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It’s possible that you may already know some of these tricks, but many of them will be brand new to you. The truth is that knowing these tricks is useful in any kitchen.
1. Strong flavor of red onion
If you’re cooking with onions whose taste and aroma overpower all the other ingredients, you can tone down their strength a bit by rinsing them in cold water. The water will dissolve the sulfates they contain while leaving the onion nicely crisp.
2. Ground coffee
Before you pour water over your ground coffee, add a little salt and cinnamon to it. The salt will reduce bitterness and at the same time enhance the coffee’s flavor, while the cinnamon will add an extra layer of taste.
3. For richer flavor
A strong stock is a far better base for many dishes than water. Not only is it very nutritious, but it also gives the dish a richer flavor.
4. The best salt
The biggest difference between salts is their grain size. Flake salt is the least processed and therefore the largest. Sea salt has a similar size. Both are therefore suitable, for example, for seasoning meat, as they can draw moisture out more effectively without over-salting it.
5. Salt salad vegetables first
If you salt vegetables in advance, you’ll draw out the accumulated water and release their flavors. In addition, such a salad will stay crisper for longer.
6. Coat meat in egg whites and cornstarch
A coating of egg whites and cornstarch will give the meat a tender texture that will never be too tough or dry. Such meat will retain its juices and is less likely to be overcooked.
7. Perfect cake without a recipe: watch the ingredient ratios
Basic ratios for baking a cake are weight of sugar = weight of flour, and weight of eggs = weight of butter. If you stick to these rules, you can’t go wrong.
8. Add a little salt
Even just half a teaspoon of salt is enough to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients and spices when baking sweet desserts.
9. Basted eggs
Prepare the eggs as you would for sunny-side up, but pour a little water next to them and cover with a lid. After approximately 45 seconds transfer to a plate and season to taste.
10. Enhance the flavor of dishes with a bit of balsamic
Balsamic vinegar isn’t just for seasoning tomatoes with mozzarella. It also works perfectly to enhance the flavor of roasted vegetables, noodles, or even strawberries.
11. Perfectly tender meat
Dry the meat with paper towels, salt it, and leave enough space in the pan.
You should also always sear meat in a properly preheated pan, preferably stainless steel or cast iron.
12. Extra flaky pastry
If you need really flaky pastry, just add vodka to it. Most of the alcohol evaporates during baking, so you don’t have to worry about your pie tasting of vodka.
13. All ingredients chilled
When baking, don’t use only cold butter but also chilled flour and sugar. This prevents the butter from melting before baking and the final product will be even flakier and more buttery.
14. Creamier scrambled eggs
First mix milk (1/2 tablespoon per egg) and starch (3/4 teaspoon per egg), then add the eggs. On the pan, simply sauté them lightly.
15. Thickening chili
You can thicken it with tortilla chips or cornmeal.
For a more traditional recipe you can mix the flour with beer before adding it to the chili.
16. Perfect steak
For preparing perfect steaks, salt them in advance, rinse and dry.
Salt the steaks (preferably with flake salt) an hour in advance for every inch (2.5 cm) of their thickness. Then remove the moisture from their surface, rinse off the salt, and finally thoroughly dry with paper towels.
17. Homemade iced tea
Add a pinch of baking soda to homemade iced tea.
Baking soda neutralizes tannins that make iced tea bitter.
18. Tender meat
You can also tenderize meat with baking soda.
Baking soda increases the meat’s alkalinity, which then makes it stiffen more slowly during cooking. Be careful, however, that it doesn’t transfer its strong taste to the meat. Marinate meat with baking soda for no more than 15 minutes, or try to mitigate its flavor by adding lemon or lime juice.
19. Kitchen knives
Your kitchen knives will stay sharper longer with proper washing and storage.
Knives should never be washed in the dishwasher but only by hand in the sink. The best way to store them is by placing them in a wooden block. Your cutting boards should also be made of wood, which is the least damaging to the blade.
20. Temperature of tableware
The temperature of your tableware should match the temperature of the food being served.
If you preheat or chill the dishes, the meal will stay warm longer or stay cold, respectively. It also makes a good impression on guests. To warm plates, simply put them in the oven for 5 minutes at 90° C, and to chill them put them in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
