Things to make you not feel like an idiot, eh? I always follow the Dwight Schrute (The Office) model for not feeling like an idiot: Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, would an idiot do that? and if they would, I do not do that thing.
But what you’re asking is more difficult. What are some things that non-idiots do regularly that idiots would not think to do?
I can’t claim to be 100 percent qualified to answer that question (my idiocy is still TBD), but I can give you a short list of some of the tricks I find most useful in the kitchen. I’m sure that you guys all have some great tips too, so please leave them in the comments so we can all benefit from your non-idiocy!
1. Peel Ginger with a Spoon
Ginger can be tricky to peel with all its bumps and irregularities. Rather than using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, reach for the spoon. Scrape it against the skin and it’ll come right off, following every contour and minimizing waste.
I use my immersion blender more than any other electric tool in the kitchen by a long shot. Whether it’s puréeing soups directly in the pot, getting rid of ugly lumps in my cheese sauce, or making mayonnaise or hollandaise in under two minutes, the immersion blender is the tool for the job.
Much easier to clean than a countertop blender or food processor, no need to transport hot ingredients from a pot to the blender jar, and the ability to work with even small quantities of ingredients (provided you have a cup that fits its head properly) make it an invaluable asset.
3. Keep a Small Strainer for Citrus
I keep a small handled-strainer in my tool crock next to the stove so that I can quickly cut a lemon or lime in half and squeeze it directly through the strainer into the pot. Much easier than picking out seeds afterwards! Oh, and you do keep a crock full of common tools by the stovetop, don’t you?
