Do you dream of becoming a kitchen warrior? You know, someone who can improvise without all the fancy kitchen gadgets? It’s time you learned a few kitchen tips and tricks that’ll improve your efficiency and take your cooking skills up a notch. You might just find that your food tastes better too!
I’ve got 21 clever kitchen hacks to make you a culinary master and give you rock star chef status…all with basic tools you may already have or can easily add to your kitchen. So roll up your sleeves, put on your apron, and let’s get started!
If you’re missing one of these super kitchen tools, never fear! You’ll find a great selection plus ease the stress on your wallet with Sears promo codes and Kmart coupon codes! P.S. All of our kitchen tools recommended here can be found at both stores!
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1. Make microwave scrambled eggs
Cake Boss 10-inch Stainless Steel Balloon Whisk, $8.75
To scramble an egg, mix it up in a mug using a whisk, then microwave for 45 seconds. You’ll have a perfectly cooked egg in under a minute!
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2. Perfect your omelets with a panini maker
Chef Buddy 3-in-1 Panini Press, $34.56
Omelets take a bit of patience to set, but not with a panini maker! Pour your mixture in a panini press instead to make delicious omelets in a snap.
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3. Crack eggs into cute shapes
Wilton Nesting Star Cookie Cutters, $4.79
Make your morning special with whimsical shaped eggs for breakfast. Simply place a metal cookie cutter in the center of your frying pan, crack an egg in the middle of the cookie cutter, and let your egg set in the shape of a star. That’s truly a great way to start the day!
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4. Keep ice cream fresher than ever
Ziploc Gallon Freezer Bags, $3.40
Freezer burn on ice cream is a big bummer. Don’t let it ruin your ice cream! Use a gallon-sized plastic freezer bag to seal up your ice cream and keep unwanted freezer burn away.
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5. Get more out of your lemons
BergHOFF Salad Serving Tong, $9.99
Ever squeeze a lemon and get only a few drips out? Use a pair of kitchen tongs to gain some leverage. Simply put the lemon in between the tongs and squeeze shut. You’ll be surprised at how much juice comes out!
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6. Dice avocados in an instant
Touchables Potato Masher, $14.99
Perfectly dice your avocados for guacamole with a potato masher, then break out the chips for this delicious dip.
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7. Make bacon without a pan
Presto 7-Inch Waffle Maker, $35.21
Make bacon in a waffle maker! There’s no need to flip the bacon — simply place it in the waffle maker, put the lid down, and you’ll have crispy bacon in no time. While you’re at it, you can cook up some frozen hash browns in the waffle iron, too!
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8. Easy DIY roasted peppers
Essential Home Steamer Basket, $8.49
Roast peppers in a vegetable steamer. Simply place the de-stemmed peppers in the steamer, put the steamer on your stove’s gas burner, and cook until blackened. Once blackened, take off the burner and place a metal bowl over the peppers for 15 minutes. After this, you’ll be able to easily peel the skins off!
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9. Hack a terrine pan
Wilton Non-Stick Loaf Pan, $4.99
Try your hand at making a delicious French baking pan favorite, the terrine. Simply fill one loaf pan with your recipe, then top with a second loaf pan, sliding it inside and baking with the loaf pan on top.
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10. Get fresh nutmeg with a grater
OXO Fine Zester/Grater, $10.99
There’s no need for a special grater if your recipe calls for fresh nutmeg. Use this fine-toothed grater to get finely grated nutmeg the easy way.
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11. Grind your own spices without breaking a sweat
Hamilton Beach Platinum Custom Coffee Grinder, $18.12
Using fresh spices can make all the difference in a recipe. Instead of a messy mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder makes it easy to grind your own spices, giving you the freshest, most high-quality flavor that you just can’t get from bottled spices.
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12. Cut butternut squash like a pro
CooknCo Meat Hammer, $14.99
Cutting into a butternut squash can be a dangerous venture. If your knife isn’t sharp enough, it can slip and cut you by mistake. Use a tenderizer or kitchen mallet to tap on the top of the knife, allowing it to split open the squash safely.
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13. Add a little fun to your mug
Cake Boss 7-Piece Heart Cookie Cutter Set, $11.24
Hot chocolate with whipped cream is a special treat, but make it even better with a heart. Place a metal cookie cutter on top of your hot chocolate and you’ll know just where to squirt your whipped cream.
Heart-shaped whipped cream is the perfect way to let someone know they’re special! For a prep-ahead option, spoon whipped topping into silicone molds and freeze. You’ll have adorable shapes ready to pop into a mug of hot cocoa.
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14. Freeze lemons for perfect party fare
Essential Home 12-Cup Non-Stick Muffin Pan, $7.49
A glass pitcher filled with extra large lemon-infused ice cubes makes a dramatic statement for guests. Pour water in each cup a sturdy muffin pan, place a slice of lemon in each cup, then freeze.
You’ll have extra large lemony ice cubes that transform water from plain to elegant. You can try other fruits and even herbs like mint, rosemary, and thyme for a variety of flavors!
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15. Make more space with this easy trick
Columbian Poly Cutting Board, $9.99
Short on kitchen space? Open the top utensil drawer and place a cutting board across it for extra prep space. This handy trick will give yourself more space for chopping.
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16. Scoop ice cream in seconds
Chicago Cutlery 10-Inch Bread Knife, $17.09
If scooping rock solid ice cream is seemingly impossible, place the tub of ice cream under hot running water for 15-30 seconds. Invert the tub and let the ice cream slide out onto a plate. Use a large, sharp bread knife to easily cut slices of ice cream — no scoop needed!
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17. Cut the perfect slice of cake
Ginsu Chikara Signature Series 8-Inch Chef Knife, $24.69
Having trouble cutting perfect slices of cake? The cake may be getting stuck to the knife. Run a kitchen knife under warm running water, then slice the cake. Now admire your perfect slices!
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18. Open jars without worry
Channellock Code Blue Bottle Opener, $4.99
If you’ve tried everything to loosen a tight jar lid, I’ve got a simple solution! Typically a bottle opener punctures a tin can, but it does quick work on a jar lid. Simply use a can opener to lift the edge of the jar lid until you hear a pop. It’s that easy!
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19. Make real mayo with this blender trick
Hamilton Beach Multi-Function Blender, $34.12
Fresh, homemade mayonnaise is a real culinary treat, and all you need is a cup of oil and a pasteurized egg to get started. Toss your ingredients in a blender and you’ll have creamy mayonnaise in minutes! A basic blender actually whips up a batch of fresh-made mayo.
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20. Keep pots from boiling over & making a mess
Kenmore Wooden Cooking Spoon, $5.99
Prevent water from boiling over the sides of your pot by resting a wooden spoon across the top of it. The spoon will actually mellow the bubbles and tame your boiling water.
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21. Make your own gluten-free bread crumbs
Hamilton Beach Stack & Snap 10-Cup Food Processor, $49.68
Place brown rice cereal in a food processor and pulse until the mixture turns into coarse crumbs. Boom! Homemade gluten-free breadcrumbs, perfect for coating baked chicken or tossing on top of salads.
diy / 21 Best Food & Kitchen Hacks We Can’t Survive Without
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