Cooking can be a lot of fun, but it also take a lot of time and effort to prepare the perfect meal. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with these incredible cooking hacks that will help make your meal preparations super easy, efficient, and flavorful! From simplifying complicated recipes to using creative ingredients, these clever tricks will save you time and give you the tastiest meals imaginable. Read on for some of the best cooking hacks around!
1. Delicious Dinners Made Easier: Clever Cooking Hacks
Grocery shopping made easier
Rotating the same meals week-in and week-out can be dull and lacklustre. To spice things up, you can make clever swaps to those same dinners. Start by planning your grocery list. Make a list of ingredients or dishes you want to use throughout the week. This list can enable you to be flexible with which ingredients you use, saving you from taking multiple trips to the grocery store. Instead, buy a variety of items that you can switch out to create meals.
Smart pantry staples
Whenever possible, opt for pantry staples that are quick to prepare or can add flavor and nutrition to various recipes. Generally, these plain staples are inexpensive and long-lasting. To the list, add canned tuna, beans, frozen vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, wheat or rye flour, plain Greek yogurt, and various spices. Don’t forget about eggs and cheese for breakfast or filling snacks.
Think outside the box
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box for dinner. With your standard ingredients, you can make some unique meals like tuna cakes, easy omelette wraps, baked potato frittata, chili mac, shepherd’s pie, and veggie stir-fry. You can also use canned ingredients such as artichokes, tomatoes, or chickpeas to make a pasta dish with any protein source.
Side dish switcheroos
Making side dishes even easier, why not give vegetables a ‘shortcut makeover’? Swap convenience items such as canned vegetables or frozen potatoes to reduce the time spent prepping. But don’t forget to pack the nutrition with some homemade sauces or condiments. Serve these with cooked steak or chicken, mashed sweet potatoes or polenta.
Cook once, eat twice
No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen all day, which is why batch cooking is worth your while. During your next cooking session, consider doubling the recipes you make and store the extra portions in the fridge or Freezer. Cooked beans, roasted veggies, and grains like quinoa and freekeh all freeze well. This way you’ll be able to enjoy throughout the week.
2. Beat the Midweek Mealtime Slump with Shortcuts
It can be hard to keep up the enthusiasm for mealtime when the week drags on. When the nights become long and you’re ready for the weekend but still need to eat – shortcuts and hacks can save the day!
1. Stock up: The key to beating the midweek mealtime slump is having ingredients on hand that you can quickly whip up. On your days off, take some time to chop vegetables and cook a few basics that you can use to make meals throughout the week. Ideas include quinoa, boiled eggs, or pre-cooked chicken.
2. Get creative: Embrace the meals you make with what have already got. Think about what you can cook with what you have and get creative.
- Pin a few recipes with ingredients you always have in your pantry to make when you don’t have much on hand.
- Use up leftovers by combining them in an interesting way in dishes like casseroles, curries, soups, and stir-fries.
- Play around with sauces, dressings, spices, and herbs.
3. Get outside of the kitchen: Take the night off and get take-out from your favorite spot or order delivery. Even if it’s not something you normally buy, it’s ok to splurge a little.
4. Opt for convenience: Mealtime can be a lot easier when you opt for convenience. Buy bagged salads, pre-baked pizzas, ready-made pastas, Uncle Ben’s grain bowls. Grocery stores have so many items with nutritious options that don’t need to take a lot of time and energy to prepare.
The midweek mealtime slump doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Embrace these shortcuts and meals will be back on the menu in no time.
3. Unlock the Flavor Power of Kitchen Tricks
There are some flavour tricks you can use when cooking that will make your meals go from average to extraordinary! Here are a few kitchen hacks to help you unlock the flavour power:
- The Power of Salt: Salt helps balance flavours, but you should add it cautiously and remember that there is no undo button. It’s best to season throughout the cooking process to get the most out of the flavour.
- Dry Herbs Make Delicious: Dry herbs, like oregano and thyme, are great for adding a depth of flavour. Crush them in your hand before adding to help release the essential oils in them and add an extra flavour boost.
- Go for the Fat: Using fats and oils for cooking can enhance the flavours of ingredients like vegetables. Try oven roasting vegetables in oil and seasoning for maximum flavour.
- Go for the Garlic: A little garlic can go a long way when it comes to flavour; add it to sauces, chop it and sauté it with olive oil for an amazing aroma and flavour.
Don’t forget to add citrus fruits to your dishes too – they can help brighten up plain foods. Limes, lemons, and oranges can really help to bring a dish to life.
Topping your dishes with herbs like cilantro and chives can also add an extra burst of flavour. It’s best to add fresh herbs at the end of the cooking process to preserve their flavour and aroma.
Using these simple kitchen hacks you can easily and quickly improve the flavour of almost any dish. Get creative and start experimenting and you will soon be an expert in unlocking the flavour power of your dishes.
4. Time-Saving Strategies for Savor-Worthy Cooking
When it comes to making delicious home cooked meals, time can be a major factor. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on creating amazing dishes for your family and friends. Here are a few tips to help you save some time in the kitchen so you can still enjoy savor-worthy cooking.
Use Your Freezer
Making use of your freezer can be one of the most helpful time-saving strategies when it comes to cooking. Prepping and cooking meals ahead of time can help save you a lot of time later. Simply prepare a dish, let it cool completely, then pop it in the freezer in single-serving containers. This way all you have to do later is reheat and enjoy!
Bulk Up Your Recipes
Bulk cooking is a great way to make sure you don’t have to start from scratch each time you need to make a meal. For example, if you’re making tacos, double the recipe and freeze some of the taco meat for later use. That way, you can just quickly heat up the meat and you have the start to a delicious dish in no time!
Make Use of Your Slow Cooker
This kitchen tool can be a life saver! Slow cookers are perfect for stews, soups, and roasts, and with just a few ingredients you can have a scrumptious meal a few hours later. Even better, most slow cooker recipes call for ingredients that you may already have on hand. So no more last-minute runs to the store.
Shop Smart
When it comes to grocery shopping, planning ahead is the best way to save time. Not only will it save you time, but it will also help you save money too! Write down a list of meals that you would like to make for the week, and purchase all of the ingredients in one shopping trip. That way, when meal times come around you’ll have all the ingredients you need and you won’t have to go to the store over and over again.
With these time-saving strategies, you can still enjoy savor-worthy cooking without spending all your time in the kitchen. So get ready to whip up some delicious, stress-free dishes for you and your family!
Tired of eating the same repetitive dinner every night? We hope these cooking hacks will breathe new life into your kitchen and help turn cooking from a chore to a hobby. With a little bit of creativity and a few simple shortcuts, you’ll be making delicious meals that your taste buds will thank you for. Who knows? You may even start to enjoy cooking!
