I have a confession to make. There are days when I dread stepping into the kitchen. Between chopping vegetables, measuring out ingredients, and cleaning up the inevitable mess, meal prep can feel like a time-consuming chore rather than an accomplishment. As much as I love a home-cooked meal, the process often eats into time I’d rather spend relaxing or tackling my never-ending to-do list. Cooking feels less like nourishment and more like a second job.
That’s where kitchen hacks come in—they’re not just fun tips from the internet, they’re actual time-savers that make a big difference, especially for those of us juggling busy schedules. Whether it’s learning how to cut prep time in half, using techniques that simply easier and more efficient, or streamlining cleanup, these small changes can add up to big relief. For anyone balancing work, family, or just life in general, these tricks can help bring the joy back to cooking without all the stress.
Click here and here to watch how to do them.
9 Brilliant Kitchen Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner
Level up your kitchen game with these clever, time-saving tricks that make everyday cooking smoother, cleaner, and just a bit more fun.
1. Apple Slicer for Potato Wedges
Use an apple slicer to cut potatoes into perfect wedges. It gives you evenly sized pieces in seconds, perfect for baking or frying with no knife skills needed.
2. Grater on Its Side
Flip your box grater onto its side and grate cheese horizontally. This positioning gives better control, prevents awkward angles, and keeps food from haphazardly piling up inside the grater.
3. Peel in Both Directions
Swipe your vegetable peeler back and forth instead of lifting it after each stroke. Not only does it speed up peeling and give you more control, you have less wrist fatigue as well.
4. Shred Chicken with a Hand Mixer
Place cooked chicken in a bowl and use a hand mixer on low speed to shred. It’s fast, easy, and gives you perfectly shredded chicken in under a minute. Who wants to spend a lot of time pulling chicken apart with two forks? Not me! The mixer does the work for you.
5. Warm Water for Room-Temp Eggs
Put cold eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for 5–10 minutes. This method brings eggs to room temperature quickly—an essential for better baking results.
6. Cube Butter to Soften Fast
Cut cold butter into small cubes and let it sit at room temperature. The more surface area means faster softening, which is perfect when you are short on time.
7. Oil the Pot Rim Before Boiling Pasta
Rub butter or olive oil around the rim of your pot before boiling water. It helps prevent starchy water from boiling over by breaking surface tension.
8. Butter Wrapper as a Microwave Cover
Place the butter wrapper over your bowl when melting butter in the microwave. It keeps your microwave clean and puts that wrapper to good use.
9. Reuse Butter Wrappers to Grease Pans
Use leftover butter wrappers to grease baking pans, muffin tins, or cake pans. This saves time, reduces waste, and gives just the right amount of grease without using extra butter.
Why These Hacks Work Wonders
These small tricks help you save time, reduce mess, and make better use of everyday tools and ingredients. They’re proof that smart cooking isn’t always about fancy equipment—it’s about clever shortcuts and thoughtful steps that make your kitchen more efficient and enjoyable. Whether you’re prepping a big meal or just trying to get dinner on the table, these hacks give you a smoother, smarter way to cook.
Cube the butter to let it soften, now why didn’t I ever think of that? Genius, as is using the apple slicer for potatoes. Thank you for sharing these hints.