Mind blowing.
Andrew Richard / BuzzFeed
Boil pasta faster in a frying pan instead of a pot.
It actually works! The wider surface area of the frying pan means the water gets hotter and the pasta cooks faster.
—gracer44b97a530
This video actually recommends putting the pasta in the pan while the water is cold.
Or cook it in the microwave.
This works best when you're just making pasta for one. It's as easy as putting pasta in a bowl/mug with enough water to cover it, then microwaving for a few minutes (it's trial and error, not gonna lie), stirring every minute or so.
—hopeh4e75c754b
See how to do it here and check out more pasta hacks here.
Flick a drop of water onto the pan to know when your pan is preheated.
This video says that you will know that the pan is at the perfect temperature when the water forms two beads. Carefully wipe out excess water with a dish towel before you pour in the oil.
Read about the science behind this here.
Freeze onions so that you don't have to chop them every time you cook.
I cut up a bunch of onions and freeze them in sandwich bags. The next time I'm making a dish, I can just take one out and throw the onions in the pan. That way, I don't have to deal with tears every time I cook.
—kateb4639dc99f
So that the onions don't get stuck together, freeze them on a flat surface before packing them in a baggie. See how to do it here.
And freeze leftover scallions in a used water bottle.
Cut spring onions and store in an empty water bottle in the freezer. I never use all of my spring onions at once, so I cut them up and put them into a water bottle so I can freeze them. They last for about 2-3 months.
—emr4a5b7a8f7
Get more ways to make produce last longer here.
Put a damp paper towel under your cutting board so it doesn't slide around while you use it.
Get more tips for upping your cooking skillz here.
Emily Fleischaker / BuzzFeed
Prep and freeze chicken breasts in your favorite marinades for days you need a quick dinner.
Whenever I buy raw chicken breasts I get home and portion them out for two. I mix a marinade in a quart-size Ziploc, add the chicken, and put it in the freezer. I take a pack out in the morning and thaw it in the fridge so that it's ready to be baked by dinnertime.
—knoelpie
See the recipe for this sweet chili marinade here and get more chicken marinade recipes here.
Freeze herbs with olive oil in ice cube trays.
Throw the cubes in with your pasta to give it a refined taste.
—obviouslyawesomefangirl
See more ways to use leftover herbs here.
Microwave your food covered in a wet napkin to keep everything moist.
See how it's done here.
Spray your measuring cup with cooking oil before measuring something sticky such as honey or maple syrup.
It will pour out super easily and you won't need to dirty up a spatula to scrape out the rest!
—ramiimani
Read more about it here and get more tips like this one here.
And if any shell does get in your egg, remove it with a wet finger.
The water attracts the shell and draws it out of the water without sliding away. Read more about it here.
Kim Graziano / tastingtable.com
Separate yolks from whites with a water bottle.
Watch how it's done here.
Vigorously shake garlic cloves garlic cloves in a lidded container to peel them all at once.
I hate peeling garlic. I was skeptical of this trick, but it really works!
—asable925
See more chopping tricks here.
Keep salt and pepper pots next to your stove for quick pinches.
Life is so much easier when you have small bowls of salt and pepper next to the stove available for quick pinching during cooking.
—rebeccas4716a79b0
Get these really pretty ones from Amazon for $14.95.
Cover a stick of butter with a heated glass to soften in 3 minutes or less.
Forgot to soften butter? No problem! Boil water and pour into a glass. Empty the glass, and flip it upside down to cover the butter.
—nobodysgirlbr
Strain pasta over frozen peas to defrost 'em without a microwave (and mix them right into your pasta).
I add the frozen peas to the colander in the sink and when the pasta's done, I strain it over the peas and the hot water usually softens and cooks them right up!
—carolinem47e6064c1
Get the recipe for this one-pot pasta here.
And rub a little olive oil on your knife before chopping garlic to keep it from sticking.
Iwanyan / Getty Images
Store your brown sugar with a slice of bread to keep it softer for longer.
You could also store it with a marshmallow or sliced apple. If you need to soften brown sugar, you can just microwave it with a wet paper towel. Read more here.
Quanthem / Getty Images
And do the same with your fresh cookies.
Works like a charm, and the heel of the bread loaf won’t go to waste.
—stacia
Get a recipe for soft, bakery-style chocolate chip cookies here.
Picasa
Cut bell peppers in a curved shape around the middle to avoid getting seeds everywhere.
See Gordon Ramsay slice a pepper here.
Boil salted water in your cast iron skillet to easily clean off even the most cooked-on bits of food.
Get the step-by-step instructions for cleaning your cast-iron skillet here.
via BuzzFeed/Food