Traditionally, during the Lunar New Year, we tend to cook more at home, from preparing ancestral altars, offerings to guests, family gatherings… The dishes during this period are usually made in larger quantities to show abundance and hospitality. However, at the end of the year, you are usually busier than usual, so cooking a lot can make you feel overwhelmed. Remember the following tips to make cooking easier:
Cut onions without tears
Onions are an essential ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine. But cutting onions can make you cry. Apply this tip: put them in the microwave for about 10 seconds before cutting. Or you can wear glasses and cut them underwater. Or place them next to a rotating fan to blow the onion dust in a different direction, cut them while doing something, light a candle next to them while cutting… Similarly, you can apply this method to cutting shallots or garlic. You can also place a candle next to them to reduce the pungent taste of the onion from reaching your eyes.
No non-stick pan, no worries with this tip
Many people are now switching from using non-stick pans to using regular pans. If you want to cook with a regular pan without it sticking, remember a few tips: line the pan with candle paper or banana leaves before frying. Only pour the oil when the pan is dry and hot enough, then put the ingredients in. Add a little flour or starch to the hot oil.
Deep fry crisply and quickly with lime juice or flour
If you want fried dishes like spring rolls, french fries, fried donuts… to be non-greasy and crispy for a long time, add a little lime juice to the hot oil or add some starch (wheat flour, cornstarch, corn flour… all work). These tips will make the fried dishes crispier and prevent oil splatters, making frying more convenient.
If your food is too salty, use potatoes to reduce the saltiness
If you accidentally make your food too salty, slice a few pieces of potatoes and put them in, you will find that the potatoes absorb the salt and reduce the saltiness. Or you can add a little sugar to balance out the saltiness.
Quickly clean pig intestines
Pig intestines are delicious but some housewives find them difficult to clean and time-consuming. To easily and quickly clean them, put them in the kneading process with flour, fish sauce or mashed banana leaves. These things help clean the intestines quickly and eliminate any unpleasant odor.
Boiled chicken without tearing the skin
If you want to boil chicken without tearing the skin, do not boil the water vigorously and do not boil it from cold water. Boil the water first, then put the chicken in and when the water boils again, lower the heat to let the chicken cook slowly at about 80 degrees Celsius. The chicken will be sweet and tender without any torn or loose skin. Remember to add some spices, ginger, and roasted shallots for a delicious aroma. If you prefer a golden skin, brush it with turmeric oil.
Boil meat with sweetness without it becoming tough
When boiling meat, if you want the meat to be tender, do not boil it vigorously. Boil the water, put the meat in, and simmer gently. The meat will be tender and retain the nutrients without losing too much water. This method ensures sweet and tender meat.
For braising, stir-frying, simmering meat and fish to be tender and fragrant, use beer or coke
To make braised dishes quickly tender, add a bit of beer or coke, lime juice or vinegar. These ingredients will be catalysts to help the dishes tenderize and become more fragrant. If stir-frying, you can add pineapple because it contains enzymes that break down proteins faster. If making soup, you can add green papaya because green papaya also has enzymes that tenderize meat quickly.
For steamed crabs, place them upside down and use cold water
When buying crabs, clean them with ginger wine or white wine. Then, when steaming them, remember to place them upside down so that the sweet water will not be released. If you want to prevent the crabs from falling apart, steam them with cold water, not boiling water.
Clean stubborn stains on dishes with baking soda and toothpaste
When glass or porcelain dishes have stubborn stains that are hard to clean, use a mixture of baking soda and toothpaste to scrub them. It quickly cleans tough stains and makes the dishes shiny.
Remove fishy or meaty smells from seafood or meat by using alcohol
Use cooking alcohol or white vinegar to rinse off fishy smells from food. It works effectively to remove unwanted odors.
To keep vegetables fresh for longer, use ice water
When blanching vegetables or meat, pig organs… if you want them to stay fresh and vibrant, soak them in cold water to maintain their color.
Revive burnt rice with this tip
If your rice is burnt, don’t pour the whole pot of rice. Place a slice of bread on top of the rice for about 10 minutes. The bread will absorb the burnt smell and you can use the rice in the pot as usual. Just remove the burnt part at the bottom.
