27 Kitchen Tools and Hacks You Wished You Had Known Earlier

In today’s fast-paced world, a modern kitchen thrives on smart solutions that make cooking effortless. Discover how innovative hacks and essential tools can transform your culinary experience.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, these clever tricks and must-have gadgets will streamline your cooking and elevate your skills. Get ready to revolutionize your kitchen routine with practical and exciting solutions!

Useful Kitchen Hacks

1. Freeze Your Butter And Grate It Into Recipes With A Cheese Grater 

Compared to using a pastry cutter, this method is less complicated, less messy, and keeps considerably longer in the freezer! You can also apply this technique to apple pie and crumbles and crisps.

2. Get Rid Of Fishy Taste In Salt Water Fish By Soaking It In Milk

Try this culinary trick if you’re not a fan of “that fishy taste.” Soaking fish in milk for two hours can make cheaper varieties, like sole, taste just as delicious. This simple trick enhances the flavor and texture of the fish, making tacos made with it absolutely delicious!

3. Peel Kiwi With A Spoon

To remove the kiwi’s skin with a spoon, first cut off the ends. Then, rotate the fruit while sliding the spoon between the fruit’s skin and flesh. Remove the kiwi’s peel and savor! It’s simple, fast, and the kiwi’s color stays bright.

4. Substitute For Canned ‘Cream Of Anything’

Ran out of cream soup? No problem! Just blend 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons of flour, then stir in ½ cup of milk and ½ cup of chicken broth. For a flavor twist, toss in some celery or mushrooms. Want to lighten it up? Swap in light butter and non-fat milk. It’s your quick fix for creamy deliciousness!

5. Make Poached Eggs In The Microwave To Save Time

No fancy egg poacher? No problem! For quick, single poached eggs, spray a coffee mug with non-stick spray, crack an egg into it, cover, and microwave for 30–40 seconds. Once set, gently loosen with a knife. If it pops, don’t worry—it’s still tasty! You can even do multiple eggs, just give them a bit more time. Perfect for recipe like Eggs Benedict!

6. Use an Egg Slicer to Slice Mushrooms

There are other uses for that egg slicer you have stashed away in your drawer besides chopping eggs for potato salad. Slicing strawberries and mushrooms in this manner is a breeze, and it puts your tools to good use in more ways than one!

7. Shred Beef, Pork or Chicken With Stand Mixer Or Hand Mixer

Shredding meat is a breeze with your mixer! Cook and cool your meat, then use a stand or hand mixer on low speed to shred it in seconds. Quick and easy—perfect for tacos, sandwiches, and more!

8. If You Don’t Have A Bread Machine, You Can Also Use Your Stand Mixer To Knead Dough

No bread machine? Use your stand mixer with the dough hook to knead dough. Just mix ingredients, attach the dough hook, and let it knead on low speed for 5-7 minutes. Easy peasy!

9. Peel Bananas Before You Freeze Them

Before freezing, peel the bananas and put them in a Ziplock freezer bag. They are therefore easy to use—just thaw, mash, and bake! Use them for delectable recipes like Banana Nice Cream with coconut and lime, Chocolate Chip Pineapple Banana Muffins, and Healthy Tropical Banana Bread.

10. Peel Garlic Bulbs in the Microwave

Our lives are always made considerably easier by the microwave. Garlic peeling is not an exception. The skin of a few garlic cloves will easily peel off if you chop off the tops and microwave them for 20 to 30 seconds. It’s just one of the many garlic peeling tricks that we can’t get enough of.

11. Stop Ice Cream from Melting with Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap works quite well as an insulator. Wrap your pint of handmade ice cream with plastic bubble wrap to prevent it from melting while you’re driving. It will not budge for hours.

12. Keep Brown Sugar Soft with Marshmallows

Here’s another magic-working culinary trick. And marshmallows are involved. Yes, marshmallows! Tightly seal a container of brown sugar after adding a few marshmallows. You can store the marshmallows in the container for up to a few weeks, although this softens the sugar in a day. It’s just another brilliant way of preserving the softness of brown sugar.

