When it comes to cooking, sometimes we love spending hours in the kitchen, and at others, we just want to get something cooked and on the table as quickly as possible. And it’s in these instances that a humble tin of baking spray can go a long way. While most of us are used to using non-stick sprays to grease baking tins, B-well’s Baking Spray is full of unlocked potential.

1. MAKE GRATING CHEESE A BREEZE

Grating a huge block of cheese for a heart-warming pasta dish or the ultimate toasted sandwich can sometimes be a challenge. Prevent clumping and snagging by spritzing some baking spray on the inside and outside of your grater before you start. This trick also means the cheese leaves very little residue, making clean-up a dream.

2. HEALTHY MEALS FOR THE KIDS

Crumbed chicken strips and fish fingers are a staple on many children’s plates. Spray home-made crumbed chicken breasts or fish fillets with a thin layer of baking spray before popping them into the oven to get that crispy crust and lovely golden colour the whole family adores. We love this trick because the spray evenly coats all the crumbs without leaving that oily taste you get from deep-fried snacks.

3. MESS-FREE MEASURING

Batch baking and cooking can often lead to large, unwanted piles of dirty measuring cups, spoons and other utensils all over the kitchen. Spraying the inside of cups of jugs with baking spray before measuring out sticky ingredients like peanut butter, syrup or honey can be a life-saver. The baking spray will make it easy for the sticky ingredients to slide right out and you won’t be left with a big mess afterwards.

4. MAKE THE PERFECT POPCORN 

Popcorn is the ideal snack, especially since winter is the perfect time of year to snuggle up and binge-watch series all weekend long! Instead of reaching for the butter or oil, spritz your popcorn kernels with some baking spray before you turn up the heat. The spray will coat each kernel perfectly and evenly, and this works amazingly in the microwave or on the stove.

5. CLEAN CHOPPING

Cutting sticky baked goods like toffee, fudge or Rice Krispie treats, or even boiled eggs can be a hassle. Even everyday ingredients like onions, garlic and ginger can stick to your knife while you’re busy. Spraying a light layer of baking spray on each side of your blade will allow your knife to glide through with ease, with nothing clinging to it unnecessarily.

6. PERFECT PASTA

Impress your guests with perfect pasta by spraying a little bit of baking spray into your cooking water. This will not only prevent the pasta from sticking together, but will also stop them from sticking to the bottom and sides of the pot, all while adding a subtle buttery flavour.

Words: Kate Turner
Photography: Unsplash

The post 6 unexpected ways B-well baking spray can make everyday cooking a breeze appeared first on MyKitchen.

A simple tin of cooking spray is something that almost all of us have in our kitchen at all times, and it is one of those miracle products that serves beyond its original non-stick purpose. From making meals healthier and cooking easier, to preventing food stains and squeaky cupboards, B-well’s cooking spray range is a pantry staple we can’t get enough of. That’s why we’re following their lead and working smarter in the kitchen with these five cooking spray hacks.

1. PREVENT YOUR FREEZER FROM FROSTING OVER – Spray some cooking spray all over your defrosted ice box and then wipe away any excess with a piece of kitchen towel so that you are left with a thin layer. This prevents ice from building up and will make your next freezer clean-out a breeze.

2. GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY, BUT STAY CLEAN – Prepping your food with your hands is all a part of the fun, especially when you’re working with dough or making patties, meatballs, falafel, fritters and more. Douse your hands with some cooking spray to prevent your mixture from coming apart and sticking to your fingers for fuss-free rolling and molding.

3. SILENCE THE SQUEAKS – Quieten any door or cupboard creaks by spraying the hinges with some cooking spray.

4. PLASTIC CONTAINERS THAT ARE CLEAR AS GLASS – There’s nothing worse than a clean lunchbox or storage container that is clean but looks dirty. Prevent food stains from rich foods like curries and tomato-based dishes by spraying your containers with cooking spray before filling them. The oil will act as a protective barrier, stopping plastic stains in their tracks! As a bonus, B-well’s cooking sprays are also microwave-friendly, helping you to minimise dishes and making meal-prep effortless.

5. TARGET SOAP SCUM AT YOUR SINK – Spray some cooking spray over any grime that has built up in and around your sink and leave to sit for five minutes. The cooking spray will help to break down the dirt, and you can easily just wipe it away.

By: Robyn Simpson
Photography: Unsplash, courtesy images

The post 5 life-changing cooking spray hacks for your kitchen appeared first on MyKitchen.

These awesome baking hacks will ensure that you never make any failed cakes, egg-shell cookies or burnt scones ever again!

1. REMOVE BROKEN EGG SHELLS

Got a pesky piece of egg shell in your mixture? Use an empty egg shell half to retrieve it. It magically acts as a magnet. Easy as that!

2. MAKE YOUR OWN ICING SUGAR

Place 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp cornflour in a blender. Blitz until it has reached a powdery consistency. Pass it through a fine sieve to remove any larger pieces. You don’t have to add cornflour, but doing so will help to prevent lumps.

3. EVEN COOKING

Bake your cake on the middle rack of the oven for the best heat circulation, resulting in an evenly baked sponge.

4. NO BUTTER?

Want to cut down on pricey butter? Swap every 1 cup butter in the recipe for a ¾ cup oil (use neutral canola for baking).

5. WHAT’S THE SCOOP?

Want all your cupcakes or muffins to be exactly the same size? Use an ice cream scoop to measure out your batter.

6. WHIP IT. WHIP IT REAL GOOD

Whenever you have to whip cream or egg whites, whip them in a jar. The confined space means that your beaters will be in contact with more of the liquid at once, making the process much swifter. Just ensure your jar is deep enough for when the peaks begin to form.

7. GO COCONUTS!

Instead of using milk or cream in your baking recipe, you can replace it with coconut milk. Just remember to use light coconut milk if the recipe uses low-fat milk, and regular coconut milk if it calls for full-cream.

8. VEGAN EGGS

Swap out eggs for flax eggs to make a recipe vegan. For every egg required, simply mix 2 tbsp ground flaxseed and 5 tsp water. Leave for 5 minutes before using.

9. PUFF-PASTRY CROISSANTS

Have croissants on the table in a jiffy with some store-bought puff pastry. Roll out the pastry and cut it into small triangles, then simply roll up and bake until puffy and golden brown. You can even spread the dough with Nutella, flavoured butter or your favourite nut butter before rolling.

10. DIY BUTTERMILK

In a bowl, combine 1 cup milk with EITHER 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice OR 1 tbsp white wine vinegar. Stir well to combine and leave to curdle before using.

Image: Pixabay

The post 10 baking hacks you never knew you needed appeared first on MyKitchen.