Yasmien Kurdi takes pride in being a hands-on mom at home, which she shares with her husband, pilot Rey Soldevilla, and their two daughters, Ayesha Zara, 13, and Raya Layla, 2.
Despite her busy schedule as an actress and a law student, Yasmien remains actively involved in managing their household, even taking on various chores herself.
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) via call on Monday, May 11, 2026, Yasmien opened up about her favorite household task—and it’s something she genuinely enjoys.
"Siyempre, cooking, kasi ano, favorite ko iyon. I love to cook," she said.
For Yasmien, cooking is more than just a daily routine—it’s her way of ensuring her family’s well-being.
"When it comes to food, hands-on ako dun pagdating sa food kasi iyon yung nutrition na kinakain ng family ko.
"So iyon yung pinakaimportante kasi health yun, e. So kapag hindi ka maingat sa food na ini-intake, then baka hindi rin maayos yung kinakain ng mga anak mo and family mo."
YASMIEN KURDI: SIMPLE KITCHEN HACKS
For many moms, cooking can be a challenge—especially when they’re short on time or running out of meal ideas while balancing work and home responsibilities.
With her passion and hands-on experience, Yasmien offered practical tips to help fellow working moms simplify their time in the kitchen.
TIP #1: PRIORITIZE FRESH, PERISHABLE INGREDIENTS FIRST
For her, freshness is everything when it comes to preparing meals.
"When I buy vegetables, siyempre, and, and meat, pinakauna kong lulutin, siyempre yung unang nasisira.
"For example... may binili akong malunggay or may binili akong alugbati, e, pag nilagay mo yung alugbati sa ref, usually, agad siya na nalalanta.
"So usually, inaano ko na siya agad... nilalagay ko na sa meal or ginagawa kong salad, ganun na agad. Kasi yung agad na mabubulok, yun na agad yung inuuna ko.”
TIP #2: PLAN MEALS AHEAD
When it comes to meal planning, Yasmien stressed the importance of thinking ahead and considering the family’s daily activities and nutritional needs.
She explained: "Pagdating naman sa meals, siyempre, tinitingnan ko rin yung meals namin, like for example, ano ba yung gagawin namin for the day.
"Like, kailangan ba packed meals, or kailangan ba... or pag lutong bahay, kailangan mo ba ng maraming energy?
"Minsan, ganoon din yung iniisip ko, e, pag nagluluto ako. 'O, ano ba yung activities namin for today?' So, pag kailangan, marami ka activity, kailangan meat, ganun.
"Minsan nag-i-steam na lang ako kasi gusto ko healthy. Pag fish, ganun, kesa fry.”
TIP #3: Use Air Fryers or Broilers for Healthier Cooking
These appliances require little to no oil, helping reduce calories from fat while still delivering flavorful meals.
Yasmien said she often relies on her air fryer for both convenience and health benefits.
"Air fryer minsan yung ginagawa ko para save time and at the same time, mas healthy pa. Nilalagyan ko ng konting olive oil pagdating sa mga meat, ganun."
She also recommends using a broiler as an alternative. What she appreciates most about these appliances is how they help minimize oil splatters, making clean-up easier compared to deep frying.
"Gusto ko rin yung broiler kasi yung broiler para siyang ano... yung parang naggi-grill pero at the same time, controlled yung heat tapos up and down.
"So para aliw lang din ako sa kanya. Kunyare sa fish, ganun. Ayokong makalat. Ayokong na talsik-talsik [na mantika].
"Umaabot sa floor, e. Pag naglalakad kasi ako doon sa kitchen na nakapaa, so narararamdaman ko yung lagkit kapag fried food yung niluluto ko.
"Unlike pag nakatakip siya or medyo controlled yung oil, mas less pa yung lilinisin mo."
TIP #4: One-pot meals make cooking quick and hassle-free
If there’s one kitchen hack that has helped Yasmien cut down on cooking time, it’s preparing one-pot meals.
For the busy mom, this approach makes cooking more efficient—less prep, fewer dishes to wash, and quicker clean-up.
She shared that her current go-to cookware is her Staub pot, which she swears elevates every dish she makes, bringing out richer flavors and consistently good results.
Yasmien shared: "Meron akong nahanap nitong pot na ito... actually gift na siya sa akin, yung Staub na pot.
"It's really nice kasi kapag nilagay mo doon yung chicken o kaya magluluto ka ng ng adobo, sobrang tender niya, like aliw talaga.
"Like kahit wala kang effort, hindi ka ganoon kagaling magluto or something, pag meron kang ganun klase ng pot, parang paglagay mo lahat yun [ingredients] sa loob, ang sarap."
Yasmien added, "Amazing talaga siya kasi pag nilagay ko doon yun... kunyare magluluto ako ng Afritada or ng Kare-kare or ng Kaldereta. Ang bongga talaga."
Staub pots may come with a higher price tag, but based on Yasmien’s experience, they’re a worthwhile investment.
On Shopee, these pots typically range from around PHP7,276 to PHP26,990, depending on the size.
On Abensons.com, the 24-centimeter Staub round cocotte costs PHP9,495.
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