Just because your kitchen is smart and can do almost anything doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some forgotten kitchen hacks that your grandparents swore by.
Practical solutions to kitchen challenges have been passed down for many generations, from grandparents to grandchildren. Your smart appliances can’t demonstrate the same level of experience, knowledge, and practical application as these practices that could truly benefit you while preparing meals in your kitchen. The simplicity of some of these solutions could put some of your smart items to shame.
Here are just a few of the forgotten kitchen hacks that you can use and might have seen your grandparents use.
Cast Iron Makes Sense
You could buy an extremely expensive set of nonstick pans that will eventually need to be replaced because the nonstick aspects will wear out. Your grandparents had the perfect solution, and the pans lasted forever because they were made of cast iron. Your grandmother probably used a cast-iron skillet every weekend, and when it was properly seasoned, this pan created a natural nonstick surface. These pans require specific cleaning and care, but it’s worth the process to have a set of pans that could last a lifetime.
Coffee Ground Are Pure Magic
You probably toss away your used coffee grounds, but one of the most useful and forgotten kitchen hacks is using these grounds for cleaning. When you scatter them around the sink drain, they can absorb grease and help eliminate odors naturally. This is a good reason to rinse some down the drain regularly. Another great use for coffee grounds is to use them in your compost pile and soil around your acid-loving plants.
Preserving Fruits Longer
Refrigeration wasn’t always an option, and your grandparents or great-grandparents likely learned to preserve various fruits in ways you might never have thought of. Apples last longer when wrapped individually in newspaper and stored in a cool, dark place. Berries require a quick vinegar bath and then thorough drying but can extend their shelf life this way. Of course, you can also can some vegetables and fruits to make them last longer and be useful during times when these vegetables aren’t in season. This is a great way to make your own garden fruits and vegetables last much longer.
Baking Soda Wizardry
One of the most useful items in your kitchen is baking soda. This item is the subject of many forgotten kitchen hacks that can make it easy for you to get things done. Baking soda is a gentle abrasive for cleaning copper pots, removing tea stains from cups, and deodorizing your refrigerator. It can also clean drains when mixed with vinegar and is a great way to eliminate grease and odors on your kitchen floor when sprinkled on the floor before sweeping. Baking soda is also good for deodorizing carpets when sprinkled before vacuuming.
Potatoes Are Powerful
Raw potatoes can be extremely useful in your kitchen. They can remove odors on your hands from handling garlic and fish. Potatoes are also good for absorbing excess salt from dishes that have been over-seasoned. Potatoes can also be used in your garden to add nutrients to the soil and deter some pests naturally. These vegetables have the power to help you around the kitchen in ways that your smart appliances cannot.
Newspapers Are Great In The Kitchen
Today, we turn to paper towels for all of the functions that newspapers served before most were made obsolete. Some of the forgotten kitchen hacks involving newspapers include using them to clean windows to a sparkling, lint-free shine, storing them between cast iron pans to prevent rust and absorb moisture, and absorbing excess humidity in vegetable drawers. Today, paper towels serve most of these purposes, but if you get your hands on a newspaper, put it to use and let it become part of your kitchen.
Vinegar Is Victorious
When it comes to versatile kitchen items that can help you, vinegar is among the best. Using white vinegar for cleaning is a great way to naturally remove mineral deposits from kettles and coffee makers. You can add a bit to poached eggs to help the eggs hold their shape perfectly. You should also use white vinegar to maintain the integrity of your wooden cutting boards. This item disinfects and prevents the warping of your wooden cutting boards, ensuring they last much longer.
These are just a few of the forgotten kitchen hacks using regular items that can still help you have the clean, fresh, and useful kitchen that you’ve always dreamed of.
