10 Popular Cooking Tricks. Many of Them Are Myths!
5:11 PM EDT, August 8, 2022
Our grandmothers and mothers always knew how to solve any kitchen problems quickly. Baking or cooking was no challenge for them, and they overcame it day-to-day without any difficulties. Unfortunately, from generation to generation, we forget the simplest tricks that prove to be the most effective!
Due to the fact that the Internet has become a source of knowledge, we look for homemade tricks, on sites like this one, which we are very happy about, nevertheless, it is worth checking which kitchen tricks actually work, and which ones suck, to put it colloquially. Today we'll play "Mythbusters" and check out 10 kitchen tricks!
#1 To Make the Dough Thicker, Mix Baking Soda With Vinegar.
To test this trick, you don't even need to bake a cake, just remember your chemistry lessons. In order for baking soda to be used as a baking powder, you need to create an acidic environment. In the 1960s, housewives for some reason decided to mix baking soda with vinegar; the reaction releases carbon dioxide, which adds some "fluffiness" to the dough. The problem is that the carbon dioxide will escape before it reaches the dough.
It's best if you mix the baking soda with the dry ingredients or something acidic, then with the liquid and finally quickly mix the two parts and start baking. In this method, instead of vinegar, it is better to use sour cream, buttermilk or lime juice or just go and buy baking powder.
It is believed that this method does not work at all. The conclusion? This trick is better left in the past.
#2 To Clean a Dirty Pot, Boil Water With Salt in It
The old home method for cleaning a burnt pot says to pour a large amount of water into it, then add salt and bring it to a boil. Unfortunately, this advice did not ease the disaster and our poor saucepan continued to be dirty. In addition, a large amount of salt can spoil stainless steel pots. A more effective way to clean scorch marks is to soak the saucepan or pan in warm water and leave it overnight. It will be much easier to clean it in the morning. This myth is also debunked.
#3 To Peel Eggs More Easily, Place Them in Cold Water After They Are Cooked
Many people think that peeling eggs depends on the temperature of the water they are in right after cooking. It turns out that placing them in cold water is simply not enough. We asked a chef with years of experience if placing perfectly cooked eggs in cold water works. He advised leaving the eggs in hot water rather than cold, as most of us usually do. It turns out that, indeed, eggshells peel better when the egg is left in warm water. However, you have to be careful with this trick, because the egg might just crack.
Here are some secrets:
- The fresher the egg, the harder it is to get rid of the shell.
- Fresh eggs should be placed in cold water for at least 15 minutes and should be washed under cold running water.
- To make sure that the egg does not crack, try to cook them in pairs.
Conclusion: the cold water trick can work if the above rules are followed.
#4 To Make Your Hands Not Smell of Fish, You Need to Wash Them in Cold Water and Then Rub Them With Lemon or Vinegar
It's hard to get rid of the smell of fish, and sometimes even beautifully scented soaps don't help. A good old tip is to wash your hands under cold water and then rub them with lemon. Also, a small amount of vinegar can help. After testing this trick, it turns out that it actually works.
#5 To Peel Onions Without Crying, Place the Knife in Cold Water
Cooking with onions can be a hassle, especially if you want to cut them in half or chop them. Our eyes are sensitive and start tearing in seconds. Instead of using a trick and soaking the knife before slicing, it's better to occasionally get it wet while chopping. This tip usually works, but it all depends on the intense smell of the onions.
#6 To Keep Cheese Fresh Longer, Wrap It in Parchment.
We usually buy cheese that is wrapped in foil paper or other plastic packaging. However, parchment is said to be better for storing food items including cheese. The cheese that was wrapped in parchment was placed in the refrigerator for three days. The second piece was left in its original packaging. It turned out that the piece wrapped in parchment became dry and stale, while the other was intact. However, it is best to eat the cheese as soon as possible, but the conclusion is simple - the trick does not work.
#7 To Peel Potatoes Easily, Leave Them in Ice Water
Peeling potatoes before cooking them can be really difficult! The skin often sticks to the knife and fingers and is difficult to remove. Instead of fighting the annoying problem, it is better to use a simple trick. Thoroughly wash the potatoes and then cook them with the skin on. After taking them out of the pot of boiling water, place them in cold water with ice cubes for a few minutes. This method allows you to peel the potato without any problems, but there is a certain "but". The vegetable becomes slightly watery, but nevertheless their taste remains unchanged. Conclusion - the trick actually works.
#8 To Quickly Cool a Cold Drink, Place It in a Dish With Plenty of Ice and Add Salt.
A simple physics lesson - if you add salt, the ice begins to melt, but its temperature drops. A mixture like this is able to cool down a really hot drink, in literally minutes. Nevertheless, placing freshly brewed tea in a bowl with plenty of ice cubes should also be enough, but it may take longer to cool down. It turns out that this trick also works.
#9 To Keep Onions From Being Bitter, Pour Hot Water Over Them.
Only a small number of people do not pay attention to the bitter aftertaste of onions in dishes. It turns out that there is a trick to "disarm" the pungent taste of onions. After chopping, place it in a small bowl and pour boiling water over it and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. Drain the vegetable and add it to the dish. This trick actually works!
#10 To Keep Avocado Halves From Turning Black, Store Them in a Bag With Sliced Onions
Many people know that if you slice the fruit and leave it in the refrigerator, after less than a day it will start to darken and change its flavor. Housewives recommend placing the avocado along with half an onion in a Ziploc bag to counteract the aging process of the fruit. It turns out that this trick is ineffective - not only did the avocado turn dark, but it also smelled of onions….
And do you know any tricks that didn't work?