Have you ever wondered what other people do in their kitchens that you don’t? Maybe you have a secret trick for peeling garlic, or a genius way to use up leftover bread. Or maybe you just do things the way your mom taught you, without questioning why.
You’re not alone. There are millions of people out there who have their own unique kitchen hacks that they swear by, even if they seem strange or unusual to others. Some of these hacks are brilliant, some are bizarre, and some are downright hilarious.
We scoured the internet to find some of the most interesting kitchen hacks that people grew up with, and we were amazed by what we found. From using dental floss to cut cake, to freezing grapes to chill wine, to microwaving eggs in a mug, these are some of the weirdest and coolest kitchen hacks that you might want to try yourself. Or maybe not.
Here are 15 of the most surprising kitchen hacks that people grew up with, and what they learned from them.
1. Use a potato to fix salty soup. One online user shared a tip from their grandmother: peel and chop a potato and add it to a salty soup. The potato absorbs salt, making the soup more palatable. The user still uses this hack, finding it effective.
2. Use dental floss to cut cake. Another one said their mom taught them this trick, which involves using unflavored dental floss to slice through soft cakes without squishing them. The user said they also use this hack to cut cheese, brownies, and cinnamon rolls.
3. Use a colander to make hard-boiled eggs. This hack comes from Taste of Home, and it involves placing a colander over a pot of boiling water and cracking eggs into the holes. The eggs will cook in the steam, and you’ll end up with perfectly shaped hard-boiled eggs that are easy to peel.
4. Use a cheese grater to shred butter. If you need softened butter for a recipe, but you forgot to take it out of the fridge, don’t worry. You can use a cheese grater to shred cold butter into small pieces that will melt quickly and evenly. This hack is also great for making pastry dough or biscuits.
5. Use a wine bottle to roll out dough. Maybe you don’t have a rolling pin, you can use a wine bottle instead. Just make sure it’s clean and dry, and dust it with some flour to prevent sticking. You can also use a wine bottle to crush nuts, crackers, or cookies for a crust or topping.
6. Use a microwave to peel garlic. Peeling garlic can be a tedious and sticky task, but there’s a simple way to make it easier. Just pop a whole head of garlic in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, and the cloves will slide right out of their skins. You can also use this hack to peel onions, tomatoes, or peaches.
7. Use a coffee grinder to make oat flour. You can make your own oat flour with a coffee grinder. Simply pulse rolled oats in the grinder until finely ground. A blender or food processor can also be used for this trick.
8. Use a muffin tin to make taco shells. For tacos, you don’t have any taco shells, you can make your own with a muffin tin. Just flip the tin upside down, and drape some soft tortillas over the spaces between the cups. Bake them in the oven for 10 minutes, and you’ll have crispy taco shells that are ready to fill.
9. Use a glass to peel a mango. Peeling a mango can be tricky, especially if you don’t have a sharp knife. But there’s a clever way to peel a mango with a glass. Just cut the mango in half, and use the rim of the glass to scoop out the flesh from the skin. You’ll get a smooth and juicy mango slice that you can enjoy.
10. Use a straw to hull strawberries. Hulling strawberries can be a hassle, especially if you have a lot of them. But there’s a simple way to remove the stems and cores with a straw. Just insert the straw from the bottom of the strawberry, and push it through to the top. The straw will pop out the stem and core, and you’ll have a perfectly hulled strawberry.
11. Use an ice cube tray to freeze herbs. Maybe your fresh herbs are about to go bad, you can preserve them by freezing them in an ice cube tray. Just chop up the herbs, and place them in the tray. Fill the tray with water, oil, or broth, and freeze. You’ll have handy herb cubes that you can use for soups, sauces, or stews.
12. Use a waffle iron to make hash browns. If you love crispy hash browns, but you don’t want to fry them, you can use a waffle iron instead. Just grate some potatoes, and squeeze out the excess moisture. Then, spread them on a preheated waffle iron, and cook until golden and crunchy. You can also use this hack to make waffle sandwiches, quesadillas, or brownies.
13. Use a chopstick to pit cherries. Pitting cherries can be a messy and time-consuming task, but there’s a simple way to do it with a chopstick. Just place the cherry on top of an empty bottle, and use the chopstick to poke out the pit. The pit will fall into the bottle, and you’ll have a pitted cherry.
14. Use a spoon to peel ginger. Peeling ginger can be tricky, especially if it has a lot of bumps and curves. But there’s an easy way to peel ginger with a spoon. Just scrape the edge of the spoon along the skin of the ginger, and it will come off easily. You can also use this hack to peel kiwis, carrots, or potatoes.
15. Use a banana peel to ripen an avocado. To ripen a hard avocado faster, wrap it in a banana peel and place it in a paper bag. The ethylene gas released by the peel will speed up the ripening process. Alternatively, you can use an apple or a tomato for the same effect.
These are some of the most amazing kitchen hacks that people grew up with, and learned from their parents, grandparents, or friends. Some of them might sound weird, but they actually work. And who knows, maybe you’ll find a new favorite hack that will make your life easier in the kitchen.Let’s dive into these clever kitchen hacks that have been passed down through generations.
Do you have any kitchen hacks that you grew up with, and still use today? Share them with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.One of my favorite kitchen hacks from my childhood is using a damp paper towel underneath a cutting board to prevent it from slipping while chopping vegetables. It’s a simple trick that I still use to this day!
Related posts:
57 Kitchen Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner | Taste of Home
51 Kitchen and Food Hacks That Will Change Your Life – Greatist
