I found these useful kitchen tips via a family friend's personal cookbook "The Best of Friends and Family" by Carolyn Rogers. I've never seen some of these hints before and found them to be quite resourceful and clever. Happy cooking!
- Drop a leaf of lettuce into a pot of soup to absorb extra grease from the top. Remove the lettuce and serve.
- To cut down on odors when cooking cabbage or cauliflower, add a little vinegar to the water and don't overcook.
- To keep hot oil from splattering, sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.
- To prevent pasta from boiling over, place a wooden spoon or fork across the top of the pot while the pasta is boiling.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice to simmering rice to prevent the grains from sticking.
- To prevent cheese from sticking to a grater, spray the grater with cooking spray before beginning.
- When baking bread, a small dish of water in the oven will keep the crust from getting too hard or brown.
- When baking in a glass pan, reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees.
- The freshness of eggs can be tested by placing them in a large bowl of cold water. If they float, do not use them.
- To avoid teary eyes when cutting onions, cut them under cold running water or briefly place them in the freezer before cutting.
- Fresh lemon juice will remove onion scent from hands.
- Drop a few ice cubes down your garbage disposal every now and them to keep the blades sharp.
