When it comes to eating, most of us don’t think twice about how we handle our food.
But are you making things a lot more complicated and messier than they need to be. Here are
10 Things That You’ve Been Doing Wrong with Food Your Whole Life.
How You Put Toppings on your Hot Dog
Hot dogs are the perfect summer barbecue treat. Whether you are a fan of a classic hot dog,
a specialty sausage, or a veggie dog, you really can’t go wrong. One of the best parts
of eating a hot dog is choosing what toppings to add. The most common toppings to put on
a hot dog include things like ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, and sauerkraut (among many
others). But many people find themselves in a pretty messy situation when they eat a hot
dog, because these toppings tend to fall out or drip with each bite. There is actually
an easy solution to this problem and all that it involves is a little change in layering.
Instead of putting your toppings on top of the hot dog, put the toppings in your bun
first and put the hot dog on top. This way, when you bite into the hot dog, there is no
chance for toppings to fall off the side. Instead, they will be tucked in under your
hot dog and will do a better job at staying in place. Since a lot of people like to buy
hot dogs on the go from a street vendor, this method of eating a hot dog can save you from
getting into a messy situation. The only time you shouldn’t do this? If your bun has ripped
into two pieces or is about to rip – then you’ll have a mess on your hands no matter
how you place your toppings.
Peeling Bananas
Peeling a banana is not usually a hard task. However, you would be surprised at how many
people find themselves squishing their bananas into mush as they peel them open. This is
because sometimes bananas are so ripe that the tops of them are delicate. When we peel
bananas using the stem at the top, we have to push against the banana itself, and if
the banana is too soft – well, you end up with a bunch of squished banana and a peel
that still isn’t opened properly. Did you know that this actually isn’t the right
way to peel a banana? Bananas are meant to be peeled with the long stem that you usually
peel from, at the bottom. Yes, you are meant to flip the banana upside down and peel the
banana from the short end. Although it can take a second to dig into this end, once you
do, you will be able to peel the banana easily and efficiently. Why is this considered to
be the proper way? Well, this is exactly how monkeys open bananas! It stops them from bruising
the fruit, ruining the texture, and honestly, it just makes more sense. Also, if you are
handing this yellow-fruit to a child, handing the banana to them by the stem allows them
to hold it easily – like a built-in handle! I think we can all say that bananas are pretty
delicious - no matter which way you peel them.
Cutting Onions
Anyone who has cut an onion before knows the feeling of watery and irritated eyes during
the process. From goggles to sunglasses, people have tried everything to stop their eyes from
tearing up. There have been so many products invented aimed at fixing this kitchen conundrum.
What exactly causes this issue in the first place? The burn that your eyes feel from cutting
onions comes from a chemical irritant that the onions produce. This irritant affects
a gland in your eyes that leads to the production of tears. So, is there a way to stop the tears
from flowing, when all you want to do is to dice up an onion? If you’re thinking of
donning a hazmat suit, save yourself the silly look and try this simple solution instead:
peel the onion, run it under cold water, and then cut away. Running the onion under cold
water before dicing slows down the cell activation in the onion and won’t cause irritation
to your eyes as quickly. Placing the onion in the freezer or fridge for 20 minutes beforehand
will help even more. So don’t let onions make you cry, they’re not worth your tears.
Making Grilled Cheese
Bread, cheese, butter – what could be easier than that? Grilled cheese is a classic American
staple. You can find it on most American diner menus on both the regular and kids menu - as
it is a popular favorite with the kiddos. Although there are many versions of the grilled
sandwich, it’s hard to beat a traditional grilled cheese with nothing but cheese between
the bread. In order to get the perfect crisp on the outside of the bread, most people spread
a layer of butter on each slice of bread. Butter always makes things better, however
there is actually a better condiment to be used here – and you probably already have
it in your fridge. Rather than coating the bread in butter for frying, spread a layer
of mayonnaise on the outside instead. Mayonnaise will bring your grilled cheese to a completely
new level and give it a richness that is indescribably delicious. Don’t go tossing out the butter
just yet – use a pat of butter to coat the bottom of the pan before grilling your sandwich.
We promise that you will not regret it.
Eating a Cupcake with Icing
Cupcakes are one of the most loved sweet treats on the planet. They allow people to feel like
they are indulging, without the guilt of a large piece of cake. There are so many different
types of flavors of cupcakes that it can be difficult to choose which type to eat. From
chocolate, to vanilla, to red velvet, to dulce de leche – there is a cupcake for everyone.
So many in fact that it would be impossible to list every flavor that exists. But there
is one thing about cupcakes which can leave you feeling a bit childish. For those who
have tried to eat a cupcake with a perfect swirl of icing on top, you know it can be
a pretty messy maneuver. Icing ends up on your nose, all over your mouth, or completely
falling off as you bite into it. Well, there is a way to eat a cupcake that takes away
the messiness, and people have been doing it for a very long time. So, what’s the
trick? First, you cut the bottom of the cupcake off and then you flip it around and place
it on top of the icing. When you do this, you should get what looks like a cupcake sandwich,
with the icing pressed between the two layers of cupcake. Now, when you bite into the cupcake,
the icing won’t be going anywhere but in your mouth where it belongs. There’s nothing
wrong with a bit of a messy cupcake experience, but if you’re looking to be a bit more graceful
with the sweet treat – this one’s for you.
