7 helpful kitchen tricks to get you through the day

Sometimes it’s the little things that can drive you crazy — even in the kitchen. Try these tips to keep you humming happily while you prepare your meals.

Wrap a terry-cloth sweatband, headband or bandana around a bottle of olive oil to prevent drips. When your wrap becomes too oily, just toss it in the washing machine.

Trouble twisting the lid off a new jar of spaghetti sauce, applesauce or such? Turn the jar upside down and give it a thwack with the heel of your hand; you should hear a popping sound, signalling the release of air. Now turn the jar over, and you may be able to twist off the lid with ease. If that doesn't work, don a pair of rubber dishwashing gloves. With your grip secured, the lid will twist off with minimal effort.

Before opening a package of bacon, curl the package up with your hands a few times, turning it over each time. When you open the package, you'll find it easier to peel away individual slices.

Sprinkle your wooden salad bowls and cutting boards with salt and then rub them with a lemon to freshen them. The salt-and-lemon treatment will help your salad bowl to impart freshness, not smells, to the ingredients. And when you chop, slice and dice, your knife won't lift any dried wood bits from the board.

Here's a tip to make working with garlic a snap. Microwave garlic cloves for 15 seconds and the skins will slip right off, allowing you to slice, mince and chop without delay. As you chop garlic, juices released make the tiny pieces stick to your knife. Sprinkling a bit of salt on both the cutting board and the garlic will go a long way toward solving the problem.

Whether you're preparing baby food, storing leftover sauces, or making perfectly sized portions of no-cook fudge, a flexible plastic ice cube tray is your invaluable multi-tasker. It's a versatile kitchen aid you don't want to be without.

You're following a recipe in your favourite cookbook — a big book chock-full of pages. But every time you turn your back to add a new ingredient or stir the batter, the pages flip and you lose your place. It's enough to make your blood boil like a bubbling stockpot!

To call a truce in the book battle, you could buy a plastic cookbook holder or you could use something you already have: a clear glass baking dish. Just turn to the page where your recipe is printed and flatten the book with the dish. It will not only keep your cookbook open, it will also give you a crystal-clear view of the type.

You'll be amazed at how these simple kitchen tips will help speed up the time you spend preparing, cooking and cleaning up your meals.

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