Six Summer Food Hacks From The Pros  

Summer is a great time of year for food. Produce is fresh and in-season, the weather is great for outdoor dining, and there are so many opportunities to host a backyard bash. If you want to spice up your normal summer cooking routine, or are looking for a few hacks on how to make hosting your next summer barbecue a breeze, there’s no one better to ask than professional restaurant chefs. Here at O’Brien’s Bistro, we want to share some of our summer food hacks from the pros with you to help make this summer even more delicious.

Skewers On Tap

Kebabs are a great, easy weeknight meal in the summer. You can put pretty much anything on the skewers and either grill or bake them to delicious perfection. The problem is, that to go into the oven or on the grill, bamboo skewers have to be soaked for at least 30 minutes beforehand. A great hack for having skewers on hand to use at a moment’s notice this summer is to fill a reusable water bottle with water, add some skewers to it, and place the bottle in the fridge. The skewers will be good to use for up to a week and will be ready to go right when you need them. 

Grilled Unexpected Items

Burgers, hot dogs, veggies, and meat are all great to grill, but after a while, they can get a little boring. Restaurant chefs hack this boredom by grilling unique and unexpected items to add bold and exciting flavors to their dishes. Grilled peaches and plums are great in dessert or fresh salsa, grilled avocados add a smoky flavor to traditional guacamole, and you can even grill hard cheeses like paneer, queso fresco, and halloumi to crumble over salads or other dishes. 

Up Your Condiment Game 

Summer is all about the condiments. Ketchup and mustard on hot dogs, mayo on a picnic sandwich, hot sauce on anything you want a little spicy. There are endless combinations of condiments, but this summer make like the restaurant pros and make your own. Condiments like ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise are super simple to make from scratch and add a whole new layer of flavor to every meal. 

Use Frozen Fruit Instead Of Ice 

There’s nothing better than a good frozen drink during the summer. Whether at the pool or just sitting on the deck, it’s great to unwind with a frozen margarita, pina colada, or daiquiri. This summer, instead of watering your drink down with ice when you go to blend, try using frozen fruit or fill ice cube trays with fruit juice. You’ll have an equally refreshing drink that won’t get diluted as the hot sun rays melt it. 

Chill Plastic Wrap

Speaking of staying cool this summer, did you know that many restaurant professionals and caterers keep their plastic wrap in the refrigerator as opposed to at room temperature? Chilling plastic wrap keeps it from sticking to itself by removing some of the static electricity. This summer hack lets you store your food without wasting plastic wrap that gets all bunched up on itself. 

Keep Your Knives Sharp This Summer

Summer is often full of fresh produce that is just begging to be chopped up into a delicious salsa or salad. But, a dull knife could send you to the hospital instead of out on a fun summer day. Professional chefs always keep their knives sharp, and you should too even if you don’t have a fancy knife sharpener. Simply turn a plate upside down, and run your knife along the unglazed ceramic base. The friction will sharpen your knife and help you avoid kitchen accidents this summer.

This summer you need to check out O’Brien’s Bistro for our delicious menu of fresh and seasonal dishes. Call and reserve your table, or stop in for O’Brien’s new happy hour!