11 Innovative Kitchen Tips for Those Who Don’t Like to Spend a Lot of Time Cooking

1. Soak pasta before cooking so that it’s done in 60 seconds.

It may sound weird but it really works! Soak pasta in water in a leakproof container and leave it for several hours or overnight. After that, you can cook the pasta really quickly in boiling water or just add hot sauce to it.

2. Cut a mango into even cubes in less than a minute.

It’s the quickest and easiest way to peel a mango and cut it for a salad.

3. Add baking soda to caramelize onions 2 times faster.

Add 1/2 or 1 tbsp of baking soda to 2 lb of onions right after they turn slightly brown in a frying pan. Right before your eyes the onions will caramelize and won’t burn.

4. Grate parmesan or any other kind of cheese at room temperature.

At room temperature, cheese becomes softer and is easier to grate.

5. Remove an avocado pit in 1 second.

To remove a pit, you should use a sharp knife and be very careful. The easiest way to do it is to put the avocado on a cutting board.

6. Freeze meat to cut it quickly for frying or making stew.

Thanks to this tip you’ll get perfectly even, thin slices of meat that won’t take much time to cook.

7. Cook once and use leftovers to make other dishes.

Turkey or pork are not-easy-to-cook foods and take a lot of time to make, but they’re perfect for family meals. The leftovers can be used to make different dishes during the weekdays. Keep leftovers in sealed containers and use them to make sandwiches, salads, and snacks.

8. Cut a stick of butter into pieces to make it soften much faster.

You can also place butter near a stove to warm it while you’re cooking something else.

9. Learn to peel potatoes quickly.

Put potatoes into boiling water for 30 seconds. Then put them into a bowl of cold water. After 30 seconds, you can peel the potatoes with bare hands. No effort needed due to the temperature difference. Another way is to keep the potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes.

10. Cut a pineapple into even pieces in 2 minutes.

Use a very sharp knife to cut a pineapple into 4 halves and then cut each half into pieces. Easy!

Must Eat in Taiwan!

Top 10 most favored Taiwanese dishes

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  1

  Beef Noodles

  Beef noodles are one of the most liked common cuisines in Taiwan. Delicious beef noodles require three essential elements which are noodles, broth, and beef. The broth is especially crucial because it is the soul of beef noodles. There are two kinds of beef noodles, braised and clear stewed that come with stewed sirloin and cow tendon. Street vendors and old shops alike endeavor to cook the best beef noodles of the finest taste, and beef noodles have become the pride of Taiwan.
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  2

  Soup Dumplings

  The famous snack originated from the south of Changjiang. It features small size, a considerable amount of fillings, juicy and fresh taste, thin wrapper, and exquisite shape. Soup is the soul of traditional soup dumplings. In pursuant of paper-thin wrappers and nice presentation, chefs spread flour on the rolling pin before rolling the dough. Traditional soup dumplings have at least 14 folds each, but in some stores that are particularly dainty about soup dumplings like Din Tai Fung, a soup dumpling might have over 18 folds.
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  3

  Minced Pork Rice (Stewed Pork Rice)

  A bowl of regular-looking minced pork rice will surprise your tastebuds with the tenderness of the pork without greasiness. You can find minced pork rice everywhere from a street vendor to a five-star hotel. It was even once featured in a state banquet. Gastronome Shu Guo-Zhi, the “founder of Taiwanese snacks”, once commented that minced pork rice is the “national rice” of Taiwan. Stewed pork rice commonly refers to the minced pork rice served in Northern and Central Taiwan of which the pork is minced by a knife and stewed with soy sauce. In Southern Taiwan, the pork is minced by machine and the dish is called minced pork rice in direct translation from Chinese. Whereas, stewed pork rice in the South refers to rice that comes with stewed pork bellies which are called soy-stewed pork with rice in Northern and Central Taiwan.
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  4

  Intestine and Oyster Vermicelli

  Vermicelli is a common Taiwanese food. Other than birthday vermicelli, pork knuckle vermicelli and sesame oil vermicelli, intestine and oyster vermicelli using red vermicelli is probably the most renowned Taiwanese dish. The main ingredients of the dish are oysters and vermicelli. Oysters are coated with cornstarch. Sometimes stewed intestines are used as well. Whether a dish of oyster vermicelli is successful depends on the freshness and size of the oysters. The stewing process of the intestines and the ratio over vermicelli are crucial, too. When enjoying a nice bowl of the intestine and oyster vermicelli, you can add some of the store’s signature chili sauce, black vinegar, minced garlic, and coriander to elevate the flavor!
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  5

  Oyster Omelet

  A perfectly cooked oyster omelet has a crispy texture from the coating made of yam flour and cornstarch. Each store boasts its signature chili sauce that adds to the smooth and chewy mouthfeel of oyster omelets. The rich scent of eggs explodes in your mouth as you first take a bite of the omelet with refreshing vegetables including garland chrysanthemum and bok choy. Then, as you chew on the star of this dish, the fat, moist and fresh oysters, the crisp sweetness and naturally savory taste of the sea pervade your mouth. It is a must-eat snack when you visit the night market!
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  6

