Hot Hacks - 6 Weird, Wonderful Kitchen Tips To Revolutionise Your Cooking Game

Most people, if asked to set a social media relationship status with the kitchen, would probably go with “it’s complicated”

Emotions towards the kitchen can vary wildly depending on who you ask, or even when you ask the same person. Even the most enthusiastic cooks, who bounded in with enthusiasm to effortlessly whip up a gourmet three-course dinner for the family, may drag their heels in cursing to prepare school lunch boxes a few hours later.

Cooking can be exquisitely rewarding. The creative process and its delectable results satisfy our souls as much as our stomachs and tastebuds. However, there’s no escaping the fact that it can be exceptionally hard work. Behind every glamorous meal that looks like it was just proudly walked out of the MasterChef kitchen are hours of decidedly unglamorous hard work chopping, grating, mincing and mixing.

What if there were some secrets that could make cooking just that little bit easier? Are there ingenious tricks that eliminate some of the sweat and tears to help make our lives at the counter and stovetop less taxing?

If that’s what you need to put some spruik back into your step towards the kitchen, our team has put their thinking caps (and aprons) on to identify the 10 weird, wonderful, and a little surprising tips that can save you time, effort and help improve your cooking skills.

No time to lose, let’s get cracking!

1. DIY Sous Vide

The sous vide technique has been part of the culinary zeitgeist for a little over 50 years. Invented by a prominent chef, it was the exclusive domain of professional cooks for decades, but hit the mainstream in recent years and has become something of a craze. For those unfamiliar with the concept, sous vide works by placing food into a plastic pouch, then slow-cooking it in a bath of warm water. This helps to retain the food’s natural nutrients and juices.

To kit yourself up to do the job properly, you may be up for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in equipment to achieve the coveted taste and texture. Many home enthusiasts opt for a handy immersion circulator machine that yields decent results. However, even this shortcut tool will set you back at least $200.

If you’re looking for a little DIY action to stock pot, with a decent-sized stock pot, some towels and a basic food thermometer worth less than ten bucks, you can achieve much the same result. Simply heat the water to the desired temperature for the food item in question1, and insulate your pot with towels to retain the heat. You can use humble Ziplock bags to encase the food (be sure to push as much air out as possible before sealing shut). Immerse the bag with the food inside, using the thermometer to ensure the temperature remains within 1-2 degrees of the target. If the temperature falls below the range, simply fire the burner back up until it returns to target.

With a bit of practice and careful attention to detail, you can create spectacular sous vide meals that would make Heston proud.

2. Use Your Slow Cooker to Create Professional Infused Hot Beverages

Your trusty slow cooker is another countertop hero that can do so much more than the brochure suggests. If you’ve checked the prices of flavoured oils and high-end extracts lately, you’ll know perfectly well how quickly they can drain your weekly food budget. Branch out from using your slow cooker for winter soups and stews and create professional-standard spice infused gourmet beverages with minimal cost.

The slow, gentle cooking action of your versatile slow cooker makes it perfect for this job. As the name suggests, using your trusty slow cooker may take a little more time, but when you’re brewing a delicious liquid infusion, that’s precisely the factor that allows the complex flavours to blend and develop. Here are a couple of incredibly flavourful options that will literally knock your cotton socks off:

1. Slow Cooker Chai Hot Chocolate: If you’re the kind of sweet tooth that struggles to decide between chai and hot chocolate when you visit your favourite cafe, then rejoice, because the agony of choice is about to receive its analgesic. For best results, use a ratio of 100g of finely chopped dark chocolate for every 2 cups of your preferred milk. Add in your favourite blend of chai spices, such as cinnamon stick, star anise, ginger, cloves, cardamon, allspice and turmeric (try fresh turmeric if you can find it). Combine all the ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on low for about an hour. Stir occasionally to stop the milky film from forming on the surface. To take this to the next level, toast your whole species in a small frying pan on medium-high heat for about a minute, or until the spices become aromatic. This will activate and release the superb flavours. The result is a warming, comforting treat that will turn your cold winter’s night into one to remember.


2. Slow Cooker Mulled Wine: A Yuletide staple in northern Europe, mulled wine served hot and fragrant at winter markets is a fond memory for many an Aussie traveller. To achieve that authentic, nostalgic taste, combine 2 bottles of wine with ½ a cup of brown sugar, whole cloves, star anise and 4 cinnamon sticks. For a citrusy tang, you can add some orange peel. This works best if you use a peeler to get at the outer peel, avoiding the white pith. Cook your concoction on high for 2 hours, then drop it down to low for another 3-4. The result will make you think you’re in Dusseldorf on a snowy December evening.

3. Turn Any Heavy-Bottomed Pot or Skillet Into a Deep Dish Pizza Maker

When the craving for hot, fluffy, gooey, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza hits, there’s no need to deprive yourself just because you don’t have the right tools. With a dollop of ingenuity, you can turn your humble, high-quality, heavy-bottomed saucepan or skillet into a makeshift, but unfeasibly efficient pizza-making tool. Best of all, this hack is so simple, you’ll barely believe how easy it is to achieve the perfect crust.

