Seven Smart Kitchen Tricks for Faster, Easier Cooking

Gather herbs into a bundle and roll a pizza cutter's wheel back and forth over them until they reach the consistency you want.

Trim the stems of herbs like parsley and cilantro, stand them in a small glass of water, and loosely cover with a plastic bag secured with a knot or twine. Stored in the fridge or on the counter, they can stay vibrant for up to two weeks.

Toss leftover chicken into a stand mixer and use the paddle attachment to shred it in a fraction of the time it takes by hand.

Repurpose a butter wrapper as a cover over a microwave-safe dish to prevent splatters while melting.

Use cupcake liners inside a lunchbox to create separate sections so foods like crackers and fruit don't touch.

Place eggs in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes if a recipe calls for room-temperature eggs and there's no time to wait.

Cut one end of a potato flat for stability, then use an apple slicer to create even wedge-cut fries, seasoning to taste.