Taking the Top Off of a Strawberry
Strawberries are a pretty straightforward fruit. The only adjustment that you make when
you eat them is that you cut off the green top, which is actually called the calyx. This
leafy part of the fruit is not very appetizing to eat, so whether you slice it off or bite
around it, it’s more than likely thrown away. Most people use a knife to cut the calyx
off of the strawberry before slicing them or eating them in one bite. However, when
you do this, you end up wasting a lot of the red, fleshy, fruity part of the strawberry.
There is a simple way to avoid wasting too much of the actual strawberry and all you
need is a straw. If you don’t have a straw, you can use anything that is a similar shape
and hollow in the middle. All you have to do is stick the straw through the strawberry
from the bottom and up towards the calyx. When it reaches the top, the calyx/stem should
pop off perfectly and no part of your strawberry should be wasted! This process is super quick
and super easy. Want to make your strawberries even yummier? After you have removed the green
part of the strawberry with a straw, you can fill the center (where the straw has pierced)
with different things like chocolate or cream! This will make your strawberry experience
even better, although higher in calories – but it will definitely be worth it.
Extracting Pomegranate Seeds
Pomegranates are full of antioxidants and are a very popular fruit, especially with
those who are seeking a lower-calorie fruit option. Pomegranates are one of the hardest
fruits to take apart and eat, mostly because the seeds of the pomegranate are embedded
in their white flesh. This tricky fruit is made even trickier when the seeds are pierced,
since they will release their red color which is known for staining clothing. Many people
swear by the method of cutting a pomegranate in half and tapping it with a wooden spoon
into a bowl. This is one way to cut a pomegranate, however, you are still left with big chunks
of flesh and seeds stuck together, which you then have to separate anyways. There is a
much easier way to get all of the seeds detached from the flesh without it taking you an hour
to do so. What’s the trick? Get a bowl of water ready and cut the pomegranate into quarters.
With each quarter, dunk it under the water and use your fingers to separate the seeds
from the flesh. By doing it in water, the white flesh will float to the top and the
seeds will fall to the bottom of the bowl. This method will not only make the separation
happen easier, but no red juice will be spraying anywhere – keeping your house and your clothes
pomegranate-free.
Scooping Ice Cream
There is nothing better than a cold scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day. From chocolate
chip cookie dough to mint chocolate chip, the options are endless. Planning to have
some ice cream for dessert but find it too hard to scoop? We have all been there. Ice
cream can be tough to get out of the carton sometimes, especially when it has been sitting
in your freezer for a while. A lot of people use the hack of running your ice cream scooper
under hot water before you scoop – and this does work a lot of the time. However, there
is an easy way to slightly soften your ice cream before you eat it, all you have to do
is put it in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. This works perfectly when you know that you
are going to be eating the ice cream ahead of time. Although you may be worried that
the ice cream will melt, keeping it in the fridge slows down the melting process, keeping
your ice cream from becoming liquid like it would if you let it soften on the counter.
If you're lacking the self control to just take one scoop once it's sat in the fridge,
just take a spoon and go to town - we know we would.
Peeling Boiled Potatoes
Nobody likes peeling vegetables. It can be a very tedious task and can often be time
consuming if you’re not a professional chef. When it comes to peeling boiled potatoes,
people often wait until the boiled potatoes cool before attempting to remove their skin.
However, there is a super easy way to get the peel off of the potatoes that won’t
have you reaching for your peeler. Before you place your potatoes in the water, score
the potato across the center horizontally, making a slight cut into the peel. Once the
potatoes are finished boiling and you take them out of the water, the peel will slip
off easily – no peeler needed! The cuts that you make allow the peel to lift off of
the vegetable and the water helps to make this happen. This simple method of getting
rid of the peel will save you time, effort, and honestly – it just makes more sense
to do it this way. So the next time you go to make your homemade mashed potatoes, keep
the peeler in the drawer and just score and boil away!
Squeezing a Tough Lemon
Lemons and limes have become staple ingredients in many meals. From dinners to desserts, citrus
plays a huge part in creating flavor, tartness, and depth. We have all encountered a lemon
that feels a bit harder than we want, making it hard to squeeze and get juice from. There
is a super simple way to get maximum juice from a lemon without squeezing or rolling
it against your counter for hours. The way to get a firm lemon to soften up is to put
it in the microwave for about ten to twenty seconds. After, when you take the lemon out,
it should feel softer and easier to squeeze. If the lemon feels a bit too warm, let it
sit for a minute or two before cutting in half and squeezing away. A lot of people think
that when their lemons are hard that it means they are not ripe, or they need a few more
days on the counter. In reality, some lemons will not soften over time, especially if you
have been keeping them in the fridge. Save yourself the headache and try the microwave-trick.
This way, no matter how firm the lemons you buy at the grocery store may be, they will
all be useable at a moment’s notice. You can use this method for other citrus as well,
such as limes, grapefruits, and oranges. Just make sure not to put it in the microwave for
too long - or you will be left with a pretty mushy lemon. Fun fact: some people actually
slice lemons and put them into a measuring cup of water and put them in their microwave
as a way of cleaning it! The acidity breaks down any food stuck on the walls of your microwave
and makes it easier to clean! Who knew lemons and microwaves went so hand-in-hand?
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