11-20 kitchen time saving tips: 10. Easily scoop out squash seeds. Scoop seeds from vegetables such as squash and pumpkin with an ice cream scoop. Because the edge of the scoop is sharp, it cuts through the fibery, gooey stuff inside the squash easier than your hand or a regular spoon. 11. Never wrestle eggshell pieces again. Scoop up bits of broken eggshell from a batter or bowl of cracked eggs ready from scrambling with an already cracked egg. Gently ladle out the piece of shell with half of an eggshell. The shell acts as a magnet to draw up shell pieces without wasting too much egg. 12. Skim the fat. Remove excess fat from stocks, stews, and sauces by skimming a few ice cubes (wrapped in a paper towel or cheese cloth) along the surface of the liquid. The ice helps the fat solidify, making it easier to remove with a spoon or a piece of toast. 13. Separate yolks from whites. Separate eggs by gently squeezing a plastic water bottle over a cracked egg. When the bottle re-inflates with air, it will scoop the yolk right up. (Disclaimer: This method may take a little practice.) 14. Pit cherries with ease. Place cherries on top of an empty beer bottle, one at a time, and use a chopstick to push the pit into the bottle. 15. Pit stone fruits with a twist. Pit stone fruits, such as plums and nectarines, by cutting them into two equal halves and twisting the halves in opposite directions. Use your thumb to pop out the pit (if your thumb doesn’t do the job, gently pry it out with a butter knife, or cut into quarters for easier separating). 16. Peel that papery skin from ginger. Ditch the peeler in favor of a spoon to peel finicky ginger root. 17. Peel garlic the fuss-free way. Remove all cloves from the bulb then whack each clove with the side of a chef’s knife. The skin will fall right off. 18. Peel citrus fruits without the mess. If you’re like me, peeling an orange is a lengthy, difficult process. To avoid the mess and frustration, roll citrus fruits and/or microwave them for one minute for easy peeling (just be careful to not burn yourself). 19. De-skin potatoes without a peeler. Time to ditch the peeler again! Peel a potato in a snap by boiling it and then giving it an ice bath. The skins will separate from the potatoey center and you can pick them right off! 20. Flip that banana upside down. Ever had issues prying into a banana? You’re not alone. Instead of wasting precious banana by hacking into the fruit’s stem end with a knife, gently press the bottom together and peel the banana from the bottom up.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 23:10:08 +0000
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