Let’s be honest for a moment because when it comes to cooking, we want things to be as convenient as possible. No one wants to spend thousands of dollars on the latest tech, and after a long day of work, who wants to spend three hours trying to whip up a fancy recipe? To help make your life simpler, we’re going to introduce you to 7 amazing cooking hacks that will both level up your culinary skills and decrease the amount of time you have to spend in the kitchen. Don’t worry, these aren’t the usual “cut an onion underwater” sort of tips - they’re actually useful!

1. The DIY Smoke Infuser

Don’t have a fancy smoke infuser on hand and not looking to invest in one? Don’t worry, if you’re looking to recreate the delicious smoky taste, we’ve got the perfect hack for you. All you need is a heat-safe glass bowl and some smoking chips, and voila, you have your very own DIY smoke infuser. 

To use it, just light the chips on fire, quickly blow them out, and then trap the smoke under the glass bowl with your food. Let it sit for a few minutes before revealing a beautifully smoke-infused dish.

Image by tookapic from Pixabay

2. Coffee Grinder Spice Mill

To get ultra-fresh spices, have you ever considered grinding your own using a coffee grinder? Freshly ground spices have much more potent flavours and aromas than their pre-ground counterparts, so if you’re looking to elevate your flavour profiles, this hack is exactly what you need. Just remember to clean the grinder thoroughly before and after to avoid any cross-contamination.

Image by Monika from Pixabay

3. Microwave For Juicier Citrus

Got a stubborn lemon or lime on your hands? While it may seem counterintuitive, microwaving your citrus fruits can actually help you produce more of their juice. By throwing your lemons or limes into the microwave for roughly 10-20 seconds, it’ll break down their cell walls and make them so much easier to juice. Just try it for yourself - you’ll be amazed by how much juice you’ll get! 

Image by Obodai26 from Pixabay

4. Eggshell Magnet 

Did you accidentally mess up while cracking open an egg? Hey, it happens to the best of us. If you’ve got a bunch of unwanted eggshell pieces floating around, this hack will be your hero. Besides, no one wants an extra crunchy bite with their eggs! All you need to do is wet your fingers and reach right in - the water will attract the eggshells like a magnet, making it surprisingly easy to get all the pieces out without having to chase them around the bowl. 

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

5. Cocktail Shaker Pancakes

To make your mornings so much smoother, try this easy and foolproof pancake hack. By using a cocktail shaker to mix your pancake batter, you’ll never have to worry about lumpy batter again. For smooth, perfectly mixed batter every time, this hack is definitely going to save you time in the morning. As an added bonus, it makes it so easy to pour straight onto the griddle.

Image by piviso from Pixabay

6. Tea Infuser for Spices

Do you love making flavourful stews but hate having to fish out the spice remnants? You can easily avoid this by simply using a tea infuser. Just grab whatever tea infuser you have lying around, fill it with whole spices like bay leaves, peppercorns, or cloves, and let it simmer with your stew. This way, you’ll get all the flavour infusion without the tedious clean-up. 

Image by Luisella Planeta LOVE PEACE 💛💙 from Pixabay

7. Glass-shaking Garlic Peeler

If you’re tired of peeling garlic cloves with your fingers and ending up with that potent lingering smell, try the glass-shake method. Just put the garlic cloves you need to use in a glass jar, secure the lid, and give it a vigorous shake for about 20 seconds. Just pour ‘em out and you’ll find them all miraculously peeled, saving you both time and smelly fingers.

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

With these 7 amazing cooking hacks now in your pocket, cooking is about to get a whole lot easier. As the perfect tools to help you save both money and time, who knew hacks would be so useful? It’s time to put these to good use.