63 Kitchen Hacks That Will Make Cooking a Joy in 2024
Looking for great kitchen hacks? Using your kitchen should be a pleasant and inviting experience no matter how you spend time there, whether it's multi-course meals or a quick heating up of leftovers. You can make it all easier by creating a usable and attractive space that maximizes efficiency and storage.
What is a good kitchen hack? How can I spend less time in my kitchen? We’ve rounded up a few ideas that will make cooking much more enjoyable and keep your kitchen primed for creating culinary masterpieces. Most are easy to do with things you may already have in your kitchen or pantry.
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Genius Cooking Hacks
1. Cooking Classes
One of the best ways to learn new skills and master great new kitchen hacks is by enrolling in a cooking class. Looking for some kitchen tips? Not only can you learn to cook various cuisines and regional favorites, but also garner valuable basic skills that make preparing food all the more easy.
There are an abundance of cooking classes near you, including cooking classes in Baltimore, cooking classes in Grand Rapids and cooking classes in Venice. You can also enroll in one of many Zoom cooking classes from wherever you may be located. A cooking class voucher also makes a great gift for foodies.
2. Cook Meatballs on a Cooling Rack
Love this Italian staple but hate the grease and overcooked bottoms? Try cooking your meatballs on a metal mesh cooling rack that suspends them above the pan, allowing the grease to drip off and allowing a nice toasted edge all around the meatball. This is also great for cooking meatballs in sauce for Swedish meatballs or grape jelly meatball appetizers.
3. Chill Wine With Salt Water
Salt water holds its cool more readily even than iced water. If you don’t have access to a bucket of ice, add some salt to water to create a saline solution instead and submerge the bottle in the water for a half an hour to chill it slightly.
4. Place Onions in Fridge for No-Tears Slicing
If you want to be able to slice or dice onions without the strong scent making your eyes water, try chilling them for a few hours before peeling and slicing. While you shouldn’t keep onions in the fridge permanently, a short time can lower the temperature and make them easier to work with tear-free.
5. Make Easy Herb and Lemon Butter
Turn an ordinary stick of butter into luscious lemon and herb butter simply by softening the stick in a bowl and adding some lemon juice and the herbs of your choice. Use this genius cooking hack for infused butter either while cooking or for a delicious spreadable butter perfect for toast or rolls.
6. Dice Eggs with a Cooling Rack
For diced hard boiled eggs, use a mesh cooling rack as an easy kitchen hack for perfect cubes everytime. Just place the pelled egg on the counter and press down with the rack, cubing the eggs in the process. This also works for soft fruits and veggies like tomatoes or bananas.
7. Peel Garlic in the Microwave
One of the most time-consuming steps when working with garlic is peeling. For a genius cooking hack, pop your garlic bulbs in the microwave for 30 seconds. The heat will loosen the skin and you can practically just shake them away.
8. Pit Cherries With a Chopstick
If you’re looking for a great hack for putting fruit like cherries or olives, use a chopstick to press through the center of the fruit, poking all the way through to propel the pit from the flesh. You can also use a straw to remove the center stem of strawberries.
9. Grease Pans with a Butter Wrapper
Save your butter wrappers in a plastic bag and use them as an easy way to grease muffin pan recesses or pans for easy baking and a kitchen hack that preserves your butter to the last drop.
10. Freeze Soup Base in Plastic Bags
Make a simple soup starter by boiling carrots, onions, mushrooms, broth and other ingredients and then freeze small packets in plastic freezer bags. This allows you to make soups that taste like they’ve been simmering for hours in only a few minutes. Bring the base and additional water to a boil, then add rice or noodles for perfect soup every time.
11. Shuck Corn in the Microwave
Another vegetable that can benefit from some time in the microwave. Is corn. Loosen corn stalks by heating ears of corn in the microwave for 30 seconds. This releases their grip and makes them fall away much more easily.
12. Too salty? Add a Potato or Apple Slice
If you have somehow oversalted your soup, a great kitchen hack to save it is to add a segment of tomato or apple, whose sweetness and starch will help balance the salt back to a more neutral level and undo the damage of an overzealous shaker.
13. Add an Egg Wash to Store-Bought Baked Goods
If you want a handmade taste without all the fuss, try adding an egg wash to any store-bought baked goods, including rolls, bread or croissants. Not only will the egg give a nice glaze and crunch to the outside, but you can also use the glaze to add things like herbs or grated cheese for a much more flavorful baked item.
14. Cook Hash browns in a Waffle Maker
For a fun kitchen hack that makes cooking hash browns fun, try cooking them in a waffle iron, which will give them a unique shape and texture. This is also a great hack for adding hash browns to breakfast sandwiches.
