Simple Kitchen Tips to Make Your Life Easier

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Are you looking for some simple kitchen tips? Some helpful hints that will make your homemaking journey easier? I’ve put together some of the top questions I’ve gotten into this helpful blog post!

Simple Kitchen Tips to help make your life easier. Great tips on how to tell if eggs are good, tips on washing produce, and MUCH more!

Simple Kitchen Tips to Make Your Life Easier

Sometimes even something that seems like it should be simple, can bring up many questions. There are plenty of things that we do in the kitchen on a regular basis and sometimes have that passing thought, “Am I doing this the right way?” or “It seems like there should be an easy answer to this…but what is it?!”

Today I’ve compiled some of the top kitchen questions that I’ve gotten over the past 10 years into this article with simple kitchen tips to make your life easier. Call them kitchen hacks, kitchen tips….whatever you call them, hopefully, they will be helpful in answering some of the questions that you have when you are in the kitchen!

How Long Are Foods Good For?

How long past ‘use by date’ is food flavorful, quality OK, safe..and I don’t mean fresh items…Canned …packaged.. baking mixes…… . ???  Leslie B.

As I’m sure you probably guessed…the use by date on the package of the product isn’t always the exact day that you need to throw something out. Most of the time, a product is good for days, weeks, or even a year after that date! It all depends on the product. Here are a few tips on when you actually need to throw something out!

Dairy Products: These go bad the fastest. Sour cream, milk, cream cheese, ect. You can easily tell when the product is no longer usable by just checking how it smells and if there is any visible mold. The expiration date does not apply to dairy products that are frozen because they will be good for much longer. You can find a list of how long things last in the freezer here.

Canned Foods: Canned foods can last a good year after the expiration date. The things to watch for are bulging cans, any discoloring around the rims of the can, or any funny smells. Tomato products may not last quite as long because of the acidity.

Cereals and Crackers: These will only last a couple months after the expiration date before they start to get soggy and lose their flavor. A quick bite into a cracker will tell you if it’s still ok!

Boxed Mixes: As long as these have been kept in a good dry location they should be good for at least 6 months after the expiration date on the package.

And for more info….if you ever wanted to know what month to buy something in and how much to stock up on certain months, check out this article on How to Stock Up. Also if you plan on buying these expired products in a surplus or discount grocery store you will want to check out this article on How to Shop at a Discount Grocery Store.

Kitchen Cabinets

How to Unstick Plastic Glasses

“I like to stack my tableware to save space but my cups stick together and I can’t get them apart. Help!” – Beth

Fact: Tiny House = Tiny Kitchen.

Fact: Tiny Kitchen = No Storage Space.

Fact: No Storage Space = Needing to Stack Things

Does this describe your kitchen situation? It does mine. I don’t have a lot of cupboard space so I have to make the most use of what I do have which means stacking plates, cups, bowls, etc. Occasionally when I put away a slightly still damp glass or cup it gets stuck together. And it seems like no matter how much I pull or tug or try and rip those cups apart they are determined to stick together. Here’s a little trick to getting them apart!

How to Unstick Plastic Cups:

  • Fill the inside glass up with ice.
  • Then either run the outside glass under hot water or stick it in a bowl of warm water.
  • The heat will cause the outside glass the expand slightly while the ice makes the inside glass shrink allowing you to pull them apart!

Chicken Eggs

Testing if Eggs Are Good or Bad

“I have chickens and I collect a lot of eggs every day. Sometimes they get mixed up in my fridge and I can’t tell what’s fresh and what needs to be used first. Is there an easy way to find this out?” – Cathy

Ever wondered how long that carton of eggs has been in the back of your fridge? Or maybe you found a couple extra eggs hiding in a back coop nest and you are wondering if they were layed yesterday or last week. Here’s how to figure out if the eggs are still good or if it’s time to toss.

Easy Egg Testing Method

  • Grab a bowl and fill it with about 4 inches of water. Drop the eggs carefully in the water.
  • If the egg sinks to the bottom, it’s still fresh.
  • If the egg slightly tips one end up, it’s still fresh but needs to be used sooner.
  • If the egg floats, it’s time to toss it.

