5 Common Kitchen Tools You Can Use To Make Restaurant-Quality Cocktails At Home
On Fridays, as soon as the clock hits 5, most of us start wrapping things up and thinking about just one thing: unwinding with our friends at home over a good drink. It's a simple joy, right? But let's face it, not everyone has a fully stocked bar waiting at home. Maybe you've just moved into a new place, you're on vacation, or you've only just started building your home bar setup. That's when the struggle begins. You want a nice cocktail, but the tools just aren't there. The good news? You really don't need anything fancy to make a great drink. With a little bit of creativity and classic Indian jugaad, you can make cocktails that taste just as good, if not better, than the ones you get outside. So if you've been holding back because of missing tools, here's something that will help. These five simple tricks will show you how to use basic kitchen items to create amazing cocktails right at home.
Here Are 5 Quick Ways To Make Restaurant-Quality Drinks Without Any Fancy Tools
1. Shake It Up In A Regular Jar
No cocktail shaker? Not a problem! A regular glass jar with a tight-fitting lid works equally fine and is a great substitute. Just add your ingredients and ice, secure the lid, and shake like there is no tomorrow. The jar's transparency allows you to watch the mixing and sturdiness makes it durable. When pouring, you can use the jar's lid to strain out ice or other ingredients, which will give you the feeling of a cocktail shaker. This method is perfect for cocktails like margaritas or daiquiris, where mixing properly is the key.
2. Mix With Everyday Utensils
For cocktails that require stirring rather than shaking, like Negronis or Manhattans, a long spoon, chopstick or even a butter knife would do the trick. The goal is to gently combine the ingredients and chill the drink without over-diluting. Just add your ingredients to a glass filled with ice or mix smoothly for 30 seconds. This technique makes sure you have a well-mixed cocktail with the right balance of flavours.
3. Muddle With Whatever You Have
Muddling releases the essential oils and juices from herbs and fruits, which ultimately enhances the flavour of the cocktail. If you don't have a traditional muddler, the handle of a wooden spoon or a rolling pin works just fine. Gently press and twist the tool over ingredients like mint leaves or citrus fruit slices to extract the essence. Just be careful not to over-muddle, especially with herbs, to avoid bitterness. This simple technique is important for drinks like mojitos, which brings out their signature taste.
4. Measure Using Kitchen Tools
We all know how accurate measurements are important for fab cocktails. If you don't have a jigger, use your common spoons and cups as alternatives. For example, one tablespoon equals 15 ml. This allows you to measure spirits and mixers effectively. Knowing the measurements and the correct ratios makes sure you get the drink you desire. This is particularly useful when you are following new recipes and mixes.
5. Strain Using Kitchen Items
Straining makes the liquid separate from solids, which gives you a smoother drinking experience. If you don't have a cocktail strainer, you can use a sieve, a tea strainer, or even the lid of your jar to do the deed. These tools help filter out the fruit pulp, ice cubes, or even small herb leftovers. Pro tip: if you want an even finer strain, use a coffee filter or a muslin cloth. This will literally give you a clean, smooth and delicious cocktail that's also super presentable!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Yashasvi Jaiswal credits Shubman Gill after maiden Test ton in England: 'I love it'
Air India Crash: Miracle Survivor Vishwas Kumar Ramesh Discharged, to Perform Brother's Last Rites Air India crash survivor Viswas Kumar Ramesh has been discharged from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and is heading home to perform the last rites of his younger brother, who perished in the April 12 crash. Ramesh, the only survivor among 242 passengers on the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was flung out of the aircraft after it broke apart mid-takeoff. His seat, 11A, detached and landed near ground level, sparing him the deadly fireball. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, called his survival a miracle and expressed disbelief at how he made it out alive. A viral video earlier showed him emerging from the BJ Medical campus minutes after the crash. Ramesh is now returning home not to celebrate life, but to bid farewell to his brother. PM Modi and HM Amit Shah had visited him during his recovery. As he prepares for the cremation, his story remains a powerful symbol of resilience in the face of overwhelming tragedy.#AirIndiaCrash #ViswashkumarRamesh #Boeing787Crash #MiracleSurvivor #BJMedicalTragedy #IndiaUK #ModiAhmedabadVisit #AviationDisaster #CrashSurvivorStory #PlaneCrashIndia #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 32.7K views | 2 days ago
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
Stage set for world to celebrate International Day of Yoga