13. Chill Wine in Salt Water

Nobody enjoys lukewarm sparkling wine. Find a tall pitcher that is almost the same height as your wine bottle if you want to fast cool it. Turn the bottle every few minutes or so while it’s submerged in ice water containing a tiny amount of salt. In twenty minutes (or fewer!), your alcohol will cool. Seize inventiveness on a budget with these $20 sparkling wines that get the approval of sommeliers.

14. Soften Cookies with a Slice of Bread

Add a slice of store-bought white bread to an airtight container to keep cookies and other baked products moist after baking. You can still enjoy the softness of your cakes, cookies, and muffins from day one. They come off fresh to friends and family! In case you have any leftovers, consider utilizing this method with our large and rich chocolate chip cookies.

15. Simmer Tomato Sauce with a Carrot

Carrots give a slight sweetness to tomato sauce, balancing out the acidity. If you notice that your sauce has become very acidic, add a whole peeled carrot, cook it with the sauce, and then take it out before serving.

16. Organize Snacks with Cupcake Liners

Got finicky eaters in the family? Divide a lunchbox into compartments using cupcake liners to keep Goldfish away from any exposed fruit. For memorable occasions, dress in bright colors and designs. Our comprehensive list of simple lunch box ideas is something every parent should be familiar with.

17. Dice Eggs with a Cooling Rack

A cooling rack is a genius tool for dicing eggs. A hard-boiled egg can be easily diced by inserting a cooling rack through it. You can use this same culinary trick on avocados as well.

18. Extend the Life of Herbs with Water

Tired of wilted herbs? Keep parsley and cilantro fresh by trimming the stems, placing them in a glass of water, and covering with a plastic bag. Store in the fridge or on the counter, and enjoy fresh herbs for up to two weeks!

19. Cut Steak Fries with an Apple Slicer

Craving those restaurant-style potato wedges? Grab an apple slicer! Slice off one end of the potato for stability, then push the slicer through for perfect wedges. Season to taste or try our Parmesan Potato Wedges recipe. Bonus: It works great with sweet potatoes, too!

20. Freeze Sauce Cubes in Egg Cartons

Upcycle like a pro! Use egg cartons to freeze small portions of homemade sauce. Just fill, freeze, and transfer to a freezer bag. Need some pesto? Thaw a cube in the fridge for 2 hours, and you’re good to go!

21. Label Jars with Rubber Bands

No labels? No worries! Just grab a rubber band and wrap it around your Mason jars—no more mixing up salt and sugar! Plus, they make jars easier to open. Who knew rubber bands could be the kitchen’s secret weapon?

22. Store Peanut Butter Jars Upside-Down

Tired of mixing the oil back into your natural peanut butter? Here’s a simple fix: Store the jar upside-down. When it’s time to whip up your favorite PB treat, just flip it right-side up—the oil will have worked its way through, making the peanut butter a breeze to stir!

23. Use Your Ironing Board as a Cooling Rack

Meet your new kitchen sidekick—the ironing board! Need extra counter space or a quick cooling rack? Just remove the cover, and voilà! Mind blown, right? Try it out the next time you’re baking up a storm!

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24. Add Crushed Ice to Appetizer Bowls When Servin

Hosting a get-together and need to keep your shrimp or deviled eggs cool? Here’s a cool trick: Fill a big bowl with crushed ice from a resealable bag, then lay down some butterhead lettuce leaves. Pop your appetizers on top, and voila! Your bites stay cool and fresh all night long. Cheers to happy, chilled guests!

25. Create Extra Storage Space with Hooks

A tidy kitchen is a happy kitchen! Spice up your space by installing budget-friendly hooks inside your cabinets. Potholders, measuring spoons, and gadgets will all have their own little homes, making your kitchen a joy to use!

26. Hull a Strawberry with a Straw

Want to ditch those strawberry stems in a flash? Grab a drinking straw, poke it through the tip of the berry, and push it out the other end. It’s a nifty trick that’ll make prepping strawberries for pie or any yummy recipe a breeze!

27. Add Herbs and Lemon to Butter

Flavored butter is the new star of the kitchen! Mix lemon juice and herbs into softened butter for a burst of flavor. For a touch of culinary flair, spread the butter on parchment paper, shape it into a log with a ruler, twist the ends, and freeze. Voila! You’ve got a gourmet butter log ready to elevate any dish with a touch of homemade magic.