1. Freeze Your Wilted Greens
Spinach, arugula or kale going bad? No worries! Just toss it into a zip-top bag and pop it in the freezer. Take out your greens when you’re ready to make a stir fry or veggie sauté. Try this dish for meatless Monday: Stir Fry With Peanut Sauce Quinoa and Tofu. Just add in your frozen greens and you’ll be good to go.2. Keep Cake Moist with Bread
For a crazy cake trick, keep leftover birthday cake moist by attaching slices of bread to the sides and the top with toothpicks. Essentially, you want to cover the exposed piece of cake, which works to hold in the moisture. If you’re looking for a recipe to put this cooking hack to use, go for our tried and true Homemade White Cake.3. Make Herb Ice Cubes
Use an ice cube tray, olive oil and fresh herbs to make herb ice cubes. Then, when you have a dish that needs a burst of seasoning, simply toss in a cube with herbs and voila! This cooking hack is especially great for delicious Italian dishes like Parmesan and Garlic Whole Wheat Pasta, made with lots of parsley.4. Get Rid of Hard Brown Sugar with Apples
Keep brown sugar soft and easy to scoop by throwing an apple slice into an airtight container alongside your brown sugar. This hack works well with our Old Fashioned Brown Sugar. Our brown sugar is made with just cane sugar and molasses and has a caramel flavor perfect for glazes, marinades and sticky buns.5. Use an Ice Cream Scoop for Squash
We all know how messy and gooey pumpkin seeds can be. Luckily, you can easily remove squash seeds by using an ice cream scoop instead of a regular spoon. If this still seems like too much work, just buy a bag of our Organic Pumpkin Seeds instead (and use them to make these delicious Leftover Cranberry Sauce Pumpkin Muffins).6. Peel Garlic Cloves the Easy Way
Remove the garlic cloves from the bulb and place them on a wooden cutting board. Using the side of a chef’s knife, give each clove a smack and the skin will fall right off. When you’re ready to practice those garlic peeling skills, this Cheesy Garlic Bread Braid is always a big hit around the dinner table. And it just so happens to call for 1/4 cup minced garlic.7. Pit Avocados and Stone Fruits by Twisting
First, cut your stone fruits or avos into two equal halves and twist them in opposite directions. Next, use your thumb or a butter knife to remove the pit. With your avocado pitted, consider throwing it into a creamy, bright green Avocado Lime Smoothie.
8. Use a Straw to Hull Strawberries
Make hulling strawberries simple by using a straw. From there, use your strawberry slices to decorate everything from cheesecakes to cupcakes. This rustic Strawberry Ricotta Galette is complete with lots of fresh, sliced strawberries and is perfect for a light, sweet and summery dessert.
9. Make Eggshell Removal Easier with Vinegar
Make eggshell removal even easier by adding vinegar to the water when eggs are boiling. The vinegar will soak through the egg shells and help the egg whites to separate from them when you’re ready to peel. Now it’s time for deviled eggs!10. Freeze Your Cheese
If you’re grating soft cheeses like mozzarella, pop them in the freezer for 20 minutes so they firm up. When you go to grate, it will be much easier to do so because the cheese won’t be as soft. Try this cooking hack on our Perfect Pizza Crust made with Bob’s Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour. The only thing missing for the perfect Friday-night pizza is the cold beverage of your choice.
11. Cut Your Butter to Soften It
If you’re pressed for time and need butter softened for baking, cut it into cubes to allow your stick to soften faster. Then you’ll be able to whip up a batch of Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies in no time. Oh, and did we mention they’re gluten free?
12. Make Produce Crisp Again with Cold Water
Wilted celery? No problem. Just trim the top and bottom and place the stalks upright in a jar of cold water. They’ll re-crisp in no time. You can also do the same trick with asparagus, lettuce and broccoli.13. Coat Your Measuring Cups with Cooking Oil
Use cooking spray to coat your measuring cups before measuring out sticky ingredients like honey, nut butter or molasses. The oil helps these ingredients slide into the mixing bowl with ease! Put this cooking hack to the test with our recipe for Peanut Butter and Honey Cookies, two of the stickiest and tough-to-measure ingredients around.
14. Use Parchment Paper in Place of Cupcake Liners
You’ve probably seen those fancy parchment paper “crowns” at bakeries. But have you ever considered making them on your own? When you’re in a pinch (and out of cupcake liners) use 5-inch squares of parchment paper instead. Spray each piece with cooking spray then press them into the muffins tins. Elegant and easy! From there, bake a batch of your favorite muffins or cupcakes. We think these gluten free Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream will do just the trick.
15. Make a Vacuum Sealer with Plastic Bags
Vacuum sealers are wonderful, though they can be pricey. Use a DIY hack to make your own by placing your ingredients in a zip-top bag instead. Try this trick with veggies, like green beans and asparagus, and suck the air out of the bag with a straw to make them last longer.16. Save Your Pickle Brine for All Sorts of Things
When your last pickle has been picked from the jar, think twice before tossing that brine. Instead, add in a bit of garlic, carrots, cucumbers or green beans for all things crunchy and pickled. Use these tasty tidbits in a charcuterie spread for your next dinner party gathering. We suggest pairing them with our gluten free, vegan and paleo-friendly Sunflower Crackers.
17. Make Mess-Free Bacon in the Oven
Say farewell to the days of bacon grease-filled skillets and messy clean ups. Make your bacon in the oven by lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil to keep the grease contained and allow it to cook evenly with minimal effort on your end. Bonus: add packed brown sugar and chili flakes to the bacon and serve it alongside these Fluffy Gluten Free Pancakes.
18. Use Your Vegetable Peeler for Chocolate & Vegetables
Luckily, if you have a vegetable peeler on hand, you can make ribbons for just about anything. Use your peeler for chocolate, butter, cheese or veggie strips (like beets and carrots). And if we may say so, peeled chocolate is a fantastic and delicate addition to this Roasted Blueberry Ice Cream.
19. Bake Your Bananas for Immediate Banana Bread
If you’re looking to bake up a loaf of beautiful banana bread (but have unripe bananas) there’s no need to fear! Simple throw the bananas on a baking sheet for 5 minutes in a 350°F oven to make them ripe and sweet. Then you can bake the day away and create multiple loaves of The Best Ever Super Moist Gluten Free Banana Bread.
20. Grill Your Fish on a Bed of Citrus to Prevent Sticking
To stop your fish from sticking to the grill, grill it on a bed of sliced citrus (like lemons, limes or grapefruit). If you’re in the mood for salmon, try this recipe for Late Summer Vegetables and Salmon from Chef Billy Parisi. Instead of doing your fish in the skillet, try the citrus hack for a bright and refreshing twist on Billy’s dish.
Whether you’re cutting butter to soften it up for your best baked goods or saving your pickle brine for a massive charcuterie spread, we hope these 20 cooking hacks and cooking tips help you with all your prepping, chopping and baking needs.
Have any favorite hacks that didn’t make this list? Feel free to share them with us in the comments below.
We’d love to hear how you make your life in the kitchen easy, efficient and enjoyable. 
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