Try these incredible cooking hacks!

Holidays are almost here, and one thing we all have in common is that we are going to eat a lot of good food. Delighting yourself with all of the treats you can find on the table is amazing, but do you know who doesn’t have a life as easy as yours? Those who have to make all of this fantastic food.

Things can get quite stressful when you have to prepare food for the holidays, but please don’t worry! There are plenty of cooking hacks that can make everything seem like a breeze and also help you make the best food you’ve ever cooked.

These tips and tricks come straight from the kitchens of restaurants, and they are approved by the best chefs and restaurateurs. They know best how things are working in the kitchen, and now you’ll be able to dip your fingers into their world.

So, let’s make a quick recap! You’ll have the best food ever for your family and your guests. Your stress will be reduced because you’ll spend less time in the kitchen. And last but not least, these cooking hacks will also save you money. What do you think? Want to give them a shot?

Air-dry your turkey

We know very well that you wish to have that irresistible turkey with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat on your table, and we also know how hard it is to achieve this texture and flavor. Maybe you’ve tried a couple of tricks you’ve learned from your friends or from your grandma, but the results showed you that their methods are somehow hit or miss.

But how would life be if you’d never missed? Would you be able to cook that turkey in the same delicious way every year? Well, this is totally possible, and all you have to do is keep reading because you are about to discover the most amazing cooking hacks!

Russell Kook, executive chef at The Bellevue in Chicago, adores this method, and he wants to share it with us. Season your turkey well and then place it uncovered in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

This step has the role of helping the skin of the turkey dry a little, and this, in the end, will help it get crispy, how we love it inside the oven. Also, during those 24 hours, all the spices that you’ve used will penetrate the skin and also the meat and you will get crispy skin and meat that remains moist and tender.

This method doesn’t add any extra time to your preparation—it simply requires a bit of planning ahead. So, if you want to impress your guests, this is an excellent trick, and it’s worth all the effort.

Leftovers are more than you think

You know the drill. There is a lot of food, and all of you are doomed to eat it even after the holidays because it’s such a waste to throw it away. After days and days of eating the exact same food, your taste buds can get bored, and that feeling of dread before every meal starts to set in. You feel like you want something different, but now you have to eat the holiday food.

Hear us out and don’t despair because chefs all across the country have some incredible cooking hacks they want to share. These cooking hacks are some go-to recipes that are meant to show everyone that leftovers don’t have to be dull. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to transform it into exciting meals.

Todd Pulsinelli, executive chef at Sylvain in New Orleans, says that stuffing, turkey, and cranberry sauce can be easily turned into crispy croquettes. Chop light and dark turkey meat, mix it with stuffing, and add a little egg and flour to form croquettes. Fry them quickly and serve them with cranberry sauce mixed with some orange juice and jalapeño for a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.

Brock Anderson, who is the executive chef in the kitchen of Sea Crest Beach Resort, recommends cooking the Christmas shepherd’s pie. All you’ll need is some turkey meat, which we are sure you have, and some gravy. You’ll mix them together and use them as a base on top of which you’ll add green beans and carrots and then a layer of mashed potatoes. Top all of this with clove-spiced cranberry sauce and put it in the oven.

Pre-batch your drinks

You can’t have a holiday table without the drinks. But one thing is clear: no one wants to spend the whole party shaking, stirring, and mixing. This is why pre-batching your drinks might be an excellent idea.

Ethan Schneider, who is the general manager of Herd Provisions in Charleston, S.C., says that you should plan ahead for your beverages in the same way you prep your food. For example, you can take seasonal spirits like brandy, rum, and bourbon and combine them with acidic elements such as lemon juice.

Make sure you also add a ratio of 1:1 brown sugar syrup and bold liqueurs like Chambord, Calvados, or Spiced Pear Liqueur. This will make the drinks taste like Christmas. Then you can dilute everything with tea, water, kombucha, or apple cider, and you will have a wonderful batch of drinks waiting for your guests.

If you don’t have time, you can choose the easy way and try canned cocktails. They offer a convenient, affordable way to serve drinks without compromising flavor or quality. Maybe it is not the best way to impress someone, but at least you can have good drinks fast.

We know that these were not exactly cooking hacks, but you sure know how important drinks are at any holiday gathering, and we believe maybe you’ll appreciate this.

Look into the pantry

The holiday season is almost here, and you know how challenging holiday last-minute shopping sessions can be. That never-ending shopping list and all the crowded markets are terrible, and you probably want to avoid them as much as possible.

But if you want to save some time and money, you better look into your pantry. You might be surprised by what you can find there. Professional chefs suggest that checking your pantry before heading to the store is an amazing idea because you need to get a clearer idea of what you already have at home. In this way, you will save money.

Many of us have forgotten cans of soup, bags of pasta, or even specialty ingredients stashed away in the pantry waiting for us to use them. Why would you buy some new ingredients when you already have them, right?

Even more, this is a great opportunity to organize your pantry and also your freezer; that is another place people tend to stash food and then forget about it. This is among the best cooking hacks and will help you avoid buying duplicates. Also, don’t forget about those kitchen gadgets that you have and which are collecting dust. Your air fryer or slow cooker could save you during the holidays.

Make your turkey better with this: Lanes Ultimate Turkey Brine Kit with Bag & 1 Spellbound and 1 SPG Seasoning, 100% Natural

You should also read: 12 Everyday Cooking Mistakes That Could Make You Sick