If you’ve spent any time browsing The Latch, you’d know that we really do love us a good hack — especially when it comes to food. From avocadoes to wraps, from cereal to…washing your fruit and veg in the dishwasher? Anything to make our lie that little bit easier.
That’s why we’ve decided to put together this handy little list of how to keep your veggies their best — or for some, how to make slicing up your vegetables just a wee bit easier (red capsicum, we’re looking at you).
Veggie Hack #1: Always roast your frozen veggies
It’s a simple one, but it really will make the most out of your frozen veggies. Instead of thawing, steaming, frying or blanching (all foolproof ways to end up with a mouthful of soggy vegetables), just roast them.
This tip is also professional chef and certified nutritionist-approved. Serena Poon, talking to Well+Good, said you don’t even need to thaw them. “Just place them on a baking sheet, drizzle with oil — I prefer avocado oil — and Himalayan sea salt, and roast for about 15 to 30 minutes, until crispy and brown.”
For a little extra flavour, make sure to add garlic and fresh herbs.
Veggie Hack #2: Give your wilted broccoli a drink of water
Actually, this one isn’t limited to just broccoli. It can also work for carrots, lettuce, celery, cauliflower, radishes, according to the comment section of this TikTok.
Essentially, any vegetable of yours that is looking a little sad, limp, or wilted — just chop a bit of the stalk off, place it in a glass of cold water, and put it back in the fridge. The creator of the TikTok, Alesha Ruddenklau, left hers overnight, but according to other users, your veggies may only need an hour or two.
Time to apologise to the many a sad vegetables I’ve thrown away.
Veggie Hack #3: A new way to chop your capsicum
Whether you call them peppers or capsicum (the former just rolls off the tongue so much more easily), we bet you’ve spent a while trying to chop them up bit by bit.
Well, one TikTok user, Chrissy Waters has sliced that time in half — pun intended. It turns out all you need to do is chop the top and the bottom, make two slits in the side and roll it out along with your knife.
Confused? Give the video a watch and it’ll make perfect sense. You’ll never cut them the same way again.
Veggie Hack #4: Run an onion under cold water
Are you an onion crier? Most of us are, thanks to the sulphur compounds. One way to get rid of the dreaded onion tears is by cutting an onion in half and then running it under cold water. That’s according to one TikTok user, Theresa DeCosta, who says it’ll prevent your eyes from watering.