Read

5 Cooking Hacks for Next-Level Adulting

Creator:
Published:
November 28, 2023
April 19, 2018
These 'adulting' cooking hacks will take your cooking skills to the next level.

We’re no cooking experts — heck, we’re still trying to get in the habit of eating before 8 p.m. because adulting can get crazy busy.But we are trying to get better at it, and these cooking hacks have us feeling like we’re leveling up in our ‘adult’ cooking skills.

  • Brown bananas attracting fruit flies? Don’t throw them away!
    1. They might be too mushy for the average person’s texture preference (not to mention the propensity for an extra loud banana sound…
      Yuck.
      ), but brown bananas have their perfect place in the world: banana bread.Don’t have a bread pan? No problem — we’ve made some in a small, round casserole dish before! Or you can always ask a neighbor.Banana bread can be one of the most versatile recipes — you can substitute protein powder for flour, ground flax seed for eggs, and so on. Just take stock of what you already have on-hand, and turn to our trusty friend Google to find a recipe that works with your pantry’s contents.
  • Monday’s avocado not yet ripe for Taco Tuesday? Brown paper bag it!
    1. Oh, science. You continue to amaze us — like how you can make avocados ripen themselves!All you need is a brown paper bag, if you have ~24 hours until you need said avo.If you’re on a shorter timeline, you can always cook or nuke the avocado.
      Oven:
      Wrap avocado in tinfoil, put in oven at 200* until avocado is soft, ~10 minutes.
      Microwave:
      Pierce the avo several times with a fork, then put in microwave for 30-sec increments until the fruit gives a little when you squeeze it.
  • Do your cookies lose their softness before you eat ’em all? Sliced bread to the rescue!
    1. Though we rarely have this problem (we’re a bunch of cookie monsters over here)…there is a solution!You know how
      awesome
      sliced bread is? Yeah…we don’t remember that era either, but it is awesome in this situation!Select a slice and place it in the cookie jar/tub/container with the cookies. The slice will absorb all the moisture and keep your cookies nice n’ soft...like God intended them to be. 😉
  • Afraid your celery has lost its crunch? Submerge it in water!
    1. We often buy celery because we know it’s healthy…but then don’t touch it for weeks on end (Wah, wah…).Even though it often goes soft by the time we finally bring it out for a snack, it just needs a bit of revitalization to snap back into crunchy-shape!Celery acts like a plant (I know…wat, right?) when submerged in water — it absorbs the H2O and gets back to its crunchy self.
  • Recipe calls for food to be sautéed in oil, but you just ran out or perhaps you’re watching your calories? Try these alternatives!
    1. Even though the technical definition of sauté is “to fry quickly in a little hot fat,” you can still get that sautéed texture from other healthier alternatives.If you have some low-sodium vegetable stock in your pantry, cooking your grub in this alternative can enhance the natural flavor of your food.Two zero-calorie alternatives for sautéeing are (1) water or (2) any type of vinegar (balsamic is a personal favorite).Just get the pan slightly warm on the stove (if you sprinkle water on it and it crackles but doesn’t explode, you’re ready to go), add your liquid, then toss in your food.

    Creators:
    Grotto
    Published:
    November 28, 2023
    April 19, 2018
    On a related note...
    How Do You Cook For One Person?

    How Do You Cook For One Person?

    Grotto

    What No One Told Me About Starting my PhD

    What No One Told Me About Starting my PhD

    Hallie Michelle

    5 Strategies to Stay Calm Under Pressure at Work

    5 Strategies to Stay Calm Under Pressure at Work

    Mary Claire Lagroue

    Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop

    Women Find Healing Through Kintsugi Workshop

    Grotto

    The Dangers of Drinking When Lonely

    The Dangers of Drinking When Lonely

    Chris Hazell

    The Complete Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health

    The Complete Guide to Caring for Your Mental Health

    Grotto

    What It Looks Like to Find Love After Heartbreak

    What It Looks Like to Find Love After Heartbreak

    Isaac Huss

    Thanksgiving Meals for Every Dietary Restriction

    Thanksgiving Meals for Every Dietary Restriction

    Mariah Cressy

    College Can Be Overwhelming — These Insights Can Help

    College Can Be Overwhelming — These Insights Can Help

    Grotto Shares

    How to Help Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One

    How to Help Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One

    Dan Masterton

    "Forgotten by February"

    "Forgotten by February"

    Grace Poppe

    How to Reject Hustle Culture Based on Your MBTI

    How to Reject Hustle Culture Based on Your MBTI

    Claire Krakowiak

    4 Ways to Help Aging Loved Ones Grow Old at Home

    4 Ways to Help Aging Loved Ones Grow Old at Home

    Christine Chu

    Kick off the New Year, Windy City-Style

    Kick off the New Year, Windy City-Style

    Jennon Bell Hoffmann

    Podcasts Currently Resonating with Grotto Readers

    Podcasts Currently Resonating with Grotto Readers

    Grotto Shares

    Looking for More Joy and Gratitude? Try a ‘Hedonic Reset’

    Looking for More Joy and Gratitude? Try a ‘Hedonic Reset’

    Chris Hazell

    How to Stay Hopeful During a Job Search

    How to Stay Hopeful During a Job Search

    Chris Hazell

    How to Use “Cues” to Form Intentional Habits

    How to Use “Cues” to Form Intentional Habits

    Megan Ulrich

    5 Fresh Summer Date Ideas for You and Your S.O.

    5 Fresh Summer Date Ideas for You and Your S.O.

    Lauren Lawson

    4 Resources to Turn to After a Divorce

    4 Resources to Turn to After a Divorce

    Patty Breen

    newsletter

    We’d love to be pals.

    Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll meet you in your inbox each week.