19
votes
Accepted
How to open a bag of rice sealed with string
There is a "right" and a "wrong" side to start. Note that the seam is typically made with one string, which is exactly the reason it's so easy to unravel.
Look at the side with the loops. You'll ...
- 3,377
13
votes
What is an easy way to drain a can of tuna?
I discovered a great way to press out the water or oil from a can of tuna using only the can and a cup.
Start by opening the lid with an old style can opener. (Sadly a safety can opener will not work ...
- 331
11
votes
How to share food fairly with three people?
Have the first person cut off an estimated 1/3, the second person divides the remainder in half, and the third person get first pick, then the second person get second pick.
If the first makes the "1/...
- 6,128
10
votes
Accepted
Induction based fry pan not working on induction cooktop
The actual induction heating process will work with any conductive material -- steel, aluminum, copper, even gold (even salted water in a glass pot). Your issue appears to be because the cooktop is ...
- 9,832
10
votes
Accepted
How to avoid food spill/stain on bedsheet?
Get a sturdy tray with a rim.
I would recommend a model that can be cleaned easily (e.g. plastic) and is rather sturdy, so that it doesn’t warp or bend when it’s lifted up or set on the bed. That ...
- 3,377
9
votes
Keeping the spoon on the surface of a sucralose container
Pour the Splenda into a bowl (temporarily).
Put a tall glass inside the now-empty cereal box.
Put the spoon in the glass.
Pour the Splenda back into the cereal box, around the glass.
Now you have a ...
- 11.6k
9
votes
Accepted
How to break an egg without making noise?
Mask the sudden crack of the eggshell behind other, gentler noises. For example, you could gradually turn on the water in the sink, slowly increase the stream until it's a loud (but gentle) hiss, and ...
- 11.6k
8
votes
Which style of ice cream scoop is most effective?
The HACK: It ain't the tool. It's the temperature. …
How to Set Your Ice Cream Freezer Thermostat to Hit the Optimal Scooping Temperature
Ice Cream is Best Scooped at a temperature of zero to +6 ...
- 14.2k
8
votes
Accepted
How to get all the rice out of the pan?
It sounds like you're most likely boiling your rice. If that is the case, here is a quick explanation of what could be happening.
1.) The rice is burning in the pan, and becomes fixed to the bottom.
...
7
votes
How to make hot chocolate come out right?
You can try this experiment: add the cocoa, add a small amount of hot water (just a few tablespoons should do), and stir thoroughly. Completely dissolve the cocoa in the small amount of hot water. ...
- 11.6k
7
votes
How to avoid crumbs when cutting a crispy bread?
I also came across this problem some time back. The reason why it happens is that the upper part of the loaf is kept usually fluffy in most of the breads hence causing it to crumble when cut. The ...
- 171
7
votes
Accepted
How to roll a dough to a certain thickness
Get a straight (not tapered) rolling pin.
Get 2 long strips of something (cardboard, wood, plastic, etc.) that are each 5mm thick.
Roll your dough out so it's fairly thin, but more than 5mm thick.
...
- 11.6k
7
votes
When dining alone at a restaurant, how can you indicate you're coming back when temporarily leaving the table?
When dining alone at a restaurant, how can you indicate you're coming back when temporarily leaving the table?
Simply put a note on the table that you will return momentarily. Some restaurants do ...
- 1,220
7
votes
Accepted
How to avoid doing dishes (after microwaving food)
The best way to avoid doing dishes is to not use dishes.
Dish hack: Eatable dishes. This is not original but inspired from advertising which suggests crackers, rusks, toasted bread, pita were "...
- 14.2k
6
votes
Accepted
How to remove rotten meat odour from the fridge?
The human nose is extremely sensitive for the chemicals causing the smell of rotten meat as it has been a decisive evolutionary advantage to smell when meat has gone off and is not fit for consumption ...
- 489
6
votes
How can you get the first brownie out of the pan without destroying it?
I always bake brownies over a "sling" of parchment, which is a strip of oven-safe parchment paper that is draped across both sides of the pan so I can lift the brownies out onto a platter or cutting ...
- 6,615
6
votes
How do you open a tin of corned beef with a broken lid?
Run around the big end with a conventional can opener (a P38 type will work best for the short radius corners).
- 9,832
6
votes
Accepted
How can I toast chocolate chip bread?
You can toast bread in a flat frying pan on a stove top. Be sure to flip the bread to toast both sides. Some of the chocolate may melt out, but you should be able to scrape it off of the pan with a ...
- 11.6k
6
votes
How to extract a cracker from a wrap with many crackers, without tearing the whole wrapping?
You aren't stuck with the nylon / cellophane of the packaging; you can reinforce it!
Image 2: Apply adhesive (Scotch) tape around one end. That's shown as purple.
Image 3: Cut the left, top, and ...
- 11.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Cutting fruits so that it lasts longer without refrigeration
Most acidic food liquids can be used to keep your apples (and other fruit) from turning brown.
Lemon and lime juice are well known. Vinegar is another that is often used.
If you plan to use your ...
- 2,434
6
votes
What is an easy way to drain a can of tuna?
Start opening the can and stop after a short bit. (1 to 5 cm, 1/2 to 2")
Repeat on the other side of the can, ideally you have the shorter length on one side and the longer length on the other.
Hold ...
- 2,434
6
votes
Accepted
How do you open a bottle like this?
Googling around, I found these tips, which all basically say to slice off the inside cover.
Take a sharp knife and carefully slice off the plastic top. I used a steak knife and slowly cut it. I was ...
- 717
6
votes
When dining alone at a restaurant, how can you indicate you're coming back when temporarily leaving the table?
I've thought about leaving some personal effects on the table
As you already guessed, it is not a good idea.
However, waiters are usually around all the time, so you can just address one of them (...
- 2,850
6
votes
Keep forgetting reusable grocery bags when I go shopping
I had the same problem, a ton of reusable bags at home and none with me at the store when I needed. So I got one of those foldable bags that come inside a tiny pocket of sorts (whose purpose is just ...
- 163
6
votes
Keep forgetting reusable grocery bags when I go shopping
Just put a big stack of the used bags in your car so you can't leave home to go shopping without them. If you forget to bring one into the store with you, run back to the car and grab one, as ...
- 1,342
6
votes
How to heat up a kebab roll so that the meat inside becomes warm, the flatbread does not become dried, and the structure is well-kept?
To reheat such things, my father would
Put the roll into a wet brown (kraft) paper bag.
Roll or fold the open end of the bag closed
Put it into a pre-heated oven to warm.
(The wet paper bag kept the ...
- 14.2k
6
votes
What to do with big pieces of chocolate milk powder
At first, I was going to suggest breaking up the lumps in a more scientific way, by splitting them into smaller pieces with something like a chisel. But I have thought of a hack.
Pour warm water into ...
- 4,799
6
votes
Accepted
What's the best hack to ripen avocados quickly?
Many fruits ripen faster when exposed to the ethylene gas given off by ripening fruit. Seems a bit circular, but that just implies storing fruit together in a sealed container (e.g., closed plastic ...
- 6,128
5
votes
How to decarbonate ("make flat") beverages more quickly?
All you need do is take a spoon and stir the contents until it no longer fizzes. I can't drink carbonated beverages either and this works great and is fast.
- 51
5
votes
How to stop cups sticking to placemats
When you pick up your cup, do it by the very bottom, and then use your pinkie to push whatever the cup is sitting on away from the cup. You'll leave the napkin/coaster/placement on the table, and your ...
- 545
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