I don't know about you, but New Year's resolutions stress me out and I always end up giving up on them. So this year, I'm only picking low-key, super doable goals.
If you're like me and you're looking for really easy, small kitchen habits that actually can have a big payoff, here are a few ideas on things to adopt. These can take your kitchen game to the next level without much effort in 2021.
1. Stop throwing away food scraps.

2. Save this cheat sheet to quickly upgrade chicken — or any other protein.

3. Clean as you go.
4. Salt your food throughout the cooking process, not just at the end.

5. Make your own pickled vegetables.
6. Transfer bagged foods into glass jars for better aesthetics, organization, and a potentially longer shelf life.

7. Meal-prep ingredients for the week over the weekend.

8. Invest in a good knife.

9. And keep that knife sharp.
10. For more flavorful baked chicken breasts, brine them for 15 minutes before tossing them in the oven.

11. To prevent rice from getting gloopy, rinse it before cooking.
12. Don't just plan your meals — plan your leftovers, too.

13. Add acid to your dishes for more flavor.

14. Invest in a food scale.

15. Learn how to store your herbs so they don't go bad as quickly.

16. Toast nuts and seeds before using them to maximize their flavor.

17. Always deglaze your pan.
18. For the easiest meal prep, save this cheat sheet for roasting veggies.
19. Read the whole recipe before you start cooking.
