We love a good cooking hack , whether foolproof ways to check steak for doneness or using your air fryer for everything from grilled cheese to weeknight salmon . So, when does a potentially clever hack or safe-bet kitchen tool spill over into a crutch? When it doesn't produce results that make it worth any time or effort saved.

Suppose you're automatically reaching for the same tools, equipment or resources whenever you're in the kitchen or grocery store, without considering whether there's a better way to accomplish your desired outcome. In that case, you may have a kitchen crutch problem.

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As a culinary school grad and professional food writer, I've identi

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