Juggling work and kitchen duties? Mumbai chefs share cooking hacks to make your life easy

As we continue to stay locked down indoors working professionals are back to working long hours and managing household choresAmidst all this it is even tougher if you are living alone or with your roommates and are trying to figure out what to cook for every single meal For that matter while mothers or fathers used to have busy mornings preparing meals previously with more members staying home all day those responsibilities have extended throughout the day They are not only juggling their work lives but also trying to make sure they feed the family on timeAt such times kitchen hacks can definitely come to the rescue Some may already have their own but who doesnrsquot want more hacks to make life easier especially in the kitchen MidDaycom asked citybased executive chef Abhishek Basu JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu and executive chef Arun Dsouza Perch to share tips that would make the kitchen a welcoming place for all during the ongoing pandemic From knowing how to thaw meat quickly to cutting onions without shedding tears while cooking here are some handy solutions for allThe extra salt dilemmaWhile cooking in a hurry there is a high risk of oversalting your curries Chef Basu says that that should not ruin your day as it is one the most common things that happen in the kitchen and there is a very easy solution for it He suggests you can remove some of the saltiness by adding diced potatoes Simmer the potatoes in the curry for seven to eight minutes and then pick out the potatoes The potatoes act like a sponge absorbing salty liquid not just salt so you might need to add in more water after removing themThawing meat quicklyIt is not uncommon to get a craving to eat homecooked meat during the week But cooking it can be timeconsuming and if yoursquore in a rush Chef Drsquosouza recommends putting the frozen meat in a pot for a quick use After putting it into the pot pour warm water on it along with 5 tablespoons of vinegar and a pinch of salt It will thaw an entire frozen chicken within 15 minutes and make it ready for you to cook On the pan less is moreMaking a stirfry or any other kind of other dish needs a quick sauteacute but putting in a large quantity of ingredients may be problematic as they may remain undercooked So while sauteacuteing a dish it is recommended to keep less clutter in your pan This always ensures that there is even sauteacuteing ndash for example with onions mushrooms etc It will also help your vegetablesmeats as they donrsquot end up sweating on the pan and you get an even colour The pasta boiling ruleMaking pasta can be ambitious during the week especially if you are an amateur and do not have enough time Chef Basu says one of the most important pasta hacks is the ldquo10 x 1rdquo rule which basically means you need to have 10 times the amount of water to boil the required pasta example 100 gms of dry pasta needs 1000 ml of water It is also important to remember to salt your water until the boiling water is salty to taste Preparing to boil the pasta is just one part of the challenge the other is to simply know how long to boil it He adds that as a personal practice he always cooks it for a minute less than the written time on the packet as you need to cook the pasta in the sauce too so itrsquos important to account for that time as well to avoid overcooking the pastaRemoving or using fat better in stews and curriesThere are many who dislike fat in stews and curries and more often than not it is a part of the dish but this can be avoided Chef Drsquosouza says to simply use a kitchen paper roll to skim the surface as it will help remove all the fat Alternatively if one does want to retain the fat since it has a lot of flavour the curry or stew can be thickened lightly with roux flour and butter This will add a much denser and richer taste to itThe baking powder test If you use baking powder while cooking it is important to check if it has expired before using it with the help of a simple method Test your open packet of baking powder by stirring a teaspoonful into 12 cup of hot water If it doesnt fizz up throw it out itrsquos going to be an absolute waste to add this to any of your recipesWhile the above hacks try to simplify cooking processes it is important to not forget addressing specific issues that crop up because of weather conditions and busy schedulesHere are some easy tips to useStoring breadIf you eat bread often it is highly likely that you will have leftover bread which needs to be stored for your next meal The best place to store leftover bread is the freezer To consume later it has to be gently warmed in the oven and will taste like itrsquos freshPreserving bananasAs bananas ripen quickly most of us are always wondering what is the best way to deal with them Some may opt to consume them quickly or simply buy a limited quantity However the ideal way to extend their shelf life is to completely wrap the stem with foil or cling wrap This will extend the shelf life of the bananas by 15 20 daysOpening jars easilyHow many times have we all struggled to open a jar Now every person has their own hacks but herersquos a full proof one Chef Drsquosouza says to simply use a tea spoon Put it between the lid and the jar and lightly create a space to allow the vacuum to release and then you can go ahead and open itDonrsquot cry while cutting onionsTears while cutting onions are often rewarded with a delicious dish that is devoured later but why go through the trouble when there is a simpler way to deal with it Chew gum or breathe through the mouth to avoid tearing up while cutting themReheating baked goodsIf you are looking to reheat baked goods it is suggested to always add a cup of water in the oven to help prevent them from drying out This will help you enjoy it in the best way possibleKeep knives sharpLast but not the least it is always important to keep your knives sharp It is possible that they go blunt often because of all the cutting and cooking Use a sharpening rod or sharpening tool before and after all cutting work to make life easier It prevents the need for constant sharpening later especially while cutting meats which can be quite a taskAlso Read A Mumbaibased fitness expert shares 5 easy exercises you can do at home