Kitchen Storage Hacks
15. Use Hooks for Storage
Command hooks can be great for storing things in your cupboards. Stick them on the wall or door inside and use them to hold potholders, dish sponges, towels and utensils you need easy access to. You can also use two hooks and dowel between them to store rolled materials like paper towels, plastic wrap and foil on a wall or inside a cabinet.
16. Store Picnic Supplies in Cooler
If you have items like outdoor-use dishes and flatware, matches, travel condiments and other items necessary for outdoor cooking, keep them stashed inside your cooler to keep them all in one place. When packing for an outing, just remove them to fill the cooler. Put them all in a tote bag and they will be ready to go.
17. Bubble Wrap Ice Cream
If you are having a birthday party and want a way to keep a gallon or pint of ice cream out as you serve, wrap the container in bubble wrap. This will help preserve the ice cream and keep it from getting too soft or melting. It’s also a great trick if you have to make a stop on your way home from the store and don’t have a cooler bag in your car.
18. Keep Brown Sugar Soft with Marshmallows
Brown sugar has a tendency to harden and clump up if not in use. Put a couple of marshmallows in the bag with the brown sugar to keep it from forming a solid mass. The marshmallows steadily release moisture that keeps the brown sugar moist and loose.
19. Keep Plastic Wrap in the Fridge
A great kitchen hack is keeping your plastic wrap where you most likely are to use it. Keeping the wrap cool also makes it a little bit easier to work with without being too clingy as you try to wrap and decreasing the static. You can also just easily wrap things up as you put them into the refrigerator.
20. Keep Trash Bags at the Bottom of Can
For an easy kitchen hack to make changing out the trash bag much more expedient, keep the spare bags at the bottom of the can. This way you can easily remove and replace the bag without having to retrieve bags from a drawer or cupboard.
21. Use First In / First Out to Organize
In your fridge or cupboards, keep older items near the front where they are more likely to get used faster, replacing new things in the back. This will eliminate waste for often replaced items and keep you from having a messy fridge full of almost empties.
22. Add an Island or Cart to Your Kitchen
If you have a small kitchen, storage space can often be at a premium. Even if you lack cabinet or shelf space, a small kitchen cart can work great as an island or for extra storage against the wall that can be moved to where you need it. Use the shelves below for storing pots, pans or dishware, while the top doubles as extra prep space during cooking.
23. Use Plastic Shower Caps for Leftovers
For an alternative to more expensive plastic covers and an easier way to wrap than rolls, use plastic shower caps, often sold in bulk, to place over plates and bowls to preserve leftovers. The elastic edges will fit securely around the bowl and won’t allow air in to spoil or dry out your food.
24. Add Stacking Risers for More Cupboard Space
Cupboards often have a lot of unused area near the top, especially for cabinets that tend to house smaller or shorter items. Maximize your space with the great kitchen hack of using a small riser or stackable shelves inside larger cabinets.
This is also great for dishes, since you can stack plates on multiple platforms and pull out the one you want much more easily. It also works perfectly for small containers like baking supplies and spices. For a great DIY home décor project, install narrow shelves around the perimeter of the cabinet for a spice rack.
25. Use Pant Hangers to Keep Bags Closed
Pant hangers that feature a clasp that holds pants firmly on the hanger can be a great kitchen storage hack for clipping closed snack bags and other ingredients to keep them fresh. You can even install small plastic hooks or metal cup hooks on the bottom of cabinet shelves to hang these items aloft.
26. Use a Shoe Organizer in Your Pantry
If you have a door to a pantry in your kitchen, use a plastic compartment shoe organizer as a place to stash pantry goods where they are easy to keep track of and grab.
The plastic pockets are perfect for holding condiments, bags of snacks and other small items like skewers and straws. You can also cut a large organizer into segments to hang on smaller cabinet doors for a great kitchen hack for storage.
27. Organize Your Lids
Keeping lids separate, be they for pots and pans or storage containers, makes them much easier to find and prevents clutter that can amass in unruly cabinets.
For a cool kitchen idea among the top 10 kitchen hacks, use an organizer to keep them standing on their sides for much easier storage for lids of all sizes. Great options include file folder holders, napkin holders and other racks meant to hold thin objects.
28. Use the Side of Your Fridge or Stove
If you’re looking for extra space in a tight kitchen, don’t forget the sides of your fridge and stove. Both allow you to hang magnetic hooks or small hanging shelves to keep things up and off your counters but still close enough to be functional. Use them for hanging utensils, tools and potholders. You can even buy larger capacity magnetic hooks to hold pans.
29. Place an Egg Carton for Mess-Free Condiment Storage
Messy condiments in the door of your fridge can be prevented with this cool kitchen hack that reuses an egg carton to catch all those drips and spills. Use them to hold your ketchup, mustard and salad dressings upside down without leaks for easy storage.
