The Cooking Mom's Secrets and Tips

To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off.

To avoid crying, cut the onions into two parts and place them in water for 15 minutes before chopping them.

When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated.

To ripen fruits, wrap them in newspaper and put in a warm place for 2-3 days. The ethylene gas they emit will make them ripe.

Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic cloves are slightly warmed before peeling.

If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, place it in freezer for a few minutes.

To chop dry fruits, place them in fridge for half an hour before cutting. They’ll be firmer and much easier to cut.

For a clean microwave place 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a heat proof bowl, and then microwave on high for 2 minutes. Use a cloth to wipe off the inside.

Sick of soggy lettuce? Invest in a salad spinner. They’re inexpensive and work great! You can use it as a colander too!

Don’t like lumps in your mashed potatoes? Try using a  potato ricer for super smooth mashers!

If you manage to have some leftover wine at the end of the evening, freeze it in ice cube trays for easy addition to soups and sauces in the future.

When you grill, pull your steaks out of the refrigerator one hour ahead of time so they can come to room temperature.