Kitchen Hints

Stuck paper - Paper that is stuck to wood can be removed by moistening it with baby oil After a few minutes it will peel away easily. The sticky residue left by those awful labels on new items can be removed by a patent ‘sticky stuff remover’ like this one available from Lakeland.

Burnt stew - If food burns in the pan never stir it up -tip it into a new saucepan leaving thc burnt bits at the bottom. Add more liquid if necessary and if it still tastes burnt add some more seasoning - pepper, chilli powder or Worcester sauce.

Burnt Saucepans - Put a tablespoon of washing powder into the pan, fill up to the burn mark with warm water and leave to stand for an hour. Wash in warm soapy water - pan will be as good as new.

Frying - Heat the pan gently before adding butter or oil - this reduces the chances of the food sticking. Sprinkle a little salt in the pan to slop spitting. Add a spoonful of oil if cooking in butter to stop the butter burning.

Beans and Pulses - When cooking dried beans and pulses do not add salt until the last minute as it toughens them.

Cabbage - A piece of bread or a dash of lemon juice added to the cooking water will cut down the smell of boiling cabbage. If you boil the water before adding the cabbage and cook for only ten minutes it won't go soggy.

Carrots - To improve tinned carrots - sauté them for a minute or two in l oz butter with a pinch of sugar, a squeeze of lemon, a dash of salt and some freshly ground black pepper.

Celery - To crisp celery stand the stalks in iced water for half an hour before serving

Lettuce - When making a salad always tear the lettuce - cutting with a knife will make it go brown.

Salad Servers - Wooden salad servers are better than metal because they don't bruise the leaves.

Cheese Sauce - Make a cheese sauce more interesting by adding a sprinkling of dry mustard, a pinch of cayenne pepper and a dash of lemon juice.

Cider - When cooking with cider (and it makes an excellent base for a stew) use an enameled or porcelain-lined pan because an iron or tin one will turn the cider black.

Mustard - If you ever mix your own mustard do so with cold water and leave it at least ten minutes before serving to allow the flavour to develop.

Onion Stems - If you grow your own onions or spring onions, you can use the stems like chives for flavouring soups and stews.

Parsley Butter - Chop three tablespoons of fresh parsley very finely. Rinse a mixing bowl with hot water and. using a fork, work the parsley into 4 oz (l25 gms) of butter and a few drops of lemon juice. Chill until firm and serve with hot vegetables or fish.

Parsley - As an alternative to chopping it you can keep it in the freezer and then when you want it you can just crumble it into bits,

Sugar - One ounce (loz) of white sugar is a level tablespoon full.

Flour - One ounce (loz) of flour is a heaped tablespoon full.

Steaming – If you steam anything (like puddings or vegetables) put a marble in the pan - it will rattle and warn you if the pan boils dry.

Smelly Hands - If you get something on your hands that makes them smell and won't just wash off - such as fish - rub some dry mustard powder on them and then rinse off under warm water.

More fishy stuff - Wash utensils in cold water after using them for fish, especially smoked fish - it gets rid of the smell.


Egg Whites - Rub the cut side of a lemon half around the inside of the mixing bowl before cracking in egg whites and when you whisk them you'll get a much better volume - the acid stabilizes the foam. Ideal for meringue mixtures.