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 ...
- 3,288
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 ...
- 6,615
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 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 ...
- 11.6k
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 ...
- 14.2k
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 ...
- 9,812
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
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, ...
- 14.2k
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
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
Removing water stuck inside a double glass cup
My glasses are conventional borosilicate glasses which each has a tiny hole sealed with a hardly visible silicon plug on the bottom. Most double-wall glass coffee mugs are like that. When washed at ...
- 71
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.
- 3,015
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 ...
- 14.2k
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 ...
- 11.6k
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 ...
- 6,615
6
votes
How to remove ice cubes from the ice cube tray?
For many years I had two different plastic ice cube trays in my fridge. One of them, when twisted, caused the cubes to break free and practically jump right out of the tray- and the other one was ...
- 1,342
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 ...
- 2,424
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 ...
- 4,734
6
votes
How to pour out liquid from pan
My hack is to pour in two steps
First into a pan that can pour, and is large enough not to spill
Second into the target container
With the pan sizes I have available, this might need to be done ...
- 4,734
6
votes
Dish soap nozzle build up
My trick is to hold the nozzle under the running tap as you fill the sink to wash the dishes. This has the twin benefits if removing the crud, whilst stopping it from being wasted because it ...
- 3,197
5
votes
How can you get the first brownie out of the pan without destroying it?
Start by placing a platter (or any flat object) on top of the whole pan of brownies.
Then, flip the whole thing.
Now, lift off the pan, and if the brownies were properly baked, it should come right ...
- 586
5
votes
Keeping the spoon on the surface of a sucralose container
Maybe find a small spoon that is attracted by magnets then have a magnet glued to the lid and have the spoon affixed to the lid via the magnet.
Example image:
- 359
5
votes
How to remove ice cubes from the ice cube tray?
Reduce their grip on the ice cube tray a little bit before you try to remove them.
Get a baking pan (9" x 12" x 2").
Put about one inch of hot water in it.
Place the ice cube tray in it for a minute. ...
- 11.6k
5
votes
Remove ice from freezer surface
I found the answer to my own question. However, it will only work on some brands and models of refrigerator-freezers.
LateralTerminal suggested using a brush on a drill. Instead I used what was on ...
- 11.6k
5
votes
Accepted
How do I pull the rubber plug out of this despenser
You might be able to pull it out with a hook.
You can unbend things like a wire coat hanger, a very large paper clip or a similar object and then bend it into a long hook that fits through the bottle ...
- 3,015
5
votes
How do I pull the rubber plug out of this despenser
Assuming a plastic bag doesn't count as a "special tool", you could try this approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLMH0NrdfNE
In case the video disappears, the short version (pictures are just ...
- 649
5
votes
Checking microwave proof containers
The standard method when I was young, and microwave ovens were new to the consumer market (i.e. had only recently started costing less than a used car), the standard test of any cookware was to fill a ...
- 9,812
5
votes
How do I make a lid for this bin?
In my cupboard, I have a small collection of (glass) lids that belonged to long-discarded, no longer non-stick non-stick pans. I use them when I need to cover a random bowl. 28 is a typical frying pan ...
- 3,288
5
votes
How can I extricate ginger minced in my blender to use it, without anything touching its blades?
The bottom of the blender where the blades are, unscrews. Simply unscrew it, separate the rubber washer, the blades from the screw-on base, and wash carefully with dish soap and a toothbrush to get ...
- 701
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