Why does cooking on TV always seem so easy compared to cooking in your own kitchen? Somehow the emcees manage to maintain the perfect hairdo, never soil their makeup, tell an incredible story; maybe even a joke, while they make the most amazing dishes you’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s just the glare on the TV, but I’m pretty sure that they’re not even sweating.
Well today I want to share with you some cooking secrets from the pros that will bring all of us home cooks a little closer to our TV counterparts.
Tuck a dish towel into your belt or pocket
Tucking a dish towel or even a paper towel into your waste tape is known as a “side towel” because it’s on your side. If you pay attention, you will see that many chefs in professional kitchens use side towels.
Some of the uses for side towels are:
- To wipe your hands. I find this especially useful after washing or turning over wet vegetables. No more running into towels hanging in the dishwasher or oven.
- To put under a pestle to dampen noise as well as provide cushioning to your pretty counter top.
- To be used as pot holders to keep your hands from burning when handling hot lids and handles.
- To use as a handle when mixing something in a bowl.
- To be used as a trivet.
Bring the measuring tool closer to the object being measured
Most of us store our dry goods, such as rice, in the kitchen cabinet and measuring spoons and cups in other cabinets. That is, we run around the kitchen every time we want to cook or bake. To save on extra steps, keep measuring cups in the pantry. Keep measuring spoons in the spice drawer. Keep another measuring cup near your oil. Watch how you use your utensils and food – place them as close together as possible.
To take this idea to the next level, I’ve even started keeping my garlic press in the same basket as my garlic.
Use technology
Shopping list:
How many times have you written a grocery list on a piece of paper at home only to find that you always shop on your way home from work? Instead of writing down on hard-to-carry paper, use technology you always have with you, such as your cell phone, to keep lists. Some of the great apps I’ve used are iPhone notes and the Whole Foods app.
Recipe:
Are you wasting your time trying to find that recipe you’ve seen.. somewhere? Can’t remember if it was on the website or in the cookbook or maybe an email? Get organized using tools like Velvet Aroma where you can put all your recipes into a cookbook that makes sense to you. Velvet Aroma even imports recipes automatically from multiple websites and always displays recipes alongside the source so you can refer to the original website if needed.
Keep your knife sharp
It seems self-explanatory: A sharp knife can cut your finger and a dull knife takes a lot of effort to cut your finger. So what’s the deal with that? Sounds safer to always have a dull knife on hand, doesn’t it? NO!
Basically when you cut with a dull knife you have to apply more force. When you exert more power, you tend to have less control. Which means – your knife can go where you don’t want it and hurt things it shouldn’t. In contrast, sharp blades cut easily meaning you are in full control and can cut exactly what you want to cut.
So sharpen those blades and take control – accidents happen when you lose control.
Use a bowl or plastic bag to put trash in
Use an extra mixing bowl or the plastic vegetable bag you got at the grocery store on your counter to collect trash while you cook. It saves time. You no longer have to walk to the trash with your scraps. You also don’t have to worry anymore about cleaning the floor with the leftovers that fall during your trip to the trash can.
And one EXTRA tip just because I’m feeling so enthusiastic. 
Heat your plate
The worst feeling is when I’m toiling over the stove, serving up a nice dinner, only to find out that the food is cold by the time everyone gets to the table. The solution? Heat your plate. The two easiest ways I’ve found are to microwave an empty plate for 10 – 30 seconds or fill a plate with hot water from the sink – drain it and wipe it down before refilling the dish. Wiping dishes is another use of the side towel.
