Genius Cooking Tips You Need To Try

by Min-Ja Lee

Anyone who's striving to follow a healthier diet should start by prepping more meals at home. Cooking your own food allows you to control portion sizes and ingredients used, not to mention it saves you money. But there is a learning curve when it comes to all that chopping, slicing, and dicing. That's why we've collected 14 clever tips and tricks for cooking at home from our friends at Food & Wine—no fancy gadgets or chef-worthy knife skills required.

Make mess-free pancakes

Fresh, homemade pancakes are delicious, and fun to make. But it often leaves a big mess in your kitchen that you won't enjoy having to clean up. Here's a genius way to make pancakes without having to wash a single dish or spoon.

Cut cake layers without a knife

Have you ever wondered how professional bakers make their beautiful layer cakes? You can do it yourself at home without having to sharpen your knife skills. Discover how to cut cake into even layers using... dental floss! 

Poach the perfect egg

Whether you use them to top a bed of salad greens or a slice of toast, poached eggs are one of life's simple pleasures. But the biggest challenge when poaching an egg is coaxing it to keep its shape. Learn how to poach picture-perfect eggs using one simple household ingredient.  (watch this video)

Make light, fluffy potato gnocchi

If you've ever tried to make homemade potato gnocchi, you know how difficult it is to prevent them from turning into dense, chewy little balls instead of the pillowy pasta you crave. There's just one simple kitchen tool you will need to make perfect potato gnocchi. (watch this video)

Peel hard-boiled eggs effortlessly

Hard-boiled eggs are rich in protein, and they make a great grab-and-go snack. Just pack a spoon with you—it will help you take the shell off quickly and neatly, especially if the eggs are very fresh. (watch the video)

Peel a kiwi without squashing the fruit

The flesh of kiwis can be super soft, making it hard to separate the peel from this delicious fruit that's packed with fiber, vitamin C, and folate. Using just a spoon, though, you can peel a kiwi quickly and neatly. (watch the video)

Core an apple like a pro

Packed with fiber and antioxidants, an apple is the perfect, portable midday snack. Here's how to peel and core an apple without a fancy kitchen gadget or chef-worthy knife skills. (watch the video)

Peel ginger with a spoon

Ginger adds a fresh and spicy kick to almost any dish, but it has nooks and crannies that make it difficult to peel and mince. Here's a quick and easy way to prepare fresh ginger using a spoon or a fork.  (watch the video)

Poach salmon with a sandwich bag

Poaching is one of the healthiest ways you can cook salmon, and you don't have to stink up your kitchen to do it. All you need is a plastic sandwich bag and a lemon. (watch the video)

Revive stale bread in your oven

A fresh baguette features a delicious, crunchy crust and fluffy middle, but when it goes stale, it turns into a rubbery hunk of bread. Bring life back to dried-out, stale bread with this oh-so-easy technique. (watch the video)

Separate egg whites with a water bottle

If you've ever tried to separate egg whites from their yolks, then chances are you've had to deal with leftover bits of the shells. Next time you're making an egg-white omelet or a batch of rich pastries, separate yolks in bulk using this easy, foolproof technique.  (watch the video)

Slice soft cheese without the mess

Cheese is a tasty addition to any party platter, but the softer varieties can be hard to cut. Learn how to cut soft cheese into perfect slices so your guests can enjoy a snack without making a mess. (watch the video) 

Truss a chicken, no twine needed

When roasting a whole chicken, it's important to cook your bird evenly on all sides without burning the wing tips. An age-old cooking technique that can help is trussing your chicken with butcher's twine. You can also truss your bird with an item you should already have in your medicine cabinet: dental floss. (watch the video)

Dry herbs in the microwave

If you've ever purchased and used fresh herbs, you know that it's hard to use up the entire batch before it goes bad. Learn how to save money by drying fresh herbs in a microwave. (watch the video)