Béchamel sauce will be perfect with 1 added ingredient

Béchamel sauce is a cooking staple for many, as a versatile element in a number of popular dishes. It is a foundation for meals including lasagne, moussaka and macaroni cheese, while it can also be used to create variations such as Mornay sauce or soubise.

However, one secret ingredient has been revealed to be a game-changer when it comes to making this common recipe. Reddit user Frannie97 revealed they use mustard power to béchamel and cheese sauces to keep them from breaking, because mustard is an emulsifier, something that helps mix two substances which might otherwise separate.

The same user also advised using Dijon mustard in vinaigrettes to keep them from separating, a simple kitchen hack which could save a lot of stress. These secrets were shared as part of a forum that asked users which cookery "add-in" had been a game-changer in their lives. One user said their go-to for any dish that "feels like it needs something" is a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar to cut the sweetness and add some depth.

This hack includes desserts, which can be rich in flavour.

Other tips included using coffee in chocolate cake or brownies to emphasise the cocoa flavour and using herbs de Provence in hash browns.

This mixture combines a number of dried herbs typical of the Provence region in southeastern France, including thyme, basil, rosemary, oregano and others.

For more sweet fixes, users recommended adding tahini to chocolate chips cookies for a popular batch and including cardamom in cinnamon rolls to cut the sweetness slightly.

In the savoury sector, another user recommended mixing a dollop of cottage cheese with scrambled eggs before cooking, to enhance creaminess and create a smooth serving.

Sumac was also suggested as a useful add-in for dry rubs on smoked meats, because its "citrusy tang" balances other flavours without introducing any liquid which could disrupt the cooking process.

A classic add-in is MSG, which another user suggested adding to soups and sauces for some "secret oomph".

MSG, short for monosodium glutamate, is a type of salt which delivers the sought after cooking taste of "umami", a "meaty" flavour seen as an addition to the four basic tastes of sweet, salty, sour and bitter.

Meanwhile, another cooking whizz suggested adding a little curry powder to creamy sauces for extra depth.

One add-in hailed as a "universal secret ingredient" was fish sauce, which was described by one user as something to make guests think: "There's something in here that's special, but I can't put my finger on what it is."

Another generally "underrated" ingredient was nutmeg, which was recommended as a "great ingredient for cream sauces".

This ingredient is a rich source of antioxidants and can help protect against the signs of ageing and serious conditions such as heart disease.