Helpful Hints in Cooking

Two years ago, my in-laws gave me a cookbook from their church. I like these helpful hints from the book.

Helpful Hints

• Never boil coffee; it brings out the acid and causes a bitter taste. Store ground coffee in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh.
• Always use cold water for electric drip coffee makers. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons ground coffee for each cup of water.
• To prevent cheese from sticking to a grater, spray the grater with cooking spray before beginning.
• Fresh lemon juice will remove onion scent from hands.
• A lump of sugar added to water when cooking greens helps vegetables retain their fresh color.
• Never soak vegetables after slicing; they will lose much of their nutritional value.
• To cut down on odors when cooking cabbage, cauliflower, add a little vinegar to the cooking water.
• To avoid tears when cutting onions, try cutting them under cold running water or briefly placing them in the freezer before cutting.
• To keep hot oil from splattering, sprinkle a little salt or flour in the pan before frying.
• A few drops of lemon juice added to simmering rice will keep the grains separated.
• To quickly bake potatoes, place them in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Pierce their skins with a fork and bake in a preheated oven.
• Keep strawberries fresh for up to ten days by refrigerating them (unwashed) in an airtight container between layers of paper towels.

From: The St. Luke's Cookbook