30. Store Your Fridge Items in Pretty Bowls
With social media abuzz with “fridgesaping” reels, making your icebox pretty can go a long way toward helping to make your kitchen experience more pleasant. Hit the thrift store for pretty ceramic bowls for fruit and veggies or baskets holding larger containers for easy access
Kitchen Tool Hacks
31. Upcycle Shaker Tops
Before throwing out your parmesan containers or other shakeable goods, pry off the top shaker part with a butter knife and save it to use on other similarly sized jars. These shakers are great for everything from sugar to sprinkles for baked goods.
32. Use Thick Rubber Bands to Label Jars
Jar labels can get messy and easily peel off. Use a thick rubber band around the jar instead of a paper label. Just use ink or a Sharpie to write the contents or date. The rubberband will stay in place and will not leave a sticky residue behind afterward.
33. Use an Apple Slicer to Cut Fries
Instead of using a knife, use an apple slicer as a great kitchen hack to create home style fries out of potatoes. You will get perfectly sized and shaped wedges every time with this kitchen tool hack.
34. Cut Herbs with a Pizza Cutter
For great kitchen hacks while preparing herbs, use a pizza cutter for slicing instead of a knife. Not only is this faster for cutting herbs like mint, basil and rosemary, but it’s safer, particularly if you have to chop very finely.
35. Use a Lazy Susan
These spinnable storage units come in all varieties of materials and sizes, but they can be a great kitchen hack when used on a counter or in a cabinet for storage. Use one to keep cans organized in a pantry or on the counter to keep your coffee supplies all in one place. A countertop lazy Susan or turntable makes a great cooking gift. They also make perfect gifts for crafters to store and access supplies.
36. Use a Sheet Pan to Organize Ingredients
If you are cooking with lots of ingredients, try keeping them on a large baking sheet or tray. Not only will this extra step keep things at the ready, it consolidates everything in one place and keeps the counters more free for cooking. It will also keep open packages and wrappers from dripping and getting crumbs everywhere.
37. Warm Up Your Knife
Dip your knife in warm water before cutting items like cheese or butter for a clean pass-through everytime. It’s a kitchen tool hack that also works great for slicing into ice cream cakes and other frozen desserts.
38. Store Single Servings in an Ice Cube Tray
Keep extra spaghetti sauce on hand from your last batch in small cubes in your freezer. Fill an ice tray with single-serve marinara sauces for homemade taste in minutes on your pasta or for dipping.
39. Place a Wet Dish Towel Underneath to Prevent Slipping
This kitchen hack works great to keep bowls from slipping around while you stir and to keep cutting boards in place as your slice and dice. Place a wet dish towel under your work area that will create enough friction to keep anything on the surface in place.
40. Use Ironing Board as a Cooling Rack
If you have an ironing rack in your kitchen or nearby, slip off the cover, give it a good cleaning and use the mesh wireframe as an extra cooling rack for baked goods when you are making a lot for holidays or gatherings.
41. Use Plates or Lids to Slice Small Veggies & Fruit
If you have to slice cherry tomatoes or grapes, do them all at once by placing them between two plates or plastic lids. Simply hold them in place and slice through the middle with your knife. This kitchen hack that actually works results in much less slicing and much less mess on your counter or cutting board.
42. Use a Wine Bottle As a Rolling Pin
If you don’t have a conventional rolling pin, an unopened wine bottle or one refilled with water, makes a great kitchen hack replacement. Use pressure and the weight of the bottle to roll out your dough. Store it in a cabinet or wine rack after using.
43. Cut Your Pizza With Kitchen Scissors
If you don’t have a pizza cutter on hand, slicing into a pizza can be challenging. Instead, use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut your thin crust easily into pieces. Since this will leave behind a fair amount of grease and cheese, make sure to thoroughly clean them before and after use.
44. Use a Condiment Bottle for Pancake Batter
Use a plastic squeeze bottle to make shaped pancakes very easily. Just pour in the batter and squeeze it out into basic circles or fun shapes. You can even store away batter in the fridge on the regular to avoid having to mix a new batch daily.
45. Use a Mason Jar Lid for Egg Sandwiches
Envious of those perfect fast-food breakfast sandwiches? Get the perfect circular egg by using the outside rim of a mason jar lid as a mold. Just place the lid down on the griddle or pan and pour scrambled eggs inside. Or crack your egg directly into the lid for a kitchen hack that actually works.
Kitchen Hacks for Cleaning
46. Have a Spot for Everything
One of the easiest ways to keep your kitchen clean and clutter-free is making sure there is room and a spot for everything you need. Items without one tend to wind up shoved wherever they fit or left out on counters and other surfaces, resulting in unwanted clutter. Having everything put in place also makes cleaning much faster and more enjoyable.
