20 Surprising Kitchen Hacks To Save Time And Money
11. Top off that breakfast with a bacon weave
Actually, you should have started your morning with some creative weaving. Pre-heat your oven and put a cooling rack in a sheet pan, because it’s bacon time.
Cooking bacon in the oven helps keep it flat and cook more evenly, while cooking it on the cooling rack lets the fat drip away for healthier bacon. Because that’s what you’re thinking about when you want bacon. Why are we weaving it? Because pancake, hash brown, poached egg, bacon weave sandwich, that’s why.
12. Moving on from breakfast, right Herb?
Have some herbs from your window garden you want to keep for use all year?
Microwave them 20 seconds at a time, turning them over each time until they are dried out.
13. More herbs
If you don’t want to dehydrate your herbs, freeze some herbs in an olive oil base.
Use an ice cube tray to make portions you can save for later.
14. Don’t throw it back
Throw those herbs on some fish, and if you don’t want your fish to stick to your grill, cook it on some lemon slices.
15. Get some oysters out easy, too
If you’re having trouble shucking your oysters, pop them in the microwave.
Microwaving them for a short time (10-20 seconds) will loosen them enough to make prying them apart easier.
16. Po’boy?
We can’t be putting those oysters on stale bread now, can we?
Run some water over your neglected loaf and throw it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes for a loaf that is just like fresh baked – crunchy outside, soft inside. This works best on baguettes.
17. Make enough for the week
While you’re at it, save some time and cook a few meals at once.
If you’re going to invest the time in cooking, cook like there’s three more of you. You’ll have some meals for the rest of the week, and not have to worry about paying for fast food. Win-win situation. Cook some potatoes, cook some rice. Mix and match with your entrees to keep your palate fresh.
18. It’s not just for teeth anymore
I remember my mother making cinnamon rolls when I was a child. The dough would rise, she’d roll it out flat, apply the cinnamon and brown sugar, roll it up, and go after a bit of fine string from her sewing kit. Since I don’t have her sewing kit around, I’ve found that dental floss is a suitable substitute.
To make this work, simply slide the floss under the food you wish to cut, wrap it around, and pull. It will cut right through, ready for the oven.
19. Time for dessert
Need yet another edible confection? Melt some chocolate, and fill a balloon partially with air.
Experiment. Try dipping the balloon repeatedly in the chocolate, or try drizzling the chocolate over the top. Your results may vary, based on the temps of the chocolate and the size of your balloon.
20. Time for a cold one!
Don’t tell me you left your beer out in the garage again. We can fix this super quick.
Wrap your tallboys with a damp paper towel and throw them in the freezer for a speedy cool-down. Just don’t forget them, or you’ll be chipping beer-cicles out of your chill chest. And no one wants that.
Your mileage may vary on these hacks, but they’re worth a try. Save time, save money. Have a beer. You can’t go too far wrong.