Washing Peas

Washing Produce

“Is it really necessary to wash all of the fruits and vegetables you eat? Seems like a waste of money to buy produce wash” – Nancy

Hubby asked me once, “Do you really need to wash that? We just pulled it out of the garden!”

If the look I gave him wasn’t enough it also came with a mini-lecture and here’s my take on it to share with all of you.

So I’m sure that all of us know to wash conventional produce (or at least I hope you do!) but did you know that you should wash any produce that you prepare?

Why wash organic produce?

Even though the produce is grown organically it’s still sprayed with organic treatments and even though those my be non-toxic it’s still a good idea to clean them off before you eat the produce. All produce, even organic, brings a risk of bacteria from being transported from where ever it came from so washing also helps remove this if it’s present.

Why wash garden produce?

Let me ask you this…would you go outside, play with a couple bugs and then stick your hands in your mouth? Of course not! You may not spray anything on your garden produce, organic or otherwise but there is still dirt and bugs that have been on it. It’s a good idea to wash it off before you use it.

Do I have to wash all the produce?

Yes, all of it. Even the produce with a thick skin that you don’t intend to eat. You are still going to use a knife to cut that produce and the knife will come in contact with the outside of the fruit or veggie and the inside part that you will be eating.

How do I properly wash produce?

Just like you’d wash your hands. Spray or drop produce wash onto the item and rub it under a steady stream of water for a good 20-30 seconds. For berries or other smaller produce, place in a colander and spray with produce wash. Toss under running water until clean.

If I have to buy produce wash I prefer the BioKleen brand. It’s nice and thick but not too thick that I can’t keep it in a spray bottle. It’s all-natural and non-toxic too. What’s the use of having a produce wash if it adds more chemicals to your food?

I also enjoy making my own Produce Wash. The recipe is in my book: Little House Living: The Make Your Own Guide to a Frugal, Simple, and Self-Sufficient Life.

Easy Table Shiner

“My tables look dull and dingy but they are real wood. How do I make them look clean and new again?” – Joan

This method may sound a little weird to most of you but I promise it works! After we first got married I was on the hunt one day to find something that would remove water spots from my table.

After trying a few different things I came across a phrase in an old book that said to try mayonnaise. I grabbed a bottle of the plain from-the-store stuff and tested it out. To my disbelief, it worked! Not only did it take away the water spots but it made my table nice and shiny.
Since mayo is so expensive I rarely buy a bottle from the grocery store for this cleaning habit but I often find it at my local discount grocery store for $0.50 for an expired bottle (it doesn’t matter if it’s in date, you aren’t eating it!) If you really wanted to, you could use Homemade Mayonnaise.

*Note: my table is made from real wood.

Here’s a before and after shots.

The Method for Shining Your Table

I wipe the mayo all over the table. Then with a wet rag, I wipe it completely off. Then I dry it with a dry towel. None of the mayo is actually left on the table, it just leaves it nice and shiny thanks to the oils in the mayo! Make sure to get it all off otherwise it will be a little greasy.

Frugal Kitchen Makeover

5 Random Kitchen Items I Can’t Live Without

“What are some of your favorite kitchen items that we might not necessarily consider to be “must-haves”. – Anne

I have some very favorite kitchen things that I feel like don’t get mentioned enough. These are things I use every single day in my own kitchen and I don’t think I could live without them! They make my life easier and more simple. So without further ado, they are:

Ice Cube Trays: I always have something freezing in my ice cube trays in the freezer! I go through them like crazy (cheaper ones tend to crack) so I buy them at rummage sales or auctions when I get a chance. High-quality trays would be worth it for me so they are on my wish list. I like to my Cream Cubes, Freeze Milk, Freeze Chicken Broth, and more! I’ve even made mini desserts in them. 😉

Blendtec Blender: This little powerhouse is amazing. I do not have a food processor but just use this blender for all of my grinding needs. It could even grind grains if I wanted it to. I’ve gone through about one blender per year since I’ve been married but since my Blendtec has an 8-year warranty, I don’t have to worry about that anymore.

