Chef-approved cooking hacks to try at home

Shortcuts to success

Fast track to kitchen success with our best-ever hacks for food storage, quick meals, baking, barbecuing and more. These tried and tested tips will have you cooking like a pro in no time.

Use clingfilm to make perfect poached eggs

If your attempts at poached eggs always end in a disaster, follow this top tip. Lay a piece of clingfilm (plastic wrap) in a bowl, lightly oil the inside and crack in an egg. Gather up the sides of the clingfilm and tie it tightly on top. Add to boiling water for two to four minutes, depending on the size of the egg and how soft you want it.

Save time with an omelette in a mug

Cooking an omelette in the microwave is quick and simple. Whisk two eggs, seasoning and some grated cheese or chopped ham, pour into a greased mug and microwave on high for one minute. Stir, then cook again on high for another minute.

Microwave scrambled eggs for less washing up

Omelettes aren't the only microwave marvel you can make for breakfast. To make scrambled eggs, add a dash of milk and seasoning to beaten eggs before a minute and a half in the microwave on high, stirring midway through. The perfect hack to avoid washing up pots and pans.

Make brownies richer with espresso

Adding a cup of coffee to dishes that involve chocolate makes the chocolate flavour even more rich and intense. This works particularly well with chocolate brownies or a dark and squidgy chocolate torte.

Save overripe bananas for banana bread

If you end up with black or brown bananas, fear not. Overripe bananas are best for use in baking as they're sweeter and easier to mash into batter. Banana bread is a favourite for using the fruit.

Swap fat for mashed banana in muffins

To reduce the saturated fat in your favourite muffin recipe, you can use three ripe, very well-mashed bananas, instead of around 8tbsp (half a cup) of butter.

Bake with room temperature ingredients

Before you begin baking it's important to have all your ingredients at room temperature. Weigh out the portion of butter you need then cut into small pieces and leave it for 15 minutes or so. It needs to be soft enough that when you're creaming it with the sugar, it combines well and gives an airy finish.

Coat extra baking ingredients with flour

When making fruit scones or chocolate and nut cookies, coat the fruit, chopped chocolate and nuts in flour before adding to the dough to ensure they distribute evenly. This is a top tip from celebrity chef Ina Garten.

Chill cinnamon roll dough for tighter rolls

When it comes to making picture-perfect cinnamon rolls, if you can wait for the dough to chill, you will be rewarded. Chilling makes the dough firmer and easier to roll into tight coils.

Achieve gooey cookies by taking them out early

If soft and gooey chocolate cookies make you melt, you need to start removing them from the oven a couple of minutes early. Don't worry if they don't look ready yet, they will continue to cook and harden up once they've come out.

Cool cheesecake in the oven to prevent cracks

Making the perfect baked cheesecake takes time and patience. To keep the consistency creamy and prevent cracks forming, it must be slow cooked in a bain marie (a water bath) and allowed to cool slowly in the oven, with the heat off and the door ajar.

Buy an oven thermometer for accurate baking

You can get away with a slightly inaccurate oven for roasting and casseroles but for baking, precise temperatures are important. An oven thermometer, which you pop onto the top shelf of your oven, is worth the small investment. Ovens are regularly over or under the specified temperature.

Check for hot spots with toast

What's more, one side of your oven is likely to be hotter than the other. There's an easy way to find out whether yours is: lay slices of bread on the shelves and see which parts come out more brown. When making cakes, bake them in the centre and be sure to rotate them.

Use a skewer to check cakes are ready

To test if your cake is fully cooked through, it should be slightly shrunk away from the sides and springy to the touch. Double check with a thin skewer through the centre which should come out clean. If it's the correct colour on the outside but still a little raw in the centre, use a piece of foil to lightly cover the cake and continue to bake.

Line cake tins to prevent sticking

Using parchment paper to line your cake tins serves two purposes. Firstly, it prevents the cake from sticking so it's easier to get it out of the tin. Secondly, lining the sides of the tin prevents the cake from becoming too dark.

Use cake fails to make new desserts

Don't worry if a cake doesn't match up to your expectations – it happens to the best of us. Instead, turn it into something else. Broken pieces of cake can be used in trifles (pictured) or even crumbled in a food processor to make cake pops.

