All the snack hacks you'll ever need

Put a hack in your snack and win some time back.

Salt and vinegar potatoes Source: Heidi Sze

There is no craving like a snack craving. All is calm and then whammo, the snack thunderclap hits you and all you can think about is food.

But not just any food. Snack cravings are veeery particular. You either want sweet or savoury. You want crunch or melt. You rarely want both.

One thing is certain, whatever you want, you want it now. This is where these legendary snack hacks come into their own. Each of them should reduce the time from craving to cramming nicely.

Ready, set, snack.

Springy pancakes

Check out those layers. Source: Camellia Aebischer

When you're craving the unique flaky-chew that is the spring onion pancake, but you can't be fussed making a dough, puff is your go-to. A little technique, plenty of spring onions and you'll be munching your way through a stack of these favourites in no time at all.

Egg rollin'

Small ingredient list, giant flavour bomb. Source: Billy Law

The secret to an easy seaweed egg roll is ensuring you distribute the oil through the pan evenly. A bit of paper towel will see you right, then it's a matter of minutes until this lunchbox staple is ready to roll.

Flashy flan

You're looking at the true definition of ugly-delicious. Source: Camellia Aebischer

Taste buds at the ready - flan is incoming. No need to wait around forever for baking/setting/resting time. You can make this version in the microwave in a mug. Gotta love a hack that delivers your snack in five minutes flat.

Vinegar crisp

When a snack makes your heart pound you know it's love. Source: Heidi Sze

Pouring vinegar on your roast potatoes results in a taste like no other, but it also results in soggy potatoes. Not cool. But what if you boiled your spuds in vinegar before roasting? Utter genius!

Chip off

If you love crunch and you love seaweed, these are your perfect chip. Source: China Squirrel

Layering spring roll wrappers with nori sheets and then deep-frying them is exactly the kind of Poh hack we've come to love. These snappy nori chips are unbelievably moreish, but luckily they are so cheap and easy you'll happily make thousands.

Biscuit rush

Peanut butter biscuit basking in the morning light. Source: Camellia Aebischer

You want to smash an entire packet of biscuits, but, alas, you were much better behaved the last time you were at the supermarket. No biscuits in stock. Fear not, snacky soul, you can rustle these three-ingredient babies up in a speedy 10 minutes.

Pasteli crack

If you love a bit of crunch, this Greek fave is for you. Source: Jeremy Simons

Getting the crunch of your pasteli just right can be tricky, but not when you hack your honey. The trick is to simmer the honey mixture long enough to strengthen the bond of the honey glue – too short a simmer and your bars will be soft, not crunchy (though still delicious).

Mayo be so bold

Ploughing your way through a bowl of crumbed chicken strips is a pastime all on its own. The way to optimise is to use mayo instead of egg to hold your crumb coating. Not only does mayo make the perfect crumb binder, but it also adds sweetness and richness to the finished snack.

Ready to take a dip. Source: Camellia Aebischer

Sweet crunch

No limp specimens here. Source: Tammi Kwok

If you've never been able to get your baked sweet potato fries crispy, hear this. You need to pre-blanche them, drain them, refresh them with cold water and then drain super well. Now they're ready to crisp up in the oven.

Ice cream cheater

Cream plus a can of caramel soothes the rabid beast. Source: Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple

Oh, the horror of craving ice cream but not having any ice cream. Sure, we're often up for a late-night dash to the shops to rectify that, but not always. With Donna Hay's two-ingredient caramel ice-cream cheat plus roughly 3-4 hours chilling time, we're, um, sorted.

Quick muse

It's like a bowl of portable cereal, with a little added sugar... Source: Camellia Aebischer

Two ingredients - two! - bake into a muesli bar that would satisfy even the most devoted Uncle Toby's fan. Considering one of the ingredients is condensed milk, you can be sure the fat-sugar ratio will be sufficiently up there.

Condensed fudge

Drool. Source: Camellia Aebischer

Buy two cans of that condensed milk, because you'll want the extra one to make this two-ingredient fudge. The best bit? No sugar thermometer needed here.

Scrap that

Crunch, colour and craving satisfaction. Source: The Art of the Natural Home

Turn leftover veggies into seedy crackers with a satisfying crunch. Could this be the ultimate snack hack?