Label Reusable Containers With Dry Erase MarkersUse dry erase board markers for labeling plastic food storage containers. They will easily wash off with soapy water.
Peeling AlmondsSoak almonds in warm water for a minute if you need to peel them quickly.
Microwave Portion Of Meat For Taste TestWhenever I want to test the seasoning for something that I don't want to eat raw, like meat loaf, or tuna patties, I pinch off a few tablespoons of the raw mixture and cook it in the microwave for a few minutes.
Use Metal Faucet To Remove Onion OdorWhen you cut an onion and you can't get the smell off, put some dish detergent on your hands and rub your faucet up and down on it for about 1 or 2 minutes then rinse. The smell should be gone.
Use Bundt Pan When Cutting Corn Off CobUse an angel food cake pan to cut corn off the cob. The end stands up nicely in the hole and the pan catches all the kernels.
Lime Gelatin TreesUse pointed paper cups for making lime gelatin "trees." Cut away paper when mold is firm and decorate with cream cheese or Cool Whip.
Use Back Of Knife To Scrape Food Off Cutting BoardAfter dicing or chopping something, it's common to scrape the knife across the cutting board into a bowl using the blade of the knife. This is a good way to dull your knife. To keep it sharp, flip the knife upside down and use the spine to scrape off the board.
Cover Hot Handle With Oven MittSome recipes we use call for browning meat in a pan and then putting the pan in the oven to let the meat finish cooking. Whenever I use a pan with a long handle, the same problem occurs.
Hold Tail End of Zucchini When GratingI had to bake zucchini bread today and it called for grating a zucchini. I didn't want to cut my fingers, so I turned the zucchini upside down and held onto the tail end, making it easier to grate and safer for my fingers at the same time. The bread tasted delicious!
Buy Extra Turkeys During Holiday SalesSave time and money with turkey. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, turkeys are on sale so buy an extra 20 lb. one at each holiday and freeze it. Big turkeys have a larger ratio of meat to bone than small ones.
Teapot as Alternative for Gravy BoatUse a teapot for a gravy boat if you don't have a gravy boat. It is easy for kids to pour.
Stretching Hamburger HelperMake your Hamburger Helper go further (store brand, on sale, of course). With a household of 4 big eaters, a box of Hamburger Helper is just barely enough. If the kids have a friend over, forget it.
Cut Triangle in Foil Seal on Coffee CansI have found that coffee cans now have a foil seal under the lid. If you cut a triangle in the foil from the middle to the outside, the coffee grounds don't spill all over when you pour them. Don't cut the triangle too wide.
Salt to Clean Up EggsTo easily clean up spilled eggs, pour salt on top of the eggs to cover them. Then wipe up with a paper towel.
Cut Lemon in Thirds Before SqueezingIf you like to use one of those lemon squeezers but find it difficult to get enough leverage on the handles, cut the lemon in thirds. You will have two "caps" and one round disk. Much easier on arthritic hands.
Getting Fruit Roll-Ups off the WrapperIn warm weather, Fruit Roll-ups stick stubbornly to their wrapper at LEAST 8 out of 10 times. But, if you pop them in the freezer for thirty seconds, they separate easily and are still pliable enough to be eaten and stretched!
Use Plates In Oven For Heating FoodIf you need to heat something up in the oven, but can't find a flat pan, here's what you can do. Take an ovenproof plate or saucer and put a piece of aluminum foil on the plate.
Visual Clues For Serving Sizes1 teaspoon = quarter, tip of thumb. 1 tablespoon = silver dollar, whole thumb.
Use Baby Food When CookingI had leftover baby food jars of pureed vegetables. I didn't know anyone to give it to, so I decided to do the thrifty thing and find a way to use it. I made a homemade beef vegetable pot pie and put 2 or 3 jars in the potpie.
Add Ketchup Packets to SoupTo use those ketchup packets from fast food places, add them to homemade vegetable soup for a flavor boost.
Keeping Fingerprints Off MicrowaveWhen placing something in your microwave, instead of using your finger on the key pad, use the knuckle of your index finger. It won't leave a finger print.
Use Lingerie Bag to Wash LettuceI have a salad spinner, but I want to be sure the greens were as clean as possible, So I purchased a lingerie bag with a drawstring. I put the greens inside, fasten it up, and slush them through several rounds of clean water, take it outside, spin it around, and shake it.
Peanut Butter and Mayonnaise SandwichesI have been enjoying peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches lately. They are great! They taste good too. My hubby eats them all the time, so I finally tried one and I will probably do this from now on.
Uses for Jam or PreservesYou can add grape jelly or preserves (or whatever flavor you choose) to smoothies, yogurt, smoothies, pancakes, waffles, french toast, cottage cheese, oatmeal, ice cream, or muffins.
