Infamous food hacks you need to ignore
Food hacks you'll never need
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Add salt to make water boil faster
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/7514f16a-c7c3-4a24-bc53-91708d6c8570-2-salt.jpg)
Use a pen or a knife to open a bottle of wine
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/28c418c2-812c-42ef-b31e-22610bf55d4d-3-wine.jpg)
Baking soda makes peeling eggs easier…
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/6ff8a771-8fa7-409f-8855-eef1f644779e-4-peeling-eggs.jpg)
… vinegar helps too
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/98476719-aaab-4938-8311-adac4035d5f5-5-vinegar.jpg)
Make grilled cheese sandwiches in a toaster
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/f93b3fdb-094a-4ff8-9725-8010be9ebfd5-6-grilled-cheese.jpg)
Not only is this a ridiculous idea, it’s also a fire hazard. Toasters aren’t meant to be used sideways, especially if there’s melted cheese dripping into the slots. There are many less dangerous ways of making a grilled cheese sandwich – put it in a frying pan, invest in a sandwich toaster or buy toaster bags. Choose a more sensible option, then give this grilled cheese sandwich recipe a go.
Cut cherry tomatoes in half between two plates
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This may not be the most practical hack if you are only chopping a few tomatoes and it doesn't work well if using curved dishes which could end up squashing your veggies, but when used for prepping large quantities it does have its advantages. Avoid the plates and try lids instead. Use a serrated bread knife and remember, practice makes perfect. That is if you don't mind the extra dirty lids.
Use a pair of tongs to squeeze a lemon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/4ba96db0-aec3-484e-8156-e06accc5af53-8-tongs.jpg)
Make potato wedges with an apple corer
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/69242326-8770-47c9-93c1-022267fe5cc0-9-potato-wedges.jpg)
Add a potato to soak up excess salt in a broth
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/4ff5abe6-5c59-4809-9f43-53f4daa89119-10-salty-broth.jpg)
Shake garlic in a jar to remove the skin
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/17893b48-0cd4-41fd-99c9-378702bf8b33-11-shake-garlic.jpg)
Soak onions before chopping to prevent you from crying
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/bc83ec52-c200-4f86-8116-60d470bac787-12-chopping-onion.jpg)
Use chopsticks to make perfect hasselback potatoes
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/fdd1fea9-3982-4c09-ab30-640c3dec62a2-13-hasselback.jpg)
Using chopsticks to make hasselback potatoes would be a great idea if the potato was evenly thick all the way through. But chopsticks tend to move around, meaning that your cuts won't be even: some will go through all the way and both ends will just get chopped off. You’re much better off cutting slowly and carefully with a sharp knife.
Find brilliant tips for perfect potatoes (that do work) here
Use ketchup bottles to dispense pancake batter
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/fb88a03e-417f-4c2b-b88b-28d185efd67b-14-pancakes.jpg)
A wooden spoon stops your pot from boiling over
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/7c166d6f-9199-41bc-88cd-416c2c383cfd-15-wooden-spoon.jpg)
Use an old CD spindle to keep bagels fresh
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/65367dbb-d6f3-4cf4-b4be-9ff06969bed7-16-bagels.jpg)
The hole in the pot handle doubles up as a spoon holder
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/705a9a87-1bbc-4578-aeab-1ad07f6ca4ca-17-pot-handle.jpg)
Blitz granulated sugar to make icing sugar
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/46313fa8-0425-4f74-a01a-915f2b08aa52-18-sugar.jpg)
Rinse cooked pasta to stop it clumping together
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/77f64667-cdcb-4cf7-a653-8c0eaa0ab0b1-19-rinse-pasta.jpg)
Potatoes are easier to peel when plunged in cold water
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/89200742-ca91-4cfe-a093-c28969ea5a3b-20-peeling-potatoes.jpg)
Blanching is a great technique for peeling tomatoes and peppers but it doesn't work with potatoes. You’re much better off peeling the potatoes before boiling or, if making gnocchi, scooping the potato flesh out with a spoon.
Store bread in the fridge to keep it fresh
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/003eaf5a-faa9-40f3-8437-91c97997657a-21-bread.jpg)
Wash chicken before cooking to remove bacteria
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/cdddb693-64ce-4132-9677-5f8d70f97ff2-23-washing-chicken.jpg)
Scoop out seeds to make chilli peppers less hot
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/56e78aa1-2b5a-4a0a-8b6e-62349d28a717-22-chilli.jpg)
Cover butter with a warm bowl or glass to soften it
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/ffe0ae4c-dcb7-4e47-a4c2-14ab1c763c48-27-butter.jpg)
Got a cold stick of butter you’ve forgotten to bring up to room temperature before baking? This popular hack says you should heat a mug, glass or small bowl in the microwave, then use it to cover the butter. Supposedly, the butter will soften after a few minutes. In reality, the inside of the butter block will still be fridge-cold while the corners will have melted completely. You’ll get better results using a box grater to grate the butter.
Add oil to boiling water to prevent cooking pasta from sticking
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/43889e40-cf9c-4621-9e8a-dd4d1ff326c7-26-pasta-sticking.jpg)
Pasta has a tendency to stick together due to its starchiness. While adding oil to the cooking water can help remedy it, oil never fully mixes with water so it'll only work for the bits of pasta floating at the top. It also means that any sauce will slide right off when you mix it in.
Make an omelette in a sandwich press
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/78c43912-95c2-4e60-a83f-65bb1e0d437f-25-omelette.jpg)
Think you can make thin, crêpe-like omelettes in a sandwich press? Unfortunately, you’ll just end up with a kitchen counter and a sandwich press in need of a serious deep clean and no omelette. Just stick to a frying pan.
Now read the amazing cooking hacks that actually work
Use an empty bottle to separate egg yolks
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/fb636887-7dbb-4a48-a72a-a9b21669e154-24-egg-yolk-white.jpg)
We’re all for recycling and repurposing things but this might not be right way of going about it. It's suggested you can use an empty plastic bottle and its suction power to separate egg yolks from egg whites. However, it's quite fiddly and it's much easier to just use your hands or the egg shells to separate the two.
Discover genius ideas to rescue food you'd usually throw away
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