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
-
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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