Part of being a great home cook is knowing how to transform ordinary meals into extraordinary experiences. It's often not about making something more complicated or using more expensive ingredients, but about simple changes to the method, or adding an extra ingredient or two. The problem is, where do you learn these tricks without going to culinary school?
The (not so) surprising answer? The internet, of course! We found a golden thread on a popular internet forum where foodies share their best tips for creating better dishes at home, and even I - a professional recipe creator - learned a few new tricks...
Worcestershire Sauce
One person shared their go-to ingredient for beef recipes: "With anything beef, Worcestershire sauce. Just a touch. There's a sweetness/spiciness that just loves to play with beef."
Agreed, every steak needs a touch of Worcestershire sauce. As does garlic butter. Thank me later!
Smoked Salt on Bacon
A bacon lover commented: "Anything that you're putting bacon in, add a pinch of smoked salt or smoked paprika. It brings out the smoky flavor without overwhelming the meal with more grease. I even put a bit right on the bacon in the pan. I always get rave reviews at breakfast, and people want to know what brand of bacon I buy. It's store brand with a tiny sprinkle of hickory smoked salt."
Who knew there was a way to make even bacon taste better?! I am definitely trying this next time I'm cooking bacon!
Butter
This is one I live and die by. And I'm not alone! One foodie shared: "Butter. If something tastes amazing, it more than likely has a copious amount of real butter in it."
Well, there is a reason I named my food blog "always use butter"...
Make Roast Potatoes Crispy
One home cook shared their best tip for tasty sides: "For crispy roast potatoes, boil them in a pot before roasting them in the oven."
This technique makes the potatoes fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and it also works great for fries and wedges. But make sure not to boil the potatoes for too long - you don't want them to come out overcooked.
Lime
Another foodie commented: "Mexican here! Lime, lime on EVERYTHING!"
That's true, a squeeze of lime on tacos, enchiladas, and many other Mexican dishes gives them that extra punch and added freshness. But don't just stop there - a bit of acidity like lime or lemon juice is great to add to almost any dish, especially if it has a lot of butter or cream.
Almond Extract
One baker shared: "This really only works for baking but when I make cookies/cake/French toast/whatever, in addition to the amount of vanilla extract the recipe calls for, I add an equal amount of almond extract. The vanilla and almond compliment each other, and it's a really unique flavor that's hard to place."
To all the bakers out there, the secret's out! I had no idea this was a thing, but then I am no baker. It does, however, explain why bakery goods often have a much more complex flavor profile than homebaked goods.
Paprika with Chicken
One online user shared their favorite spice: "Paprika is awesome, especially on chicken. Add a heaping amount under the skin (along with at least a little fat and salt) before you roast a chicken and it will be amazing! It somehow enhances the chicken flavor and makes it taste so good. I also add a good amount to my seasoned flour when breading chicken and to any marinades for the same reason."
Toasted Burger Buns
One burger lover commented: "Toast the bun/.../ Or at least heat it. So many decent burgers ruined by a room temperature bun." Another user chimed in with "Spread a little butter on both ends of the bun and toast it up in the cast iron skillet for a minute or two...so good."
I always toast my buns but I've never tried adding butter. So you know I'm making some burgers this weekend to try this tip out!
Egg in Ramen
One user commented on the same thread: "Add egg to ramen noodles. Makes a cheap meal pretty tasty." Adding an egg doesn't just make it tastier, it also increases the protein content which means you stay full longer! I always do this when I want to stretch my instant noodles to become a full meal. Even better if I have some scallions to add as well!
Sazón Goya
One person shared their favorite cooking hack: "Goya Sazon. Little packets of perfect, found in the 'ethnic foods' aisle." [sic] These seasoning packets can be a godsend for anyone who has to cook with limited ingredients, as they will add lots of flavor without the need for a lot of individual spices.
Salt in Desserts
A home cook well worth his salt (yes, we went there) shared: "Salt. Especially in desserts. You may not realize it, but adequate salt in a sweet can make it go from "meh" to "amazing!"
Professional bakers often use a pinch of salt in their cookie and cake batters. It's delicious! Sweet 'n' salty popcorn is a great example, as well as chocolate chip cookies with a sprinkling of sea salt flakes on top. Not only does it balance the sweetness, it also brings out more of that delicious chocolate flavor.
Cream in Mashed Potatoes
One person shared their secret to the best mashed potatoes, "Use cream instead of milk in mash potatoes. It's not good for you, but it is delicious." [sic] Yes, if you want to add a liquid, definitely go for cream! I prefer making my mashed potatoes without both milk and cream, but instead I add lots and lots of butter... mm, tasty!
Source: Reddit
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