Some people are born with it, others take years to learn and to appreciate it. The passion for cooking is something that professional cooks, food aficionados aka foodies, and nonnas who carry the oldest recipes out there share in common.
But big things start from simple steps and in order to dive deep into the cooking universe, you want to start with a solid foundation of ‘know-how.’ This takes practice and taking notes from the best tips and tricks from people who already know what they’re doing.
And this thread posted on the Cooking subreddit is a great way to do that. “What tip did you never think of, that seemed so obvious and really helpful after someone taught you?” asked Redditor Smartchic and the responses started rolling in. From things like making a jam from sad berries on the verge of going bad and sprinkling some water before microwaving leftover food to soften and moisten it, it’s crazy how simple these obvious tricks are. Have one to share as well? Hit us in the comment section below!
#21
For cold bread and pizza... get some water and sprinkle it inside or on the plate before you nuke it... Softens up the crust... Makes cold pizza glorious
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79points
#22
If there is water in the pan, the Maillard process (browning of food from searing) will never happen.
If there is water in the pan, the temperature is less than boiling temperature (100 Celsius), and maillard needs 140-165 to happen. This is why recipes call for wiping moisture off steaks before searing them.
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74points
#23
Cinnamon and nutmeg aren't just for baking. They make great additions for marinades and savory dishes. Try adding cinnamon to chili or nutmeg to creamy sauces like béchamel
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67points
#24
Taste as you go.
It is obvious but weirdly enough, when I started cooking, I did not do that at all. Food tasted either over seasoned or bland AF.
Once I did, food tasted way better instead of blindly seasoning because a recipe said so.
It was honestly watching UK's Kitchen Nightmares that I learned this.
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66points
#25
If your homemade soup is too thin, try adding instant mashed potatoes as a thickener. Since I learned this trick, I've started keeping a box around for lazy days or emergencies. They're a lifesaver when you've added too much liquid to soup.
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60points
#26
When something says 'season to taste', it doesn't just mean salt or pepper. It could be adding an acid, or a sugar, or so on - it's about balancing everything.
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59points
#27
Have a small bowl next to you for trash veggie peels scraps. Saves a ton of time from going back and forth to the trash
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56points
#29
When cutting round vegetables like carrots and cucumbers, create a flat surface to the veggie doesn't roll all over the place and you don't cut your fingers.
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55points