L’Equip Dehydrator: Ok I’ve mentioned this one a couple times but it’s definitely on my list of can’t-live-without. I literally use mine every single day in the summer and fall. I use it mostly to make dried fruits and snacks, Homemade Fruit Roll Ups, and even Dried Chicken Broth.

Plastic Jar Lids: If you eat through your canning pantry in the winter as we do, these lids are a must! They are awesome for storing open canned goods in the fridge, topping off jars with spices in them, and storing things short term in jars as I make some new concoction. We also have a set of Cuppow lids and I actually use these on my jars with homemade salad dressing, Dorthy Lynch, or Ranch Dressing!

Rada Tomato Knife: While I love the entire brand of Rada Knives, the tomato slicer is my favorite. It also works extremely well for tomatoes (I like it to slice up my cherry and grape tomatoes for Sun-Dried Tomatoes!), lettuce, other soft fruits and vegetables, and more.

What do you think about these simple kitchen tips? Have you utilized any of them?
What are some simple kitchen tips that you can share with us?

This post on Simple Kitchen Tips is a compilation of blog posts written on Little House Living from 2012 – 2013. It has been updated as of January 2019.

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66 Comments

  1. Some but Not all… I am of the opinion that if you do not eat a little dirt now and then you won’t stay healthy. Dealing on a small level with germs and dirt helps build your immune system – if your immune system isn’t built up over the years, the person can catch everything and anything later. If a person is always in a sterile environment, the immune system has no chance to build immunities to the little things, which helps stave off the bigger things.

    Take 2 folks – one raised in a very sterile environment and one in a not so sterile one, expose to the same germs etc, and 99% of the time the sterile environment person will be worse off and/or ill longer than the non-sterile one whose immune system will be battling full force due to previous exposures and a lot of ammunition to throw at the germs, etc.

    Ok – so that’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it 🙂 I just know my kids ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches out in the milking parlor and in the calf pens and barns, and they are about the healthiest people I’ve ever seen 🙂 Or maybe it was just all the raw milk and all those wonderful (sarcasm font) bacteria in it ! 🙂 lol

    1. I agree, and what I do wash, I only use water. Of course, if my folks are visiting, I’m much more diligent about germs, etc., because my dad has been on chemotherapy drugs so is more susceptible to things in general.

  2. From my garden – if I’m going to peel it, I peel then rinse. If I’m eating the entire thing depends on if it was under ground or above ground. Underground gets a good scrub. Above ground usually rinsed.

  3. I use something called Liquid Detox on all my produce as soon as I bring it home. Having had intestinal parasites, that probably were from produce, I am diligent about thorough washing. If you think about who picks and packs produce you will think differently. Many of those migrant farm workers are living in their cars and do not even have a place to wash their hands, plus the fact that they have no bathroom facilities. I grew up in Florida and the migrant farm help is visible there and we knew how they lived.

  4. Personally, I think that tomato products last longer due to their acidity..
    I’ve never lived by the “date” on foods, but used my nose & senses the most. The use by dates are estimated dates for legal purposes & doesnt really reflect on a products usability. I think the only thing I really do use by the use by date is milk, not that it would last that long in my house. 😉

    With cheese, we just cut any mold off & use it.. thats what they do before it gets into your grocer if its an aged cheese.

    I have a girlfriend who used to buy new eggs, cheese, lettuce, bread, & milk each & every week because she thought they were bad after one week. We used to laugh at her and tell her to bring us her “trash”. There were probably other things she tossed each week but those are the only ones I can remember. Crazy girl.. I bet shes learned by now. 😉

    1. I’m your friend😂my mom loves my trash except she gets mad at me and overwhelmed. I live alone the milk says use in 7 days and I just cant use it that quickly. I did try it on day 9 tonight as well as moms 5 day old chilli and my tummy is bloated🤢but mom is totally fine and had the exact same thing! I was trying to not be wasteful but I think Ill go back to letting someone else risk it. Now bananas I do use brown for smoothies or bread!

