The internet is filled with tips for helping us to live our best lives. It’s a treasure trove of information that can help us master our lives and create the reality we’ve always dreamed of. But a big part of our lives involves food and drink.
So why shouldn’t we have pro tips about food and drink? Well, Reddit’s got something like that for you. Their LifeProTips Community has an awesome thread on food and drink.
It’s chock full of awesome food and drink knowledge. From how to make the best coffee to hacks on how to cut down on sugar. Here Are 55 Tips To Make You A Food and Drink Life Pro:
Sometimes cashiers will give you a discount to be nice. You should definitely ask. But don’t demand one if you’re denied by a different employee. You don’t want to get them in trouble.
2) Don’t Get Stuck With a Huge Tab
Being generous and picking up the tab? Let your friends or collegaues know this after they’ve ordered. You don’t want them to take advantage and order the whole menu.
3) Don’t Tell the Manager You Got Free Stuff
Sometimes store employees will be nice and will shoot you a freebie. If the manager asks about it later, play dumb. You don’t want to get them fired.
4) Vacuum Seal Without a Vacuum Sealer
Place your food in a Ziplock bag and submerge it in water. But keep the bag open above water. The water will push all the air out so you can close it without any air in your bag.
5) Turn Nachos Into Tacos
Place a torilla underneath your chips when making nachos. You can use the scraps and what you don’t eat to make a soft taco. Two meals in one!
6) Get To Know Your Guests By Letting Them Help
Having new guests over? Leave some small tasks for when they arrive. You can ask them to help you and this will be a good way to make some connections.
7) Don’t Let Your Potatoes and Onions Spoil
Don’t store your onions and potatoes together. They will spoil faster. This is because they release moisture and gases that cause them to decompose.
8) Use Olive Oil For Cooking Instead of Extra Virgin
Lots of us buy extra-virgin olive oil in case we need it for salads or other dishes. But if you’re using it to cook with, it’s best to use plain olive oil instead. It’s cheaper and has a higher smoke point.
9) Open Chips Upside Down
Chip seasoning often settles to the bottom of the bag. This is because they are stored rightside up. Open them upside down to make sure your seasoning ends up on your chips when you eat them and not at the bottom of the bag.
10) Clean Your Dishwasher Filter
Make sure you clean your dishwasher filter. It’s located underneath the blade. Clean it monthly for super clean dishes.
11) Parmesean Cheese Goes First
Put your parmesean cheese on your pasta before your sauce. This will make sure your pasta is fully covered in both sauce and cheese. And it’s amazingly delicious.
12) The Key To Quality Ice Cream
Always check the label for quality ingredients when picking out a good ice cream. When the ingredients look the same, check the weight per serving. Crappy quality ingredients, like gums and fillers, are always lighter than natural ingredients like cream and eggs.
Did you burn food to a pan? Is it hard to scrap off? Boil water in the pan to loosen the food.
14) Remove Cookies at the Right Time
Take cookies out when the sides look ready. Not the middle. This will make sure your cookies are soft and delicious.
15) DIY Spicy Dill Pickles
Want to make your own DIY spicy pickles. Save the juice from your jalapeno jar and pour it into the jar with your pickles. You’ll have spicy pickles after a few days.
Want ice cream without the guilt. Put a bananna in the freezer. Frozen banannas have the same taste and texture of ice cream.
17) Save Money on Berries
Put frozen berries in your oatmeal as soon as its done cooking. The berries will eventually cool to be the same temperature as your oatmeal. Frozen berries are a lot cheaper than than fresh berries.
18) Get Free Meals For Your Birthday
You can eat out for free for a month during your birthday. Just Google places that offer free birthday meals and sign up for their newsletter or birthday deal. When your birthday comes you’ll have lots of free coupons that usually don’t expire for at least a month.
When you buy ground beef its best to divide it into serving sizes and put into ziplock bags. Flaten the bags out and freeze them. This way none of your meat will go to waste and they will thaw quickly when you take them out.
Don’t buy Ramen if you’re looking to save money. It’s better to buy potatoes instead. They are cheaper and will keep you fuller longer.
21) How To Microwave Rice
Don’t overdry your rice when microwaving it. Place a cup of water in the microwave next to it. This will make your rice softer.
Making rice? Put some broccoli on top when there is about 10 minutes of boiling left. Your brocolli will be steamed to perfection.
23) Is That Milk Really Sour?
Think your milk smells sour? Pour some into a cup and smell it again. Sometimes the milk residue on the neck of the bottle will smell but that doesn’t mean your milk is sour.
Boxed greens can often go bad quickly. Place a paper towel in the box. This will suck up all the moisture and prevent it from spoiling.
25) Tastebuds Change Every Seven Years
Do you know that your tastebuds change every seven years? So, it’s worth it to try foods you used to hate. You might like them now.
26) Make Better Frozen Pizza
Want the best frozen pizza? Don’t follow the instructions on the box. Let it thaw completely then bake it for 5 to 8 minutes on the hottest oven temperature.
27) Store Wine To Make It Last
Want your wine to last? Store it lying down. This will ensure that the cork always remains wet and air tight.
28) Make Toaster Strudels The Right Way
Cook your Toaster Strudel on the lowest setting. Then toast it twice. This will keep the center warm but won’t burn the outside.
29) Cut Bread From the Middle
Slice your bread loaf in the middle. Then put the two ends back together. The ends will keep the bread in the center fresher longer.
Eggs can go bad. You can test them by dropping them in water. A bad egg will float and a good egg will sink.
31) Tips For Splitting The Bill
Some people dread going out to eat with friends for fear of splitting the bill. Some people don’t have the luxury of paying for the most expensive thing on the menu, plus wine and dessert. So be aware of what you’re ordering and suggesting the bill be split evenly rather than paying only for what you ordered. You don’t want to embarrass your friends.
32) Rinse Your Ice For Fizzy Soda
Pour a bit of water in your cup and swirl your ice around it. Then dump out the excess water and put your soda in. This will melt the excess layer of ice off which leaves less space for carbon dioxide to gather on the ice which will make your drink fizzier.
33) Make The Best At Home Coffee In The World
House coffee can’t compare to storebought coffee, unless you use this trick. Shake up your iced coffee in a cocktail shaker. It will come out frothy and delicious.
34) Easy Way To Reduce Sugar Consumption
Cutting out sugar doesn’t have to be hard. Smart small. Cut it out of the drinks you consume first, then look to desserts and other sweets.
35) Don’t Stop Eating Acidic Foods or Drinks
Pour some carrot juice on it instead. Carrot juice is alkaline. So putting it in acidic food with neutralize the acid. This will allow you to enjoy acidic foods even if you have a sensitive stomach.
36) Take Shots Like A Pro
Want it to burn less when it goes down? Exhale before and after you swallow your shot. It supposedly makes the alcohol burn less.
37) Don’t Get Burned At Starbucks
Sick of burning your mouth when you go to Starbucks? Ask for “Kid’s Temperature.” These drinks are served at around 130° F. Your mouth will thank you.
38) Drink Less By Drinking Water
Want to cut down on the sugary, carbonated, or alcoholic drinks you consume? Drink a full glass of water before you drink anything else. The water will fill you up so you’ll drink less of the other drinks.
39) Keep Your Slurpee Cold
Grab an extra Slurpee cup next time you go to 7/11. Your Slurpee will stay frozen two to three times longer. The additional cup provides extra insulation.
Sometimes we rush out of the house before we get to eat breakfast. Sometimes we just get hungry in the car. Keep a pack of saltine crackers in car as a snack. They’ll always keep fresh, won’t melt in the sun, or be bothered by the cold.
41) Potent Blood Mary Trick
Freeze V8 juice or Clamato in an ice tray and add salt and pepper. Use this in your Bloody Maries in place of ice cubes. This way your drink won’t get watered down and you can eat the ice cubes after as a second drink.
Water is the key to avoiding hangovers. Drink a glass in between each alcoholic beverage you consume. It will prevent you from becoming dehydrated which is a big reason you feel like crap the day after your drink.
Want to add some flavor to your water? Pop some pieces of frozen fruit into it. It will keep your liquid cold and give it a fruity flavor.
44) Make Friends With Your Bartender
Making friends with you bartender pays. They’ll usually make your drinks faster and stronger if you’re friendly. Try asking them to make their favorite creation for you, you’ll often be pleasantly surprised.
45) Keurig a Cup-O-Noodles
Keurig is perfect for making Cup-O-Noodles. The largest drink size on the machine fills the styrofoam container perfectly. No more spilling a boiling pot of water into those tiny cups.
46) Freeze That Glass To Get Rid Of Foam
Want to reduce foaming of your carbonated beverage? Rinse your glass and freeze it for 10 minutes before you pour. This will also keep your drink carbonated longer.
Are you a juice lover? You can still drink your juice while cutting down on your sugar intake. Just add a little water into your juice to thin it out.
If you’re getting a fountain drink, ask for no ice. Fountain drinks are often kept chilled. So adding ice will just water it down.
49) Double Dip Your Tea Bags
Don’t waste your tea bags. You can often steep your tea bags twice. They are usually strong enough to keep their strength and flavor for an additional dip.
50) Healthy Lunch For The Same Price Of Fast Food
Want a healthy lunch for the same price as fast food. Hit up your local grocery store. Their deli has lots of fair-priced To-Go options like salads, sandwiches, and even hot foods like chicken.
51) The Right Way To Make Ice Cubes
Use boiling water to make ice cubes. It will disolve most of the CO2 in your cubes which will keep your beverages more carbonated since there are less nucleation points for CO2 release. It also makes your ice cubes clear and really pretty.
Most people will grab for the gingerale when they have an upset stomach. Try some lemon water instead. It works just as well and has less sugar.
Community events and benefits make great wholesome date nights. The fee is usually cheap ($20 -$40) and often includes food, drinks, and a fun acvitity like mini golf or bingo. You’re also helping your community which will impress your date with your goodwill.
54) Sit At The Bar For Dinner
Sitting at the bar for dinner is underrated. You never have to chase down your server because they are always in front of you. They are there to fill your drinks and there are usually fun people to talk to at the bar.
55) Freeze Milk Jugs For Your Cooler
Heading to the beach on a hot day? Freeze a milk jug overnight. Pop it in your cooler before you head to the beach to keep your cooler cold all day long.
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