Want to keep eggs from spreading out when you poach them? Just add a little vinegar or lemon juice to the water you're cooking them in. The acid in the juice or vinegar helps the protein in the eggs to coagulate, which means they'll keep a tidy, rounded shape as they cook.

Always cook fresh asparagus within three days of purchasing it. Asparagus doesn't keep very well at all. It's best to refrigerate the spears standing upright in a container of water; if you snip off the base first, they'll last much longer. You can also wrap the bases of the spears with a damp towel.

Lentils make a good option for any adventurous cook; they're a little unusual, but easy to fix. You should be able to find dry lentils in most markets. Treat them like beans. It takes two pounds to make a gallon of soup; dry volume is about 2.5 cups per pound.