Cooking Hacks I´ve Learnt From My Grandma

It is time you listen to your Grandma, especially when it comes to cooking advice. When it comes to cooking, no one has more wisdom than Grandmothers who have spent a lifetime perfecting their craft. Their kitchens are filled with delicious aromas, comforting meals, and a treasure trove of time-tested secrets. These 14 cooking hacks, passed down through generations, are the ones grandmas swear by to make every dish just a little bit better and your cooking technique so much smarter.

Use Your Leftovers

Leftovers should never go in the trash. That would be such a waste! Not only should you always eat your leftovers, but grandma thinks you should repurpose them. Turn that leftover chicken into a pasta dinner. Make extra veggies into an omelet. Turn last night’s dinner into a rice bowl. Grandmas are pros at transforming leftovers, and this is one thing we should all do too.

Stock Up

If you see a food that you love on sale, buy a ton! Freeze it, store it in your pantry, or find space in your fridge to keep it. You should always take advantage of a good deal and fill your pantry up when things are on sale. All grandmas know that the key to saving money and eating well is to keep that pantry full! 

Say No To Takeout

Grandmas do not do takeout. Why order something that you can easily make yourself? Any grandma will tell you that takeout is the devil. It is a waste of money and often not as tasty as you could make on your own. If you have a favorite takeout food, spend a little time in the kitchen and learn how to make that meal. 

Use The Big Pot

Do not cook the noodles in a small pan when you make pasta. You will end up with a big clump of pasta rather than some nicely cooked pasta. Grandmas are pasta-making pros; they know that the bigger the pot, the better. Those noodles need space to move and boil! Take this advice from every grandma out there, and always use the big pot. 

Learn Your Kitchen Tools

Listen up, young chefs. You need to know your kitchen tools and when to use them. A grandma can tell you when to get out the blender, when to use a rubber spatula, and how an immersion blender works. Knowing about kitchen tools and how they all work will make cooking much easier. Maybe that is why it looks so effortless when Grandma cooks.

Use All Your Senses

Watch any grandma cook, and you will see them mixing with their hands, tasting small spoonfuls, and smelling every ingredient. Using all of your senses when you cook will help your food immensely. Ask your favorite baby boomer how to cook with all five senses, and we hope they will give you all the secrets! 

Time it Right

Grandmas somehow know exactly when to turn on the oven, when to pull out the meat to thaw, and when to put dinner on the table. It is just instinctual to them! Hopefully, Grandma will show us how to time meals perfectly so the whole meal comes together right on time. This seems like a skill we all need to learn. 

Cook & Bake With Love

If you don’t feel like cooking, don’t do it. Your food will suffer! Any grandma will tell you that you can really tell the difference between a food cooked with love and one that is made in a mad rush. Take your time and enjoy spending time in the kitchen. When you are happy, your food will convey that emotion. 

Ask For Advice

If you don’t know how to make something in the kitchen, don’t just make it up! Ask for help! Whether you call your favorite grandma chef or just Google your questions, asking for cooking help will make you a better chef. Nobody knows how to make everything, so swallow your pride and ask for advice! You will be glad you did when you take one tasty bite. 

Cook The Classics

Grandmas don’t go crazy trying new, strange recipes. They stick to the classics. The tried and true recipes that will always turn out delicious. If you want foods that are sure to be delicious and easy to make, go with the traditional recipes. Sometimes old-school foods are better! Just ask grandma.

Cook Together

Make cooking a family activity! Grandmas always love to cook together, and this is the best way to learn all of those culinary secrets. Be a sous chef, and you will come out of the experience with abundant culinary knowledge.

Find a Good Recipe

Using a high-quality recipe is key to success. Sure, many grandmas cook without any recipe, but that is not how they started out! You need to learn from tried and true recipes before you can improvise. Make sure you use a recipe from a well-rated site, a good cookbook, or just ask your grandma for her secret family recipes. Use a good recipe and you will always have kitchen success.

Cook What You Eat

Do not start cooking something that doesn’t sound delicious to you. If you don’t like curry, don’t start making a huge pot that will take days to eat. If you hate Brussels sprouts, don’t make them. Only take the time to make the foods you enjoy. Otherwise, you will not only dislike the entire cooking process, but you will be starving at the end! You will enjoy cooking much more when you also enjoy eating the food.

Double it Up

Anytime you make a recipe, double it. Eat one portion then save the rest for later. There are so many foods that freeze well and stocking your freezer with ready-made, homecooked meals is a great way to ensure you eat well every night. Next time you need a quick dinner, just take out one of your pre-cooked meals, heat it up and dinner will be ready in minutes!