Classic Kitchen Tips at Lotsofkids.com

Classic Kitchen Tips

In this article, we gather many of the kitchen tips that have been published on the site over the past year. We'll update this page periodically, so be sure to check back.

Cooking

Can't get the last bit of spaghetti sauce out of the jar? After emptying, add a few strands of hot, cooked spaghetti, and close the jar. Wait a minute or two. The steam from the spaghetti will loosen the sauce from the sides and cover the spaghetti. Just open and pour out the spaghetti and remaining sauce.

Want to add a special touch to store bought salsa? Add a can of diced fruit. Crushed pineapple, diced peaches, even pears and fruit cocktail can add a sweet twist to your dip. Drain well then mix into the salsa. Serve with chips or on top of your favorite grilled meat. This tip can also help you tame some hotter salsas, still giving you that kick, but toning down the overall spiciness. Extra tip: reserve the syrup/juice from the fruit to mix into other drinks or dishes for a special treat.

Want to know if your baking soda is still good to use in your recipe? Place a few drops of vinegar in a small bowl and add 1 tablespoon of baking soda. If it fizzes immediately, it's still good to use in cooking. If the fizzing is delayed or doesn't happen at all, only use the baking sode for cleaning purposes.

Many recipes called for salted water, including preparation of pasta. Salt raises the boiling temperature of water, therefore to quicken cook time, add salt after the water has started boiling!

Cleaning

Spray mixing and serving spoons with non-stick spray before using, to make clean-up easier. Did you know you can also do this with blades/beaters of a mixer? Particularly useful, since hand beaters can be difficult to wash after use.

When spring cleaning, don't forget your freezer. Prepare a solution of baking soda, a few drops of dishwashing detergent in a bucket of warm water. Pull out the food. Throw away anything that looks old, freezer burned, or otherwise damaged. Take notes on what's left. Wipe out the inside with the cleaning solution, let dry for a few minutes, then replace food.

Got something burnt onto the bottom of a pain and absolutely can't get it off? Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, add a cup of white vinegar and boil for 10 minutes. The burnt food should wipe right out.

General

Clothespins are not just for laundry. Instead of buying the fancy "chip clips" and other kind of package clips, purchase a package of plastic clothespins. You get far more clips for the money. An added bonus is that if you lose one, you won't feel as bad knowing they were so inexpensive and easily replaced

To get rid of odors on the hands or the cutting board (especially fish smell), rub with lemon juice, sliced lemon, vinegar or salt before washing and rinse well.

The next time you are at the Dollar Store, pick up a few extra salt and pepper shakers. Fill them with various often-used seasonings like garlic powder, seasoned salt, etc. When you serve pizza or other item where your family/guests may want to add spices, pull out the shakers; they are much more attractive than bottle the spices come in. An extra plus is that you can tell your family to use the designated shakers, meaning the regular jar of seasoning will remain on your spice rack where it's easily found.

Got some leftover popcorn that's stale? Don't throw it away! Feed it to the birds! Popcorn makes great bird food, and your feathered friends won't mind if it's a few days past it's prime in freshness. For a special treat, roll the popcorn in oil, then roll in sesame seed, bird seed, or breadcrumbs. You'll be a bird's best friend!

Some safety tips when dealing with a kitchen fire -- Use an approved fire extinguisher or baking soda to put out small flames. When frying or heating oil, make sure the pot or pan has a lid and that the lid is handy. Cover a burning pan with a lid. If anyone's clothing catches fire, the rule is to stop, drop and roll.

Holidays

When decorating for the holidays, make sure you remember the kitchen! Since many people end up congregating in the kitchen while the cook is working, or over after-dinner coffee, it makes a much homier atmosphere if they are greeted with blinking lights and festive decorations!