There is no question that cooking and baking can seem like a chore when recipes call for sticky, messy ingredients, lots of measuring cups and an endless cleanup. But there are a slew of small tricks that cost nothing, save you time, and give you that “Wow, why didn’t I ever think of that?” moment:
Plastic wrap
Prevent sticky lids on items like jam, molasses or corn syrup with two simple methods:
1. Cover the top of the jar with plastic wrap, then screw the lid on.
2. Dab a paper towel in some vegetable oil, then rub the oil around the threads of the jar.
How to keep the lid of your food processor clean: Add your ingredients to the work bowl of your food processor, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap — making sure the plastic fully covers the bowl. Affix the lid to the bowl and process the ingredients as needed. Remove the lid and discard the plastic wrap — there is no need to clean anything but the blade and bowl.
How to measure vegetable shortening: Line a measuring cup with plastic wrap, spoon in the shortening, and level off the top. Pull up the ends of the plastic to lift out the shortening.
Resealable plastic bags
Crush graham crackers or cookies for a crust by placing them in a resealable plastic bag, then seal. Lay the bag on the kitchen counter and go over it several times with a rolling pin (you can also use a wine bottle).
How to press a crumb crust into a pie plate or springform pan: Place your hand inside a resealable plastic bag and press crumb crust into place. The bag keeps the crumbs from sticking to your hand and makes for a quick cleanup.
Nonstick cooking spray
How to measure sticky ingredients like honey, molasses and corn syrup: Spray your measuring cup with a light coating of nonstick cooking spray and then add ingredients. The ingredients will slip right out.
How to grate cheese without having it stick to the grater: To grate semi-soft cheeses like mozzarella, first spray your grater lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Grate cheese as usual.
How to prevent tomato-sauce stains on plastic containers: Spray a light coating of nonstick cooking spray on the inside of plastic containers before you pour in your tomato sauce or chili.
Dishwasher
How to apply cooking spray to baking pans without making a huge mess: Open your dishwasher door, place your baking pan on the door and spray nonstick cooking spray as needed. The excess spray will be washed away the next time you run the washer.
How to dry large pots and pans: Use the top drawer of your dishwasher as a draining rack for large pots and pans that normally don’t fit in your countertop dish rack. Best of all, water drips right onto the dishwasher door and not all over your counter.