A top chef's kitchen hacks to improve your home cooking
Pictured: Chef Dean Banks shares his top tips for cooking at home (Image: Supplied)
Invest in the basics
An essential in my kitchen at home is a thick wooden chopping board which lives on my counter.
You don't want to be using an awful glass one or plastic, which risks getting microplastics into your food.
It doesn't have to be wildly expensive, just get yourself down to TK Maxx, you'll likely find one for less than £15.
Another thing you should be thinking about is having at least one good-quality knife in your drawer. I like the Victorinox brand, which is quite easy to find and really versatile. You can use them for anything from veg to meat and fish.
I can cook with any sort of pot or pan in any kitchen, that doesn't bother me. It's the basic utensils for cutting and prepping that make a difference.
Set yourself up with a good board and knife, and you're pretty much good to go.
Spice it up
Quite often, when I go to visit older friends and family and take a look through their spice rack, I'll find jars that are at least 10 to 20 years old. They sit there looking nice, but no one actually touches them.
One of the most valuable things you can do to improve your cooking is to learn a little more about the spices you're using and how to get more out of them.
Smoked paprika in particular is a favourite of mine. I use it on almost everything.
Have a quick Google and find out how to put together spice mixes. Then, when you next stock up on spices, spend a quick five minutes weighing them out and combining them in a jar to sit next to your stove.
Moroccan spice, Chinese spice or jerk seasoning are all good ones to start with.
It encourages you to get more creative with your cooking. I really enjoy a wee dash of Moroccan spice on my eggs in the morning to spice things up, for example.
Keep these dairy products in the fridge
I like to keep a bit of natural yoghurt or creme fraiche in my fridge, not for eating on its own, but for using alongside my pre-prepared spices.
Rub a few spoonfuls onto chicken, lamb or beef and then the spices will stick to it much better before pan frying or roasting. Little things like that add so much flavour.
Never skip this important step
This might sound like a really obvious one, but it is so important to preheat your oven.
A lot of people will skip that step and whack their food in straight away. Even if you're cooking a cheap supermarket pizza, it will taste so much better if the oven has been allowed to get super hot first.
Pictured: Homemade vinaigrettes are an easy way to spruce up side dishes (Image: Supplied)
Fresh is best
I know it seems a lot easier to pick up a plastic bottle of pre-made salad dressing or vinaigrette from the shop as we head into BBQ season, but I promise you, making your own will make such a huge difference.
Vinaigrettes, in particular, are really easy to make. Just one part vinegar, three parts oil and then whatever your favourite herbs or seasonings are. A squeeze of mustard, some honey, whatever you like. Just stick it all into a jar and give it a shake.
Build a collection of kitchen staples
It probably sounds like it will be really expensive to invest in all of these new ingredients, but it's something you can build up slowly.
When you do your weekly shop, consider buying something new, like a nice apple cider vinegar or a new spice to experiment with.
A homemade fajita mix ends up costing about a tenth of the price and can be made exactly how you like it when you have all the right bits in. You don't have to rely on pre-made packets!
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Clean as you go
Another thing I think makes me far more productive in my home kitchen is making sure to clean as I go.
Once you're done with that lovely wooden chopping board, give it a wipe and get it back on the counter.
Finished with that bowl? Get it in the dishwasher straight away.
Especially when you're cooking for other people, a messy kitchen soon becomes really stressful.
Keep things clean and clear, stick some music on and make sure you're actually enjoying what you're doing.
Get yourself this nifty piece of kit
One of my absolute kitchen essentials is a julienne peeler, which you'll find for around £3 on Amazon.
It peels veggies on one side, and the other slices them into really thin strips that are perfect for things like coleslaw.
Cabbage, carrot, onion, courgette, it's all so much easier to prep with this wee thing.
It's also far more budget-friendly than the electric processors or chopping gadgets you see advertised on TV.
Think ahead with yellow sticker buys
Even though my wife and I like to plan ahead for a week of cooking, we're a sucker for yellow sticker deals.
If you see something in the reduced section that you think you can stretch a few meals out of, just go ahead and pick it up.
Get the slow cooker out at home and turn it into a stew that can be frozen for a rainy day.
Don't miss out on a bargain!
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