14 Old-School Cooking "Hacks" That Are Totally Useless Today

While traditional cooking methods are often cherished, not all old-school tips stand the test of time. Just like food trends, certain techniques that were once considered essential have become outdated—or even downright useless. Whether it's rinsing raw chicken, searing meat to "lock in juices," or other once-popular habits, some cooking advice is best left in the past. Here are 14 old-school cooking tips that no longer hold up and what you should do instead.

Storing Coffee In The Freezer For Freshness

Freezer storage was believed to preserve the freshness and flavor of coffee beans or grounds for longer periods. However, freezer storage can introduce moisture to coffee, leading to potential freezer burn.

Boiling Vegetables For An Extended Time

Many older recipes often instructed cooks to boil vegetables until they were extremely soft. But today, we know that overcooking vegetables can lead to nutrient loss and a less appealing texture. Instead, try steaming them or a quick sautee to retain nutrients and crunch.

Using Toothpicks To Secure Bacon Wraps

Securing bacon-wrapped dishes with toothpicks to hold the bacon in place during cooking can be dangerous, especially if they break or splinter during cooking and end up in the food. Modern kitchen tools like twine or silicone bands offer safer and more effective alternatives.

Using The Butter Wrapper To Grease The Pan

Many home cooks used to save butter wrappers to grease baking pans. The idea was that the residual butter on the wrapper would provide a thin layer of grease to prevent baked goods from sticking to the pan. But butter wrappers often don't contain enough butter to coat the entire pan evenly.

Using Newspaper To Absorb Excess Oil From Fried Foods

Place freshly fried foods in newspapers to absorb excess oil and prevent them from becoming greasy. Newspaper ink can contain harmful chemicals that may transfer to food, posing health risks. The porous newspaper can also lead to ink smudging and a messy eating experience.

Using Metal Utensils With Nonstick Cookware

Using metal spatulas, spoons, or tongs with nonstick pans was common for cooking convenience. However, when scratched with metal utensils, nonstick coatings can easily wear off, leading to decreased nonstick performance and even flakes of nonstick coating in food.

Using Vinegar To Revive Wilting Vegetables

Soaking wilted vegetables in vinegar-infused water to revive their freshness and crispness. While vinegar can slightly revitalize some vegetables, it can alter their flavor and texture, especially delicate greens like lettuce or herbs.

Using Wooden Cutting Boards For Raw Meat

Wooden cutting boards were commonly used for raw meat due to their perceived natural antibacterial properties. While wood does have some natural antimicrobial properties, it can harbor bacteria if not cleaned and sanitized properly.

Using Metal Spoons To Keep Champagne Bubbly

Placing a metal spoon inside an open bottle of Champagne to preserve its carbonation is an old trick. This trick was believed to help maintain the effervescence of Champagne by capturing escaping bubbles. However, the impact of a spoon is negligible in retaining carbonation.

Putting Bread In A Cookie Jar To Keep Cookies Soft

Placing a slice of bread in a cookie jar alongside homemade cookies was thought to keep them soft and fresh for longer periods. While the bread can introduce moisture to the jar, it can also make cookies soggy over time, especially if the jar isn't airtight.

Boiling Chicken To Make It Tender

Boiling chicken before cooking was believed to make the meat more tender and easier to shred. But boiling the chicken can lead to flavor loss and a dry, rubbery texture, especially if it's overcooked. Try using a slow cooking method like baking instead.

Using Water To Put Out Grease Fires

Using water to extinguish grease fires in the kitchen was once common. However, water can cause grease fires to spread rapidly and become more dangerous because it can cause the hot grease to splatter and ignite surrounding surfaces.

Using a Wooden Spoon to Bake

Almost every baking recipe asks you to scrape down the sides of your mixing bowl or fold ingredients together. While people used to do this with a wooden spoon, it is just not very effective. Rubber spatulas are the more modern tool that everyone should use. They are more effective and also made of materials that are more sanitary than a wooden spoon.

Make Eggs Runny

Ages ago, people would undercook eggs and enjoy a wet, juicy meal without a care in the world. Now, there is salmonella to worry about. With so many egg-related illnesses caused by undercooking eggs, everyone should cook eggs completely, leaving no runny, wet stuff behind! Better to enjoy fully cooked eggs than get sick!