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27 votes
Accepted

How to peel an orange?

That question has been asked on cooking.stackexchange before, and the answer by Jolenealaska (and originally by blogger E is for Eat) quite qualifies as a life hack: Basically, you cut off both ends ...
HugoRune's user avatar
  • 576
17 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 ...
Stephie's user avatar
  • 3,195
16 votes

How to peel an orange?

I really like the Tupperware Orange Peeler. It is used by dragging the hook end around the orange skin, which opens the peel up all the way to the flesh of the orange. Then it's a simple matter of ...
Adam's user avatar
  • 954
15 votes
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Stained fridge from dry-erase markers

Isopropyl Alcohol If the typical 70% rubbing alcohol isn't removing everything, try the higher concentrations (90%+ solution). The 70% solution works, but not quite as well as the higher ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
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 ...
David's user avatar
  • 331
11 votes

How to peel an orange?

I have found I can reliably peel the entire orange without splitting any of the inner slices without causing drips quickly I do this by starting at the tip where the stem was attached. If my thumb ...
New Alexandria's user avatar
11 votes

How to pour out liquid from pan

Use a guide bar for pouring. I learned how to do this kind of thing in a lab using a glass rod and a cylindrical container. A similar technique can be used for your household situation. Find a spoon ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
10 votes
Accepted

Reduce blender noise

They actually make blender sound enclosures which will dampen a blender's noise considerably. These are generally designed for retail applications (i.e. expensive), but you can draw on the basic ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar
10 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 ...
BrettFromLA's user avatar
  • 11.5k
10 votes
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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 ...
Zeiss Ikon's user avatar
  • 9,790
10 votes

How to wash a sieve?

I use a dish brush to clean colanders and other kitchen items that have holes in them (like some cooking spoons). While sponges get torn apart if you scrub them over the mesh of the sieve, the ...
BrettFromLA's user avatar
  • 11.5k
9 votes

How do I make a lid for this bin?

Plastic plant-pot saucers are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes and colours, are light weight, strong, tough, and when flipped over are tops for bottoms. You can find them in hardware stores, ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
8 votes

How to quickly thaw accidentally frozen milk?

One of the faster methods to unfreeze anything is to put it in a larger container containing water. The water don't need to be heated, as it is still warmer than the frozen stuff. This works do to the ...
holroy's user avatar
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8 votes
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How to Resurface/Refinish the induction cooktop

This may be helpful: I use a combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda, I'm afraid the ratio is "until it forms a thin paste", rather than anything more specific/scientific. Apply with paper ...
David Kelsall's user avatar
7 votes

How to remove a hard boiled egg's shell quickly, by hand, without damaging the egg?

Salt! Toss about a tablespoon of salt in the water used for boiling the eggs. The shells will peel really easy while leaving the insides pristine. A few taps around the egg and the shell usually ...
planetregin's user avatar
7 votes

How to clean inside of straw

Espresso machine! Heat up some steam and as long as your re-usable straw is relatively thick, slap it up against the steam shoot for a few seconds per side. Finally, run water through it. Presto! A ...
Tim Lamothe's user avatar
7 votes
Accepted

Cleaning Narrow Spaces in Kitchen

If you have a spare wire coat hanger handy, you could straighten it out into a long thin pole and wrap some cloth around it tightly (enough for it not to fall off, but not too much so that it doesn't ...
TimBryanDev's user avatar
7 votes

Making the most of a mug that can't be put in the microwave or diswasher

Use it as a pen/pencil holder on your desk. That way you get to show it off without damaging it.
James's user avatar
  • 1,884
7 votes

Best way to clean butter from a knife

If I only used the knife for buttering bread, I clean the knife on the crust of the bread. This way (almost) all butter will be removed from the knife.
Jeroen Bouman's user avatar
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. ...
BrettFromLA's user avatar
  • 11.5k
7 votes

How to pour out liquid from pan

That's what ladles are for. Simply scoop the liquid into the cup with a ladle or big spoon. Once you have transferred most of the liquid from the pot to the cup, pouring the rest will be much easier.
Elmy's user avatar
  • 2,976
7 votes

How can I close rice bag?

Introducing the Divide and Conquer HACK: When you buy in bulk quantities, redistribute some of each different food stock into a smaller container for frequent use that is easy to handle and closes ...
Stan's user avatar
  • 14.1k
6 votes

Tricks for opening very tight jars

If you have to open those glasses more frequently, such a device could help you: It's a rubber band with a plastic lever arm, that fits on most common glasses: For occasional use, built one made of ...
ott--'s user avatar
  • 173
6 votes

Cleaning Narrow Spaces in Kitchen

I can only think of two things which will fit in such a narrow gap - a bamboo cane (the sort of thing used to support plants in the garden) and, even narrower, a yardstick (http://www.amazon.com/...
Bamboo's user avatar
  • 3,704
6 votes

How to peel an orange?

One thing I have found to work is to just cut the orange in four 'quadrants' (use 'vertical cuts, not 'horizontal' ones). The pieces can then be peeled by hand from the corners. Another method is to ...
k-l's user avatar
  • 596
6 votes
Accepted

How can I clean stainless steel coffee maker carafe

Ice cubes. Salt. Shake/spin. Dump. Repeat if needed. Rinse when finished. I worked in a restaurant for the better half of my teens and twenties... We used to do a sanitizer soak on the glass coffee ...
Phlume's user avatar
  • 4,527
6 votes

How can I deal with refrigerator odor when it is turned off for a long period of time?

You should clean out the interior of your refrigerator with a mild solution of bleach and soap. You should only need to do this before you leave for a long time. When you are using the fridge, unless ...
MGMead's user avatar
  • 311
6 votes

Tea dispenser leaks

If the dispenser always sits on the same shelf in your refrigerator, put a piece of tape (like red electrical tape) on the shelf to mark the "farthest forward spot" that the dispenser can sit without ...
BrettFromLA's user avatar
  • 11.5k
6 votes

How to remove oil without soap while washing?

I would try a putting few drops of dishwashing soap on a paper towel, then put that in a Ziploc bag with your lunchbox. One more idea that I got from cleaning cast iron skillets in my home. You're ...
Eric's user avatar
  • 161
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 ...
Robert Cartaino's user avatar

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