These are mom’s best kept kitchen secrets!
There’s a lot we learn from our moms—especially in the kitchen! From clever shortcuts to seasoning secrets, those passed-down tips stick with us. This Mother’s Day, we’re honoring mom’s kitchen wisdom and putting her best advice to the test.
Heather Smith, of Orson Gygi, gathered some of the most beloved motherly kitchen hacks, and they’re too good not to share.
Here are a few of mom’s best kitchen tricks—complete with simple how-tos so you can try them at home:
1. Perfectly Crispy Bacon—No Flipping Required
Lay raw bacon flat on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle a light dusting of flour over each strip before baking at 400°F for 15–20 minutes. The flour soaks up excess grease, prevents curling, and delivers crispy perfection every time.
2. A Sprinkle of Salt Makes Fruit Sweeter
Before biting into your pineapple or watermelon, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the cut fruit. The salt enhances the natural sweetness and balances any bitterness.
3. Dice Eggs with a Cooling Rack
Skip the knife! Place a hard-boiled egg on top of a cooling rack set over a bowl or plate. Press the egg gently through the grid to instantly dice it into uniform pieces—perfect for egg salad or garnishes.
4. No More Shell Shards
When you’re fishing out broken eggshell pieces from your bowl, use a larger eggshell half to scoop them out. The shell attracts the smaller bits like a magnet, making cleanup easy.
5. Bring Eggs to Room Temp—Fast
If a recipe calls for room-temperature eggs and you forgot to plan ahead, simply place cold eggs in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for 5-10 minutes. They’ll warm up quickly and be baking-ready in no time.
6. Clean as You Go
One Studio 5 viewer shared her mom’s golden rule: fill the sink with hot, soapy water before you start cooking. As you prep, toss dirty dishes and utensils right into the sink. It keeps your workspace clear and makes cleanup feel effortless.
7. No More Sticky Measuring Cups
Another viewer shared this clever tip: crack your eggs directly into the measuring cup you’ll use for sticky ingredients like honey or shortening. Any residual egg creates a nonstick coating, making sticky ingredients slide out easily.
8. Always Be Cookie-Ready
Studio 5 contributor Alex Daynes credits her mom for this sweet advice: always keep the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies stocked in your pantry. You never know when you’ll need a quick batch of cookies for a neighbor, a friend—or yourself!
Find more kitchen advice from Heather and Orson Gygi on Instagram, @orsongygi, or on her website, gygi.com.
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