Firstly, you’ll need to oil the base and sides of the cookware very well. Then press your pizza dough into the pot and add your sauce, favourite toppings and cheese. Cover and cook on low heat for a few minutes until the bottom of the dough crisps. Your best bet is to use an oven-safe saucepan or skillet such as our stylish GreenLife Artisan Skillet. This allows you to transfer the pizza over to the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown the top. Voila! Your true-to-life Chicago-style pizza is ready to devour.

4. Use A Dutch Oven to Bake Homemade Bread

Artisanal breads have become all the rage in recent years. From superb sourdough to magnificent multigrain, people are discovering that bread can be a vehicle for creativity and gastronomic flair, while also nourishing themselves and their families.

This is where your sturdy Dutch Oven comes into its own. The heavy cast-iron construction is the perfect environment for baking bread, eliminating the need for expensive bread makers. While the dough is still proofing and resting, preheat your Dutch oven to 260 °C to get it nice and hot. Place your dough in the pot and replace the lid. This last step is crucial, as it retains the moisture, which is a requirement for achieving the best results. Transfer the pot back into the oven and cook for 30 minutes. At this point, uncover the pot to let moisture out and create the delicious crust we all love.

5. Use A Slow Cooker as a Yoghurt Maker

Is there anything slow cookers can’t do? Preparing home-made yoghurt is yet another way to put your slow cooker to work, and strike another appliance off your list, or purge it from your kitchen cupboard.

Making yoghurt at home is incredibly satisfying and can save you a packet. Yoghurt forms when the proteins in dairy or plant milks form bonds with each other when exposed to temperatures of 38-43°C for extended periods. A high-quality, compact slow cooker with adjustable temperature control is the perfect tool for this mission.

The process is simple, and the results are delicious:

1. Choose your preferred milk. Remember, the higher the fat and protein content, the thicker and creamier your yoghurt will be. If you’re looking for a vegan option, choose the higher-protein plant-based milk substitute for optimal results.
2. Heat 2 L of milk in the slow cooker until it reaches 85 °C. The time this step takes will depend on the size of your appliance and the volume of milk, so use a food thermometer to check periodically.
3. Once it’s at the required temperature, turn the slow cooker off, leaving the lid on, and allow the milk to cool back down to 45 °C. This usually takes about 2-3 hours.
4. When it’s reached the perfect temperature, it’s time to add your starter. For this, all you need is ½ a cup of ready-made yoghurt containing live active cultures. Stir this in thoroughly.
5. Pop the lid back on and cover the slow cooker with a thick towel. Bacteria do their best work in the dark, so you want to keep as much light out as possible.
6. Let the mixture sit for 8-12 hours, then pour off the watery layer on top.
7. Enjoy your delicious, freshly made yoghurt! There will

For a thicker yoghurt, strain it through a cheesecloth. If you like it sweet, you can add your favourite sweetener, vanilla essence or other flavouring to create the taste you love.

6. Make The Most of Your Sandwich Press

If you’re only using your sandwich press to make toast and toasties, you’re missing out on a ton of incredible functionality. Your nifty contact grill is capable of so much more. Let’s look at just a few of the wonderful ways you can make the most of it.

1. Grilling Vegetables

Grilling vegetables such as zucchini, capsicum, eggplant, mushrooms, sweet potato and more is a cinch in a sandwich press. Start by slicing your favourite vegetables to your desired thickness, then toss them in olive oil, salt, pepper and your favourite herbs and spices. Then, simply lay them out flat on the plate (for best results, use the griddle plate attachment to achieve those gorgeous grill marks). Set the heat to medium-high, and you’ll have perfectly grilled veggies in minutes. There’s no turning, as both sides are in contact with the heat source.

2. Pizza Bases & Flatbreads

The direct heat and even weight distribution of your contact grill perfectly mimic the action of a pizza stone. This allows you to make perfect, crispy pizza bases, as well as fluffy naan, roti, parathas, and other flatbreads. You can even use it to cook homemade corn tortillas for an authentic Mexican meal at home.

3. Waffles, Pancakes & Hash Browns

If your sandwich press has a waffle attachment, then hopefully you’re already utilising it to create perfect waffle breakfasts for the family. However, with a slight change to the recipe, you can use the same functionality to make spectacular hash browns with a glorious lattice pattern. If you don’t have a waffle attachment, you can still whip up delicious hash browns/latkes by shaping them into small cakes. The flat surface also works magnificently for pancakes.

4. Protein Grill

Whether you’re into meat, chicken, fish or tofu, your sandwich press delivers fast, delicious results. Again, if your sandwich press comes with a griddle attachment, you’ll get superb results and the tantalising visual effect of succulent grill marks.

The Final Word - Innovation Is The Key

As you can see from our ingenious hacks, they all utilise tools you already have in the kitchen to achieve surprising and innovative results. The benefit of multi-tasking your appliances and cookware is that you save on purchasing that next gadget, or clear out some space in that cluttered kitchen cupboard or on the counter.

Fully utilising what you have is not only good for your bank balance, but it also reduces waste and can save you a significant amount of time. Moreover, it can help you level up your cooking skills and make your life in the kitchen easier and more enjoyable.

Good luck!

Note:
1. douglasbaldwin.com Sous Vide Guide