Surprising Ideas

15 Brilliant Ways to Use Up Awkward Space in Your Kitchen Kitchen

Whether you realize it or not, it’s easy to unknowingly waste a lot of space in the kitchen. That space above your upper cabinets? The little sliver of space next to your fridge? That neglected corner? Those inches add up and could be put to better use. With a little bit of creativity (and, okay, maybe a few smart purchases), you can easily boost your storage space. Sounds awesome, right? Here are 15 simple-but-brilliant ideas for making the best use of every awkward space in your kitchen.

Ashley Abramson

Nov 27, 2024

The 40 Most Brilliant Kitchen Organization Hacks of All Time Kitchen

You — and your kitchen — can thank us later.

Geraldine Campbell

Sep 26, 2024

How to Shuck Corn in the Microwave Skills

Smarter, not harder.

Kelli Foster

Aug 1, 2024

The 40 Best Small Kitchen Storage and Organization Ideas You’ll Want to Try ASAP

40 Brilliant Small Kitchen Storage Tips

Make the most of the space you have with these smart tricks.

Alyssa Longobucco

Jul 29, 2024

10 Easy Ways To Deal With Stinky Cooking Smells

How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells

You likely already have everything you need in your home!

Michelle Lau

Jun 28, 2024

25 Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Biscuits Skills

If there’s one time I always wish for leftovers, it’s when I make biscuits. In fact, a good strategy is to always make extra so you never have to worry about that problem. But once you’ve had your fill of them reheated with a generous spread of butter or fruit jam, try one of these clever ways to use up leftover biscuits instead.

Kelli Foster

Apr 23, 2024

31 Easter Dinner Dishes That Aren't Ham Recipes

When it comes time to plan your Easter menu, a glazed ham or a big roast leg of lamb is the default. These dishes are classics for sure, but they’re far from the only options, especially if, like mine, your celebration will be on the small side this year. But what to make? Pork tenderloin or pork chops can be easily dressed up with a sauce or simple glaze.

Kelli Foster

Mar 8, 2024

25 Ways to Have Baked Potatoes for Dinner Recipes

On their own, baked potatoes are one of the absolute best foods. They’re cheap, filling, and require practically zero effort to make. All you really need is salt, pepper, and a pat of butter. You could be satisfied — no, delighted — by this simplest of preparations. But let us indulge, if you will, in what a humble baked potato could become.You don’t even need a recipe.

Jesse Szewczyk

Jan 31, 2024

9 Easy Ways to Upgrade a Box of Mac and Cheese Recipes

It takes almost zero effort.

Sheela Prakash

Jan 26, 2024

15 Brilliant Oven-Cleaning Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner Kitchen

Cleaning your oven can be a hassle. This essential appliance is the workhorse of your kitchen, so it can easily accumulate rogue dinner debris, burnt-on gunk, and plenty of grease. You probably know staying on top of deep-cleaning your oven can help maintain it over the years (and prevent unwanted odors in your kitchen). But mustering the motivation to perform this cumbersome chore? Not that easy. Fortunately, with a bit of strategy — a.k.a.

Ashley Abramson

Sep 7, 2023

13 Surprising One-Ingredient Toppings for Corn on the Cob Recipes

Because sometimes butter is boring.

Sheela Prakash

Aug 29, 2023

We Tried 5 Tricks for Peeling Eggs and Found a Clear Winner

Skills Showdown

We also discovered a few fun party tricks.

Ann Taylor Pittman

Aug 21, 2023

Apple Cider Vinegar Gets Rid of Fruit Flies Like a Charm: Here's How It Works

Tips from The Kitchn

Buh-bye, fruit flies!

Geraldine Campbell

Aug 17, 2023

15 Ways to Love Caesar Salad Recipes

A classic Caesar salad combines crisp romaine, croutons, parmesan cheese, and that briny-tangy dressing you get from egg yolks, lemon juice, and anchovies. Once you’ve figured out those core ingredients, you can give way to a bevy of variations: use different greens, add chicken or pasta, or roll it all up in a wrap. These 15 stunning salads are proof that Caesar salad is truly anything but boring.

Kelli Foster

Aug 8, 2023

Why You Might Want to Take It Slow With Sunchokes Skills

Sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes, are a funny-looking tuber with a delicate, artichoke-like flavor, and they have been growing in popularity in recent years, popping up at farmers markets and on restaurant menus around the country. But before you go on a sunchoke binge, you should know its unofficial nickname: the Fartichoke.

