For cobbler with a remarkably crackly, crunchy topping, scatter a dusting of sugar over the batter, then pour half a cup of hot water over the top before baking. The sugar and water bake into a crisp, shiny, crackly top layer, firm enough to smack a spoon against without breaking but that shatters easily when you plunge a utensil in.

This is the easiest way to make a rich-tasting soup without any extra effort. Save your Parmesan rinds in an air-tight bag in the fridge. When you make soup, toss a whole rind into the pot with the broth. It’s easy to fish out later and infuses the broth with incredible flavor.

The easiest and safest method is to stick the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. If you see many bubbles form around the wood and they start to float up, your oil is ready for frying. If it is bubbling hard, the oil is too hot; let it cool a bit and check the temperature again.

Make your pancake as crispy as a waffle by returning cooked pancakes to the pan—along with a generous drizzle of maple syrup. Working in batches, return the cooked pancakes to the hot skillet, and then pour maple syrup over them, however much you’d typically use at the table. The syrup will bubble and thicken slightly and cling to the crispy edges of the pancakes like a candy coating.

Next time you oversalt a soup, toss in a few wedges of raw apple or potato. Simmer for 10 minutes and discard the wedges to get the flavor back to normal.

Next time you need fresh lemon juice, try this restaurant tip. Microwave a lemon for 7-10 seconds. Then, roll the lemon back and forth under your palm on the counter. When you squeeze, you’ll get more juice from the lemon with way less effort. Try it with limes, too!

Forget cubes. Tearing tofu into rough, craggy pieces will increase the surface area and allow you to get tons of crispy-textured bits.

The best move to revive stale bread is to get your oven hot and run the bottom side of your loaf under the faucet. In the oven, the water will turn to steam and re-crisp the bread’s outer crust. It’s pretty miraculous.