  5. Dates don’t mean much to me. They didn’t have expiration dates on all this stuff when I was a kid! (does that mean I’m old?). If it hasn’t been opened/damaged then it’s usually fine is how I was raised.

  6. Once I bought some sweetened condensed milk at a salvage grocery. It was about a year past expiration, and instead of a white/yellowish color, it was caramel, and had that “dulce de leche” flavor. Hasn’t killed us yet. =)

  7. I always wash all of my fruits and veggies whether they are bought from the grocery, farmer’s stand, organic or home grown. I use vinegar to wash and rinse in cold water. I have a spray bottle of vinegar to spray fruits and a larger bottle to make a vinegar and water bath for those that I want to soak for a few minutes.

  8. When I was boiling them for Easter, I could tell 2 of them were not as fresh, but I used old eggs so I could peel them easier..no such luck..all of them wouldn’t peel without taking the whites with them..grrrrr

  9. Thanks for sharing this, I shared it on “Sharing Tips from others” because people should know how to determine a good egg from a bad egg.

    1. love my big plastic cup… I only use it for cold water. Plastic is bad if you heat it up, fine for cold.

  10. Is this a good way to un-stick glass glasses or just plastic? I’m thinking it could cause the glass ones to break.

  11. Thanks, i had so many eggs in my fridge i didnt know which ones were fresh or old, omg, this was so helpful, now i use a label maker for my eggs based on how they float. 😉

  12. I just use water to rinse. If I have a particularly dirty vegetable, like a potato, I’ll use a veggie brush on it under a stream of water.

  13. The produce cleaner called FIT was used by my cousin to get crayons out of her laundry after her child left them in her pockets and ruined the entire load of laundry after it went in the dryer. The FIT product is used to remove wax on store bought produce while cleaning it, so it worked well on the waxy crayons. That child survived to live another day…

    Yes, I wash all produce including oranges and mellons with soap. I dunk cilantro upside down in a tub of water and shake vigorously to wash. This past week my mother in law got food poisoning from her store bought produce (and is now in the hospital).. Her doctor told her to never buy produce imported from Mexico because they don’t have stringent health codes as the USA does. He said many areas use sewage water to spray the fruits and vegetables and that is still on the produce when you get it!!!! He said other South American countries like Chile are fine and have higher health standards than Mexico….so forgoe the cheap strawberries from Mexico!

    1. I wipe it completely off the table. I wipe it all over, then wipe it off with a wet towel and then dry towel it. It does not smell because nothing is left on.

  14. There is no point trying this on my kitchen table because the finish is gone from 23 years of homeschooling and our kids had a fit when we said we were going to refinish it! BUT we bought a real wood table and chairs at a thrift store for our son who just got married and I am thinking this would be worth a try on that table. It looks similar to yours right now. It would be awesome if we had the same results!

  15. Wow, that’s really an amazing difference on the table. I have a very old art deco desk that I’d be curious to try it on. I’ve used oil on it (can’t remember which kind) and it really did nothing because the top of it is so dry. I also have a nicked and scratched up oak coffee table that I’ve been indecisively procrastinating fixing up (refinish, paint, decoupage, etc.) for years. Worth a shot!

  16. it also removes stickers from wood doors. just let the mayo soak in good, then scrape off. im assuming its the oil in it that makes it work so well.

  17. I have the mayo thing before and it works and polishes great, but something that works much faster on water spots on hardwood floors is to use a piece of white t-shirt and a dry iron set on cotton. Press iron on cloth a couple of seconds, then check to see if spot is gone. Repeat if necessary.

  18. I’ve heard of the table thing. But have to say in almost 30 years of marriage, I’ve never ever tried it!

    I have an old sewing machine cabinet, that needs a little TLC –I may try this!
    Pat

  19. When I helped my Grandparents referb. furniture for their second hand store, we also would add instant coffee to the mayo to “fix” scratches.