Anjali Prasertong

Jul 25, 2023

The Secret to an Uber-Spongy Cake Is … Ice Water Skills

There might be some actual legit science behind why adding ice water to white cake is such a brilliant move.

Jessie Sheehan

Jul 14, 2023

5 Unexpected Ways to Use Curry Paste Skills

I’ve been adding curry paste to an assortment of old standby dishes to give them a bit of kick. If you have half a can of curry paste lying about here are a few unexpected ways to put it to good use!I’ve written about my favorite curry paste in the past and it should be noted that I am a huge fan of green over red curry pastes. That’s simply a matter of taste, but I have found that I have better luck controlling the heat without many surprises.

Sarah Rae Smith

May 3, 2023

5 Ways to Make a Meal Out of Frozen Hash Browns Skills

Of all the ingredients in all the world, potatoes happen to be my favorite. Fried, mashed, and nestled under a roasting chicken, I love them no matter the preparation. I even love them frozen. And that’s because, when it comes to making a quick, filling snack, there’s no better item to have on hand than shredded hash browns. Frozen hash browns have chameleon-like properties. When fried or baked, they add a surprising pop of crunch to an otherwise texture-less dish.

Jessica Goldman Foung

May 1, 2023

Here Are the 27 Greatest Decluttering Tips of All Time Kitchen

"Keep what you need and what makes you happy" is enough of a North Star for some people. But many of us need a little extra guidance to help decide what's worth keeping.

Shifrah Combiths

Mar 28, 2023

Three Ways to Create a Sugar Crust on Homemade Crème Brûlée Skills

Crème brûlée seems to be a dessert locked in step with Valentine’s Day: It’s classic, easy, and impressive. But what is crème brûlée without its crisp top of just-burnt sugar? Just custard, that’s what. Here are the three most common ways to melt sugar on crème brûlée, including one that’s newer to us. Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar over the top of the custard, and shake the dish to distribute it evenly.

Faith Durand

Dec 15, 2022

5 Fun Alternatives to Graham Cracker Crusts Skills

My favorite part of a pie or tart, hands-down, is the crust. In fact, if there’s a double crust, I’m even happier. And while graham cracker pie crust is one of the easiest crusts to make, don’t forget that there is a whole world of other fun possibilities out there that are equally delicious. Pretty much any crunchy thing that’s cookie or cracker-like can work in as a pie crust. You just have to grind it up, mix it with some butter to hold it together, and press and bake.

Christine Gallary

Dec 3, 2022

Powdered Cheddar Cheese Is Going to Change How You Make Mac and Cheese Skills

The cheesiest solution comes from the pantry.

Kelli Foster

Dec 1, 2022

7 Alternative Ways to Keep Thanksgiving Dishes Warm Skills

Making sure Thanksgiving food stays warm can be quite a hard thing to pull off once the turkey’s in the oven and every ounce of stove space is being used to do last-minute cooking. And maybe Aunt Martha showed up with an unexpected dish, throwing a wrench in your carefully thought out planning and timing for heating and warming all the food. Well, fear not!

Christine Gallary

Oct 7, 2022

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes: 3 Easy Methods

Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn

Our go-to method just calls for some liquid dish soap!

Lisa Freedman

Sep 25, 2022

10 More Ways to Use Up Leftover Coconut Milk Recipes

When a recipe calls for coconut milk, you often end up with a little left over, which leads to the question of how to use the extras. The good news is that whether you freeze it in an ice cube tray for future smoothies, spritzers, and curries, or use it throughout the week, there are endless ways to work this non-dairy milk into your sweet and savory dishes alike. And often, even a little splash will prove enough to transform the flavor profile (and texture!) of a dish.

Jessica Goldman Foung

Sep 19, 2022

The Easiest Way to Unravel a Roll of Aluminum Foil with a Ragged Edge

Organizing Tips from Kitchn

There is one major drawback, though.

Stephanie Ganz

Sep 15, 2022

Homemade Caramel Syrup for Your Coffee Recipes

For me, there’s not much better than an ice-cold coffee on a hot summer day. One problem though: if you want to sweeten your coffee you only have a few options. Option one is to use sugar, which is hard to dissolve and can result in a pile of sugar gunk at the bottom of your glass. Option two is using a store-bought coffee syrup, but those tend to be cloyingly sweet and flavored with junk. The hidden third option is to make your own syrup at home.

