Ice cubes are primarily used for making beverages. But did you know that ice cubes are also used for many cooking hacks?
Reducing fat in food
If a soup has too much fat, what can you do? Use a large ice cube and gently drop it into the pot. The fat will immediately cling to the ice cube. Simply remove the ice cube and remove the excess fat easily. Repeat this process until you are satisfied.
In addition, ice cubes can be used for the following tricks:
Reheating rice to make it softer and tastier
It may sound strange, but this is actually a great hack that you can use in your kitchen. You can use ice cubes to reheat cold rice to make it softer and tastier. When reheating, scoop the rice up and add a few ice cubes. The ice will quickly melt and evenly penetrate the dry and hard rice grains, making them softer and easier to eat.
Keeping vegetables crisp after boiling
After boiling, put the cooked vegetables in a bowl of ice water to make them even crisper and more delicious. This is a small trick that many housewives use daily. Simply soak the vegetables in ice water for a few minutes, then remove them. Your boiled vegetables will not only be crisper, but they will also retain their vibrant green color.
In addition, ice cubes are also a great solution for increasing the crispiness of bitter gourd. For those who enjoy eating raw bitter gourd, don’t forget to soak them in ice water for about 15 minutes before eating. This will help reduce the bitterness and increase the crispiness of this dish.
Making salads fresher
If you often make salads, you may notice that the salad tends to wilt and lose its freshness after mixing. So here’s a little trick to make your salad more appealing: before mixing, add an ice cube and pour the dressing on top.
With this simple technique, your salad will definitely maintain its freshness, crispness, and sweetness
Making bitter gourd crisper
If you are a fan of bitter gourd with fermented shrimp paste, you will know that ice cubes are essential. The ice cubes at the bottom of the bitter gourd will make it crisper and reduce the bitterness. When eating with fermented shrimp paste, it will become even more flavorful and enticing.
Removing the pungent smell of onions
Onions are an essential ingredient in salads and mixed dishes. If you don’t know how to prepare onions properly, they can have a pungent odor and taste bad. When thinly slicing onions, soak them in a bowl of filtered water with a little lemon juice or vinegar for about 15 – 20 minutes. This will help reduce the pungent smell. Then, soak the onions in ice water for about 30 minutes to make them crisp. Remove them from the water, allow them to drain, and then use them in your dish.
Cleaning bottles and jars
You can reuse bottles and jars to store wine, drinks, or fish sauce, for example. But these bottles and jars have small, narrow necks that are difficult to clean. When you want to clean them, add some salt, lemon juice, and a few small ice cubes. Shake well. When the stains are gone, rinse thoroughly with water. Lemon juice also helps eliminate any unpleasant odors in the bottles or jars.
Preserving aromatic herbs
Herbs and spices give dishes their unique flavors. This is especially true for Western dishes, where their herbs are hard to find in Vietnam. However, not every family regularly prepares these Western dishes. And keeping herbs fresh is always a challenge due to the hot and humid climate. There is a trick to keep these herbs fragrant and fresh by using ice cubes. Cut the herbs, such as basil or parsley, into small pieces and place them in ice cube trays. Then pour olive oil over them to cover the herbs.
Olive oil is a foreign ingredient that is suitable for use with these herbs in cooking. In addition, olive oil is an excellent antioxidant, helping to preserve the aroma and flavor of the herbs when frozen. To save space in your storage, you can remove these oil cubes from the tray and put them in a zip bag to prevent cross-contamination or loss of the original aroma.
Tips for Preparing and Storing Rice During Hot Weather
It’s no secret that in warmer months the proper storage of food, especially cold rice, can be a nightmare. However, with a few simple tips, we can help you cook the perfect batch of rice and keep it from going rancid. Read on to learn all the essential steps and how to preserve the rice!
Smart Chef’s Cooking Hacks: Quick and Delicious Recipes for Everyone
With the following tips, your cooking has become much easier and more time-saving, resulting in delicious meals. Cooking is no longer a burden now.
How to keep leftover rice delicious like freshly cooked rice
We all experience times when we cook too much rice, and proper storage will help keep the leftover rice fresh and delicious, avoiding spoilage and waste.
This simple trick will make your white rice fluffy and delicious
To prevent rice from spoiling quickly and having to be discarded, which is a huge waste, all you need to do is add this ingredient while cooking.
Is eating cold rice better than hot rice? Do you believe it?
Rice serves as a plentiful source of carbohydrates, making it an ideal energy supplement for athletes or individuals engaged in high-intensity physical activities. It replenishes the energy and restores the lost glycogen reserves in the body.
