Topic Wiki

Food:
  • If you get a piece of eggshell in with the eggs while cracking them, use the other half of the eggshell to fish it out instead of trying to use your fingers or anything else.
  • If you want to separate the yolk from the white, take an empty clean water bottle, squeeze the bottle, place the mouth over the yolk and slowly release the bottle. The yolk will get sucked up into the bottle with minimal/no white.
  • When boiling eggs, add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda to the water. Makes them really easy to peel and doesn't affect the taste.
  • If you have a room temperature bottle (and esp can) that you want to get cold fast, wrap a wet paper towel around it and put it in the freezer. It'll be ice cold pretty quickly.
  • Microwave rice from TJ's
  • Open a can of corn,put salt pepper and cheese on top, microwave or oven it (super easy lunch)
  • 2 slices of old pizza from the fridge, lay them cheese sides on top of each other and put them in a sandwich maker. Instant calzone.
  • For chulent of course.. Using only navy beans, chulent mix a big no no.
  • If you're going to freeze ground beef, put it in a gallon ziploc and squeeze/spread it flat to fill the bag. You can stack them in the freezer and it'll defrost much faster (without the outside spoiling while the inside is still frozen).
  • To easily melt a small amount of chocolate / butter, put it in a ziploc bag and put that into a mug of hot water for a few minutes. No mess! You can cut a hole in the corner to pipe chocolate too.
  • Shredded cheese lasts longer in the freezer, but will clump up, before freezing add a little bit of cornstarch (1tbs) and shake vigorously. The pieces will stay separate and it'll be easy to use.
  • To cool down baby food without blowing at it (which may add your bacteria to the food) wave your hand at it.
Travel:
  • If you want a hot meal on any plane, bring a tradition soup or oatmeal packet and use the free hot water they offer with tea. Great for traveling in general.
  • Before you go on a long flight, freeze a JJ cappuccino.  If it's frozen they let it on the plane. Once you get up from your nap on the plane there is nothing as refreshing as an iced cappuccino. It should still be freezing but not frozen.
  • When packing a suitcase, put your socks inside your shoes. It will save a little space and stop your shoes from getting crushed.
  • The aisle seat armrest usually has a little button underneath by the hinge that allows you to lift it. Makes it much easier to get in and out of your seat, especially if your tray table is open with stuff on it.
  • When we go on trips My wife packs the childrens clothing in individual ziplocs for each day of our trip. Like that she doesn't have to look for all the matching stuff.
Computers:
  • You can open links a in new tab by clicking with the scroll wheel.

    Quickly toggle between tabs.

    1) Excel and most internet browsers: Ctrl + PgUp/Dn
    2) Google Sheets: Ctrl + Shift + PgUpDn
    3) chrome: control-tab / control-shift-tab
alternatively ctrl+number tab from left
   
  • Widows+V will open up your clipboard with all recent stuff copied.
Every day/Home:
  • If you are drilling into a wall, open an envelope and tape the flap to the wall under where you are drilling and it catches all the plaster/dust that comes out. Makes cleanup after a small drilling a breeze
  • Open glass jars with rubber gloves, Or a rubber band around the lid.
  • When you first open a bottle of soda or seltzer or pop, begin by slowly turning the cap one-quarter turn and wait about 10 seconds, watching for the small bubbles to slow down, and listening as the sssst of escaping gas gets quieter.  Then turn another 1/4 turn, and wait another 10 seconds till it quiets down.
  • If you get chewing gum on your clothes, put the clothes in the freezer for a bit, it will be much easier to remove the gum afterwards.
Stores:

  • Check out at the pharmacy in the grocery store when the regular lines are long.
Perscriptions:

  • GoodRX.com, even for meds that are covered. My insurance can have a $15 copay, but coupon from GoodRX gets me the medication for $7. When insurance doesn't cover the medication, it's a fraction of the cost. I've seen discounts of 90%
Holidays:
  • After Yom Tov, especially Pesach, make a spreadsheet. What on the menu went over well with guests and kids. What did you run short on and need to have more next time around. What did you way overbuy on. That way there is no need to reinvent the wheel next year.

« Last edited by qooldude on July 07, 2022, 12:22:43 AM »

Author Topic: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!  (Read 216199 times)

Offline Amusch

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #40 on: June 10, 2020, 09:59:51 PM »
If you have a room temperature bottle (and esp can) that you want to get cold fast, wrap a wet paper towel around it and put it in the freezer. It'll be ice cold pretty quickly.

