10 Easy Kitchen Hacks to Save Time, Money, and Dishes

Discover 10 easy kitchen hacks from 101 Kitchen Secrets by Jason Goldstein to make cooking faster, cheaper, and more fun.

Looking for ways to make mealtime easier? These clever kitchen hacks from 101 Kitchen Secrets by Jason Goldstein—creator of the viral @ChopHappy account—will help you save time, money, and dishes while keeping the joy in cooking. Whether you’re a busy parent or a curious home chef, these tricks will turn everyday meals into effortless wins.

Let’s Dive into the Best Kitchen Hacks from Jason Goldstein

1. Viral Breading Station Hack.

Use a sheet pan and create three sections with tinfoil: One section for flour, one section for eggs, and one section for bread crumbs. When done, roll up the tinfoil and throw it all out. No mess in the kitchen and easy cleanup!

2. Mason Jar Garlic Peeler.

To peel a whole bulb of garlic without a mess, put the bulb in a mason jar and seal. Shake the mason jar for 1–2 minutes and the cloves will separate with ease.

3. Self-Contained Mashed Bananas.

Instead of using a masher or a fork, just mash bananas within the peel.

4. Veggie Scraps Make Amazing Vegetable Broth.

Save the tops and peels of your veggies in a ziplock bag in the freezer. When the bag is full, place the scraps in a slow cooker and cover with water. Add 2 teaspoons each of salt and pepper and cook on low for 10 hours. This helps you save money on canned or packaged broth and helps cut down on waste by using the entire vegetable. (Frozen broth will stay good for up to 6 months.)

5. Get More Juice out of Your Lemons and Limes!

Place lemons and limes in the microwave for 30 seconds. This will make the membranes softer and produce more juice for your recipes.

6. Skip the Liners.

No need to spend money on muffin or cupcake liners. Just use parchment paper. cut circles from the parchment paper to fit the muffin tin and bake away.

7. Revive Your Old Spices.

If your dried spices are past the expiration date, toast them in a dry pan for a couple minutes on medium heat, Stirring occasionally, to bring back their flavor.

8. Seed a Jalapeño with Ease.

To seed a jalapeño quickly, Roll the jalapeño with light pressure on the counter and then

tap the bottom (the stem side) ten times with a little force. Cut from the stem side of the jalapeño and the seeds will pour out.

9. One-Ingredient Waffles.

No need to mix up a batter. Take cold puff pastry and cut it to the size of the waffle

maker. Place it in the waffle maker for 5 minutes. It will puff up and taste delicious.

10. Five-Ingredient Taco Rice in Five Minutes.

Fry up 1 pound of chorizo in 1 teaspoon oil. Add 2 cups cooked rice, 3 scallions (chopped), and the juice of 1 lime. You can add some cilantro too. A delicious meal in under 5 minutes!

Discover More Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks from @ChopHappy

^{Excerpt from 101 Kitchen Secrets by Jason Goldstein.}