Handy cooking tips and tricks every mum needs to know

In this busy mum life, anything that can make your life in the kitchen easier is a massive win in my book. From every day ingredients that will transform any dish, to cooking methods that will take the pressure off, fab fellow parenting bloggers share their handy cooking tips and tricks to help you save time in the kitchen and seem like a kitchen whizz (even if you’re not!).

Feel the pressure (in a good way)

Invest in an electric pressure cooker – it is so versatile and I can’t imagine life without mine now. I make macaroni cheese, risotto and even salmon steaks in mine and it’s so quick and easy. It also has a slow cook programme so you can make stews too, either overnight or during the day so it’s ready when you get home. They take a little getting used to but are well worth it – they have come a long way since the one my mum had in the 80s that sounded terrifying! – Pink Charming – Pinks Charming  

Wing it with the Worcestershire 

Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to all your beef based savoury dishes. Yum! – Katy Kicker 

You can also add it tocheese on toast, curry, home made pizza flavouring, salad dressing. So many uses. – Mrs Mummy Penny  

A crumble of stock

So many people don’t think to do it but crumble a stock cube and add it to any meal. It boosts flavour and seasons the meal as well. We have one in nearly every savoury dish! – Mummy In A Tutu  

Slow cook it for success

A slow cooker is a total lifesaver and game changer when the kids are young, especially when you have a toddler who just wants to be with you. Get everything prepped first thing in the morning, whack it in the slow cooker and serve it up when you’re ready to eat in the evening – easy! I also started meal planning in advance for the week around a year ago and it has made me waste less, and spend a lot less money when I go shopping too. – Even Angels Fall  

Make it Asian

Add some Chinese Five Spice and Soy Sauce. You can basically fry any left over veg, or some chicken, with noodles or rice, sprinkle a little soy sauce and add a pinch of five spice and you’ve got a really tasty meal in minutes! – The Parent Game 

Blend it baby

If your kids hate veg then blend them up and add them to pasta sauces for things like bolognese. They’ll be none the wiser! – Then There Were Three 

Rock the roast

Adding mint sauce to your lamb gravy, mustard to chicken gravy and even stuffing mix to pork gravy is life changing and we do it with all our roasts. – Ready Freddie Go  

Paint a picture

Present food in a way that appeals to your child. So make funny faces with spaghetti for hair and vegetables for eyes or cut sandwiches into stars or hearts with a cookie cutter. – Five Little Doves

Perfect the pastry

When making pastry, instead of using all butter, substitute half the butter for lard – sounds grim but results in flakey, melt-in-the-mouth pastry.  – Inside Outside and Beyond 

Bulky does it

Bulk cook whenever you can so that you have some healthy meals ready in the freezer for those days when everything falls to pieces! – A Mum Reviews 

Ice ice baby

Freeze ginger and chillies as soon as you buy them. When you need to use them in a recipe, all you have to do is take them out, grate from frozen into the dish you’re cooking and pop back in the freezer. – Le Coin De Mel 

When a recipe needs half an onion (for example) chop the other half too and freeze it- saves you a job next time! This works for most fruit and veg!- Scrapbookblog  

Double trouble

Buy gallon zip lock freezer bags and when  making a crockpot meal, buy double the ingredients and prep two meals at the same time. Add half to the slow cooker then and add half in the freezer bag for one of THOSE days. You can pop it in the fridge to defrost the day before or add it frozen to the crockpot in the morning. – Nomi Palony  

Smokin’ baby

Smoked paprika goes on and with everything (ok, maybe not cereal, but you get the gist). – The Dadventurer 

Love your leftovers 

With left over veg that are no longer perfect, make a big soup that you can either eat straight away or freeze. It’s a great way to stop food waste. – Living With a Jude  

Have you tried any of the above tips? Or perhaps you have some tips of you own to share? Do leave a comment below.

If you enjoyed reading this blog why not check out my fellow blogging friend Katie at Living Life Our Way for more family life ideas.

Picture credit: Designed by Freepik

10 comments

  1. I’ve never got on with pressure cookers or slow cookers, but I couldn’t live without my blender. Luckily my kids love most veg, and even the ones they are not so keen on they will eat if blended in to soup 🙂

  2. I used to use my pressure cooker for EVERYTHING it was amazing! I think I might have to invest in one again as I used to cook so much more when I had one. Fab tips x

  3. Great tips. Some I definitely do and a few I really hadn’t thought of – freezing ginger – I’m on it! I have a slow cooker on my Christmas list but I admit, I’m not familiar with pressure cookers, so now I feel need to check them out. Haha. Thanks for the link!

    Kat x

  4. Great tips! Im a bit useless in the kitchen so this has given me some ideas. I do love my slow cooker though, it’s fab for the winter!

  5. Great tips here, I love blending up veg into sauces! My boys wouldn’t eat anywhere near enough veg if I didn’t hide it xx

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