Soften Dried Dates and Figs with a Slice of AppleIf dried dates or figs have hardened, place in a jar with a slice of apple. They'll soon be soft again.
Making Rigatoni in Advance for a Party?I am making rigatoni for a graduation party. How can you make the pasta ahead and then add the sauce?
Use Baggie Instead of FunnelI needed to transfer some very small pet food to a better container and I couldn't find my funnel, because I live with a lot of people who don't put things back. I tried making a small hole into a sandwich bag and inserting the hole into the container.
Keeping Brisket Hot and Moist?My smoked brisket is ready way before my guests arrive. How do I keep it moist for 4 hours?
Buy Loose Mushrooms Instead of Pre-PackagedI buy loose white mushrooms by the pound instead of the pre- packaged ones. They are bigger, plumper and fresher. They do cost a little more but I get a 1/2 lb. which is usually the cost of the packaged 10 oz. mushrooms.
Make Centerpiece from VegetablesDecorating for a party but you don't have any fresh flowers? Want your table to make a statement with an impressive presence? This idea is so awesome, I just had to share it with you as it's especially eye-catching on a buffet table.
Easy Lemon SqueezingIf you have cold lemons and you need to squeeze juice from them, soak your lemons in hot tap water for about ten minutes before you squeeze them and you'll be able to squeeze out much more juice.
Using CheeseCheeses should be served at room temperature, approximately 70 degrees F. To prevent cheese from sticking to a grater, spray the grater with cooking spray before beginning.
Defrost Meats in Cooking PanRefrigerate or thaw your meat in the pan that you are going to cook it in. You create less dishes this way and it keeps your fridge free of drippings.
Measure Oil Before HoneyWhenever a recipe calls for honey, first measure out the oil for the recipe (or if it doesn't call for oil, just spread a little oil all over the measuring cup), then measure out the honey, and it should come out of the cup like a charm!
Use Lecithin for Non-Stick Cooking SprayIn search of ways to save money, I have run across liquid lecithin. This is good for making non-stick cooking spray by combining half liquid lecithin and half grape seed oil and flavoring with imitation butter, to taste.
Make Extra when Baking SnacksWhen you make snacks in your oven, like fish sticks, burritos, french fries, pies, pizza, or whatever, bake enough at one time for a couple meals. After you eat your snack or meal, just put the rest in the fridge, and then microwave it.
Thaw Frozen Foods Instead of Preheating OvenAnytime I bake frozen foods, such as frozen dinner, pies, entrees and pizza, I take the frozen item out of the freezer 20 minutes before I would put it in the oven, I remove the carton and all wrapping.
Tenderize Meat with Lemon JuiceTo tenderize meat, add some lemon juice. Not too much because it will break the meat, just few drops.
Add Parmesan Rind to SoupsTake a tip from the Italians and don't throw away the rind of your expensive slab of Parmesan cheese. Add it to soups and stocks (particularly for risotto) for delicious flavour.
Refill Small Creamer ContainerI love to add creamer to my morning coffee. To save money and counter space, I bought the smallest container of creamer possible at the grocery store and refill it from a 50 oz. container that I buy at my local member's only warehouse store.
Steady Pizza Pan with Wet Dish ClothPut a wet dish cloth or towel on your counter under your pizza pan. This will keep your pan from "dancing around" while your trying to get the dough to the edges.
Soak Raisins in Liquid Before Adding To RecipeWhenever a recipe calls for raisins, before adding them, I always soak them in a liquid that goes with the recipe. Praline liqueur or rum for bread pudding, apple or orange juice for cookies, breads, etc.
Transporting Soup for PotlucksWe have a lot of eat days at work for birthdays, etc. We usually have a theme. Occasionally, it will be a soup theme. The last time we had one of these parties I made the soup the evening before, and put it into a gallon sized zip lock bag.
Refreshing Unpopped Popcorn?How do I refresh older popcorn, before popping?
Tips For Vanilla ExtractWhen you open a bottle of vanilla, do not peel away the paper or plastic cover on the bottle after you remove the lid. Instead, poke a few holes or a small slit in it. You can measure more accurately and if the bottle turns over it will not spill out or leak in the cabinet.
Warm Tortillas in the MicrowaveI found out if you microwave a tortilla shell with a paper dampened paper towel on it, the tortilla will be moist and not hard and brittle.
Use a Fork for an Easy-Off Milk CapIf you're like me and have trouble opening milk and other items that have that perforated ring around the cap, here is a simple solution. Simply place one tong of a fork through the perforation, between the ring and the cap.
Ask Guests to Bring Containers for LeftoversWhen we get together for a big dinner, holiday or such, I ask everyone who wants to take home leftovers to bring some containers from home. Either Tupperware or butter bowls. That way at the end of day I am not giving away my dishes.
Freeze Extra Taco MeatI always cook extra when making taco flavored meat and freeze the extra in meal sized portions.
