During the end of the year, families often cook more frequently because of many memorial and ceremonial occasions. However, end-of-year work is also busier. So, you need to keep these tips in mind, or you’ll be dizzy from cooking.
Cooking is not a passion for many people, and if the food is not delicious, you and the eaters will not feel comfortable. Remember that these tips will help you a lot in cooking.
Avoid teary eyes while cutting onions with these tips
If you have to cut many onions, you may not notice that your eyes are watering and can’t do anything else, and you can’t cut any more onions. To avoid tears, you can use these tricks: put them in the microwave for about 10 seconds before cutting. Or you can wear glasses and cut them under water. Or, you can place them next to a fan to blow away the onion dust, chew something while cutting, light a candle nearby… These tips can help you reduce the irritation. The easiest way is to put them in a bowl of water and cut them in water.
No worries if your pan is not non-stick
If your pan is not non-stick, you can line the bottom with banana leaves, place the fried food on top, and then fry. If you don’t have banana leaves, you can rub ginger on the surface of the pan.
Make frying crispy and quick with lime juice or flour
For deep-fried dishes like spring rolls, french fries, donuts… if you don’t want the oil to splatter and want to keep them crispy for a long time, add a little lime juice to the hot oil or add a little starch (wheat flour, cornstarch, corn flour, etc.). Both the flour and lime juice make the spring rolls and deep-fried dishes crispier and prevent splattering. It’s also recommended to fry them twice, meaning fry them once and take them out, let them absorb the oil, then fry them again, making the deep-fried dishes even crispier.
If food is too salty, add potatoes
If the food is too salty, put a piece of potato in it for about 10 minutes to absorb the excess salt in the soup and stir-fried dishes. Or add a little sugar to balance the saltiness.
Quickly clean the pork intestines without odor
Tripe is a favorite dish of many families, but housewives hesitate to make it because it takes a long time. To clean them quickly and easily, put them in a bundle with flour, fish sauce, or pour banana leaves on them. These things help clean the tripe quickly and eliminate the unpleasant smell very quickly.
Boil chicken without the skin breaking and with delicious meat
Chicken often appears in year-end dishes when having guests or during ceremonies. To boil the chicken well, clean it, then bring the water to a boil, put the chicken in, let it boil again, then reduce the heat to let it cook in the water at about 80 degrees C. The chicken will be tender, evenly cooked, and maintain the sweetness inside without breaking the skin or losing the juices. Remember to add some spices, ginger, and roasted onions for a fragrant smell. If you want crispy golden skin, brush turmeric oil on it.
Boiling meat to keep it tender and prevent it from becoming dry or tough
To make boiled meats tender, clean them, then bring the water to a boil and put them in, let it boil again, then reduce the heat to let them cook, instead of putting the meat in cold water. This is the secret to prevent them from being raw when boiled. Even if they are boiled for too long, they won’t become too soft. This method is especially helpful for boiling large chickens, avoiding the case where the outside is cooked while the inside is still red or the inside is overcooked while the outside is too soft and bland. This method keeps the meat sweet without becoming dry and tough.
To make braised, stir-fry or simmered dishes with fish or meat tender, add beer or cola
To make the fish or meat tender when simmering them, remember to add a little beer or cola, lemon syrup, or vinegar. They are catalysts that help the dishes become tender, quickly cooked, and more flavorful.
For crabs and sea snails to steam well, put them upside down and use cold water
To prevent crabs and sea snails from having a fishy smell, rinse them with ginger alcohol or scrub them clean. Then, put them in a pot with their belly upside down, and that way, there won’t be any liquid seeping out. Don’t put them the other way round. To prevent them from falling apart, steam them with cold water, not boiling water, which will cause them to fall apart instantly.
Clean dishes or pots that have been stored for a long time with baking soda and toothpaste
Glass or porcelain items are difficult to clean when they have been stored for a long time. Soak them in a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste, then wash them, and they will be clean quickly.
Get rid of the fishy smell of seafood or meat with alcohol
Wash them with cooking wine or white wine to remove the fishy smell in the food. Or you can use vinegar.
Keep fruits and vegetables fresh for many days
To keep vegetables fresh for longer, put a dry paper towel or oil-absorbing paper around them, then put them in the refrigerator. The paper will absorb any excess moisture that causes vegetables to spoil quickly. This method will save you time going to the market to buy food.
Get more juice from lemons and limes with the microwave
If you want to squeeze lemons quickly and easily without wasting any juice, put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds to soften them, and squeezing the juice will be easier.
To prevent cut fruits from browning, do this
When you need to cut fruits and are afraid they will turn brown, soak them in diluted saltwater, then remove and the fruits like apples, pears, etc., will not turn brown.
Add chili to seasonings last
Sometimes it is difficult to season the food properly. If you add chili first, it may make the dish too spicy and alter the taste. So, season with chili last for better seasoning.
More Useful Advice for Homemakers (Part 2)
Have you heard of the surprisingly easy tips to make cooking and household chores simpler? White radish eliminates the acrid taste of salted meat, adding alum to raw shrimp helps soften it, and adding cold water when frying eggs can make them crispy – these are just a few of the tricks to make your life easier.
Part 3: Helpful Tips for Housewives
Adding potatoes to the mix of yellowed green leaves, sliced onions and peppers can help reduce the saltiness of the soup, so be sure to refrigerate the ingredients to reduce the spiciness.
10 Easy Ways to Amaze Yourself in the Kitchen
Are you struggling with the pungent odor of onions and garlic in your kitchen? Do you find yourself dealing with boiled eggs or cracked shells and cooked or salty soup? Don’t worry, there are solutions to all of these problems. Read on to discover some helpful kitchen tips to get the job done.
How Often Should Women Replace Non-Stick Pans?
With non-stick pots and pans still being widely used despite their decreased effectiveness, many are wondering: Could this have an impact on people’s health?
Ten Strategies to Streamline Your Cooking Process
Are you a busy housewife looking for ways to save time in the kitchen? Did you know that flossing can also help you out? Check out these 10 tips to help you quickly and easily prepare delicious meals for your family. Learn how to peel garlic in 10 seconds and cut cherry tomatoes quickly for a healthy and tasty meal.
