The Indian kitchen is a place where all the delicious and aromatic magic happens. It is a humble place where the simplest of simple ingredients turn dishes into family favourites. Right from the zeal to cook festive special delicacies in the kitchen to having comfort food after a long day of hard work, the Indian kitchen is a place where the heart of the Indian family belongs. Whether its the aroma of freshly made tadka, the sizzle of a hot tawa or the joy of cooking for loved ones, there is something deeply satisfying about creating meals at home.

But let us be honest, cooking each meal for 365 days, keeping a track on groceries, monitoring ingredients so that they remain fresh, and the most hectic – cleaning the kitchen mess after each meal is not everyone’s cup of tea, and at times it can be overwhelming too. That is where a few smart kitchen tips can make a huge difference.

We have put together this handpicked list of kitchen hacks that actually work. We bring to you efficient and time-saving tips to make your kitchen duties easier.

From keeping your dhania fresh for days, to peeling garlic without a mess or using ice cube trays for storing masalas — you will find simple tricks here that anyone can use, no matter your cooking experience.

So whether you are an experienced homemaker or a working professional managing both home and workplace chaos, and looking for smarter but time saving ways to do things — these kitchen hacks are sure to help you get more done, with less stress and more smiles.

20 Awesome Kitchen Hacks/Tips

1. How Remove Sliminess from Bhindi or Okra?

To ensure your okra or Bhindi is non-slimy you are required to add a savouring agent like lemon juice, vinegar or aamchur powder within 5 minutes of adding Okra to the pan. The savouring agent cuts the sliminess immediately and ensures your Okra is cooked tender and non-slimy.

2. How to Store Dhaniya Patti or Coriander leaves for longer time?

Firstly, do not wash them before storing, if you want to store them for many days, as moisture will rot them quickly. Also, add a paper towel on bottom and top of the container before storing. Paper towel will absorb all moisture, and helps keep herbs like coriander, mint fresher for at least 2-3 weeks.

3. How to preserve green chillies longer?

To preserve green chillies store them in a container lined with paper towel in the bottom and top. Remove the stem part of the green chillies and store them inside the container. This way it will stay fresh for up to 3 weeks.

4. How to keep Green Chutney Green?

Adding the juice of one/ one and half lemon to the chutney while grinding will not only add tanginess to the chutney but also retain the green color. Another way is to add 1 spoonful of curd to green chutney as it will not turn discoloured, and will remain the same for up to 5-7 days in the refrigerator.

5. How to clean greasy Kadhai?

Boil some water in a large pot, and place Kadhai in it. Remove it after sometime in the Kadhai add, 1 tsp baking soda all over, cover and leave it overnight. Next morning scrub gently with steel wool and all the carbon formation will come off without much scrubbing and hard-work. Leaving your Kadhai brand new.

6. How to keep insects out of your food grains?

Bay leaves repel pantry insects. You can simply add bay leaf into the container of flour, rice, grains, dals, beans, in order to make your food pest free and fresh for a long time.

7. How to store vegetables in cotton mesh bags?

Using natural cotton bags will keep your vegetables and fruits fresh for longer durations. Plastic bags do not provide space for ethylene gas to escape and hence fruits and vegetables rot quickly in it. Breathable cotton fabric helps the ethylene gas to escape. The net in mesh bags provide excellent air circulation inside keeping the fruits and vegetables fresh for longer period.

8. How to use lemon for cleaning?

Lemon is a good cleaning agent, it has acidic and anti-bacterial properties which help in cleaning copper utensils, along with some salt. It also helps in cleaning kitchen sink and wooden chopping boards. It also helps in removing foul odour.

9. How to prevent biscuits from being soggy?

To prevent opened pack of biscuits from getting soggy, you need to take a glass air tight jar, add some rice in the bottom of the jar and then fill it with biscuits. Close the lid of the jar properly. Rice soaks in the moisture and biscuits remain fresh and crisp.