Make shop-bought cakes look homemade with icing sugar

Grab a sieve and cover your shop-bought cake with a light dusting of icing sugar (powdered sugar). You could also use a stencil to create a fun design and add a scattering of fresh berries or edible flowers. It will give that homemade flourish to the cake.

Sneak veg into smoothies

Start the day on a healthy note by adding veg into your breakfast smoothie first thing in the morning. We guarantee you won't even notice spinach blended in with sweet fruit such as banana and apple.

Add white beans to smoothies for protein

More blander-tasting beans like cannellini or butter beans are perfect in a smoothie, as they add protein and make it more filling. Try whizzing a small handful along with a banana and berries to make an energising breakfast drink.

Use mashed avocado instead of mayo

If you're trying to avoid butter or mayo, use a thin layer of puréed avocado in sandwiches instead. It goes particularly well with a tuna or chicken salad filling.

Blanch veg to keep their bright colour

Blanch hard veggies to tenderise them and lock in colour, flavour and nutrients, instead of boiling them. After the veg is scalded in boiling water, remove and plunge into iced water to stop the cooking process.

Tenderise kale by massaging it

If you're planning on eating raw kale in a salad, massage the greens beforehand. It may sound odd but it'll tenderise the hardy leaves. First, remove the stem and add a glug of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Then gently knead with your hands until the leaves start to wilt a little.

Squash potatoes to make them extra crisp

The trick to crispy potatoes is to increase spuds’ surface area. When you make the surface area larger, more of it is exposed to the heat. To do this, squash potatoes lightly with a fork. This technique works whether you are frying them or baking them.

Make speedy baked potatoes in the microwave

You won't get potatoes that are perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle just by cooking them in a microwave – but you can use one to save time. Pierce the skin of the potatoes with a fork and microwave them on high for 10 minutes. Then carefully transfer to a preheated hot oven to crisp up the skin for 10–20 minutes.

Add pesto to mash for flavour

Mash doesn't need to be plain. You could stir through pesto for an Italian twist or add cream, spring onions, parsley and thyme to make this recipe for traditional Irish champ.

Get the recipe for traditional Irish champ here

Add cauliflower to mash for a silky texture

Swap half of the potatoes for blitzed cauliflower next time you make mashed spuds – you'll not only be adding another portion of veg, you'll be giving it a lovely, light velvety texture and sweetness.

Make gnocchi with leftover mash

Did you know that you can make gnocchi from leftover mashed potato in under an hour? Follow this recipe for simple gnocchi with tomato and basil sauce.

Get the recipe for gnocchi with tomato and basil sauce here

Chop veg the same size for stir-fries

For stir-fries, cut vegetables roughly the same size so everything cooks evenly but if you’re including hard veg like carrots, add these slightly earlier. A common stir-fry mistake is to add veg at the same time, when some produce takes longer than others.

Sear veg for flavour

When making a stir-fry, it's also helpful to sear veg – a little browning brings out flavour. Once the protein has been set aside, heat a touch more oil and add harder veg like carrots. Next, in goes softer veg like peppers, mushrooms and mangetout. Lastly, the likes of watery beansprouts and fresh herbs.

Add stock instead of extra oil

Instead of adding extra oil when stir-fry veg begin to stick or burn, add a splash of stock or water if oil is something you're trying to cut down on.

Use up leftover meat in stir-fries

You don’t need lots of meat in stir-fries because a little goes a long way in flavouring the dish – leftovers or scraps are ideal. Cut pieces into strips so they cook quickly yet retain bags of flavour.

Cook rice in stock for extra flavour

Even if you're cooking plain rice as an accompaniment to a dish, you can liven it up by cooking it in stock. Throw in a bay leaf, a sprig of rosemary, some grated ginger or garlic. You could also fry the rice in a little oil before adding the water or stock to bring out the flavour.

Dry chicken to help it brown

A few moments drying chicken with a clean piece of kitchen roll is time well spent. Otherwise, residual surface moisture ends up steaming the meat when it cooks. Patting it dry will help brown and crisp up the skin.

Don't stuff chicken as it will cook slower

An empty cavity means chicken cooks quicker and more evenly. The late great chef Julia Child once said you should only stuff a chicken if you want to make the meat go further. Alternatively you can cook stuffing in a separate dish.

