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99 food hacks that will take your cooking to the next level

Secrets of success
Use clingfilm to make perfect poached eggs
Save time with an omelette in a mug
Microwave scrambled eggs for less washing up
Make brownies richer with espresso
Save overripe bananas for banana bread
Swap fat for mashed banana in muffins
Bake with room temperature ingredients
Coat extra baking ingredients with flour
Chill cinnamon roll dough for tighter rolls
Achieve gooey cookies by taking them out early
Cool cheesecake in the oven to prevent cracks
Buy an oven thermometer for accurate baking
Check for hot spots with toast
Use a skewer to check cakes are ready
Line cake tins to prevent sticking
Use cake fails to make new desserts
Make shop-bought cakes look homemade with icing sugar
Sneak veg into smoothies
Add white beans to smoothies for protein
Use mashed avocado instead of mayo
Blanch veg to keep their bright colour
Tenderise kale by massaging it
Squash potatoes to make them extra crisp
Make speedy baked potatoes in the microwave
Add pesto to mash for flavour
Add cauliflower to mash for a silky texture
Make gnocchi with leftover mash
Chop veg the same size for stir-fries
Sear veg for flavour
Add stock instead of extra oil
Use up leftover meat in stir-fries
Cook rice in stock for extra flavour
Dry chicken to help it brown
Don't stuff chicken as it will cook slower
Use butter to get the crispiest chicken skin
Deglaze pans to make sauce
Bulk out sauces with lentils
Make cannelloni with lasagne sheets
Use pasta water to emulsify sauce
Wipe the rim of plates for a professional finish
Use nutritional yeast instead of cheese
Add anchovies for umami
Refresh nuts and spices by toasting
Season steak to help caramelisation
Sear steak on cast iron to help caramelisation
Add extra juices to steak
Only flip burgers once for perfect char marks
Use a burger lid to melt cheese
Wrap bones in foil to prevent burning
Access more flavours with a marinade
Use pineapple to tenderise meat
Save time with a multi-purpose marinade
Cut barbecue times with help from the oven
Speed up cooking with foil
Create different heat zones for more control
Double check your fridge temperature
 Don’t overcrowd your fridge so air can circulate
Store meat and fish on the bottom shelf
Store ethylene-producing fruit separately
Kill bacteria on berries with vinegar solution
Prevent soggy salad with paper towels
Use silicone fruit and veg covers to keep produce fresh
Save washing up with ovenproof storage
Keep beer fizzy by storing it upright
Optimise your freezer to save fridge space
Store bread in the freezer to keep it fresh
Freeze milk you don't need
Keep pesto at its best by freezing it
Freeze leftover wine to make fancy sauces
Freeze fruit in a single layer to stop it sticking
Have frozen fish on standby for speedy meals
Buy frozen veg to prevent food waste
Freeze food in usable portions
Wrap food tight to avoid freezer burn
Stack food in freezer bags to save space
Vacuum seal food if you want it to last a long time
Throw away chunky boxes to save space
Pack your freezer full to save energy
Cover your ice cube tray for fresh-tasting ice
Store ice cream at the back of the freezer to stop it melting
Double check your freezer temperature
Start a freezer inventory
Check if your kitchen is cool enough to leave food out
Store garlic for months in a dark and dry place
Don’t keep onions and potatoes together
Store herbs like flowers
Stop bananas browning with a banana hanger
Transfer sugar into airtight containers to prevent clumps
Clean food storage containers with baking soda
Remove fridge odours with baking soda
Froth milk in a jar
Let boiling water cool to prevent coffee burning
Freshen a chopping board with lemon
Clean with lemon before making meringue
Microwave lemons to get more juice
Save vegetable water for gravy
Check eggs are fresh with the float test
Set aside vegetable scraps for stock
Revive old bread with water
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Secrets of success

Fast track to kitchen success with our best-ever hacks for food storage, quick meals, baking, barbecuing and more. These tried and tested tips will have you cooking like a pro in no time.

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loveFOOD Staff

01 August 2022

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