Offline Joeymc

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #41 on: June 10, 2020, 10:03:40 PM »
If you get chewing gum on your clothes, put the clothes in the freezer for a bit, it will be much easier to remove the gum afterwards.
120 characters? Hmm, I wonder what I could write with 64 characters. Boy, it's gonna be hard to use up 15 characters. W-

Offline Joeymc

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #42 on: June 10, 2020, 10:04:54 PM »
When packing a suitcase, put your socks inside your shoes. It will save a little space and stop your shoes from getting crushed.
120 characters? Hmm, I wonder what I could write with 64 characters. Boy, it's gonna be hard to use up 15 characters. W-

Offline etech0

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #43 on: June 10, 2020, 10:05:50 PM »
Trying to vacuum under/behind furniture and the crevice tool is too wide or short? Fit an empty paper towel tube onto the end of the hose (or onto the crevice tool) and you can squeeze it to the size you need.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #44 on: June 10, 2020, 10:07:24 PM »
Shredded cheese lasts longer in the freezer, but will clump up, before freezing add a little bit of cornstarch (1tbs) and shake vigorously. The pieces will stay separate and it'll be easy to use.
Most pre-shredded cheese is already coated in some sort of starch before you buy it to reduce clumping. The problem with this (and with adding more of your own) is that it prevents the cheese from melting and browning properly, it's why you'll often end up with a big clump of cheese if you try to add it to pasta or poorly melted cheese on pizza and such.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Joeymc

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #45 on: June 10, 2020, 10:10:07 PM »
The aisle seat armrest usually has a little button underneath by the hinge that allows you to lift it. Makes it much easier to get in and out of your seat, especially if your tray table is open with stuff on it.
120 characters? Hmm, I wonder what I could write with 64 characters. Boy, it's gonna be hard to use up 15 characters. W-

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #46 on: June 10, 2020, 10:11:06 PM »
When you first open a bottle of soda or seltzer or pop, begin by slowly turning the cap one-quarter turn and wait about 10 seconds, watching for the small bubbles to slow down, and listening as the sssst of escaping gas gets quieter.  Then turn another 1/4 turn, and wait another 10 seconds till it quiets down.  Now open the cap the rest of the way, and look proudly around as you pour a perfect cup.  Don't expect a pat on the back, though, because nobody will realize what didn't happen.  But you'll know. 

Because one day, soon we hope, you'll be at a shul kiddush, balancing a full bowl of aromatic chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash in one hand, and an empty cup in the other, and someone will offer to pour you a drink, and he'll twist that cap quickly, in one fell swoop, and you'll watch as the bottle suddenly erupts, and fizzy, bubbly liquid streams downward, over his greasy hands into your still-untouched chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, filling the bowl with what now looks like brown soup, which overflows the rim and drips downwards onto your Shabbos shoes, and you'll look up as he sheepishly mumbles "Sorry!  Someone must have shaken the bottle" and you'll think NO, YOU DOOFUS!!!  DON'T BLAME SOMEONE ELSE!  ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF SODA! but you won't say that, of course, you'll just smile kindly and say "It's nothing, I'll get another bowl" and you'll return to the table, only to discover that the pan has now been totally emptied of its chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, and you'll just sigh.  How could he know?  He's not a DDFer.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline etech0

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #47 on: June 10, 2020, 10:13:11 PM »
When you first open a bottle of soda or seltzer or pop, begin by slowly turning the cap one-quarter turn and wait about 10 seconds, watching for the small bubbles to slow down, and listening as the sssst of escaping gas gets quieter.  Then turn another 1/4 turn, and wait another 10 seconds till it quiets down.  Now open the cap the rest of the way, and look proudly around as you pour a perfect cup.  Don't expect a pat on the back, though, because nobody will realize what didn't happen.  But you'll know. 

Because one day, soon we hope, you'll be at a shul kiddush, balancing a full bowl of aromatic chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash in one hand, and an empty cup in the other, and someone will offer to pour you a drink, and he'll twist that cap quickly, in one fell swoop, and you'll watch as the bottle suddenly erupts, and fizzy, bubbly liquid streams downward, over his greasy hands into your still-untouched chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, filling the bowl with what now looks like brown soup, which overflows the rim and drips downwards onto your Shabbos shoes, and you'll look up as he sheepishly mumbles "Sorry!  Someone must have shaken the bottle" and you'll think NO, YOU DOOFUS!!!  DON'T BLAME SOMEONE ELSE!  ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF SODA! but you won't say that, of course, you'll just smile kindly and say "It's nothing, I'll get another bowl" and you'll return to the table, only to discover that the pan has now been totally emptied of its chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, and you'll just sigh.  How could he know?  He's not a DDFer.
TL;DR
Invite all your friends and acquaintances to DDF or risk missing out on your weekly kiddush cholent.

