Any busy family knows that the kitchen is the central spot of the household. Whilst serving as the main area for food prep and cleaning, it can also double as a homework spot for the kids and a place of entertainment on the weekend. This means there’s no time to waste when it comes to executing household chores in the space.
Whether you’re looking to save space in the fridge or finally rid of that grime in the oven, here are nine kitchen hacks designed to make life a little more manageable.
1. Chilled wine is always a winner
Balmy summer evenings prove the perfect time to entertain and enjoy a few drinks with friends. Unfortunately, warm weather consequently means warm wine. A simple solution is to freeze grapes and use as a substitute for ice cubes in your glass of Sauv Blanc. The result: a cold white minus the dilution.
2. Multipurpose products save you time
The dishwasher was designed to lighten the load, but unfortunately tough stained dishes require pre-rinsing and sometimes scrubbing before they even hit the wash cycle. Instead use Fairy Platinum Dishwashing Tablets, the liquid and powder combined formula cuts through the toughest of cleaning challenges in just one wash. No elbow grease required.
3. It’s all about the pre-soak
Save time when cooking pasta by pre-soaking for a few minutes. There are so many benefits to this simple, yet effective hack. Not only will it shave minutes off the cooking time, but it will also taste more like freshly made pasta thanks to the removal of additional starches.
4. Separate eggs with the squeeze of a bottle
You might have already seen this hack floating around, but in case you haven’t, be prepared to never suffer the pain of separating eggs again. Grab yourself an empty water bottle and a shallow bowl. Crack the egg in the bowl and then squeeze and position the bottle over the egg yolk. Release your grip and you’ll notice the egg yolk will have sucked up into the bottle, perfectly separating from the white. Simply ingenious.
5. Magazine holders are great to compartmentalise
The fridge can easily become a hoarders dream due to the limited shelving options that most have. Instead, opt to compartmentalise your fridge by using plastic magazine holders as shelving. It’s the perfect way to sort your condiments from spreads and will of course maximise storage space.
6. Never waste wine again
It’s a rare occurrence, but if you do happen to have leftover wine, don’t throw it down the sink. Rather, pour the remains into an ice cube tray and freeze. The cubes can be added to sauces, risottos and stews in order to add depth of flavour.
7. Maximise the juice in lemons
Whether you’re squeezing lemons to add to your cake batter or simply using them to enhance a sauce, sometimes retrieving the juice can prove a tricky task. Make life easier by zapping lemons in the microwave for 45 seconds in order to loosen the skin and maximise juice.
8. Finally debunk the onion crying code
There seems to be an abundance of hacks to solve this age old problems, but this one is certainly the most effective. Pop onions into the freezer for 15 minutes prior to cutting. This will freeze the onion’s enzymes that subsequently cause watery eyes.
9. Beat the grime once and for all
Removing grime from the oven proves not the easiest of tasks. Rather than polluting the house with an array of strong cleaning products, swap for a mixture of baking soda, water and dish soap. Spray this onto your oven or any grimy surface for a clean finish.
Brought to you by Fairy
