When it comes to cooking, no matter the number of years you may have spent in the kitchen, it is only common to still struggle to perfect the taste of certain dishes, measure the ingredients accurately, and of course, seek hacks to make the work easier. Fortunately, there are tons of tricks that can help you improve your cooking game and make the process much easier. So, in our quest to find such tricks, we turned to Chef Sanjeev Kapoor's Instagram account, which is full of tasty recipes, mouthwatering delights, and simple yet effective cooking tips to make things super easy for you. Now, what are you waiting for, join us and take your cooking game to a whole new level. How to use a mortar and pestle According to the celebrity chef, a common mistake many people make while using a mortar and pestle is to only crush the ingredients in a pounding motion. However, he recommended using a crushing and grinding motion, along with rotating the pestle for best results. He also pointed out that many people start using a new mortar without seasoning it. "To season, simply add raw rice and sea salt. Crush it well. Throw this and wash it with some water. Use as required," he suggested. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjeev Kapoor (@sanjeevkapoor) Concurring with these hacks, Karishma Shah, an integrative nutritionist and health coach said, "You can use a mortar and pestle to grind or crush a variety of ingredients such as peppercorns, spices, herbs, rice, nuts, and other seeds." Further suggesting two ways to clean the mortar, she told indianexpress.com, "You can rinse it with hot water if you want it to smell fresh. Otherwise, you can normally wash it to preserve the taste and aroma of the ingredients and use it again to make the same mixture." Adding to this, Chef Sohail Karimi, Executive Chef, Resort and Convention Centre, Karjat said that the best technique with a mortar and pestle is to think of the pestle as a tool to grind your ingredients into the base of the mortar. "Use the pestle to scrape everything off the sides and into the middle, then gently but firmly press and rotate the pestle, twisting around the base of the mortar. A circular, rocking motion can also be helpful, especially with wet ingredients," he added. How to freeze purées "When storing purées in the freezer, fill it only ¾. As the liquid freezes, it expands. Filling it ¾th ensures that it is frozen well and doesn't come out," the chef advised. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjeev Kapoor (@sanjeevkapoor) Agreeing, Shah added that one should also not store the purées for too long in the freezer, instead it should be made fresh. "It can be stored for up to a month, beyond that it can get rotten," she added. The expert also shared other methods of storing purées in the freezer. "People can make ice cubes of the purée and store it inside the freezer. On the other hand, you can put it in ziplock bag or container and keep it in the fridge." On similar lines, Chef Karimi noted that when freezing large quantities, use the 'fast-freeze' setting if the appliance has one. "Pack and seal items in gusseted bags before freezing to avoid moisture or cold air coming into contact with the food or cross-flavouring occurring," he said. How to use leftover chilli seeds Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shared that one can use leftover chilli seeds to grow their own chilli plant. "Sow them in soil and let it grow. Water it regularly. In a few months, you will have a chilli plant," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjeev Kapoor (@sanjeevkapoor) Similarly, Shah said that leftover chilli seeds can also be grinded and crushed to make a chilli flake powder, which can be used as seasoning on other dishes. Chef Karimi further suggested to use chilli seeds for composting. "Chili seeds are organic and can be added to your compost pile or bin. Composting is a natural process that converts organic waste into nutrient-rich soil. The seeds will break down over time and contribute to the compost's fertility." 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