(Image courtesy: X/@IndianEmbTokyo) New Delhi: Several countries across the globe organised Yoga sessions on Friday, marking the one-day countdown to the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY). The Embassy of India in Nepal, in association with Lumbini Development Trust, organised a large-scale Yoga demonstration at Lumbini – the revered birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, highlighted that Yoga, an ancient practice with its origins in India, has grown into a global movement, particularly following the United Nations' declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. He remarked that Lumbini, widely regarded as a symbol of peace and harmony, provides a truly fitting setting to celebrate the timeless values of Yoga. The occasion was a part of a series of events being conducted by the Embassy of India to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga across various cities in Nepal. In Thailand, students of St. Andrews International School engaged in a yoga session highlighting the spirit of Yoga for 'One Earth, One Health'. 'Reflecting the spirit of Yoga for One Earth One Health, students of St. Andrews International School, Thailand, participated in an energizing yoga session organised by Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Bangkok,' Indian Embassy in Bangkok posted on X. In Austria, the celebration of IDY by the Indian Embassy in Vienna in partnership with Stadt Wien was featured prominently by ORF, Austria's national broadcasting service in its morning show 'Guten Morgen Österreich'. In Saudi Arabia, students from International Indian Schools in Taif and Jubail cities participated in a Yoga session embodying harmony, wellness, and togetherness. 'In celebration of International Day of Yoga, students from International Indian Schools in Taif and Jubail cities organised an energising Yoga session. Their vibrant spirit embodied the harmony, wellness, and togetherness that Yoga brings to our lives,' the Indian Embassy in Riyadh posted on X. On the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai organised a well-attended IDY workshop and symposium for participants. In Japan, the 11th IDY countdown was celebrated at the Osaka Expo 2025. 'Ambassador of India to Japan Sibi George and Vice Governor of Osaka Prefecture Shigeki Watanabe inaugurated the celebrations and joined the collective yoga session alongside thousands of yoga enthusiasts,' the Indian Embassy in Tokyo posted on X. Marking one day countdown to IDY, the High Commission of India in Kenya organised a special yoga session at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi, for the Foreign Affairs officials in Kenya, as part of their Annual Staff Wellness Day. Focusing on the holistic health benefits of yoga, the session received an enthusiastic response and saw participation from over 300 officials. In his 'Mann ki Baat' address on March 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised the importance of fitness in daily life and praised initiatives like the International Yoga Day. While sharing India's vision for a healthier world population, PM Modi mentioned the theme of IDY 2025 as 'Yoga for One Earth One Health', which ensures holistic health for the whole world. The 2025 theme highlights Yoga's role in promoting physical, mental, and environmental well-being, aligning with global calls for sustainability and unity. It builds on a decade of success since the United Nations recognised June 21 as International Day of Yoga, following India's proposal in 2014.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Internalise quality while expanding higher education sector: Ved Prakash Mishra
: While India progresses towards its 2035 goal of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, achieving it would still leave 50% of those eligible for higher education out of the system. This means that the current rate of expansion of higher education institutions in the country is not able to match up to the massive requirement, says Ved Prakash Mishra, Pro-Chancellor, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha, Maharashtra. He was speaking at the inaugural of an international conference on Accreditation, Ranking, and Quality, organised by Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research in Chennai. Dr. Mishra outlined the dichotomy that although no other country was able to match the proliferation of higher education institutions as witnessed in India, it could 'cater to only one-fourth of the numerical requirement of the eligible targeted population', with the present GER nationally being 26.8%. That wasn't the only problem. In the context of 'quantified development and rapidity of multiplication, quality cannot be put to sacrifice', he said, adding that accreditation was an important aspect in that context, and ranking of higher education institutions in India, using global metrics, should be a consequence of the gradation system. In the top 500 institutions ranked globally, India has not been able to cut a mark and, therefore, global standards should be the benchmark to be incorporated and built into the operational system for quality centricity in higher education. Linking accreditation and quality certifying mechanisms will ensure that Indian graduates and post-graduates are globally relevant. In India, there were isolated patches or islands of quality centricity. While there were extraordinary quality centric institutions, there also were a bulk of mediocre and sub-mediocre institutions, and they were important for the cause of higher education. Mainstreaming quality in these institutions will require capacity building at a national level. Uma Sekar, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, said the two-day conference was being organised to decode the accreditation and ranking system, and navigate through the system to help achieve higher ranks. H. Thamizhchelvan, Dean, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, and K. Anbarasi, Professor, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, spoke.