Appendix A: Do you go to shul?
Appendix B: Does your shul have a kiddush?
Appendix C: If the cholent is parve does it count?
[citations needed]
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #48 on: June 10, 2020, 10:18:27 PM »
You can open links a in new tab by clicking with the scroll wheel.
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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #49 on: June 10, 2020, 10:22:23 PM »
Most pre-shredded cheese is already coated in some sort of starch before you buy it to reduce clumping. The problem with this (and with adding more of your own) is that it prevents the cheese from melting and browning properly, it's why you'll often end up with a big clump of cheese if you try to add it to pasta or poorly melted cheese on pizza and such.
Have you tried it with the costco bags of shredded cheese? It clumps in the freezer, but not with 1 tbs of corn starch, never had a problem with melting/clumping when cooking.
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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #50 on: June 10, 2020, 10:25:48 PM »
When making homemade pizza on a pan (cast iron is better) partially bake the dough for a few minutes before putting on the marinara , cheese, oregano, etc. That way you end up with a perfect crust instead of half doughy out of the oven.
I use a pizza stone in my oven.  Get crispy through and through
#TYH

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #51 on: June 10, 2020, 10:27:41 PM »
I use a pizza stone in my oven.  Get crispy through and through
Yep, can't really get anywhere close to a real pizza oven without at least a stone, a pizza steel is even better.
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Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #52 on: June 10, 2020, 10:28:10 PM »
Have you tried it with the costco bags of shredded cheese? It clumps in the freezer, but not with 1 tbs of corn starch, never had a problem with melting/clumping when cooking.
Try emulsifying the cheese into a sauce with all that starch on it  :)
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #53 on: June 10, 2020, 10:31:14 PM »
Have you tried it with the costco bags of shredded cheese? It clumps in the freezer, but not with 1 tbs of corn starch, never had a problem with melting/clumping when cooking.
I'm told if you shake it before putting in the freezer it won't clump. Haven't tried it though.
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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #54 on: June 10, 2020, 10:31:47 PM »
Trying to vacuum under/behind furniture and the crevice tool is too wide or short? Fit an empty paper towel tube onto the end of the hose (or onto the crevice tool) and you can squeeze it to the size you need.
genius! Love it.

Offline etech0

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #55 on: June 10, 2020, 10:32:01 PM »
You can open links a in new tab by clicking with the scroll wheel.
Yup or control-click (if you're on a laptop with no scroll wheel).
On that note, control-shift-t will open the tab (or tabs) you closed most recently, and control-shift-n will open an incognito window.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #56 on: June 10, 2020, 10:33:51 PM »
Yup or control-click (if you're on a laptop with no scroll wheel).
On that note, control-shift-t will open the tab (or tabs) you closed most recently, and control-shift-n will open an incognito window.
On that note, ctrl-n will open a new window.
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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #57 on: June 10, 2020, 10:34:14 PM »
Have you tried it with the costco bags of shredded cheese? It clumps in the freezer, but not with 1 tbs of corn starch, never had a problem with melting/clumping when cooking.
this is true. World is more starchy than Anderson. So the pizza experts tell me . Can't use regular world mozzarella because it's two starchy. They use a blend of muenster and mozzarella.

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #58 on: June 10, 2020, 10:39:14 PM »
When you first open a bottle of soda or seltzer or pop, begin by slowly turning the cap one-quarter turn and wait about 10 seconds, watching for the small bubbles to slow down, and listening as the sssst of escaping gas gets quieter.  Then turn another 1/4 turn, and wait another 10 seconds till it quiets down.  Now open the cap the rest of the way, and look proudly around as you pour a perfect cup.  Don't expect a pat on the back, though, because nobody will realize what didn't happen.  But you'll know. 

Because one day, soon we hope, you'll be at a shul kiddush, balancing a full bowl of aromatic chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash in one hand, and an empty cup in the other, and someone will offer to pour you a drink, and he'll twist that cap quickly, in one fell swoop, and you'll watch as the bottle suddenly erupts, and fizzy, bubbly liquid streams downward, over his greasy hands into your still-untouched chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, filling the bowl with what now looks like brown soup, which overflows the rim and drips downwards onto your Shabbos shoes, and you'll look up as he sheepishly mumbles "Sorry!  Someone must have shaken the bottle" and you'll think NO, YOU DOOFUS!!!  DON'T BLAME SOMEONE ELSE!  ADMIT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO OPEN A BOTTLE OF SODA! but you won't say that, of course, you'll just smile kindly and say "It's nothing, I'll get another bowl" and you'll return to the table, only to discover that the pan has now been totally emptied of its chulent or chili or Hungarian goulash, and you'll just sigh.  How could he know?  He's not a DDFer.
I would click 'like' but his post to like ratio is intimidating me.

Offline farmbochur

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Re: Life Hacks, Post Your Favorites!
« Reply #59 on: June 10, 2020, 10:45:21 PM »
Quickly toggle between tabs.

1) Excel and most internet browsers: Ctrl + PgUp/Dn
2) Google Sheets: Ctrl + Shift + PgUpDn
Risk is opportunity