15 Kitchen Hacks That Will Save You Time
January 15, 2026 • 10 min read
As professional chefs will tell you, cooking efficiently is just as important as cooking well. These 15 kitchen hacks will help you save precious time without sacrificing quality.
1. Freeze Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil
Chop fresh herbs and freeze them in ice cube trays with olive oil. Pop out a cube whenever you need instant flavor for sautéing.
2. Use a Muffin Tin for Mise en Place
Before cooking, prep all your ingredients in a muffin tin. Each cup holds a different ingredient, keeping everything organized and within reach.
3. Peel Ginger with a Spoon
Skip the peeler! Use the edge of a spoon to scrape off ginger skin. It's faster and wastes less of the precious root.
4. Microwave Citrus for More Juice
Warm lemons and limes in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before juicing. You'll extract up to 50% more juice.
5. Store Cheese with Butter
Rub the cut edge of hard cheese with butter to prevent it from drying out. It creates a natural seal that keeps cheese fresh longer.
6. Use Dental Floss for Perfect Slices
Unflavored dental floss cuts through soft cheeses, cakes, and sushi rolls more cleanly than a knife.
7. Revive Stale Bread in the Oven
Sprinkle stale bread with water and bake at 300°F for 5-10 minutes. It'll taste fresh-baked again!
8. Pre-Portion Ground Meat
When you buy ground meat in bulk, divide it into meal-sized portions, flatten in freezer bags, and freeze. They'll thaw much faster when flat.
9. Clean Your Blender the Easy Way
Fill your dirty blender halfway with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Blend for 30 seconds, rinse, and you're done!
10. Use a Wine Bottle as a Rolling Pin
In a pinch, a clean wine bottle (filled with cold water) makes an excellent rolling pin for dough.
11. Prevent Pasta Water from Boiling Over
Place a wooden spoon across the top of your pot. The wood breaks the surface tension and prevents boil-overs.
12. Ripen Avocados Faster
Store unripe avocados in a paper bag with a banana or apple. The ethylene gas will ripen them in 1-2 days.
13. Test Oil Temperature Without a Thermometer
Drop a popcorn kernel in your oil. When it pops, the oil is ready for frying (about 350°F).
14. Prevent Potatoes from Budding
Store potatoes with apples. The ethylene gas from apples prevents potatoes from sprouting.
15. Sharpen Knives with a Coffee Mug
Turn a ceramic coffee mug upside down and run your knife blade across the unglazed bottom ring at a 20-degree angle. It works surprisingly well!
The Bottom Line
These kitchen hacks aren't just time-savers—they're game-changers. Implement even a few of these tricks, and you'll notice your cooking becoming more efficient and enjoyable. Which hack will you try first?
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