47. Use Cold Tea for Sparkling Glass
A great alternative to Windex is leftover cold tea. It will make your surfaces and windows shine without marks or residue. Just mix tea with water in a spray bottle for easy application and a great kitchen hack for cleaning.
48. Use Command Hooks to Keep Trash Bag in Place
A great kitchen hack for keeping your trash bag in place if it has a tendency to slip down is installing small adhesive hooks on the outside of the can to loop the handles around. This will keep the bag securely in place until you remove the handles to take it out.
49. Remove the Bottom Tray to Clean Under the Oven
Cleaning under large appliances can be a challenge. For a great kitchen hack, just remove the bottom tray or drawer of your oven to easily clean underneath without moving the entire thing.
50. Use Olive Oil to Polish Steel
Use a rag dipped in olive oil to polish stainless steel without leaving any marks. This kitchen hack for cleaning works for appliances and stovetops, as well as for steel utensils like grilling tools.
51. Clean Your Microwave with Lemons
If your microwave is subject to spills and splatters, an easy kitchen hack will help remedy it. Place a bowl of water and some lemon slices inside and heat for 2-3 minutes, letting the steam from the water fill the interior. This will loosen debris and allow you to clean it by simply wiping the surfaces inside.
52. Keep Coffee Grounds in Your Fridge
Used coffee grounds can be a great alternative to baking soda to eliminate odors in your fridge. Just collect them in an open mason jar and place them near the back of the fridge, swapping them out every couple of weeks to freshen them up.
53. Use Baking Soda to Remedy Coffee Stains
If you have persistent coffee or tea stains in the bottoms of your favorite mugs, use a baking soda and water paste to remove them. Mix the solution and apply with a small brush or extra toothbrush, scrubbing until the mug is free of stains.
54. Use Vinegar to Clear a Slow Faucet
If hard water or build up is making your faucet slow, descale it overnight by placing a plastic bag rubber banded around the end of the faucet to break down any build up. Do this regularly to your kitchen, bathroom or shower heads to keep them running free and clear.
55. Put Parchment Paper on Top of Fridge and Cabinets
If cleaning high surfaces is a pain, make the process much easier with this kitchen hack. Just place newspaper or parchment paper on top the fridge or upper cabinets to prevent them collecting dust, dirt or grease on the actual surface Just swap out the paper for new a couple times per year.
56. Use a Mesh Laundry Bag in Your Dishwasher
Use a mesh zippered bag in your dishwasher to keep track of small objects like scoops, funnels, lids and kitchen tools that tend to fall through the racks. When done washing, just empty the bag and save for next time.
57. Use Oven Cleaner on Pots and Pans
For dirty pots and pans with lots of scorch marks and build-up on the outside, spritz the exterior of the pan with oven cleaner. Leave it for 20-30 minutes, then wipe with a paper towel or sponge to clean away the cleaner and marks.
58. Pour Dish Soap In Your Drain to De-Grease
For a great kitchen hack, periodically pour some dishwashing liquid straight into your drain to help dissolve any grease build, rinsing liberally with hot water after all. Do this at least once a month to keep drains clean and build-up free.
59. Cover Sponges in Mesh Packaging
For an easy reuse kitchen hack, use mesh bags that wrap your produce to cover sponges for a DIY scrubber for getting off even the most tenacious sticky messes. When the mesh wears down, just take it off and replace it with a fresh bag.
60. Use Lemon Juice to Clean Your Stove
Mix water with the juice of a lemon for an easy natural kitchen hack for keeping your stovetop clean and grease-free. Spray, then leave for 10 minutes and return to wipe down with a rag or sponge, leaving behind a fresh citrus scent.
61. Keep a Scrap Bowl Close By While Cooking
To prevent messy counters and dropped messes on the way to the trash, keep a scrap bowl near your prep area to put fill with trimmings, egg shells, packaging and other mess to dispose of all at once later.
62. Keep Your Junk Drawer Neat
Wondering what to do in the kitchen when you're bored? Organize your junk drawer! By its nature and name, a junk drawer is often a catch-all for everything from batteries to tools.
You can make it easier to navigate and much nicer to open by using smaller boxes or containers to help organize items within.
63. Close Up Your Kitchen for the Night
Before going to bed each night, make sure to clean and reset the kitchen. Not only will it make the next day easier without a sink full of dishes and messy counters, but regular cleaning can prevent longer sessions needed if the mess is allowed to build up.
These easy kitchen hacks can help get you into and out of the kitchen, as well as enrich the time you spend cooking and preparing meals.
For even more fun cooking ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!
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