logo

Redditors Recommend Simple But Surprising Cooking Hacks Everyone Could Try

“Steaks make their own sauces. That stuff on the bottom of your pan? Deglaze it with some stock. Now stop eating T-bones with ketchup.”

Redditors Recommend Simple But Surprising Cooking Hacks Everyone Could Try

Some of the best cooking ideas are the simplest ones, and Reddit users just shared a batch of hacks that prove it. From stretching ingredients to making prep work less annoying, the thread is full of small tricks that can change the way a kitchen feels.

The original poster kicked things off with a couple of their own tips, then other amateur cooks and chefs jumped in with the kinds of shortcuts they learned from family, trial and error, or years of making dinner on the fly. A few of them are practical, a few are surprising, and some are just clever enough to make you wonder why you never thought of them first.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Here are the hacks that got people talking, and a few of them might end up in your regular rotation.

OP started with two hacks of their own

OP started with two hacks of their ownleonardo-di-caprisun
[ADVERTISEMENT]

Redditors kicked things off with a couple of simple tricks that set the tone for the whole thread.

Potatoes are very versatile, and if you want...

Potatoes are very versatile, and if you want...calinet6
[ADVERTISEMENT]

Something else other than fries from a fast-food chain, this could work

Something else other than fries from a fast-food chain, this could workcalinet6

If you need a cost-efficient way to make vegetable stock while reducing waste, you can do this with your scrap veggies

If you need a cost-efficient way to make vegetable stock while reducing waste, you can do this with your scrap veggiesGrendels-mum

A flavor-packed part of chicken is the thighs, despite people always trying to substitute it

A flavor-packed part of chicken is the thighs, despite people always trying to substitute itGratchki

Sprinkle a little magic, a.k.a. lemon zest, on your garlic bread

Sprinkle a little magic, a.k.a. lemon zest, on your garlic breadPhatChance52

Then the thread started leaning into the kind of kitchen shortcuts people love to pass around.

There have been way too many accidents involving chilis and bathroom breaks; here’s one way to prevent another mishap

There have been way too many accidents involving chilis and bathroom breaks; here’s one way to prevent another mishapCorneliusJenkins

Someone went through the trouble of figuring out the better option for messy sandwiches

Someone went through the trouble of figuring out the better option for messy sandwichesThrabalen

Two staple foods that go really well together

Two staple foods that go really well togetherPotusChrist

Ginger packs a punch, and you can keep it longer if you store it in the freezer

Ginger packs a punch, and you can keep it longer if you store it in the freezer365eats

Another scrap you should keep in the freezer, like those veggies, is parmesan rinds

Another scrap you should keep in the freezer, like those veggies, is parmesan rindsJerkrollatex

A little tip if you’re going to try this scissor hack

A little tip if you’re going to try this scissor hackDreadandButter

There are a lot of dominant flavors when you use pumpkin spice or bake banana bread. Orange juice might be your saving grace to balance it all out

There are a lot of dominant flavors when you use pumpkin spice or bake banana bread. Orange juice might be your saving grace to balance it all outJMSidhe

Add this to the list of bouillon on rice hacks

Add this to the list of bouillon on rice hacksguitargirl478

A few of the suggestions were less about flair and more about making everyday cooking easier.

Also, this reminds me of the AITA fight over whether to share a secret family recipe for a cooking competition.

Next time you finish your pickles, try this hack with the remaining brine first

Next time you finish your pickles, try this hack with the remaining brine firstskakkuru

Additional cleaning might put you off cooking, so any tip to lessen that is welcome

Additional cleaning might put you off cooking, so any tip to lessen that is welcomeCelebratingPi

It’s always annoying when you want to pack the meat with flavor, but it decides to be stubborn and slide off

It’s always annoying when you want to pack the meat with flavor, but it decides to be stubborn and slide offMercuryCrest

It might also help with time, as you don’t have to keep rearranging things to have space to slice

It might also help with time, as you don’t have to keep rearranging things to have space to sliceBigSweetness

Aiming for a juicy steak instead of one doused with condiments? This might do the trick

Aiming for a juicy steak instead of one doused with condiments? This might do the trickMahjongNucleus

Sometimes bread goes stale too quickly, and if you’re not one to throw things away willy-nilly

Sometimes bread goes stale too quickly, and if you’re not one to throw things away willy-nillyima_stranger

Works smoothly like frozen butter

Works smoothly like frozen butterKristara789

It wouldn’t make a difference anyway whether it’s crumpled or not

It wouldn’t make a difference anyway whether it’s crumpled or notohanse

Also saves on buying more equipment, and you’ll be instantly sure that it’s cut at the bottom

Also saves on buying more equipment, and you’ll be instantly sure that it’s cut at the bottomdgj130

This sweet hack might upgrade those brownie corners

This sweet hack might upgrade those brownie cornerstopazlacee

Toss them in some oil, but not just any ordinary oil—use toasted sesame oil

Toss them in some oil, but not just any ordinary oil—use toasted sesame oil[deleted]

Want to lessen the crumbs and mishappen broccoli or cauliflower? You can try cutting them this way

Want to lessen the crumbs and mishappen broccoli or cauliflower? You can try cutting them this wayJanuary1171

If you still can’t master the claw slicing technique, how about holding on to the ends?

If you still can’t master the claw slicing technique, how about holding on to the ends?MMCookingChannel

Chopsticks deserve an award for the ways...

Chopsticks deserve an award for the ways...ghosttownblue

they can accommodate cooking needs

they can accommodate cooking needsghosttownblue

Now that you know how to make potatoes cook faster, add this to the ways you can take potatoes to the next level

Now that you know how to make potatoes cook faster, add this to the ways you can take potatoes to the next levelladyships-a-legend

Never thought roux could be included in the fast-food menu

Never thought roux could be included in the fast-food menuwhateverpieces

Reduce that garlic smell that sticks to your hands when you chop it

Reduce that garlic smell that sticks to your hands when you chop itmagenta_mojo

Other than salt and pepper, these are great additions to eggs

Other than salt and pepper, these are great additions to eggsArachisDiogoi

Cooking can be the new adventure you’re looking for. It may not always turn out well, but if it does, then you have something to enjoy eating.

Food can bring people together and carry messages that you want to convey. These cooking hacks might make you more successful in trying out more recipes.

Do you have any cooking or food hacks you want to share? You can submit them in the comments.

Some kitchen tricks are small, but they stick.

Want more “make it work” energy? Check out how ordinary daily tasks got easier with simple fixes.

More articles you might like