for later seasoning

Ball jars

Shameless plug

Vrt t-shirts

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