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Introduction: Everyone loves a good shortcut in the kitchen, but sometimes it’s easy to forget about the small tricks that can make a huge difference in your cooking and meal prep. Whether you're short on time or just want to streamline your process, these clever kitchen hacks will save you effort, reduce waste, and even improve the flavor of your favorite dishes. Let’s explore some smart tricks you can apply today that you didn’t know about!
Ingredients:
For perfect hard-boiled eggs:
Eggs (as many as you need)
Water
Salt
For faster cooking veggies:
Fresh vegetables (carrots, potatoes, broccoli, etc.)
Olive oil or butter
Salt and pepper
For the juiciest chicken breast:
Chicken breast
Olive oil or butter
Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper
For smoother sauces and gravies:
Cornstarch or flour
Water or broth
Butter or oil
For crispy, perfect fries:
Potatoes
Olive oil
Salt
Instructions:
Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs: Fill a pot with cold water, adding your eggs and about a tablespoon of salt. Bring it to a boil on high heat. Once it boils, turn the heat off, cover the pot, and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Transfer them to an ice bath to stop cooking. Peel once cool!
Faster Cooking Veggies: Slice your vegetables evenly. Preheat a pan and toss your veggies in olive oil or butter, seasoning with salt and pepper. Sauté on medium-high heat for 5–7 minutes until tender. To speed it up, cover the pan for a few minutes!
Juiciest Chicken Breast: Heat a pan with oil or butter over medium-high heat. Season your chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Sear both sides until golden, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 8–10 minutes, covering with a lid. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes before serving.
Smoother Sauces and Gravies: In a separate bowl, dissolve a tablespoon of cornstarch (or flour) in cold water or broth. Add this slurry to your hot sauce or gravy to thicken it without clumps. Stir constantly for 2–3 minutes.
Crispy Perfect Fries: Cut potatoes into thin slices and soak them in water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch. Dry them thoroughly, then toss in olive oil and salt. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
Serving and Storage Tips:
Hard-boiled eggs: Keep them in the fridge for up to a week. Peel them just before serving for a fresher taste.
Cooked veggies: Best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days.
Juicy chicken breast: Once cooled, store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for longer storage.
Sauces and gravies: These can be stored in the fridge for 3–4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Fries: Store leftover fries in the fridge and reheat them in the oven or air fryer to maintain crispiness.
Variations:
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