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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 954
15
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 6,655
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 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 ...
- 211
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 ...
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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 ...
- 6,655
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 ...
- 11.5k
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 ...
- 9,790
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 ...
- 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, ...
- 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 ...
- 6,984
8
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 196
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 ...
- 520
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 ...
- 71
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 ...
- 351
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.
- 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.
- 752
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.
...
- 11.5k
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.
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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/...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 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 ...
- 6,655
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible