Master chef shares 65+ best cooking hacks he knows. Cooking just got easier

#1 Have effortless plastic wrap

Are you tired of your plastic wrap sticking to itself and creating an uneven mess? It will stretch more easily if kept in the fridge.

#2 Stop dealing with hard brown sugar

Keep is ready for use by storing it with an orange peel. You’ll never have to worry about a giant rock of brown sugar ruining your day again.

#3 Make eggs that are easy to peel

Skip on traditional hard-boiled eggs that are difficult to peel. Steam your eggs for fifteen minutes instead. They’ll fall right out of the peel.

#4 Make your own powdered sugar

If you don’t have any powdered sugar available, put some regular sugar in your spice or coffee grinder and turn it on. You’ll have powdered sugar in no time at all.

#5 Make faster meatloaf

Meatloaf usually takes an hour. Cut that time down to fifteen minutes by cooking it in a muffin tray.

burger — MakeandTakes.com via Pinterest Source: MakeandTakes.com via Pinterest

#6 Make butternut squash a breeze

Cutting butternut squash is notoriously hard. Throw it in the microwave for four minutes first to soften it up.

#7 Get the seeds out of a pumpkin quickly

Removing the seeds and “guts” from a pumpkin can take a lot of work. Make the job much simpler by using an ice cream scoop.

#8 Stop crying over onions

Do onions make your eyes tear up? Throw them in the freezer before you chop them up. No more tears!

#9 Or dip them under water

If you don’t have time to freeze your onions, here’s another thing that will work. Hold an onion under some water while you cut it.

#10 Have a sharp knife

For onions, it also helps to have a sharp knife. Cutting it cleanly instead of crushing the onion will produce fewer of the enzymes that cause us to well up.

#11 Onions by candlelight

Onions are a major hassle in the kitchen, so people have tried a lot of ways to take the painful aspect away. It turns out that burning a candle while you chop your onions will draw away those enzymes and keep your eyes from burning.

#12 A step too far

If you simply despise onions, you can try this trick as well. Just expect to get some strange looks.

#13 Get moist food in the microwave

To avoid food drying out in the microwave, place a cup of water next to it. You won’t regret it!

#14 Put a Lazy Susan in the fridge

Everything will be much easier to access. No more trying to reach to the back to find things.

#15 Remove fruit peels easier

To help fruit peels slide right off, put the fruit in the microwave for twenty seconds first. It will be so much easier to peel.

hand — FirstWeFeast Source: FirstWeFeast

#16 Make an easy pastry brush

If you don’t have a pastry brush, get out the parchment paper. Fold it over several times, cut slits into it, and then use it as a brush.

bread — MyRecipes via Facebook Source: MyRecipes via Facebook

#17 Create an “Eat me first” bin

Put the foods more likely to go bad quickly into their own bin in the fridge. It will help to reduce food waste, and finding something to eat might go a little quicker.

#18 Peel garlic more easily

If you are struggling to get the peel off a garlic clove, stick it in the microwave for twenty seconds. That peel will just fall away.

#19 Open jars more easily

Does a jar lid refuse to budge? Don’t hurt your hand. Wrap a rubber band around it and then try again. It will pop right off.

cap — Garveyguys via YouTube Source: Garveyguys via YouTube

#20 Spend less time squeezing mustard

Put mustard and other condiments upside down in an egg carton. They’ll be ready to squeeze. No shaking is required.

#21 Line freezer shelves

Line your freezer (and fridge) shelves with storage bins. They’ll make cleaning the fridge or freezer a breeze.

#22 Keep cast iron in good shape

To prevent rusting that will take more time to deal with, scrub your cast iron skillets with salt instead of soap. They will stay in perfect condition.

#23 Dry herbs at lightening speed

The next time you need to dry herbs, throw them in the microwave for thirty seconds, flip and repeat until they are done. It should take less than four minutes in total.

#24 Basted egg perfection

Create perfect basted eggs. Just crack an egg into the pan, pour in some water, and wait for it to cook.

#25 Skip out on burning food

If you are sautéing something and the outside is cooking too fast, throw in an ice cube. It will prevent burning.

#26 Add flavor to grains

Cook your grains with tea to give them more flavor. You’ll be amazed.

boil — Jennifer Causey via CookingLight Source: Jennifer Causey via CookingLight

#27 Make quick muffin liners

If you realize you’re out of muffin liners, make a quick replacement with parchment paper instead. Just cup the paper into squares and press them into the muffin tin.

#28 Get ripe fruit

Do you want your fruit to get ripe more quickly? Place it in a brown paper bag.

ripen — keepon via Flickr Source: keepon via Flickr

#29 Make some wine cubes

Instead of wasting leftover wine, turn it into ice cubes. It will be there the next time you want to make sangrias.

freeze — CookingLight Source: CookingLight

#30 Make scrambled eggs in a minute and a half

Put your eggs, a little milk, and some seasoning in a cup and then throw the mixture into the microwave for a minute and thirty seconds. Breakfast is done!

#31 Stop apples from browning

Are you tired of apple slices that turn brown too quickly? Squeeze some lemon juice over the surface. It’ll taste good and keep them fresh for longer.

#32 Use a Bundt cake pan for corn

Remove the kernels more easily by placing the tip in the center of the pan to keep it secure. The rest will be easy.

cut — Elise Bauer via SimplyRecipes Source: Elise Bauer via SimplyRecipes

#33 Make your own buttermilk

Make your own buttermilk in a few seconds by adding a splash of vinegar or lemon and then stirring.

#34 Easily preserve herbs

Just throw your herbs in an ice cube tray with oil or water. They’ll be ready for the next time you need to use them and already be in convenient portions.

#35 Grate soft cheeses easily

Mozzarella can be a pain to grate. Stick it in the freezer for half an hour first to make the job simpler.

shred — theHomePizzeria Source: theHomePizzeria

#36 Peel potatoes with ease

Boil your potatoes with the skins on and then drop them into an ice bath. The peels will just come right off.

#37 Use the microwave for corn on the cob

Leave it in the husk and throw it in the microwave for four minutes. It will come out with a grilled flavor and slide right out of the husk. Easy!

#38 Pit cherries easily

Place the top of the cherry on the open mouth of a beer bottle and then use a chopstick to push the cherry pit through and into the bottle. Easy!

fruit — bmiphone via Flickr Source: bmiphone via Flickr

#39 Remove eggshell pieces easily

Pieces of eggshell can be a hassle to get out of raw egg. Use the shell as a scoop for easy retrieval.

#40 Get a clean cutting board

To reduce the risk of being exposed to bacteria, scrub your cutting board with lemon and salt. It will smell good too!