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A stack of pancakes next to baking soda and vinegar.
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This time of the year — more so than much of the rest — can inspire folks of all culinary backgrounds to either skillfully or perhaps bullishly, naively try their hands at cooking various dishes for family and friends. Sometimes, these cooking attempts can result in completely unanticipated works of food art. Other times, you might end up with a dish that both looks inedible and really shouldn’t be consumed as a matter of safety in the first place. 

Fortunately, a recent AskReddit thread has provided us with a solid and quick yet highly effective list of invaluable cooking secrets. 

1. Try Some Lime To Turn Up The Flavor Profile

Citrus lime fruit isolated on white background cutout
Natikka/istockphoto

You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself throwing in sizable amounts of salt in a dish that seems to be lacking flavor. Well, it turns out that a bit of lime juice can accomplish the same thing. 

2. MSG Is The Way

Heap of monosodium glutamate on wooden spoon and dark background with text MSG
panida wijitpanya/istockphoto

MSG, in spite of its rather nefarious reputation for being unhealthy, is incredibly effective at adding/enhancing the flavor of a dish that seems unable to overcome its blandness. Still not sure if it’s worth it? We’ve got the goods on everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

3. The Tollhouse Cookie Recipe Is Actually Legit

Cookie, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Homemade, Food and drink,Caramel, Cut Out, Biting, Chocolate, Cake
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Sometimes, the real treasures hide in plain sight. For instance, if you’ve ever had a friend who consistently seems able to provide an unreal level of tasty chocolate chip cookies, don’t count out the possibility that they could just be using the recipe that’s literally provided by Tollhouse, aka Nestle. 

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4. Soak Your Salad Vegetables In Cold Water

plate of Salad isolated on white
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OK, we didn’t necessarily see this one coming. Apparently, the key to making a crisp and fresh salad is to soak your veggies in cold water for around 10 minutes. Give it a shot, and let the magic unfold. 

5. Use Carbonated Water For Fluffier Pancakes

Macro closeup side view of stack of buttermilk pancakes on plate as traditional breakfast brunch dessert
ablokhin/istockphoto

Just when you didn’t think that things could get any stranger when it comes to unforeseen cooking hacks, there’s this tip. Apparently, carbonated water is a surefire level up your pancake feast to include extra fluffy pancakes. 

6. Add A Little Nutmeg To Asparagus

Bunch of cooked asparagus on the white plate
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You wouldn’t necessarily assume that nutmeg and asparagus would complement each other, but here we are. Sometimes, it’s the most unexpected spice-and-food pairings that can leave folks pleasantly mystified. 

Next Up: 15 Spices and Spice Blends That Will Make Almost Any Meal Better

Meet the Writer

Matt has spent the last 8 or so odd years as both a writer and editor in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally rabid, pigeons. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a book and/or some friends, or just easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.