10. How to peel garlic easily?

 In a bowl add some hot water and add garlic cloves. Let the clove soak in hot water for about 10 minutes, then remove and peel. You can also store such peeled garlic in an airtight container and keep it in a refrigerator to save time during cooking.

11. How to store green peas?

In a pan add some water let it boil, switch off the flame after boiling. Now to it add ½ tsp sugar and ½ tsp salt and then add peeled green peas to it and mix. Let it rest for 5 minutes. By adding sugar, green peas retain their green colour. Now strain the green peas and store in a zip lock bag.

12. What to do with excess bread?

Crush the leftover bread into small pieces and add it to the grinding jar of a mixer, and turn it into a powdered/crumb form. Now, dry roast the bread crumbs in a pan on medium flame for 5-7 minutes. Let it cool down and store in an air-tight jar. It can be used for up to one month for purposes like coating of different food items for frying etc.

13. How to get rid of foul odour from refrigerator?

Take a newspaper, and sprinkle some water on newspaper and crush the paper and make it wet from all sides. Place it in the fridge for 7-8 hours and then remove and throw it. The crushed newspaper will absorb all the foul odour or smell from the fridge. Your fridge will become fresh and odourless.

14. How to prevent spillage while cooking dal in a pressure cooker?

Add dal and water in the pressure cooker and then add turmeric powder and salt, and add 2-4 drops of cooking oil to it and then put few drops of oil on the whistle of pressure cooker. Close the lid and let it cook. This trick will prevent the spillage of dal from the cooker.

15. How to prevent insects in sooji or rawa?

Unused sooji becomes the breeding ground for insects. To prevent this, dry roast sooji or rawa on a medium flame for about 4-5 minutes. Let it cool down and store in an airtight jar. You can use it for months altogether.

16. How to make a masala paste or gravy for early morning rush?

If you are a working professional and always in a hurry in the morning, then this masala paste will save your time. Chop 2 onions and 2 tomatoes, take ginger about 4 inch, and about 12 garlic cloves, and blend it all in a mixer. Blend it into a fine and smooth paste, without using any water. In a sauce pan add some oil and heat it, add the paste to it and cook it on a low flame for about 15 minutes, till the oil separates from the gravy. Cover and let it cook. Now switch off the flame and let it cool down, and store it in an airtight jar in a refrigerator. You can use this paste for cooking any vegetable dish or sabzi for up to 2 weeks.

17. How to avoid tears while chopping onions?

Chill the onions in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before chopping. The cold temperature reduces the release of tear-inducing compounds. Hence, this trick helps while chopping the onion.

18. How to prevent curdling of Kadhi?

Do not add salt in Kadhi while you are cooking it, add salt only after switching of the flame. Once the Kadhi is cooked completely, turn off the flame and add salt, and stir it. Let it sit for 2-4 minutes to dissolve salt completely and then serve. Kadhi will not curdle at all.

19. How to make soft chapati or roti?

To make soft and fluffy rotis, use warm water or milk to knead the dough. After kneading let it rest for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes knead the dough again until soft. While cooking rotis, use a hot tawa and flip the roti quickly to avoid drying, which helps puff and soften the roti.

20. How to prevent ants from invading in sugar jar?

Place natural repellents like cloves or bay leaves inside the jar; their strong scents deter ants. And lastly, store sugar in airtight containers to prevent ant access.

Incorporating these effective and time-saving kitchen tips and tricks can transform your cooking experience, making it more efficient and enjoyable. By adopting simple yet effective strategies, you can enhance your culinary skills and also streamline your daily routines in a defined manner. Remember, the heart of great cooking lies in continuous learning and embracing innovative methods.

Follow us for more such tips and tricks to get your kitchen work done in an efficient and hassle-free manner. Get a varied range of spices, pickles, papads etc. on our official website, www.temptin.in and order our best quality products today!

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