  20. Like this quit fix for the table! I have always rubbed pecans (out of shell) on scratches and then polish over. It works on any furniture.

  21. Cast iron Fry pans… the fav one is washed out and set right back on the stove top – never gets put away.
    Long filet-type old hickory skinning type knife…my go to meat cutting knife.
    2 quart sized measuring cup with handle – all kinds of things happen in that cup/bowl.
    Set of flexible cutting boards kept under the micowave – handy….One use, fold up and pour out of them, and into the dishwasher they go.
    Antique wooden 4 roll dispenser with serrated cutting edges screwed into the front of an upper kitchen cabinet… holds paper towels, plastic wrap, wax paper, and tin foil all easily at the reach – found at a garage sale and I love it !

  22. I don’t have any of yours above, not even the ice trays! I do love my plastic spatula and big, new whisk I got at Marshall’s late last year. I have an old, worn, medium-size stockpot that is cheap and light, and has worked wonders over the years! I know the heavy-bottom ones are supposed to be better at not burning things, especially, but cooking with mine is like wearing an old, favorite pair of jeans. 🙂

  23. I love the plastic jar lids! I first saw them a couple of years ago and love them so much I give them as gifts to people who do canning and also when I give my home-canned goods to others.

  24. My cast iron pans are indispensible. I cook in them constantly! My dutch oven, too. I love my electric kettle… it’s one of the few “gadgets” that I use that is electric. I like that it shuts off on its own. I like that it holds twice as much as the one that sits on the stove. I just like it. 🙂 I also have “sippy cup” style coffee cups that are daily use items. I take coffee to my computer and I *will not* do that in a regular mug. I’m too prone to spills!

  25. We have the Bullet and ice cube trays. My must-have item is my garlic press! So much quicker and easier than trying to chop it :p

  26. Love, love, love my Magic Bullet!! We are also on our 2nd. I find that people either love them or hate them, so it is easy to pick up used ones cheap from those who bought one and never used it.
    Some other must-haves in our house – Black and Decker minichop – we’ve had this since we were first married, 25 years ago. Still on the first one, and it chops some things better than the Magic Bullet. Great for onions, garlic, etc. I even make small batches of salsa in it!!
    Silicone spatula and whisk – I have melted too many spatulas in the past and the silicon whisk is a must if you have any non-stick pans.

  27. Cast-iron pans of various sizes, much used and kept well seasoned. I keep a small natural-bristle paintbrush in a small amount of shortening in a small jar and “paint” on a quick thin layer after I’ve scraped and wiped out the pan (I try not to ever wash them with water). They’re like old friends.

    Mason jars! And the plastic jar lids!

  28. My top 5 would be:
    1) Cast iron skillets
    2) Pampered Chef Stoneware- baking stones, casseroles and bread pans
    3)Flour sack dish towels – I bought a whole orange crate full at an auction. Won’t dry dishes with anything else (because nothing else works as good)
    4) Heavy Duty wooden spoons
    5) Stainless Steel Stock pots (that I got at an estate sale). They are OLD and heavy duty.

  29. Those plastic jar lids must be one of the best inventions in canning! I use mine for everything. I’m sure I wouldn’t use jars near as much if not for the plastic lids.

  30. Marshmallow Fluff has pretty red lids that perfectly fit canning jars. According to their website, that’s because housewives helped them design their packaging in the 1950’s. I only use the stuff for fudge, and only about twice a year, but I love harvesting the lids for my own purposes.

  31. I love my little spatula. I use it to get the last nut butter out, the last jam, and the concoctions I make every day in our huge blender (wish I could try a little one though). I use it many times a day.

    I also love my ice cube trays, my blender, my peeler, and my cutting board. And my really big salad bowl. I need the big one for all the recipes I make, because I’m always trying to double them and save time. These things get used so often I can’t even put them in my dishwasher, because I’ll need them again before it’s run.

