Cooking Tips & Baking Ideas

When grilling with charcoal, light the coals 30 minutes in advance so they have time to reach a medium temperature. At a medium temperature they will be ash-covered. To check the temperature, spread the coals in a single layer and carefully hold the palm of your hand at the cooking height. Count the number of seconds you can hold your hand in that position. It should be approximately 4 seconds.

When grilling hamburger patties, rub each side of the burger with cold water before grilling for a juicer hamburger.

When removing a cake from the oven, place the cake pan on a wet towel. The steam created will allow the cake to easily be removed in one piece.

To easily form sugar cookies, drop onto a cookie sheet and press with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar.

After browning a meringue pie, turn the oven off and open the oven door slightly to prevent the meringue from splitting.

One teaspoon of baking powder can be substituted with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tarter.

You can make turkey stew quickly, by adding turkey leftover from Thanksgiving to turkey gravy mix, and adding frozen vegetables when the turkey/gravy is hot.
Submitted by JoAnne T.

When cooking a turkey, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part. When it reaches 180F degrees, it is done. If your turkey is stuffed, make sure the stuffing reaches a temperature of 160F degrees.

Use canned pumkin(it's pure, has no additives) as a thickener for soups and pasta sauces(to make redder, add some red wine, too).
Submitted by Ken P.

When using a dark, nonstick baking pan, reduce the baking temperature 25 degrees.

When popping microwave popcorn, break up the popcorn as much as possible, then put the bag on an inverted plate to raise it up from the bottom of the microwave. It will pop more and will not burn on the bottom!
Submitted by Chris B.

Did you know that if you will swirl about 2 tablespoons of honey around in a pot of sliced carrots -- they taste delicious!!! (no salt or butter please)
Submitted by F. H.

If using wine in a soup, don't oversalt. Most wines will increase the saltiness.

Add a pinch of salt to coffee before brewing. It will be less bitter.

When boiling onions always make any x at each end and the onion will not fall apart it will stay whole.
Submitted by Sharon P.

When cooking spaghetti, don't add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the cooking water to keep it from sticking together. Use plenty of water and stir occasionally. Oil in the water may coat the spaghetti causing the sauce to slide off.

When cracking hard boiled eggs, tap and then roll them on a hard surface to crack the entire shell. It then peels right off.
Submitted by Brenda G.

For a moister and less crumbly cake, add two tablespoons of vegetable oil.

To prevent bamboo skewers from burning, soak for an hour before using.

One teaspoon of baking powder can be substituted with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tarter.

Always roast meat or poultry at 325F degrees or higher to prevent bacterial growth while cooking.

At higher altitudes, yeast rises more rapidly.

One cup of corn syrup can be substituted with 3/4 cup of granulated sugar plus 1/2 cup of water.

Use a ice cream scoop to easily fill muffin pans.

When making hamburger patties, shape them gently. If grilling, place the patties in the freezer for a few minutes before placing on the grill. This will help hold their shape while grilling. Never press or flatten with a spatula while cooking.

When cooking odors are disturbing, light several candles. Somehow it helps clear them up.
Submitted by Janet B.

When making meat loaf you can make even better by adding either or both, dice chile, salsa , it will improve the favor of the meat loaf.
Submitted by Rose R.

Dental floss is a wonderful tool for cutting that special cake just right.
Submitted by Patricia B.

When baking a casserole the top will begin to brown and bubble when it is done.

Add a pinch of cornstarch to make omelets fluffier.

Are your mashed potatoes soggy? Sprinkle them with dry powdered milk and stir.

When a pot on the stove is about to boil over, place a spoon in the pot. The spoon will keep it from boiling over.

When you are baking cookies, place several layers of aluminum foil on your cookie sheet. When the first ones are done, lift the top layer of foil and place on a cooling rack. On the next layer of foil, place your cookies to bake. No more waiting for the first batch to cool before baking the next.

When baking a pie, place the pie plate on a pan larger than the pie plate. If the pie bubbles over, the pan will save you from having to clean the oven.

Add vinegar to the water when boiling eggs. The vinegar helps seal the egg.

When making French fries, soak the fresh-cut potatoes in water for five minutes. Drain and pat dry. This will remove the excess starch that causes them to stick together. To make extra crispy fries, dust them lightly with flour before you fry.

I discovered this by accident but it is great! Take frozen ravioli and fry them, turning once. When browned, drain on paper towels and add parmesan cheese.
Submitted by Kathleen G.

When making soup, add a lettuce leaf to the pot to remove some of the fat in your soup. Remove the leaf after the fat is removed.

Grate cool chocolate on a hand grater. Clean the grater often so the chocolate doesn't clog the blades.

When cooking pancakes, allow the kids to add what they want to the pancakes and they will eat more. Add things like chocolate chips, raisins or small fruit pieces.

Roasted turkey or chicken will be easier to carve if allowed to cool for 15 to 20 minutes. This will also give you a juice turkey or chicken.

When buying a crock pot, make sure to get one with a removable liner and it will be easier to clean. Buy one size bigger than you think you need and you'll never have to wish it was bigger.

Save time and energy by cooking large meals and microwaving them throughout the week.
Submitted by Belinda M.

Immediately plunge hard boiled eggs right from the kettle into a dish of ice water, and they can be peeled cleanly and quickly! No more egg shell bits in your food! Submitted by Audrey L.

To prevent leftover meat from becoming dry and tough when reheating, place lettuce leaves between slices.

Cool cakes in their pan for 10 minutes. Larger cakes may need to cool for 15 minutes. If your cake has cooled too long, it will not release from the pan. Return the cake pan to a warm oven at 250 degrees for a few minutes.