Viral TikTok Kitchen Hacks: Worth a Try?

Find out which recent trends could be damaging to your home or health.

By: Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Social media sites like TikTok have become popular places to get inspiration for remodeling projects, but some viral trends may be bad—or even dangerous—for the home.

Take, for example, the “fridgescaping” trend, which entails decorating the inside of a refrigerator with non-traditional items, such as picture frames, mirrors, and even battery-operated fairy lights.

Many other viral kitchen trends also have been generating hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of views on TikTok. Australia-based online retailer Kogan evaluated the popularity of kitchen appliance hacks based on the number of views and determined which ones are worth trying and which ones could be damaging to your kitchen appliances.

#1 Using a countertop icemaker to make flavored ice cubes

This trend has amassed a whopping 15.7 million views via the viral #WaterTok hashtag. You use a countertop icemaker machine to create unique flavored ice cubes. View an example as this creator instructs viewers to mix their choice of flavoring with water and pour it into the water compartment of the ice maker machine before turning it on to start making the ice.

Verdict: Worth a try

“This hack is a great way to make the most out of your icemaker machine both in the day-to-day or for special occasions, such as making Christmas-themed drinks,” says Arun Shah, director of purchasing at Kogan. “While it does have its advantages, make sure that you clean out the water compartment and any removable parts thoroughly before and after use to make sure that there is no residue from leftover flavorings, as this can clog the machine, risking damage.”

#2 Using layered trays to cook multiple things at once in your air fryer

This hack involves layering air fryer trays as “shelves” for cooking multiple things at once. While you can use the tray that typically comes with an air fryer, this TikTok creator suggests buying a three-piece rack that allows you to layer different food in the air fryer and cook all at once to save time. The trend has acquired more than 10.3 million views on TikTok. View an example of the trend.

Verdict: Beware

“While this is a time-efficient hack for busy individuals or parents with fussy kids, make sure to double-check that the rack material is heat resistant and air-fryer compatible first, otherwise it can pose a major fire hazard,” Shah says. “It’s also important to be aware that while most common kitchen items, like aluminum foil and baking sheets, are suitable to use in most air fryers, avoid using items such as plastic or non-heat resistant silicone liners, porcelain bowls or plates, wax papers, and paper towels.”

#3 Using a microwave to dry out fresh herbs, extract lemon juice and peel garlic more easily

In this TikTok clip, which has gathered 2 million views so far, chef Dean Sheremet shares different ways to use a microwave to bring out the flavors in staple kitchen ingredients. The first hack involves placing any leftover fresh herbs, such as thyme or rosemary, in a microwave-safe plate with a paper towel and then microwaving it for three minutes on high. Sheremet says this will dry out the herbs and make them last longer. Next time you need to use fresh lemon juice, he suggests, placing the whole lemon in the microwave for 20 seconds to help “relax” it and you’ll be able to get more juice out. Also, for those not wanting to do the work of peeling garlic, cut the top of the whole garlic head then place it in the microwave for 20 seconds on high. Sheremet says this will make it easier to peel the skin off.

Verdict: Be cautious

“Before [trying] these hacks, familiarize yourself with all the different settings of your microwave, as these can vary depending on the model type,” Shah suggests. “While 20 seconds on high heat is an appropriate amount of time to leave a whole lemon for some, you may have to adjust the time or heat setting for yours. Otherwise, not only can this damage your gadget, it can also be a major fire hazard if left unattended.”

#4 Using a stand or hand-held food mixer to shred cooked chicken faster

The food mixer hack for shredded chicken without all the mess has been gaining interest, generating more than 300,000 views so far. This hack involves placing your cooked chicken in a medium or large bowl and using your countertop stand mixer or a hand-held electric food whisk to “shred” the chicken, saving time and effort.

Verdict: Worth a try

“A stand mixer or electric whisk is a must-have tool to have in your kitchen and makes for a great time-saving hack such as this one,” Shah says. “Utilizing different settings can also help with other cooking needs such as tenderizing meats using the lower speed.”

#6 Boil eggs or pasta using an electric kettle

This electric kettle hack has been capturing the interest of thousands of users on TikTok. For soft-boiled eggs or an al dente pasta, simply place the eggs or pasta in the electric kettle, fill it up with the desired amount of water, and start the kettle’s boiling process as normal.

Verdict: Worth a try but with caution

“This hack is a great way to utilize your electric kettle to its full potential other than for boiling water for coffee or tea,” Shah says. “But like any other kitchen appliance, always keep an eye on your gadget when in use and make sure that when using your kettle to boil pasta, the inside is cleaned thoroughly after use to prevent any remaining pasta from sticking to the bottom—which can end up getting burnt and damaging the appliance.”