
Hands are useful for a great many things, especially in the kitchen. But they can also make a warm and sticky mess of a dish. Whether you're piping frosting or working with dough, the heat from your hands will come into play and warm and/or melt temperature-sensitive foods.
Working quickly helps, but the last thing you want to do is rush your prep in a panic. Another, easier solution: Keep something cold nearby, so that you can regulate the temperature of your hands.
Figure out what space you have free in your freezer, and find a tool in your kitchen (able to withstand cold temperatures) that can be slipped in and chilled. Pull it out when you're ready to get to work, and grasp the object now and then to keep the temperature of your hands down.
A small, dry baking pan will work well, or you can even freeze a bottle of water. If choosing the latter, just make sure to wrap it in something so that the condensation doesn't wet your hands and slow your work.











