Cooking can take loads of time, especially when you’re in a hurry. But what if we told you there are ways to speed up the process without sacrificing flavor? Kitchen hacks are little tricks that save the day for busy cooks. They help you chop faster, peel easier, and cook smarter.
In this article, we’ve gathered 10 kitchen hacks for busy cooks that will save you time and nerves. Ready to turn cooking from a chore into a pleasure? Let’s go!
1. Kitchen Hack: Quick Garlic Peeling
Tired of fiddling with garlic skins? Here’s a cooking shortcut: place the cloves in a jar, close the lid, and shake for 10-15 seconds. The skin will come off on its own! This kitchen hack is especially useful when you need to peel a lot of garlic at once.
Method 1: Shaking in a Jar
Put garlic cloves in a small glass jar (even a lidded container will work), close it, and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds. The skin will fall off, leaving you with clean cloves. This cooking shortcut is perfect when you need to peel half a head of garlic.
Method 2: Microwave for 10 Seconds
If the garlic is fresh and firm, pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds (no longer!). After that, the skin will come off easily with your fingers. Just don’t overheat it, or the garlic will start cooking.
Method 3: Pressing with a Knife
A classic but foolproof method: place a clove on a cutting board, cover it with the flat side of a knife, and press lightly with your palm. The skin will crack, and the garlic will peel easily.
Bonus Tip: If you love meal prep, try peeling and freezing garlic in advance—it keeps for months in the freezer without losing its flavor.
2. Kitchen Hacks for Busy Cooks: How to Chill Wine Fast
Guests at the door, but the bottle is warm? Wrap it in a damp towel and put it in the freezer for 10 minutes. This kitchen hack works better than just refrigerating:
- Take a kitchen towel and soak it in cold water.
- Wring it out well so it’s damp but not dripping.
- Wrap the bottle tightly and place it in the freezer.
- Just 10-15 minutes—and your wine will be perfectly chilled!
Why it works: Wet fabric draws heat away faster than dry freezer air.
Express Method with Ice & Salt
Need to chill it even faster?
- Fill a large bowl with ice.
- Add 3-4 tablespoons of salt and a little water.
- Submerge the bottle and rotate it every 2-3 minutes.
- In just 5-7 minutes, your wine or champagne will be ready to serve!
Lifehack: This method also works great for beer and soft drinks.
3. Cooking Shortcut: Lemon Juice Without Seeds
Squeezing lemons—seems simple, right? But when you need quick, clean juice without seeds or splatters, even this simple task can be annoying. Here are some tried-and-true kitchen hacks to perfect the process.
Fork Method for Clean Juice
- Take a lemon and pierce its skin several times with a fork.
- Cut the citrus in half.
- Squeeze as usual—the juice will flow through the holes while the seeds stay inside the pulp.
Why it works? The holes create extra channels for juice to escape, bypassing the seeds.
Pro Chef’s Method
For maximum juice yield:
- Roll the lemon on the counter, pressing firmly with your palm.
- Microwave it for 10 seconds.
- Use lemon tongs or regular pliers (yes, this really works!).
4. Kitchen Hack: How to Chop Herbs Fast
Herbs add aroma and freshness to any dish, but chopping them often turns into a tedious task. Plus, they wilt so quickly! Let’s break down some proven kitchen hacks to save your time and sanity.
Method 1: Scissors in a Glass
- Take a tall glass or mug (glass is more stable).
- Place washed and dried herbs inside.
- Use kitchen scissors to chop the herbs right in the glass.
- Done! Now you can add them straight to your dish.
Method 2: Bunch Chopping (Chef’s Technique)
- Gather herbs into a tight bunch.
- Press down with your non-dominant hand on the board.
- Make quick chopping motions, moving along the bunch.
Tip: Use a sharp knife—this keeps the herbs from bruising and preserves their aroma.
5. Kitchen Hacks for Busy Cooks: Softening Butter in a Minute
Forgot to take the butter out of the fridge, but need it right now for baking or sauce? No problem! Here are genius kitchen hacks to save your culinary masterpieces without a long wait.
2 Ways to Soften Butter Instantly:
- «Hot Glass» Method (Fastest!)
- Fill a metal or ceramic glass with boiling water, let sit for 30 seconds.
- Pour out the water and immediately cover the butter with the glass.
- In 60 seconds, the butter will be perfectly soft but not melted!
Why it works? Metal/ceramic retains heat, creating a «steam bath» effect.
- Grate It (For Emergencies)
- Take cold butter straight from the fridge.
