Most people consider themselves experts when it comes to food. After all, we all consume large amounts of it every day just to survive. However, these 35 food hacks will revolutionize the way that you eat certain foods.
From techniques for keeping sandwiches from getting soggy to ingenious ways to make bananas last up to five days longer, these are the tricks that you don’t want to miss.
By the end of this list, you’ll likely be shaking your head in amazement and wondering, “Why didn’t I think of that?” These simple hacks will completely change the way you regularly eat.
1. Softer Ice Cream
Keep ice cream nice and soft like it was freshly opened by storing the entire container inside a ziplock baggie in the freezer. The containers don’t always seal properly. The baggie will prevent freezer burn and keep the texture of the ice cream intact by preventing any moisture from entering.
2. Baked Strawberries
Dry strawberries in the oven by baking them at 210 degrees F for three hours. It results in little strawberry bites that taste exactly like candy. However, they are much healthier.
3. Homemade Slushy
Take a bottle of soda such as Coca Cola. Shake it up and then toss it in the freezer for 3 hours and 15 minutes. Slightly open the cap to let gas escape and then close it again. Shake it some more to break up the partially frozen ice and your slushy is ready to drink.
4. Nutella Ice Cream
The last little bit of Nutella that always gets stuck in the jar doesn’t have to go to waste. Place a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream into the jar when it’s about done and eat it as normal. It will coat the ice cream in delicious Nutella.
5. Banana Cookie Substitution
If you are baking cookies and run out of eggs, don’t panic quite yet. Half a banana can be substituted in most recipes in place of each egg you are missing. It will change the flavor somewhat, in a very good way…
6. Hash Brown Waffles
Place hash browns in a waffle maker to get them nice and crispy on the outside and creamy and potatoey on the inside. The potato waffle can be broken up into the normal waffle pieces and served to each person. Instead of syrup, apply some ketchup.
7. Cookies & Milk
Instead of breaking out a separate bowl for the milk, why not just fill up the empty section of the cookie tray? That’s what this person did. It was a brilliant solution.
8. Gummy Bear Popsicles
Make your own delicious popsicles at home by freezing gummy bears in Sprite. The lemon-lime soda is perfect when mixed with the gummy bear flavor. Plus, it allows the colors to shine through.
9. Long-Lasting Bananas
If you wrap the top part of the banana stems with plastic wrap, it will make them last for around five additional days. It slows down the ripening process by blocking the area where air enters and escapes the banana.
10. Ketchup Spot
Trying to eat fries while driving pretty much always ends in disaster. However, if you fold down the top of the fries container, it makes for a great place to empty the ketchup packets. It will save you from making a big mess.
11. Onion Eggs
Fry eggs inside large slices of onions cut off in ring shapes. Not only will it flavor the egg, but it will also keep it in a perfect round shape. Once cooked on one side, they are really easy to flip.
12. Onion Tears
Many people get watery eyes when chopping onions. You can stop this from happening by placing your cutting board underneath your oven vent. Just turn the fan on and chop away. It will keep the scent from getting all up in your face.
13. Sideways Subway
Keep the sauce from running down to one end of your sub by turning the bag on its side and making your own handle. It’s so much better than holding it vertically. No one likes a sandwich that is really soggy on the end.
14. Grated Butter
We’ve all struggled before with a cold stick of butter that was difficult to cut and use. Butter melts faster if it is run through a cheese grater before applying it to toast or any other recipe. It is also much easier to work with.
15. Fresh Eggs Test
Place eggs in a glass of water to test how fresh they are. If the eggs float, they are spoiled as gas has entered into them through the shell. Fresh eggs should sink to the bottom of the water.
16. Easy Dipping
Use a fork to dip items like cookies in milk. It keeps your hands from getting wet and sticky. It is the perfect way to lower an Oreo into milk and soak up all of that extra flavor.
17. Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Instead of eating ice cream out of an ice cream cone, why not bake a cupcake inside of one. Just place the cone upside-down on top of the batter. The cupcake will rise up into the cone as it bakes.
18. Pineapple Marinades
Adding fresh chunks of pineapple to a meat marinade is a great way to add some sweetness. Plus, the acidity will help to tenderize the meat. Squeezed pineapple juice can also be used.
19. Mango Technique
Peel a mango using a glass as seen in this video. It results in perfect slices and catches all of the excess juice. It’s how the professionals do it.
20. Spaghetti Sandwich
Instead of making a classic grilled cheese, try using garlic bread and leftover pasta to make a spaghetti sandwich. Heat up the skillet and cook it in plenty of butter. You want to get it charred and crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.
21. Fresh Cookies
Keep fresh baked cookies moist by placing a slice of bread in the container with them. It will provide just enough moisture to keep the cookies soft. No one likes cookies once they become hard and stale.
22. Last Bowl
Run the final bowl of cereal through a colander to keep all of the leftover cereal dust from getting in your breakfast. It doesn’t mix well with the milk. It is best discarded.
23. Homemade Snack Mix
Make your own snack mix by combining 3 cups of Chex cereal, 2 cups of pretzels, and one cup of cheese crackers. Stir it up with a half stick of butter and cup of grated parmesan. Bake it at 325°F for 15 minutes.
24. Cheap Latte
Next time you are at Starbucks or any other coffee shop, save money by making your own latte. Order an iced Americano with no water and half ice. Then use the free Half & Half cream at the drink mixing station to complete your latte.
25. Frozen Delight
Dip cookies in milk and then freeze them. It turns them into a simple and tasty dessert that takes pretty much no effort to make. The milk soaks into the cookie and adds a delicious flavor when it freezes.
26. Taco Shell Hack
Turn tortillas into hard taco shells by hanging them over the grates in the oven and baking them. The edges that hang down will turn hard and crispy, solidifying the tortillas into the perfect taco shape.
27. Chocolate Chip Upgrade
Use candy bars instead of chocolate chips in recipes. Simply freeze your favorite candy bar. Then break it into tiny chunks by crushing it with the underside of a spoon or running it through a food processer.
28. Chinese Takeout
Wrap a rubber band around the opening flaps of a takeout container to keep them strapped to the sides. The rubber band will hold them out of the way while you are eating and there will be no accidental spillage.
29. Dental Floss Slice
Slice a cake the easy way by using a long piece of dental floss. You can run the floss horizontal or vertical through the cake to cut it into perfect slices. It is so thin that it won’t crush the cake at all.
30. Onion Peeling With Gum
Chewing gum while peeling onions can keep you from crying. The fruit or mint flavor of gum is overwhelming. It occupies the taste buds and keeps the nose distracted.
31. Baked Eggs
Eggs can be baked in a cupcake tray with their shells on instead of hard-boiling them. The end result is very similar, although, baked eggs are slightly more tender. At 320°F, they take about 25 minutes or so.
32. Waffle Iron Bacon
Cook bacon that is perfectly crispy on both sides by placing it in a waffle iron. Each side will need to be cooked for about 2 and a half minutes before flipping. The bacon will stay nice and long and won’t shrink.
33. Corning Shucking Technique
The easiest way to shuck corn is to microwave it for four minutes first. Then cut off the end of the ear and slide the corn right out. There will be no real peeling necessary.
34. Extra Salt
Add salt to your ice cream to bring out the creaminess. It’s best with vanilla ice cream. It really balances out the sweet flavor. If you want an even richer dish, you can olive oil on top as well.
35. Coffee Ice Cubes
Add frozen coffee cubes to coffee instead of ice cubes to make an iced coffee. It will maximize the caffeine content and the flavor of the drink. The coffee won’t get watered down at all.
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