  Stinky Tofu

  Stinky tofu was named after the special aroma of fermented tofu. Whether it is deep-fried or steamed and stewed, that indescribable flavor is what makes it an iconic local snack. Most stinky tofu vendors in Taiwan offer deep-fried ones with non-spicy Taiwanese kimchi or Sichuan kimchi as a side dish to balance off the greasiness of the tofu. Spicy stinky tofu is a new way of enjoying fermented tofu in recent years. It comes with duck blood curd and pickled cabbage in a thick spicy broth immersed in the unique stinky tofu aroma. Some vendors add intestines to the dish known as “intestine stinky hotpot”.
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  7

  Chicken Cutlet

  Chicken cutlet has earned a special status among all Taiwanese snacks with its reputation as the “evilest national food that is most-liked”. Variety in flavors ranges from chili pepper to various seasonings like five-spice, seaweed, and wasabi. There are even variants like barbecued chicken cutlet with sweet sauce and Japanese-style cheese chicken cutlet with cheese fillings. The cooking method varies from the traditional deep-fried version to charcoal-grilled or cheese casserole. There are also vendors that feature gigantic chicken cutlets or chicken thigh cutlets. Speaking as a whole, chicken cutlets are portable and absolutely fulfilling. They are probably the most common street food in Taiwan.
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  8

  Bubble Tea (Pearl Milk Tea)

  Speaking of chicken cutlets, we must not forget about bubble tea. Chicken cutlet and bubble tea make a classic snack combo. Not only does bubble tea looks awesome with different layers, but the chewy tapioca balls (pearls) immersed in the mellow milk tea are also the spirit of the drink that takes you on a journey of revolutionary tastes. The texture of bubble tea is so special that it is extremely well received and has become the most iconic drink of Taiwan. What’s more, bubble tea has even become popular in East Asia, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East!
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  9

  Shaved Ice

  The shaved ice was first introduced to Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period. It is made with an ice-shaving machine and added with different toppings and sauce. It has since become a very common threat in Taiwan. The hot-selling mango shaved ice was selected by CNN and a travel magazine as one of the world’s finest desserts. Top choices include a bowl of mango shaved ice-rich in Taiwanese flavor, taro shaved ice and red bean shaved ice that is most mesmerizing in the mind of many Taiwanese adults and the sweet, retrospective brown sugar shaved ice!
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  10

  Pineapple Cake

  Pineapple cake is a renowned Taiwanese snack made of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, Chinese squash, and pineapple jam. The tender fillings inside the shortcrust coating are full of local flavors that are simple yet authentic. The Taiwanese pronunciation of pineapple sounds like “ong lai” which signifies auspiciousness and prosperity. It is also one of the most popular souvenirs in the minds of foreign tourists in Taiwan.

All you need to know about buying sports equipment

Here’s a roundup of all the bonuses and few drawbacks of buying sports equipment from a speciality sporting goods rather than a big-box store.

A specialist for every sport

Whether you love to run, play golf or do yoga, almost every sport has a specialized outfitter for your favourite activity.

What are the bonuses of specialty shops?

Variety of choice

You can find basic gear and accessories at a big-box store, but you won’t have a huge selection to choose from. Sporting goods stores offer different equipment in various models from all the top brands.

Quality

Equipment sold in specialty stores are most often, if not always, much better quality than anything found in a superstore. Although low prices are attractive, cheaper quality rackets and tennis shoes won’t live up to their task if used more than just a couple of times a year. This means you’ll have to spend money to replace them more frequently.

It’s important that gear and accessories perform as they should. Quality and function are a priority for anyone passionate about their sport and plays it on a regular basis. Gear must be long-lasting and durable for maximum enjoyment.

Pro tips

Owners and staff at specialty stores love the outdoors and are usually athletes themselves. Beyond all the equipment you need, experts will help you choose the best gear and will advise you on how to use and maintain it.Some specialty stores even offer lessons to either learn a sport or improve your technique.

So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll get answers to your questions and expert advice — for free!

Disadvantages

Cost

It’s pretty clear that quality and durability come at a cost. A variety of factors influence prices in speciality sports like manufactures’ recommended pricing, as well as the competition associated with the volume and purchasing power of superstore franchises.

Fewer shops

Depending on where you live, you may have trouble finding a store specializing in your sport. Outfitters may be a neighbourhood boutique or an outlet store. Unfortunately they tend to be less visible, and fewer and far between. Accessibility also depends on the sport. The more popular your sport, the more likely you are to find a specialty shop catering to it.

Pre-owned equipment to buy or rent

Have you thought about buying or renting used equipment? These are good options if you want quality gear but are operating on a small budget. If you buy, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. On the other hand, leasing is perfect for anyone just starting out. It’s the best way to practice without investing in a sport before you know if you'll enjoy it.