7 Kitchen Shortcuts Chefs Swear By (But Never Tell You)

Professional chefs might seem like kitchen wizards, but even they have clever tricks up their sleeves to save time and effort. From prep hacks to store-bought cheats, here are seven kitchen shortcuts chefs rely on behind the scenes—without ever admitting it.

1. Pre-Chopped Garlic

Chefs love fresh ingredients, but when it comes to garlic, many secretly keep a jar of pre-chopped garlic in oil in their fridge. It saves precious prep time and works great in sautés, marinades, and sauces. Just don’t tell your foodie friends—this one’s a serious time-saver in disguise.

2. Frozen Herbs

No more chopping tiny leaves—many chefs swear by frozen herb cubes or pre-chopped herbs stored in the freezer. These little flavor bombs are perfect for tossing into soups, stews, and sauces. They taste fresher than dried herbs and take seconds to use. Convenience and flavor? Yes, please.

3. Instant Stock or Bouillon

Making stock from scratch is ideal, but it’s time-consuming. Many pros reach for high-quality bouillon bases or concentrated stock pastes in a pinch. These deliver rich, complex flavor with zero simmering. Just dissolve in hot water and you’re good to go—perfect for risottos, gravies, or soups on the fly.

4. Mandolines and Kitchen Shears

Chefs are knife experts, but they also love tools that speed things up. A mandoline makes slicing veggies lightning fast and perfectly uniform. Kitchen shears are their go-to for trimming herbs, cutting poultry, and even slicing pizza. These tools do the work faster—and often safer—than a blade alone.

5. Rotisserie Chicken

It’s no secret some of the best restaurant chicken salads and soups start with store-bought rotisserie birds. They’re juicy, flavorful, and endlessly versatile. Shred one up for tacos, pasta, or grain bowls. Even chefs admit that the time saved on roasting and seasoning is worth every penny.

6. Freezer-Ready Meal Starters

Chefs often prep batches of ingredients—like caramelized onions or roasted garlic—and freeze them in portions for later use. This shortcut adds deep, complex flavor to meals without starting from scratch every time. A tablespoon here and there can transform an ordinary dish into something rich and restaurant-worthy.

7. Sheet Pan Everything

Even in restaurant kitchens, sheet pans are gold. They let you roast, bake, and broil with minimal cleanup. Chefs use them for roasting batches of vegetables, cooking proteins, and even prepping desserts. Line with parchment or foil, toss everything on, and let the oven do the magic.

The Secret’s Out

Turns out, the pros cut corners too—but in smart, flavor-packed ways. With these clever kitchen hacks, you’ll save time and stress without sacrificing taste. Keep them in your back pocket, and you’ll cook like a chef… just without all the pressure.