Introduction
You don’t have to be a trained chef to cook like you’ve got one on speed dial.
Most of us juggle busy days, hungry families, and dinner that always sneaks up on us. The goal? Make great food—faster and easier.
These kitchen shortcuts aren’t fancy or complicated. They’re smart, practical ways to save time, cut stress, and serve something delicious. Whether you cook every night or when the mood hits, these tips offer a range of solutions to make your cooking experience more versatile.
Prep Ingredients Right After Grocery Shopping
Don’t wait for dinner to chop veggies.
When you get home, wash, chop, and portion ingredients like onions, peppers, or fruit. Store them in airtight containers so they’re ready to grab when needed, saving time and mental energy later in the week.
Use Kitchen Shears for Faster Cutting
Forget the cutting board—grab scissors.
Kitchen shears can slice herbs, cut bacon, snip green onions, or even portion raw chicken with less mess. One tool. Zero drama.
Keep a Bowl or Bag for Scraps While You Cook
Peels, stems, wrappers—they pile up fast.
Use a “scrap bowl” or old grocery bag on the counter as a trash catch-all. This will keep your workspace clean and save multiple trips to the trash can.
Microwave Garlic for 10 Seconds to Peel Faster
Garlic skins clinging for dear life?
Pop the cloves in the microwave for 10 seconds. The skins will loosen and slide off—no more sticky fingers or garlic rage.
Use a Wet Paper Towel Under Your Cutting Board
Cutting board sliding everywhere?
Place a damp paper towel or dishcloth underneath. It anchors the board, makes chopping safer, and smooths your rhythm—a total game-changer in 5 seconds flat.
Cook Pasta in a Frying Pan
Yep, you read that right.
Use less water and get it to a boil faster by cooking pasta in a wide, shallow pan instead of a big pot. It cooks more evenly and shaves precious minutes off your dinner prep.
Freeze Leftover Wine or Broth in Ice Cube Trays
Don’t toss that splash of wine or broth—freeze it.
Use ice cube trays to make flavor bombs you can add to future soups, sauces, or sautés. One cube = instant upgrade.
Use Your Slow Cooker as a Meal Prep Assistant
Cooking dinner while you’re not even at home? Yes, please.
Use your slow cooker or Instant Pot for easy, hands-off meals, or batch-cook things like shredded chicken or beans for the week ahead. In the future, you will be thrilled.
Grate Cold Butter for Baking
Trying to cut cold butter into flour? Try grating it instead.
Use a cheese grater to create perfectly sized pieces that mix easily and quickly. With less struggle, your biscuits, scones, and pie crusts just leveled up.
Rinse Rice to Make It Less Sticky
Want fluffy rice instead of a gloopy mess?
Rinse your rice under cold water until it runs clear before cooking. This removes excess starch and gives perfect, restaurant-style results; no rice cooker is needed.
Label Freezer Meals Clearly (And Add Cooking Instructions!)
Nothing worse than pulling out a mystery lump of frozen food.
Label freezer bags or containers with the name and cooking instructions: “Chili—thaw overnight, reheat on stove 15 min.” This will save you from playing “guess that meal” when you’re hungry and tired.
Clean as You Go
The best shortcut isn’t just about cooking, it’s about cleanup.
Wipe spills as they happen, toss scraps while waiting for things to simmer, and load the dishwasher as you go—when you’re done eating, the kitchen’s almost clean—chef’s kiss.
Final Thoughts: Cook Smarter, Not Harder
Cooking at home doesn’t have to feel like a full-time job. With a few clever shortcuts, you can prep faster, clean less, and still eat like a champ.
Try one or two of these hacks this week. Your kitchen will feel more manageable, and your meals will be even more satisfying.
Call to Action
Got a cooking shortcut you swear by? Please share it with me! Tag @HackMyLifeNow on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook—I’d love to feature your tips in a future post!