    1. I do the same thing! The last of the peanut butter etc!!! That last little bit is usually the perfect amount needed without having to open the new just yet 🙂

  32. My 5 must haves:
    1. 3 silicone spatulas
    2. Pampered Chef silicone scrapers -GREAT for the stoneware but equally as good for washing anything else in the kitchen.
    3. Cast iron skillets – varying sizes – picked a whole seasoned Wagner set up at a thrift store for $6.00!!! I use them and my Mom and Dads old square and round skillets all the time.
    4. Pampered Chef stoneware – you HAVE to try them! You will not be disappointed 🙂
    5. Blender. It’s just about worn out! Soon to be replaced with a Ninja!

  33. I read that a good wash is a few drops or maybe a capful of hydrogen peroxide. And everyone has that. What do you think? I also read that it is a good spray mixed with water, for all surfaces. Disinfects just like bleach.

  34. My MUST HAVE is a pump bottle of Aloe Vera gel (the kind you get for sunburns) that I keep in the refrigerator!!! I burned my had badly just yesterday! After I rinsed the juice off of my hand, I grabbed the gel out of the fridge and slathered it on thickly. It felt SOOO good being iced cold! Every time it melted, I reapplied it, probably for about half an hour. There’s not a mark on me today and it’s not even sore!

    MUST HAVE!

  35. This “mayonnaise” thing really works…had a wood desk that was white from too much moisture during storage…wiped it on, wiped it off and the cloudiness is gone completely…Desk looks new again…

  36. Love my Rada knives also — received my first set as a wedding gift 25.5 yrs ago.
    Also, cast iron cookware, Pampered Chef stoneware, heavy stainless cookware, silicon spoonulas/spatulas, and my old pyrex mixing bowls! The mixing bowls are pretty as well as practical.

  37. Just found your site, GREAT I am a retired chef and need to get used to home style recipes and appliances. yours are very helpful. what kind of mixer are you using? I find my kitchen aid a bit limiting. keep up the good work I love your view of living!

  38. Merissa, I do jot have an icemaker, and I have bought many a high-quality ice tray (like the Amana ones that come with a high-end fridge when bought new) at the thrift store! Heavy-duty, don’t crack, last forever. Built to last. Never cost more than $1.50 per pair, and often less.

  39. Are your bread pan stoneware? If they are, do you remember the manufacturer ‘s name. Thank you and I just love your blog to include household hints, recipes and comments about everyday experiences. Please keep send out these treasures!

  40. I love when I see multiple uses for a product. One of my husband’s favorite shows of all time is Good Eats with Alton Brown (the man doesn’t cook, so why a cooking show is his favorite, I’ll never know; but I digress). Alton is CONSTANTLY talking about “worthless” kitchen gadgets that only do one thing – a grabber to get olives out of the jar, anyone? 🙂 He says that the only “unitasker” that should be in your kitchen is a fire extinguisher! (And I think he’s onto something there…) I also believe that if you are able buy a quality product, you are saving yourself money in the long run – I may have spent a couple hundred dollars on my KitchenAid mixer, but I never would’ve had a hand mixer or cheap stand mixer last as long. In nearly 20 years, I am on my 2nd KitchenAid mixer & I only got a new one because I wanted a bigger capacity to be able to make bigger batches of stuff, otherwise, it was still going strong! I do so much with my mixer & attachments. The day I figured out I could make meatloaf without mixing it with my hands was a glorious day! And I would never make my spaghetti sauce without it. I also grind my own meat for hamloaf & meatballs. I buy 1/2 or whole pork loins & cut them into roasts or pork chops. I try to keep the roasts to the same general size so that we eat all of it before it goes bad, so sometimes I’ll have a little odd piece here & there. I throw it in the freezer & when I’m low on my meatball stash, I grind it up & add it to the ground beef or turkey. I also use the grinder to make chicken croquettes so that leftover chicken doesn’t go to waste. I never would’ve thought I’d use a mixer for anything other than cakes or cookies. It’s a must have for me!!