Use butter to get the crispiest chicken skin

Julia also always rubs her roast chicken in butter. She believes everything tastes better with fat and that butter is the secret to really crispy skin. On television show The French Chef she says, “No matter what way you're going to cook it, chicken should have a butter massage.”

Deglaze pans to make sauce

Deglazing pans is a French technique which ensures no flavour is wasted. Remove sautéed veg or browned meat, then pour in cold wine, stock or water to create a cloud of steam and help move any caramelised pieces of food stuck to the bottom. This flavourful jus can be used for gravy or poured straight over your dish.

Bulk out sauces with lentils

If you’re cooking on a budget, lentils are a great way to make meals go further. Bulk out meat sauces, soups and salads with the legume for a filling dish. They’re also a great source of fibre and protein. A winner all round.

Make cannelloni with lasagne sheets

When you fancy cannelloni but don't have any tubes, make your own using lasagne sheets. Cook the flat pasta until flexible, spoon the filling on one end, roll them up and place in a baking dish seam-side-down. Cover in sauce and cheese, then bake until golden.

Use pasta water to emulsify sauce

Rather than drain pasta in a colander, lift it from the pot and mix it into the sauce on a low heat. While the flavours are mingling, add a ladle or so of the pasta water. It will give the sauce a rich, silky texture.

Wipe the rim of plates for a professional finish

Keep a paper towel to hand when you’re serving up and give each plate a wipe around the rim before taking it to the table. A clean edge helps the food stand out and gives a professional-looking finish. No one needs to know if the food came out of a jar or packet.

Use nutritional yeast instead of cheese

The savoury, slightly cheesy flavour of this vitamin-packed powdered yeast means it can substitute cheese in a variety of dishes, including pasta, veg and salads. Try it sprinkled on popcorn, added to scrambled eggs or to stuffing.

Add anchovies for umami

Instead of adding a fishy flavour to dishes, anchovies add umami, a savoury, salty taste. Always keep a tin to hand to marinate lamb, make a puttanesca sauce or whizz into a salad dressing.

Refresh nuts and spices by toasting

Toast nuts in a dry pan or in the oven for 5–10 minutes at 150–170°C (350–375°F) until golden in colour. Once cooled they’ll be crisp and refreshed. Cook whole and ground spices in a dry pan to unlock their aroma but watch carefully they don’t burn.

Season steak to help caramelisation

Some people say you shouldn't season steak until after you've cooked it, but sprinkling salt onto meat helps with caramelisation. This technique works wonders for not just for steak, but beef burgers and barbecued ribs too.

Sear steak on cast iron to help caramelisation

Create a steak with a charred surface and tender interior by searing it on a cast iron griddle pan – they’re the best at retaining heat. Make sure the pan is roaring hot before you begin and don’t add butter first, this should go at the end.

Add extra juices to steak

Steak needs to rest for the same length of time as it spent in the pan so its juices can redistribute. If you want it extra juicy and tender, give it some help with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or knob of butter.

Only flip burgers once for perfect char marks

When making burgers, American chef Bobby Flay uses a meat mixture that's 80% beef and 20% fat, and creates a small dent in the middle of patties so they turn out flat. But there's one thing more important than anything else: he flips burgers just once so that they form a perfect char.

Use a burger lid to melt cheese

When it comes to melting cheese onto burgers, there's a nifty trick to get the perfect melt. While the patty is still in the pan, add slices of cheese plus a dash of water to the pan, then cover it with a metal burger lid. The trapped steam melts the cheese onto the burger perfectly.

Wrap bones in foil to prevent burning

Avoid eating meat with black, brittle bones by covering them with foil before they go on the barbecue. You can remove it towards the end to give them a little colour.

Access more flavours with a marinade

Using a marinade instead of a dry rub allows you to bring more flavours to a dish. A really easy marinade is tomato ketchup mixed with soy sauce, perfect for preparing barbecued venison ribs. Leave the marinade to infuse overnight, then slow cook venison in the oven to tenderise before finishing off on the barbecue.

Use pineapple to tenderise meat

Pineapple is a natural tenderiser for meat, plus the sweet flavour pairs especially well with pork. Purée fresh pineapple for the best result. With shop-bought pineapple juice, the enzymes that break down meat are removed in the pasteurisation process. Don’t marinate meat with pineapple for any longer than 12 hours as the acid will begin to cook the meat.