Peeling ginger with a spoon or a bottle cap
Using a knife to peel ginger can be difficult as ginger has many crevices that are hard to peel cleanly. Use a bottle cap or a rice spoon to scrape off the ginger skin. This method is quick and prevents accidents from a slipping knife or time-consuming peeling.
Peeling shrimp shell with a fork
Peeling shrimp shells can be time-consuming and may cause scratches on your hands. Use a fork. After removing the head of the shrimp, stick one of the tines of the fork into the shell, penetrate through the shell, and pull out both the shell and the shrimp vein. It’s quick and saves you from nail damage.
Keep tomatoes fresh for a long time
If you want to keep tomatoes fresh for longer, put them in a bowl or container and completely submerge them in water with a little salt. Then take them out, and tomatoes such as apples or pears will not turn brown.
Keep vegetables fresh for days
If you buy a lot of produce and your refrigerator is full, wrap the vegetables in fresh banana leaves to keep them fresher for longer. Alternatively, you can immerse them in water like flowers to prevent them from wilting and drying out.
Speed up the ripening of fruits by putting them in a paper bag
If you want to ripen bananas, peaches, or avocados quickly and evenly, put them in a paper bag and tie it tightly. The ethylene gas released from the fruits will help them ripen faster.
To keep vegetables green and fresh after stir-frying
When stir-frying vegetables and fruits, if you want them to be delicious and retain their freshness without becoming watery, use high heat and quickly blanch them in boiling water, especially for beans, morning glory, and pigweed. Stir-fry quickly at high heat to avoid water loss. Then, remove them from heat as soon as they are cooked, avoid keeping them on the heat for too long or on the stove.
To maintain the color and crispiness of boiled vegetables
When boiling vegetables, if you want them to retain their color, add a little bit of fat to the boiling water before blanching them and add a pinch of salt, boil them on high heat with plenty of water. When you remove them, remember to spread them out to quickly evaporate the hot steam, which will help maintain the color better.
Boil eggs without water
If you don’t want to boil eggs in water, put them in a bowl or a cupcake mold and then put them in the oven. Set the oven to 124 degrees Celsius and bake for 30 minutes. With this method, you can have perfectly boiled eggs conveniently, especially when you are busy cooking other dishes.
Quickly slice cherry tomatoes
Slicing small cherry tomatoes individually can be time-consuming. So, gather a bunch of cherry tomatoes between two plates and use a knife to cut through the gap between the plates. With this method, you can halve many cherry tomatoes at once without worrying about cutting your fingers or wasting time.
Keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer
To keep vegetables fresher for longer, place a piece of absorbent kitchen towel or oil-absorbing paper around them, then put them in the refrigerator. The paper will absorb excess moisture that causes vegetables to spoil quickly. This method will help you reduce time spent shopping for groceries.
Extract more lime juice by using a microwave
If you want to extract lime juice quickly and efficiently, put them in the microwave for 30 seconds to soften them. It will be easier to squeeze out the juice.
Prevent fruit from browning
If you’re worried about fruits browning after cutting, soak them in a dilute saltwater solution then take them out. Fruits like apples, pears… will not turn brown.
Seasoning and making dipping sauce? Add chili last
Sometimes it’s difficult to get the seasoning right. If you add chili first, it can overpower the taste of the dish. So, add chili last for a more balanced flavor.
The Origin and Meaning of Lunar New Year: Exploring the Celebration
The vibrant and joyous celebration of Lunar New Year is a festival steeped in tradition and held dearly by the Vietnamese people. This article will explain to you the rich history and symbolism behind this important event – Tet!
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.
How to Properly Use and Maintain a Blender
In the summer heat, cool smoothies can be quickly prepared with the help of a blender. To ensure it works well and lasts for many years, with good maintenance and regular cleaning, the blender should be well-taken care of.
Fun Ideas to Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Family and Friends
As families and friends prepare to celebrate the start of another year, the activities they partake in on New Year’s Eve can greatly influence their luck, fortune and health in the upcoming year. To make the most of this special evening, here are some meaningful activities to do on New Year’s Eve.