Reuse Pickling SolutionStore bought pickled baby corn is not cheap so I am doing well to replace the little corns with much less expensive canned version of unpickled corn and letting it cure for a couple days in the store bought solution.
Search For Copycat Recipes For Your Favorite FoodsI moved to the UK from NY over 12 years ago and even now there are certain products that I can't get here, although it has improved a lot since 1997, or I can get them but they are ridiculously expensive because they are imported.
Use Brown Paper Bag to Drain Fried FoodWhen you are out of paper towels and need to drain fried food, like chicken or French fries, use one of those brown grocery bags. It absorbs the grease and you can just throw it away.
Using "Soft" PotatoesIf the potatoes are not rotten, but just "soft", simply peel and soak in a bowl of water overnight. Cut them for hash browns or french fries. Let them soak for another 10-15 minutes. Remove potatoes from water and cook. Use the water on your plants.
Pasta Gets Out the Last Bit of SauceIn my house, every little bit helps. When I make spaghetti, I always put a spoonful of cooked pasta in the jar to get all the sauce. It is so much better than putting water in the jar.
Cut Foods Right in the CanIf you accidentally bought pineapple rings and needed chunks, you will no doubt have to cut them. Why drain them, put them on a counter cutting board or plate and create a mess?
Cut Bread With a Towel to Catch CrumbsWhen cutting up crusty bread or rolls, use a Tea Towel underneath. It catches all the crumbs, makes no mess of work surfaces and the birds can have all the crumbs!
Freeze Recycled Containers for LunchesI was eating some applesauce and yogurt today and I had this amazing idea. If you filled the yogurt cup 1/2 full of water and froze it, you could fill the applesauce cup with fruit, pudding, yogurt, dip, dressing, ice cream, or even applesauce!
Removing Stuck Lids from JarsI like to use Marmite in my soups and stews for additional depth of flavor, but that lid glues itself shut to the jar and it's an impossible task to get it open. It is kept it in the refrigerator to ensure freshness, so this may be a contributing factor.
Lime Jelly and CucumberA nice fresh taste to add to a salad dish: Slice or chop cucumber and add to a lime jelly.
Easy Clean-up For Peeling VeggiesI was making scalloped potatoes yesterday and as I was peeling the potatoes, realized that I have a really good tip to share. In the past I found that cleaning up the peels was a pain because they fly everywhere.
Save by Using Fresh Stir Fry Bag for Veggie TrayMy daughter likes the variety of cut up vegetables that come in a large sectioned, nifty plastic, re-sealable container. I noticed that it had pretty much the same veggies as the $3 bag of stir fry, also by Taylor Farms.
Determine if Butter is FreshTo tell if butter is still fresh, cut off a small slice. If the outside is darker than the inside, the butter has oxidized and should be replaced.
Make Your Own Spreadable ButterMake your own "spreadable" butter by liquidizing 70% butter to 30% vegetable oil. Rinse off any residue left on the liquidizer with boiling water and use in sauces. You can add low sodium salt to unsalted butter at the same time.
Buy Bakery French Bread Dough For PizzaI work in a store in the bakery department. One day a gal who formerly worked in the bakery came over to talk to me with a customer. She said the custumer was asking her what was the best/ easiest thing he could buy to use to make homemade pizza crust.
Strain Heated Cooking Oil to ReuseI have a fry-daddy (small fryer) and like reusing the oil week after week. I found a frugal way of cleaning the oil.
Set Up a Meal Swap With FriendsIf you don't have a lot of time to spend cooking but are sick of the same leftovers, set up a meal swap with a friend or neighbor. Last week I gave my aunt some of my homemade potato chowder, and she gave us some of her homemade chicken soup. It worked out great!
Getting Every Bit of Thick Canned GoodsWhen cooking with a heavy paste (like tomato) or cream soups, I will open up the can then get a lid with a little larger bottom than what I'm trying to open of the paste can, turn the can upside down on the lid and open paste can.
Stretching Shake 'n Bake"Shake N Bake" for chicken and pork makes for a good meal yet is expensive! Instead of pouring the package of "Shake N Bake" seasonings into the shaking bag and putting the pieces of chicken or pork in afterward.
Mix Jams Together to Get Every BitI buy the name brand of sugar free jams and preserves. I usually keep at least three flavors in the fridge so the grandkids have a variety to choose from. Of course, eventually the jars are going to become almost empty.
Perfect Minced OnionsTo dice an onion quickly, peel skin from onion. Cut off ends. Turn onion on either flat end and make slices about 1/4 inch apart, but don't go through to the other end, stop about 1/2 inch from bottom. Then cut 1/4 inch slices in the other direction, again not going through to the other end. Turn onion on its side and slice across the criss-crossed slices; perfect minced onion, done in a snap. My mom was a great cook and this is the way she always minced her onions.
