Here’s a list of 25 practical and fun kitchen hacks to make cooking easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable!

1. Quickly Soften Butter

Forgot to take the butter out of the fridge? Simply grate it or cut it into small pieces to soften it faster.

2. Easy Garlic Peeling

Microwave garlic cloves for 10 seconds, and the skins should slip right off.

3. Fresh Herbs Anytime

Freeze fresh herbs in an ice cube tray with olive oil. Pop out a cube whenever you need fresh herbs for cooking.

4. Chill Wine with Frozen Grapes

Keep grapes in the freezer and add them to your glass of white wine. This keeps your drink cold without diluting it.

5. Store Tomatoes Correctly

Keep tomatoes out of the fridge to preserve their flavour. They last longer and taste better at room temperature.

6. Prevent Boiling Over with a Wooden Spoon

Place a wooden spoon across the top of a boiling pot to stop it from boiling over.

7. Revitalise Stale Bread

Sprinkle water on stale bread and pop it in a 150°C oven for 5-10 minutes to refresh it.

8. Easy Eggshell Removal

Struggling with stray eggshell bits? Wet your fingers before picking out pieces, and they’ll come out more easily.

9. Speed Up Ripening of Bananas

Need ripe bananas for baking? Bake them in a 150°C oven for 15-20 minutes.

10. Make Your Own Buttermilk

Add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a cup of milk, stir, and let sit for 5 minutes. Voilà! Homemade buttermilk.

11. Prevent Brown Sugar from Hardening

Place a slice of bread or a marshmallow in your brown sugar container to keep it soft and ready to use.

12. Keep Your Fridge Smelling Fresh

Place a bowl of coffee grounds or bicarbonate of soda in the fridge to absorb unwanted odours.

13. Reuse Pickle Brine

Don’t toss your pickle brine! Use it to add flavour to potato salads, marinades, or cocktails.

14. Use Ice Cubes for Grease

Skim grease off soups or stews by holding an ice cube on a spoon and running it along the surface. The fat will harden around the ice, making it easier to remove.

15. Microwave Citrus for More Juice

Microwave lemons, limes, or oranges for 15 seconds to make them yield more juice.

16. Cool Drinks Quickly

Wrap bottles in a damp paper towel and place them in the freezer for 15 minutes for an icy-cold drink in record time.

17. Easy-to-Clean Blender Trick

Fill your blender halfway with warm water and a few drops of washing-up liquid, blend for 10 seconds, then rinse. No scrubbing required!

18. Freeze Leftover Sauce

Freeze leftover pasta or curry sauce in ice cube trays for quick, single-serve portions.

19. Use a Muffin Tin for Taco Toppings

Organise taco night by putting toppings in a muffin tin – everything’s in one spot, and there’s less cleanup.

20. Cut Cherry Tomatoes Quickly

Place a handful of tomatoes between two lids and slice through the middle with a sharp knife to halve them in seconds.

21. Keep Potatoes from Sprouting

Store an apple in the bag with your potatoes to keep them from sprouting too quickly.

22. Extend the Life of Fresh Berries

Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (3:1 ratio) before storing them. This reduces mould growth and extends their shelf life.

23. Perfectly Measure Sticky Ingredients

Coat measuring cups with oil before adding sticky ingredients like honey or syrup, so they slide right out.

24. Prevent Onions from Making You Cry

Chill onions in the freezer for 15 minutes before chopping, or cut them under cold running water to reduce the release of tear-inducing compounds.

25. Regenerate Wilted Greens

Soak wilted greens in ice water for 5–10 minutes to revive their crispness and freshness.

These kitchen hacks will be very useful to help the busy home cook and the commercial chefs of the UK, especially as they cater for Christmas feasting!

Incidentally, why not print this post off and pin it up in your kitchen or put it in your cook's folder? Actually, I'll be posting about your cook's folder and what you can put in it soon.