The day my son’s future in-laws were about to come over for the first time, I mistakenly over-salted the main dish for dinner: a hearty stew. Luckily, the internet had me covered with a few cooking hacks. Here is a compilation for you, so you’re sorted when you make a mistake or need help.

Yesterday was a big day for our family! My son, Nathan, recently proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Julia, and naturally, it was time to introduce us to her parents.

Nathan wanted us to have dinner at our place. That meant I had to prepare the meal, and I was beyond nervous. Can you imagine the pressure of making a good impression on your future in-laws?

Everything was perfect. I had the table set, the appetizers were ready, and the main course, a hearty stew, was simmering away. But, of course, I had to mess up somewhere.

I tasted the stew, and I nearly fainted. It was so salty!

Panic set in immediately, and in a desperate move to fix it, I jumped onto the internet for help. And wouldn’t you know it, one search later, I found a hack that saved the day.

Apparently, to neutralize the saltiness, all you need is a splash of vinegar. It sounded simple enough, but the key is to add just the right amount. A comment said too much and you’ll risk spoiling the dish entirely. Good luck coming back from that.

With a steady hand, I added the vinegar, and to my relief, it worked like magic. Dinner was back on track, and the night went off without a hitch!

Lucky for you, I’ve compiled a list of hacks:

These hacks aren’t just your typical cooking tips; they’re strange but life-changing methods that have saved me time, money, and a few cooking disasters over the years.

If you’re someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen or just wants to make cooking a bit easier and more fun, then you’re in for a treat.

Here are 11 strange but amazing cooking hacks that will transform how you cook and hopefully add a twist to your culinary adventures.

1. **Flavor Your Pasta Water with a Stock Cube**
Instead of boiling pasta in plain water, drop a chicken stock cube into the pot. It infuses the pasta with a rich, savory flavor and enhances any sauce you make using the starchy flavorful pasta water. If you don’t have stock cubes, add herbs like thyme or rosemary to the water.

2. **Scissors for Cutting Chicken**
Use a pair of scissors to cut through chicken. Scissors make it easier to cut through the meat and remove veins, and they’re also useful for snipping herbs or cutting bacon into small pieces.

3. **Neutral Oil for Hot Peppers**
Rub a little neutral oil (like canola or vegetable oil) on your hands after cutting hot peppers, and then wash with dish soap. Capsaicin from peppers binds with the oil, making it easier to wash away.

4. **Orange Juice in Baked Goods**
Add a splash of orange juice to your pumpkin or banana bread to heighten the flavor. The acidity in the citrus adds a subtle tang that balances out the spices and sweetness.

5. **Baking Powder for Crispy Chicken Skin**
Before roasting chicken, sprinkle a little baking powder over the skin. The baking powder helps draw out moisture, resulting in a crispy finish.

6. **Lemon Zest in Garlic Bread**
Add a bit of lemon zest to your garlic butter for garlic bread. The zest adds a fresh citrus note that complements the garlic flavor.

7. **Frozen Chopped Onions**
Buy frozen chopped onions instead of fresh. They’re often more nutritious and cost less. Frozen vegetables are generally frozen at peak freshness, making them a convenient and healthy option.

8. **Big Cutting Boards**
Invest in a large cutting board. It provides ample space to work, making the preparation of ingredients more efficient and reducing the risk of accidents.

9. **Frozen Ginger**
Keep ginger in the freezer and use a grater to grate it into your dishes. You don’t need to peel it first, as there’s a lot of flavor in the skin, too. Frozen ginger lasts longer and is easier to handle.

10. **Vegetable Scraps for Stock**
Save vegetable scraps like onion skins, garlic ends, bell pepper heads, carrot peels, celery leaves, herb stalks, tomato cores, and mushroom stems. Keep them in a freezer bag and use them to make homemade vegetable stock.

11. **Microwaving Your Potatoes**
Wrap potatoes in plastic and microwave for 5 minutes before baking them in the oven for 15 minutes. This speeds up the cooking process. For crispy breakfast potatoes, microwave chopped potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes before crisping them up in a pan or oven.

These hacks may seem unconventional, but they’ve changed the way I cook for the better. Give them a try, and you might find a new favorite technique to add to your culinary repertoire. Happy cooking!