Save time with a multi-purpose marinade

Don't you love a multi-purpose marinade that goes with everything? Punchy jerk marinade and this spicy Indian-inspired marinade work well with pork and beef ribs. Make extra and use it to marinate other barbecue foods like cheese, such as halloumi, or veggies, such as aubergine and bell peppers.

Cut barbecue times with help from the oven

If you don’t have six or more hours to tend to a barbecue, start meats like ribs on the flames and finish in the oven. Using a combination of charcoal and wood chips can give you the smokiness you want in 30 minutes to an hour. Then cover with foil and let the oven do the rest of the work.

Speed up cooking with foil

To get meat cooking quicker, you can try wrapping it in foil with a little water or apple juice. The steaming effect from the liquid speeds up the cooking process.

Create different heat zones for more control

Have better control over the temperature of your grill by creating different heat zones. Do this by varying how many coals you pile in different parts of the grill.

Double check your fridge temperature

It sounds obvious but it's worth checking your fridge's temperature. A fridge should be set to 4°C (40°F) to keep harmful bacteria from growing. Your fridge may have a thermometer or, alternatively, they’re cheap to buy. Any higher than 4°C (40°F) and you might be putting yourself and your household at risk.

Don’t overcrowd your fridge so air can circulate

Nothing beats having a fully-stocked fridge but if you overcrowd it, it won’t be efficient at maintaining the right temperature as the cool air can’t circulate. Resist the temptation to overstuff the fridge and store some of its contents elsewhere if you can.

Store meat and fish on the bottom shelf

The bottom shelf is the coldest part of your fridge and is where food that can spoil quickly if not kept cold, such as meat and fish, should be placed. Another reason to store it here is to prevent juices dripping onto and contaminating other foods.

Store ethylene-producing fruit separately

Some fruits like melons, apples, bananas, pears, avocados and stone fruit (such as peaches and nectarines) produce a chemical called ethylene. It causes some produce, such as greens, unripe bananas and berries, to ripen and spoil faster. Keep sensitive items in one fridge drawer with the vent closed (which also helps with humidity). Store ethylene-producing fruit in the other fridge drawer with the vent open, or outside the fridge.

Kill bacteria on berries with vinegar solution

Berries are delicious fresh but they don't last for long. To help preserve them, wash them in a mixture of one part vinegar and three parts water, then drain, rinse thoroughly and pop them in the fridge. Don’t worry, it won't make the fruit taste vinegary, it will just kill any germs and keep mould away longer.

Prevent soggy salad with paper towels

A bag of salad leaves is always one of the first things to lose its freshness. Make it last longer by opening the bag as soon as you’re home from the shop and removing any soggy or wilted leaves. Pop a couple of clean paper towels in to absorb excess moisture, then clip the bag shut.

Use silicone fruit and veg covers to keep produce fresh

These silicone food covers are perfect for covering half a lemon or avocado. They’re better than a plastic container as less air comes into contact with the surface of the fruit. It’s also much better for the environment than using clingfilm or foil.

Save washing up with ovenproof storage

Invest in glass storage containers that are also oven-safe. Not only can you cook food then handily store the leftovers in the same dish, but you can reheat a meal without creating more washing up too.

Keep beer fizzy by storing it upright

Don't be tempted to store bottles of beer on their side. When laid flat, more of the beer's surface area is exposed to air (rather than just the part at the slim neck of the bottle). The more the beer becomes oxidised, the less time it will last, so make sure you stand bottles up straight.

Optimise your freezer to save fridge space

Not everything needs to go in the fridge. In fact, using your freezer is key to fresh-tasting food. If you’re not eating raw chicken or beef mince in the two days after purchasing, it should be kept below -18°C (0°F). You have three to four days to eat leftovers, otherwise they should go in the freezer. Berries, bananas, avocados slices and green veg also fare well in the freezer.

Store bread in the freezer to keep it fresh

If you're going to eat all your bread within a few days, don't put it in the fridge. Cold temperatures change its texture and make it taste stale. If you plan to use a loaf over a couple of weeks, store it in the freezer. You can defrost whole loaves in the oven or pop slices of frozen bread straight in the toaster.