Remove Cardboard Liner From Mayo JarTo keep mayo lasting longer and not have an odor, just remove the cardboard liner from the inside of the lid. You won't believe the difference this makes.
Buying Colored Kitchen Items To Keep KosherFor anyone who keeps kosher, figuring out which dishes and utensils to use with which category of food can be difficult. Typically, though, people tend to use red for meat and fowl, blue for dairy, and green or white for "parve" (things that are neither meat nor dairy, including fish, eggs, grains, vegetables, and fruits). I've found lots of appropriately colored plates, utensils, and even cookware by searching online (such as at cookware.com and alljudaica.com).
Reusable Plastic Lunch Meat ContainersLuncheon meats, such as Hillshire Farms Select lunch meats, come in nice reusable Gladware type containers. Often I find coupons for it in Sunday papers. If your store doubles coupons, you get both the meat and a handy container for later use at a great discount!
Keep a Spare Clean Ketchup LidI keep a spare ketchup lid in my kitchen drawer. When it gets sloppy, I just swap lids and put the dirty one in the dishwasher. I do the same for the ranch dressing.
Use What You Have: Mac and Cheese Without a Pan or ColanderThis happened to me and my friend while camping and thought I would pass it along. We had decided to go camping and packed everything we thought we would be needing only to discover when we went to make macaroni and cheese for dinner the first night, we had no pan to cook the macaroni in and no colander to strain said macaroni.
Use a Straw to Finish Milk in Cereal BowlMy young nephew showed me a really simple solution to using up all that milk left in a bowl after the cereal has gone - use a straw! Voila, no waste.
Tips For Travel FoodI love to travel abroad but it has gotten very expensive. One way I save money on a bus tour is to bring much of my own food from home. Most of the time breakfast is provided but when the bus stops for lunch I use the time to sightsee or shop. I bring items to eat on the bus...
Try Beans with Peanut ButterI just had to share this with you. Have you tried baked beans (in tomato sauce) with peanut butter? It's absolutely delicious :p
Use Your Oven Heat to Warm Your HouseAfter using your oven in the winter, turn it off and leave the door open so the leftover heat can spread into your home. Of course you need to keep small children away until it cools, but when it comes to conserving energy and money every little bit sure adds up.
Buy Individual Salads at a DeliI got tired of buying salad fixings only to eat from a head of lettuce once or twice and tossing it out. I now buy a salad with a little shredded cheese and tomato wedge from the store deli.
Use a Chalkboard to Post Your Weekly MenusI have a two-fold approach to saving money on food. First, always have a menu. I bought a very cheap chalkboard ($3) and decorated it to match my kitchen decor.
Use Cream Cheese as a ToppingI had an extra 1/2 package (3-4 oz.) of cream cheese left in the fridge and wanted to use it up. Well, we were having fajitas last night, and I had very little fajita seasoning. As I was looking for more fajita seasoning, I stumbled upon a packet of Ranch for veggie dip/what have you.
Warm Tortillas on Top of Your Splatter CoverI found a simple way to warm tortillas while you cook what is going into them. I use to flop them one by one directly on the burner, but discovered a easier method.
Trick to Placing Lids on Mayo JarIf you have trouble getting lids back on mayo jars, etc., turn lid counterclockwise a few times and it should drop right in the groove then turn clockwise to close. Works for me every time. :)
Use Yogurt Instead Of Milk For Breakfast CerealTry mixing breakfast cereal with yogurt instead of milk for a nice change. I like to even match up flavors, the caramel pecan cereals mixed with caramel or vanilla yogurt is one of my favorites. It's even good with the plain yogurt, plus you also get the benefit of the good bacteria from it.
Use Every Bit from the Margarine TubI always add a little margarine to my macaroni after it's cooked and ready to be served. When I opened the tub of oleo, I saw that it was almost empty but contained just enough oleo to do the job.
Cut Pancakes In Squares For Easy ServingIf you make great pancakes but can never get them all to pour the same sizes, Try this:
Getting 2 Boxes Worth of Cake MixI only buy boxed cake mixes when they are on sale and I get 2 boxes from each 1 box. How? I only use 1/2 of the mix and 1/2 of the ingredients it requires and add 1 tsp. of baking powder to it. I prepare and bake as the box states and still get a whole cake that tastes the same, saving the other half of the mix in the fridge for my next use. This saves me money big time as I already bought it on sale and allows me to enjoy a luxury at the same time. Try it.
Prevent Soggy Crusts for Cream PiesTo prevent crust from becoming soggy with cream pie, sprinkle crust with powered sugar.
Toast Bread for Hot SandwichesWhenever you prepare any kind of hot sandwich, particularly the recipes that include some kind of sauce, it will make them easier to eat if you toast the bread/roll before loading it with the sandwich filling.
