Raid Your Medicine Cabinet for 3 Kitchen Helpers

A clean, unused shower cap (often found in complimentary toiletry packs in hotel rooms) makes a perfect bowl cover. It is big enough to fit most large mixing bowls and creates a more reliable seal than most plastic wraps.

The nonstick surface of most waffle irons is easy to clean, but getting in between the ridges of the iron can be a challenge. Cotton swabs are just the right size to wipe away residue in between the iron’s ridges.

Cooking almost any recipe goes much faster when the ingredients are prepped, measured, and ready—mise en place. When laying out your prepared ingredients, instead of employing more dishes (bowls, ramekins, plates, etc.) that you’ll have to clean later, organize everything in perfectly sized plastic cough-syrup cups.