๐Ÿ’ก๏ธ Tips for Meat & Seafood Recipes

Combined Tips and HInts ๐Ÿ’ฌ ๐Ÿ•“ โฐ
Different Types of Cream ๐Ÿ’ฌ ๐Ÿ’ค โฐ
Kitchen Hints ๐Ÿ’ฌ ๐Ÿ’ค โฐ
More Kitchen Tips ๐Ÿ’ฌ ๐Ÿ’ค โฐ

Comments
Combination of several tips and hints pages.

Ingredients
No ingredients except your brain: use it!

Directions

๐Ÿฅš Eggs / Baking

  • Freshness test: sink = fresh, float = bad.
  • Poke with needle before boiling for easy peel (use magnet clip).
  • Add salt to boiling water to prevent egg shells cracking.
  • Cold water + egg whites whip faster & fluffier.
  • Brush beaten egg white on pie crust for a glossy finish.

๐Ÿฅฉ Meat / Meatloaf / Ham

  • Slicing partially frozen meat = easier thin slices.
  • Use pastry blender to crumble browned ground beef.
  • Rinse cooked ground meat with water to remove more fat.
  • Leftover ham: soak in maple syrup overnight, fry next day.
  • Dash of lemon juice in meatballs adds flavor.
  • Cornflakes = breadcrumb substitute in meatloaf.
  • Mix meatloaf with potato masher.

๐Ÿฅ” Potatoes

  • Apple prevents sprouting in potato bag.
  • Potato removes food stains from fingers.
  • Too salty soup? Add raw potato chunks to absorb salt.
  • Fruit Freshener trick also works on potatoes to prevent discoloration.
  • Wrap peeled potatoes in wet paper towel to prevent darkening.
  • Add 1 tsp baking powder to mashed potatoes for fluffiness.
  • Keep mashed potatoes warm while finishing the meal.

๐Ÿฅฆ Vegetables / Salads

  • Wrap celery in foil = lasts weeks.
  • Save celery leaves: dry, crumble into soups & salads.
  • Donโ€™t discard broccoli stalksโ€”use for soup.
  • Cook veggies with bouillon cubes and garlic cloves.
  • Lemon/vinegar in cauliflower water keeps it white.
  • Add lemon slice to sweet potatoes while cooking to prevent discoloration.
  • Upside-down saucer in salad bowl keeps salad crisp.

๐Ÿง„ Garlic / Onion

  • Microwave garlic 15 secs = easy peel.
  • Plug in a fan while chopping onions = no tears.

๐Ÿž Bread / Baking

  • Substitute applesauce for half the oil in baking.
  • Use reduced-calorie versions of margarine/cream/milk/etc.
  • Bread heels/cornbread โ†’ breadcrumbs (freeze).
  • Cake sticking? Back in warm oven or use wax paper.
  • Store cake with half apple = stays fresh.
  • Flour baking pan with dry cake mix.
  • Extra pie dough = parmesan & gruyere appetizer.
  • Cheese baked into apple pie crust.
  • Store bread bags/ties for homemade bread.
  • Baking bread? Skip preheatโ€”oven light = lighter bread.
  • Add sugar to yeast/water but never salt directly.
  • Salt in flour prevents gravy lumps.
  • Keep flour in a sugar shaker for dusting surfaces.
  • Colored sugar trick for decorating cookies/cakes.
  • Use pastry wheel for square/diamond cookie cuts.
  • Funnel = great cooling rack for tube cakes.

๐Ÿช Cookies / Cakes / Desserts

  • Mini marshmallow in sugar cone = no drips.
  • LifeSavers hold candles on birthday cake.
  • Dip spoon in milk to drop cookie dough easily.
  • Rice Krispies treats: wet hands = no sticking.
  • Microwave stale chips to re-crisp.
  • Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar.
  • Whipped cream + flavored Jello = flavored cream.
  • Pie dough leftovers = cheese snack.
  • Add 2 tsp vinegar to Jello so it doesn't melt when served.
  • Marshmallows in meringue add body + flavor.
  • Minute tapioca in apple pie absorbs excess juice.
  • Dip shears in hot water to cut marshmallows easily.
  • Use wire cheese cutter for chilled cookie dough.

๐Ÿฆ Ice Cream / Treats

  • Ice cream in plastic bag = no ice crystals.
  • Make giant ice cubes in muffin tins or margarine bowls.
  • Bananas too ripe? Peel, freeze, dip in chocolate, refreeze.
  • Popcorn balls: shape with plastic bags on hands.

๐Ÿš Grains / Rice / Oats / Pasta

  • 1 tsp lemon juice per quart of water keeps rice fluffy.
  • Toast oatmeal before adding to cookies = richer flavor.
  • Wild rice freezes 3-4 months vs. a week in fridge.
  • Pancake flour instead of regular flour for fried foods.

๐Ÿ Fruits / Canned / Dried / Preserved

  • Rinse raisins/dates/figs in cold water before chopping.
  • Grate citrus peels before peeling, store dry.
  • Ripen avocados/bananas: bag with apple.
  • Moldy fruit = toss it all.
  • Vitamin C fruit/veggie soak keeps them fresh for weeks.
  • Pare pineapple into rings, peel slices.
  • Open canned fruit ahead of time to re-oxygenate.

๐Ÿฅค Juices / Drinks

  • Juice concentrate? Mash frozen with potato masher.
  • Max lemon juice: roll, room temp, then squeeze.
  • Add peppermint to tea, chill for iced tea treat.

๐ŸŒฝ Corn / Popcorn

  • Pinch of sugar in water boosts sweetness when boiling corn.
  • Brush corn on the cob with melted butter (metal bowl trick melts butter).
  • Popcorn balls: shape with plastic bags on hands.

๐Ÿฅ› Milk / Dairy / Creams

  • Boiling milk? Add pinch of baking soda to prevent curdling.
  • If milk scorches, cool pan + salt removes taste.
  • Store cottage cheese upside down to slow oxidation.
  • Add pinch of salt to milk = lasts longer.
  • Chilled evaporated milk whips into frozen dessert base.

๐Ÿง‚ Kitchen Tips / General Cooking

  • Freeze leftover tomato paste in teaspoons or ice trays.
  • Freeze wine into cubes for sauces/casseroles.
  • Baggie with ice cubes โ†’ check for power outage thawing.
  • Meat baster for pancake batter = perfect pancakes.
  • Transfer jelly or dressing to squeeze bottle.
  • Tupperware spray trick prevents tomato stains.
  • Use latex gloves to open tough jars.
  • Microwave sponges to kill bacteria.
  • Cereal box liners = wax paper substitute.
  • Crumble crackers, bread, sugar lumps with rolling pin and store.
  • Day-old bread: steam to soften.
  • Keep brown sugar soft in container with an apple.
  • Plastic bags good for holding crushed items.
  • Roll pastry between waxed paper sheets.
  • Steam stale bread briefly to revive.
  • Ordinary funnel as cooling rack for tube cakes.

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿณ The Cook:  Dave Ferguson ๐Ÿ”‘ Keywords: tips, hints
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