16 Things To Save Your Sanity In The Kitchen

The kitchen can be a hectic place. Things heating up, thawing out, boiling over and I don't even know what else. Sometimes we just need some help figuring everything out and getting things in order. Well not everything needs to be as complex as it first seems, and these tips are proof of that. Use these tips to help you get a handle on your kitchen once again and become the master you were meant to be!

Know any other kitchen-master techniques? Share them with us in the comments!

1. If your butter is cold and stiff, using a grater will save you time as it melts faster and spreads easier.

Just remember to do it when it's just cold enough to be solid, not frozen.

2. Is your soup too salty? You can either add more water or cooking stock, but if that's not an option, you can always add noodles or rice – they'll help absorb and distribute the flavor evenly.

The soup can be saved!

3. The secret to reviving too-dry cookie dough is moistening it up – but not with water. Spread it out on parchment paper, coat it with a teaspoon of cooking oil, and knead it in. Add more oil as necessary until it's pliable and soft, then refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking normally.

I don't really "knead" cookies, but I want them. Unless it's a bad day, then I need them.

4. If you've made the mistake of overcooking your meats, don't fret! You can shred them to make tacos, chicken salad, or even stir fries. You can also soak the beef in marinade overnight for use in wraps.

Never give up on those tasty proteins!

5. For those who need a glass of wine to also deal with the kitchen madness, frozen grapes do wonders to chill your wine without watering it down.

Not only that, but then you have a nice little snack for when you finish your glass!

6. Hate getting ice crystals in your ice cream? Apply a layer of plastic wrap to the container, push it down against the surface of the ice cream, then put the lid on. This prevents the ice crystals from forming.

So you no longer have to scream about the ice crystals – just scream for ice cream!

7. Place a wet paper towel or damp hand towel under your cutting boards to help keep them from sliding around.

Not only is it less frustrating, but the last thing you need is to slip around while slicing things up.

8. Easily peel garlic bulbs by smashing them and shaking the skin away from the good bits... Just make sure to have some gum to freshen your breath after eating it.

A clove a day keeps the vampire away!

9. That dastardly piece of eggshell that fell in is avoiding you? Don't track it with your fingers, use the other half of the eggshell to help scoop it out.

Otherwise it's like trying to catch a rolling football.

10. Get the most out of your lobster by using a rolling pin to get the last bits out of the legs by rolling over the leg from the tip, but without completely rolling over the last bit so as to not break off shell into the meat.

Much like eggshell, lobster shell is something you don't want in your food.

11. Reheat your pasta in a donut shape to help it heat up evenly, because no one deserves to have that cold spot in the middle while the rest is piping hot.

Unsurprisingly, this will not work for soups.

12. Even if the batch of cookies you made is super-crumbly, they can still be as useful as they are delicious. You can use those crumbly bits to make a superb pie crust for your favorite desserts by processing them with a liquid sweetener like honey and oil to help bind it.

Because who doesn't appreciate a good, homemade pie crust?

13. You know what always bothered me? How the ends of freezies were always messed up and weird. You know what never occurred to me? Freezing them upright to avoid this problem entirely.

Now if only we could so easily solve the problem of those razor sharp plastic parts on the sides hurting our mouths.

14. Speaking of freezing things, you can freeze your leftover sauces for use in future dishes. It shortens prep time and prevents waste – what's not to love?

Yet another reason why pasta will always be one of the best and simplest "live on your own" recipes.

15. Overcooking your veggies isn't the end of a healthy meal – you can puree them and make a tasty vegetable soup. Just add water, spices, some salt, and whatever else you need to flavor and simmer it on the stove. Saved from disaster!

This tip is really soup-er!

16. For soft foods like cake or softer cheeses, don't get frustrated by trying to cut it and mauling it, instead get even and use unscented dental floss to cut them.

Or use scented – I mean, it could get interesting if you do.

Have any kitchen tricks to wow others with? Let us know in the comments!