13 powerful cooking tips that few people know about

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Whether you love or hate cooking, it's always fun to learn a few tricks to make the job a little easier! From peeling to slicing and dicing, I've snagged a few fun tricks that will make cooking a little more fun and save you some time in the process.
Using a few of these tips can save you money (you waste less when you know how to peel something properly) and eat a little healthier (when you know how to remove excess fats from food quickly). Keep reading to check out some of these surprising cooking hacks:
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1. Bake your bacon
We do this all the time because I hate grease splatter. Instead of frying your bacon on the stove, cover a cookie sheet with foil, and cook your bacon that way. You'll still crispy bacon (more evenly cooked) without the mess.
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2. Remove egg shells with wet fingers
Accidentally break a few egg shells into your cake batter? Remove the shell from your bowl by dampening your fingers with water first.
3. Use a bundt pan to de-corn your corn on the cob
Corn on the cob is tasty, but it's a pain to eat (especially if you have braces). Make it easier to enjoy the farm-fresh taste without the pain by sticking your corn in the hole in the middle of your bundt pan. Use a knife to slice the kernels off from the top to the bottom. They'll land in the pan for easy transport to the stove.
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4. Hide your mistakes
If you accidentally burnt your cookies, hide your shame by using a Microplane grater (the side that's really tiny) to shave off the thin burnt layer.
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5. Ice cream saver
Keep your ice cream from getting freezer burned by trimming down the top of the container as you eat. The lid will still fit and there will be less air in the container so your ice cream won't get ruined.
6. Make your own cooking spray
Maybe the best tip ever: If you run out of cooking spray (or you don't want to spend $4 on a small can of it), combine 1 part oil with 5 parts water in a squirt bottle. Shake and spray as needed.
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7. Use a straw to vacuum seal storage bags
Vacuum seal veggies or fruit before tossing it in the freezer by inserting a straw into a zip lock bag. Seal the bag around the straw, and then suck the remaining air out of the bag. Remove the straw and finish closing.
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8. Plastic wrap mastered
Plastic wrap is fantastic-- except when it's not. If you have trouble managing this sticky storage solution, you're not alone. To make it easier to handle, store your plastic wrap in the fridge or freezer. If you can't get it to stick, wet the edge of the bowl or container you want to cover with a little water first.
9. Keep your cakes flat
If you're trying to get a perfectly flat round cake for your next party, try this tip. Take an old rag, and cut it in a strip long enough to go around the entire outside of your pan. Get the rag damp, and then secure it around the edge of your pan. Pour in your cake batter and bake as usual.
10. Remove seeds with an ice cream scoop
Save time when you're removing seeds from pumpkins, watermelons or zucchini by using the edge of a small ice cream scoop (or melon baller) to scrape the seeds out of the flesh.
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11. Satisfy your sweet tooth in less than five minutes
In the mood for a cinnamon roll, but don't want to wait for it to bake? Put your unbaked roll in a waffle iron, and cook for three minutes. Then apply the frosting (which will seep into the crevices).
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12. Get more juice from your lemon/limes
To maximize the juiciness of your lemons or limes, store them in the fridge. Then before squeezing, toss the lemon in the microwave for 20 seconds before squeezing.
13. Warm your leftovers the right way
Leftover pizza is so yummy! Prevent it from drying out in the microwave by putting a glass of water in the microwave with it to warm up. The extra moisture prevents nasty crusts.
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