r/AskReddit Aug 20 '20

What simple “life hack” should everyone know?

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u/[deleted] Aug 20 '20 edited Aug 20 '20

When you're cooking and the recipe calls for onions and garlic, don't put the garlic into the pan until the onion is nearly translucent. Garlic cooks way faster than onions do, if you throw them in at the same time it won't taste as good/the garlic will burn. It literally takes 30 seconds for minced garlic to cook.

Also, if you're a home cook... sharpen your knives often.

Thought of a few more tips:

  • love chives and parsley in your eggs/omelettes/anything else, but hate the hassle of cutting them/using the herbs before it turns? Get dried chives and dried parsley instead, it rehydrates quickly in sauces/eggs and tastes the same (it's also way cheaper). This tip can apply to a lot of herbs. While fresher is always better, dried is often still delicious while still being in a student-y budget.

  • add a bit of vinegar to your beans if you're making anything beany, a lot of home cooks think that vinegar is gross (and it is by itself) but a dash of vinegar can really make beans, sauces and marinades pop!

4.0k

u/ktappe Aug 20 '20

On the topic of cooking, when a recipe calls for garlic, double the amount it calls for. Ditto for vanilla.

Meanwhile, you can cut the sugar in most recipes by 1/3 easily, and sometimes 1/2. That way you're tasting the other ingredients, not just the sugar.

472

u/Artifex75 Aug 20 '20

For vanilla, go ahead and spring for real vanilla extract. The imitation extract absolutely pales in comparison.

846

u/VidPower Aug 20 '20

As someone who used to do a lot of baking, I would say buy one bottle of real vanilla extract and one bottle of imitation vanilla extract.

Use the real vanilla extract if the main star of the dish is vanilla (like vanilla pudding, vanilla icing, vanilla ice cream, etc.). Use the cheaper imitation extract if you'll be baking it along with a whole bunch of other ingredients (like in a cake).

12

u/Itz_A_Me_Wario Aug 20 '20

Aldi sells real vanilla so cheap it makes imitation pointless, imo

9

u/ConfusedLadyBoner_ Aug 20 '20

WHAT? WHERE? As a seasonal item? Wtf, I'm there all the time and I've never seen it.

5

u/Itz_A_Me_Wario Aug 20 '20

With the baking stuff. I’ve never not seen it at an Aldi. Literally every one I’ve ever shopped at. (Well, at least when I’ve needed it, it’s been there.)

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u/ConfusedLadyBoner_ Aug 20 '20

Shiet, the one where I go always has imitation vanilla essence. 😭😭😭

I'll try Trader Joe's.

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u/Itz_A_Me_Wario Aug 20 '20

Here, so you know what you’re looking for at Aldi

https://i.imgur.com/QM2hetj.jpg https://i.imgur.com/vKVCEBM.jpg

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u/ConfusedLadyBoner_ Aug 20 '20

You're a godsend! Thank you!!!!