Freeze milk you don't need

Freezing fresh milk is a great hack if don't manage to use the whole carton before its use by date. Skimmed or semi-skimmed milk can last for up to a month in the freezer. However, fat requires an extremely low temperature to freeze (lower than the average freezer), so this won't work as well with whole, full-fat milk.

Keep pesto at its best by freezing it

Pesto is a great partner for pasta but can start to spoil incredibly quickly. To keep it fresh, spoon the remaining pesto into an ice cube tray and freeze it, so you’ve always got some on hand when you need it.

Freeze leftover wine to make fancy sauces

While wine will last for a long time unopened, it will quickly turn once uncorked. There's no real way of keeping open wine fresh for long – but you can save it for cooking. Fill up an ice cube tray with any leftovers, freeze and defrost as needed to use in sauces or stews.

Freeze fruit in a single layer to stop it sticking

Avoid frozen clumps of fruit by freezing pieces in a single layer. Not only will you save space in your freezer drawer, but it'll also be easier to take out a few pieces at a time if you don't need the whole bag.

Have frozen fish on standby for speedy meals

Frozen fish is great to have on standby in the freezer for midweek meals. You can cook it straight from frozen or thaw it in the fridge and marinate it. The best part? It always tastes fresh and you don't need to worry about use by dates. However, note that cooking from frozen works best with lean fish like cod or tilapia. It's generally best to thaw fatty, rich fish like salmon.

Buy frozen veg to prevent food waste

Most of us know this, but it’s worth a reminder – frozen veg has as many or even more nutrients than fresh produce. Be sure to always have some in the freezer so you can add veg to every meal without having to worry about produce going off before you have a chance to use it.

Freeze food in usable portions

It might be tempting to freeze a whole bag of chicken thighs in one go but it's unlikely you'll need to use all of them at the same time. Once they freeze together, it's difficult to separate just one or two pieces without damaging the meat. Instead take the time to pack and freeze in usable portions.

Wrap food tight to avoid freezer burn

There's nothing more annoying than freezer burn (when food becomes dried out from exposure to air). But most of the time it's our own fault. Whether you've used freezer bags, kitchen foil or clingfilm, make sure you remove as much air from around the food as you possibly can. If you're freezing in containers, be sure to fill them to the top.

Stack food in freezer bags to save space

You can save a lot of space, especially in smaller freezers, if you freeze your sauces, stews and casseroles in bags rather than containers. Simply fill the bags with one or two portions and lay flat on the kitchen counter to get rid of the excess air. Then lay flat in the freezer, one on top of the other.

Vacuum seal food if you want it to last a long time

You'll not only avoid freezer burn but vacuum sealed bags will save as much space as possible. If you tend to use your freezer a lot, this will also make it easier to see what's inside the bags.

Throw away chunky boxes to save space

Many freezer foods, like ready-made pastry, come in a bulky cardboard box. Get rid of the box to save space and write the cooking instructions on the remaining packaging.

Pack your freezer full to save energy

Contrary to your fridge, where too much food can make your fridge warmer, your freezer will work better if it's full. When you open the freezer door, the cold air escapes and the freezer has to work twice as hard to bring the air temperature back down. If your freezer is tightly packed, there's less air to cool.

Cover your ice cube tray for fresh-tasting ice

If you make your own ice cubes in a tray, cover it to prevent ice taking on any smells circulating in your freezer. Once ready you can store them in an air-tight freezer bag. 

Store ice cream at the back of the freezer to stop it melting

A tub of ice cream frozen solid is one of the most annoying things, however it can be easily avoided. Store high fat content foods that melt easily at the back, far away from the door where they run the risk of melting a little and freezing again every time you open the freezer.

Double check your freezer temperature

More often than not our freezers are not working as efficiently as they could be. Check your freezer temperature is set correctly – ideally it should be -18ºC (0ºF). Also don't forget to defrost it once a year.

Start a freezer inventory

If you've got a big freezer, it's hard to keep track of food you have and how long it's been in there. Start a document or a notebook with an inventory, outlining what you have, how much of it and when you need to use it by. This will save you from having to open your freezer unnecessarily.

