Tips & Tricks for the Kitchen

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ASweetheart made a wonderful suggestion! How about a thread for those secret tips and tricks we use to save time and effort in the kitchen!

Not quite like spraying PAM on the snow shovel (although that works GREAT! but we already have a forum for non-cooking type tips). More like running a cake knife under warm water before frosting a cake...or lining the oven with foil before baking something that might run over...

If we get enough tips, I'll index them for quick reference.

So...got a nifty trick or tip?

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Here's one from my mom...

if you need to measure shortening or peanut butter, consider the method of water displacement:

Example, to measure 1/3 cup of shortening, fill a pyrex style clear liquid 1 cup measure with 2/3 cup of water. Then add the shortening with a spoon, pushing it just under the water until the water level rises to 1 cup. That's 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup of shortening, so pour off the water and use the perfect 1/3 cup of shortening.

[ASweetHeart]

When I measure shortening or peanut butter, I line the measuring cup with plastic wrap first. After I put the peanut butter or shortening, I can just pull the plastic out. No mess at all

[BzyBee]

If you cut brownies and cakes with a plastic knife they won't stick to it...you will get nice smooth edges.
We have a plastic bagel knife we keep for this as a disposable plastic knife won't make it through thick and chewy brownies without breaking.

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To freeze berries (it's that season :) ), refrigerate them unwashed and freeze them first on a baking sheet or other single layer. Once they are frozen, you can put them into any container to store in the freezer without them sticking together in a giant frozen lump.

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If you add 1 1/2 teaspoon of butter to a cooking pasta or soup it will not boil over/

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Pasta will not get sticky if you place it in a warm colander then into a warm dish. The cold colander causes the starch to get sticky.

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To prevent sticky pasta, save 1/3 cup of the pasta water prior to draining the pasta in the colander. Pour the pasta water into the pasta when tossing with olive oil or your favorite sauce. The pasta water will bind the sauce ingredients and prevent stickiness.

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For fluffier, whiter rice, add one teaspoon of lemon juice per liter (quart) of water. To add extra flavor and nutrition to rice, cook it in liquid reserved from cooking.

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Keep smaller bottles to store leftover wine. The less space between the wine and the cork, the longer it will retain its freshness.