10 Kitchen Hacks You Didn’t Know Existed

This article was written with AI assistance.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen newbie, there are always new tricks to make cooking, cleaning, and organizing easier. These kitchen hacks will save you time, reduce waste, and even help improve your meals with little effort!

Pouring olive oil over herbs in ice cube tray.Photo byDepositphotos

Use an Ice Cube Tray to Freeze Leftover Herbs

Instead of letting extra herbs go to waste, chop them up, place them in an ice cube tray, and cover them with olive oil or broth. Freeze the tray, and pop out the cubes when you need them for cooking—instant flavor boosters for soups, stews, and sautés!

Peel Garlic in Seconds with a Jar

Tired of peeling garlic by hand? Place garlic cloves in a mason jar, screw on the lid, and give it a good shake for about 15 seconds. The skins will peel right off, and your hands stay garlic-free!

Keep Herbs Fresh with a Damp Paper Towel

If you’ve ever bought fresh herbs only to find them wilted a day later, this hack is for you. Wrap your herbs in a damp paper towel, place them in a resealable bag, and store them in the fridge. This will keep them fresh and vibrant for days longer.

Wooden spoon over pot of liquid.Photo byDepositphotos

Prevent Boiling Over with a Wooden Spoon

Place a wooden spoon across the top of the pot to prevent pots from boiling over. The spoon will pop the bubbles and keep your stove spill-free—no more messy cleanup!

Revive Stale Bread with Water

Don’t toss that stale loaf just yet! Run your bread under a little water, then bake it in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes. It will come out soft, warm, and as good as new!

Slice Cherry Tomatoes in Half with Two Lids

Slicing cherry tomatoes one by one can be tedious. Instead, place a handful between two plastic lids (like those from takeout containers), gently hold the top lid down, and slice through the tomatoes with a sharp knife in one smooth motion.

Rolling dough with wine bottle.Photo byYayimages

Use a Wine Bottle as a Rolling Pin

No rolling pin? No problem! An empty wine bottle works just as well, and the smooth glass surface makes it easy to roll out dough for pies, cookies, or pizza.

Use a Muffin Tin for Condiments at Parties

Hosting a party? Instead of cluttering your table with multiple bowls for condiments, use a muffin tin to hold ketchup, mustard, salsa, and other dips. This makes for easy access and saves space!

Easily Clean a Blender with Soap and Water

Instead of struggling to scrub the inside of your blender, add a few drops of dish soap, fill it halfway with warm water, and blend on high for 30 seconds. Rinse it out, and your blender will be spotless!

Peeling ginger with a spoon.Photo byDepositphotos

Peel Ginger with a Spoon

Peeling ginger with a knife can be tricky and wasteful. Instead, use the edge of a spoon to scrape off the skin gently. This method helps you peel ginger more efficiently without losing too much of the root.