Check if your kitchen is cool enough to leave food out

When deciding what to store in your fridge and what to leave out, consider the temperature of your kitchen. If it’s hot and humid, you might want to store things you'd usually leave out, like butter, eggs (if you’re in Europe), and certain fruit and veg, somewhere cooler to preserve them longer. Note, this will change between winter and summer.

Store garlic for months in a dark and dry place

The worst way to store garlic is in a container in the fridge, where it will sprout and develop mould. Instead, place garlic somewhere dry and dark, and keep the bulb together for as long as possible. Once you've separated and peeled a clove, it can keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Don’t keep onions and potatoes together

If you want potatoes to keep for longer, start by storing them in a separate place to your onions. Both potatoes and onions produce ethylene which causes the other to spoil faster. Keeping them in two different brown paper bags in a cool, dark cupboard is a good option.

Store herbs like flowers

Want to know the secret for making cut herbs last? Keep them upright in water as you would a bunch of flowers. Shelter them from direct sunlight and change the water regularly. They're bound to stay fresher for longer.

Stop bananas browning with a banana hanger

Invest in a banana hanger to stop your fruit from getting bruised and going bad too quickly. As long as it's located somewhere that allows for free movement of air around the bananas, this handy contraption will slow down the ripening process.

Transfer sugar into airtight containers to prevent clumps

Fed up of your sugar turning clumpy and hard? It usually happens to brown sugar when it's been exposed to the air too much and has dried out. For white sugar, it happens when there's too much moisture. It's best to store any sugar in an airtight container.

Clean food storage containers with baking soda

If last night’s chicken stew or chilli has stained your storage container and hot soapy water just won’t shift it, reach for the baking soda. Wipe the inside with a smooth water-and-soda paste and allow it to sit for a few hours. This should get rid of any stubborn marks for good.

Remove fridge odours with baking soda

There’s a simple trick to keeping your fridge smelling fresh: an open box of baking soda. It attracts and neutralises smells, meaning they don’t ruin other food. Every few months, throw away and replace the box.

Froth milk in a jar

Fancy a barista-style coffee in the comfort of your own home? For perfect froth, fill a jar halfway with milk, screw on the lid and shake. Once foamy, remove the lid and microwave on full power for 30 seconds. Your froth should double in size and provide the perfect topping for your coffee.

Let boiling water cool to prevent coffee burning

Most coffee beans react best to hot water that’s not boiling (although some argue that boiled and slightly cooled water helps deal with hard water and other impurities). Boiling water poured straight over your coffee scorches the grounds, and will result in a mediocre brew. Trust us, you'll notice the difference.

Freshen a chopping board with lemon

Chopping boards can be a breeding ground for bacteria and over time they can also become a little whiffy. Be sure to wash them thoroughly with disinfectant first. But a going over with half a cut lemon can also help rid the odours of things like fish and garlic, plus it will impart a lovely citrus scent.

Clean with lemon before making meringue

Stop egg whites falling flat when making meringue by first cleaning your glass bowl with a wedge of lemon. This will help get rid of any last traces of fat that could undermine the whole recipe.

Microwave lemons to get more juice

If you're cooking with lemon, you can get more juice by microwaving the fruit on high for around 20 seconds. It'll be warmer and softer than straight from the fridge, making it easier to squeeze.

Save vegetable water for gravy

You might already use the juices from roasted meat in gravy, but don't forget about veggies. Add the water from boiled veg and any run-off from a roasting tin as well. It'll make for a flavourful gravy packed with vitamins.

Check eggs are fresh with the float test

To check if eggs are fresh, fill a bowl with cold water and try the ‘float test’. If the egg sinks to the bottom on its side, it means it’s very fresh. If your egg sinks to the bottom in an upright position, it means it’s not quite as fresh. If your egg floats, it means it has started producing gas and has likely gone bad.

Set aside vegetable scraps for stock

Cutting down on waste isn't just good sense from a financial and sustainability perspective, many of the things we regularly throw out can be used to create or enhance another dish. So start setting aside veg trimmings you'd usually throw out to use the next time you make stock.

Revive old bread with water

Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over bread that's a few days old, then stick it in a preheated hot oven for a few minutes. It'll bring your stale loaf back to life. This trick works best on whole, unsliced loaves like baguettes, sourdough or ciabatta.