- Grate it on a coarse grater.
- In 2-3 minutes, the shreds will soften.
Perfect for: Cookies, creams, when you only need a little butter.
6. Cooking Shortcut: How to Peel Boiled Eggs Quickly
Peeling boiled eggs can turn into a real challenge when the shell refuses to come off and takes half the egg white with it. But with these tried-and-true kitchen hacks, you’ll forget about the struggle forever!
2 Methods for Perfect Peeling:
- «Shake in a Jar» Method (Most Spectacular!)
- Lightly crack the boiled egg on the counter to create fractures.
- Place it in a jar with 1 tbsp of water.
- Close the lid and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
- Take it out—the shell will come off completely!
Why it works: Water seeps under the shell, and shaking finishes the job.
- «Blowing» Technique (For Perfectionists)
- Make small holes at both ends of the egg.
- Press the wider end to your mouth.
- Blow hard—the contents will slide out through the opposite hole.
Perfect for: Soft-boiled or deviled eggs.
7. Kitchen Hack: How to Keep Avocado Fresh
Avocado is one of the most delicate and finicky foods—perfectly ripe today, brown and spoiled tomorrow. But with these proven kitchen hacks, you’ll learn not only how to store avocados properly but also how to speed up or slow down ripening!
How to Keep Cut Avocado Fresh:
- «Onion Keeper» Method (Most Effective!)
- Leave the pit in the avocado half.
- Place it in a container with roughly chopped onions.
- Seal tightly and refrigerate.
Result: Stays fresh for 2–3 days without browning!
Why it works: Onions release sulfur compounds that slow oxidation.
- «Oil Barrier» Method
- Brush the flesh with a thin layer of olive oil.
- Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, pressing against the flesh.
Storage time: 24–36 hours.
- Water Method (For Emergencies)
- Submerge the avocado half in cold water, cut-side down.
- Refrigerate for no more than 12 hours.
8. Kitchen Hacks for Busy Cooks: Quick Meat Thawing
Thawing meat is a never-ending headache for busy cooks—either it’s still frozen inside or starts spoiling on the outside. But with these proven kitchen hacks, you’ll learn to thaw meat quickly, safely, and without losing quality!
3 Safe Ways to Thaw Meat Fast:
- Water Method (Fastest!)
- Place frozen meat in a sealed bag (remove air!).
- Submerge in a large bowl of cold water.
- Change water every 20–30 minutes.
⏱ Time: - Steak/ground meat: 30–40 minutes
- Whole chicken: 1–1.5 hours
Why it works: Water transfers heat 25x faster than air.
- «Cold Contact» Method (For Steaks)
- Place frozen meat on a cast-iron skillet or thick metal surface.
- Cover with another metal object (e.g., a second skillet).
⏱ Time: Twice as fast as regular thawing.
- Brine Method (For Chicken/Fish)
- Mix 1 liter water + 2 tbsp salt.
- Soak meat for 30–40 minutes.
Bonus: Meat becomes juicier.
9. Cooking Shortcut: How to Chill Drinks Fast
Want ice-cold lemonade without diluting it? Freeze grapes or berries and use them instead of ice cubes—your drink will stay cold without losing flavor.
Creative Hacks:
- Chilling stones – Granite cubes for whiskey.
- Frozen straw – Fill a straw with water and freeze.
- Ice ring – Freeze water in a Bundt pan (for punch bowls).
10. Kitchen Hack: How to Peel Potatoes Quickly
Peeling potatoes is a tedious, time-consuming chore. But what if you could peel a bucket of potatoes in 5 minutes? Here are proven kitchen hacks to revolutionize veggie prep!
3 Ways to Peel Potatoes Fast:
- «Ice Shock» Method (For New Potatoes)
- Boil potatoes for 3–4 minutes.
- Drain and immediately plunge into ice water.
- Rub with your fingers—the skin slips off like a sock!
Secret: The sudden temperature change separates skin from flesh.
- «Steel Wool» Method
- Use a clean metal scouring pad.
- Scrub potatoes under running water in circular motions.
Best for: New potatoes with thin skins.
- 5-Second Knife Peel (Chef’s Method)
- Cut the potato in half.
- Slide the knife under the skin at the cut edge.
- Rotate the knife 180°—the skin comes off in one motion.
Conclusion: Kitchen Hacks – Your Secret to Efficient Cooking
These 10 kitchen hacks for busy cooks will help you spend less time on chores and more time enjoying food. Try just a couple of these cooking shortcuts—you’ll be amazed how much easier cooking becomes!