Nick Evans

Sep 13, 2022

5 Fabulous Ways to Flavor Your Popcorn Skills

Let’s be honest — when it comes to popcorn, the plain stuff is kind of boring. I’m not saying I’d turn it down, but it just feels a little lackluster. Sure, it has the crunch factor going for it (I’ll give it that), but there’s no flavor or pizzazz. Let’s call popcorn what it really is: a bite-sized vessel waiting to get loaded up with all of your favorite flavors and toppings. Each of these five simple bowls of popcorn starts off the same way.

Kelli Foster

Sep 12, 2022

We Just Found a New, Unexpected Use for Aluminum Foil

Tips from The Kitchn

It has nothing to do with food.

Lois Alter Mark

Sep 9, 2022

Why You Shouldn’t Throw Away Cauliflower Leaves Skills

Last weekend, I found proof that the best things in life really do come for free. And when I say “things,” I’m talking about cauliflower leaves. Bags and bags of cauliflower leaves, which usually get tossed away or given (to people like me) at no extra cost (usually for the compost). But secretly, they also have a place in your fridge and kitchen.

Jessica Goldman Foung

Sep 8, 2022

Best Ways to Fix Scratches on Wood Tables

Tips from The Kitchn

Have you heard of the tricks with tea bags and walnuts? What about the rest of these?

Ashley Abramson

Sep 8, 2022

Why You Should (Almost) Never Use Your Oven’s Self-Cleaning Function Kitchen

This past week marked a special moment in my life. After living with an extra-small oven for years, pushing it hard — using it to test an entire book about casserole recipes, with pans that barely fit into its little cavity — I’m now the proud owner of a 30-inch double oven. I lucked out and found the exact oven I desired (and couldn’t afford at full price) for a fraction of its list price on Craigslist, barely used and with a 3-year warranty remaining.

Faith Durand

Sep 8, 2022

What’s the Difference Between Stock and Broth?Skills

Do you know?

Emma Christensen

Sep 6, 2022

Did You Know You Can Eat Pumpkin Leaves?Skills

When it comes to gardening, I have more of a knack for killing plants than producing any kind of successful harvest. As such, it has befallen my husband to take full charge of tending to our summer garden, and his most treasured plant is this enormous, enthusiastic pumpkin vine. Its produce will be of the Halloween carving variety, not so great for eating. Luckily, I’ve still got some plans for its smaller, younger leaves, which as it turns out, are edible and popular in many cuisines.

Coco Morante

Sep 2, 2022

I Cleaned My Oven Door with a Dishwasher Tablet

Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn

Here's how it went.

Ashley Poskin

Aug 31, 2022

The Best Way to Keep Lemons Fresh for a Whole Month Skills

Lemons are an ideal way to perk up early spring cuisine; from salads to fish and desserts, they are an easy flavor booster to keep on hand. However, I always end up planning a meal around my last lemon, only to find out it has become hard and yields as much juice as a potato. Then I discovered this simple tip for making sure you get every last drop out of your lemons. Lemons sealed in a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator tend to keep fresh longer.

Stephanie Barlow

Aug 31, 2022

6 Brilliant Back-to-School Supplies That’ll Instantly Organize Your Kitchen

Organizing Tips from Kitchn

There are so many ways to use a binder clip!

Shifrah Combiths

Aug 25, 2022

How to Keep Guacamole Green Skills

It has nothing to do with lime, the pit, or plastic wrap.

Faith Durand

Aug 22, 2022

The Right Oven Temperature for Homemade Pizza Skills

Testing the upper limits of your oven's heat might give you better pizza at home.

Emma Christensen

Aug 18, 2022

Use This Simple Trick to Determine Whether an Avocado Is Ripe Inside Skills

There's a simple, foolproof way to tell whether you will discover a creamy, luscious green interior or a brown slimy mess the next time you cut open an avocado.

Dana Velden

Aug 16, 2022

5 Ways to Actually Enjoy Eating an Underripe Avocado Skills

Did a bin of firm, underripe avocados dash your hopes for a piece of avocado toast once again? I don’t mean avocados that are still rock-hard — those specimens that seem like they require a chainsaw to cut open. I’m talking about the avocados that dash your plans because they’re just a little too firm for making your favorite batch of guacamole.

