Hey Chefs,

Let me share a little kitchen hack I picked up during week one of culinary school. And no, don’t ask how I learned this. Was it from personal experience? Maybe. Probably not. I’m incredibly accident-averse, obviously. (Okay, maybe there was one tiny incident. But we’re not here to talk about that.)

Here’s the trick: distilled white vinegar.

If you burn yourself while cooking—or really, doing anything—distilled white vinegar works absolute wonders at taking the sting out. I don’t know the science behind it (yet!), but I can tell you it feels like sweet, tangy relief.

Now, let’s be clear: this is not a treatment. Vinegar won’t heal the burn or prevent any damage—it’s just fantastic at dulling that immediate, awful sting. So once you’ve splashed a bit on the burn and sighed with relief, make sure you still wash the area and treat it like you would any other minor burn (cool water, burn cream, bandage, the whole deal).

But wow—vinegar. Who knew?

Now go forth and sear bravely, armed with this weirdly wonderful tip.

Stay safe (and sting-free),

Brennah