Kelli Foster

Aug 16, 2022

5 Amazing Ways to Eat Hard-Boiled Eggs Skills

When it comes to egg preparation, you really can’t get more versatile than hard-boiled.

Kelli Foster

Aug 4, 2022

Cooking Oatmeal in a Rice Cooker Is a Brilliant Move. Here’s How to Do It.Skills

The rice cooker has always been one of my favorite appliances. We eat steamed rice at least once a week and usually make enough to have leftovers for fried rice. I’m perfectly capable of cooking rice on the stove, but my rice cooker has an easy-to-clean nonstick lining and can keep the rice warm for hours, making it something I can turn on right before I leave the house in the morning. But to be honest, this appliance takes up a lot of space.

Christine Gallary

Aug 1, 2022

5 Surprising Pantry Ingredients That Can Actually Help Your Plants Thrive

Tips from The Kitchn

Pour some beer into empty tuna cans!

Mike Irvine

May 27, 2022

5 Small Ways to Reorganize Your Fridge for Smarter Cooking Kitchen

If you cook regularly, your fridge probably looks a lot like mine: stuffed with ingredients for upcoming meals, leftovers from previous meals, and odds and ends from cooking (half an onion here, an almost-full container of chicken broth there). It’s not easy to keep a hardworking fridge like this clean and organized, but we have 5 simple tips for quickly reorganizing your fridge for more space, more efficient cooking, and even better eating habits.

Anjali Prasertong

May 13, 2022

5 Small, Easy Snacks from an Avocado Skills

In case you haven’t heard, avocados taste great. And whether you use them to make guacamole or the ever-popular avocado toast, they also make a great snack. Which is why, today, I want to look deeper into avocado’s bag of tricks and show you what else this fruit can do — beyond getting smashed into a creamy spread. Almost all of these bites are raw and don’t require cooking or heat (hooray!

Jessica Goldman Foung

May 12, 2022

5 Ways to Enjoy the Savory Side of Yogurt Skills

On the list of things to add to your yogurt, vegetables of any way, shape, or form are likely at the bottom of your list. Layer in fruit jam and you’ve got DIY fruit-on-the-bottom. Swirl in honey and peanut butter and you’ve practically got dessert. So why even go beyond the world of sweet mix-ins and dig into something more savory? Because it opens the door to a whole new world of snacking options.

Sheela Prakash

May 12, 2022

Another Way to Use That Above-Cabinet Space? Hang a Shelf There!Kitchen

Ah, that awkward space above the kitchen cabinets — you know the one. In the past we’ve discussed using baskets or a bit of eye-catching wallpaper to fill the void. Still uninspired? Here’s one more idea to add to the list: hang a shelf there! One of the biggest problems Danielle — who works as the senior director of communications at One Kings Lane — had with her small kitchen was (surprise, surprise) not enough storage.

Cambria Bold

May 11, 2022

Fun Fact: You Probably Have Extra Storage Space That’s Hiding in Plain Sight

Organizing Tips from The Kitchn

It's definitely going to waste right now.

Savannah West

May 11, 2022

2 Brilliant Painting Hacks You Need to Know Before You Even Think About Picking Up a Roller

Tips from The Kitchn

No more messy paint can!

Erica Finamore

May 6, 2022

An Unexpected (and Super-Smart) Way to Use a Tension Rod in Your Kitchen

Organizing Tips from The Kitchn

This whole space got organized for just $10.

Shifrah Combiths

May 5, 2022

5 Things to Add to Tonight’s Chinese Takeout Order to Make Dinner Tomorrow Faster Skills

When it’s been one of those days, sometimes the only solution is ordering Chinese takeout for dinner. And that’s OK, because scallion pancakes can make those days feel a little better. But tomorrow, you’ve promised yourself that you’ll get it together and cook dinner. How do you make that promise a little easier on yourself? Add a few extras to your takeout order tonight and lean on them tomorrow.

Sheela Prakash

May 4, 2022

The Surprising Reason Why You Should Start Keeping a Clothespin in Your Kitchen

Tips from The Kitchn

Hint: We are NOT suggesting you use it to close chip bags.

Rochelle Bilow

May 2, 2022

8 Ways to Spend Less Money at the Grocery Store, According to Budget-Minded Shoppers Groceries

Including a trick that can help you find "big pieces of salmon" for just $2.50!

Mara Weinraub

Apr 25, 2022

The Smartest Way to Use All Those Plastic Spoons You Get When You Order Takeout