A great option for people who don't have a proper herb or spice grinder is to use a pizza cutter instead. This is an easy and efficient alternative, that won't end up bruising your herbs in the same way that a knife might.
2. Using a Hair Dryer to Remove Stickers
If you find a sticker that's stubbornly stuck to a surface, all you need to do to get it off is to apply a little heat from a hairdryer. Simply blow hot air onto the sticker until the adhesive melts, and you should then be able to peel off the sticker without leaving any sticky residue behind.
3. Juicing Citrus Fruits in the Microwave
If you place a citrus fruit in the microwave for about 10 seconds, you'll end up softening the pith, making it a lot easier to get all of the juice out.
Saturate a few towels with warm water, roll them up, and put them in a rice cooker. Turn it on, and in a few minutes, your towels will be perfectly warm and steamy. Now, all you need to do is to go off and relax!
5. Powdering or Crushing Toppings in a Coffee Grinder
A coffee grinder is the ideal tool for making crushed or powdered toppings. Place a handful of nuts, cookies, or crackers into your grinder, and pulse it a few times in order to achieve the perfect consistency. Use it to break up crackers for topping casseroles, to break down graham crackers for pie crusts, or simply to make chopped nuts for an ice cream sundae.
6. Disinfect Sponges in the Microwave
Sponges are notorious for being magnets for bacteria. That's why we recommend disinfecting them regularly, and the easiest way to do this is to place them in the microwave. Simply get your sponges a little wet, and then microwave them for 1-2 minutes.
If you own a dishwasher, then cooking vegetables and fish couldn't be easier! Simply vacuum seal your vegetables and fish, and place the bag on your dishwasher's top rack. Then, just run your dishwasher on its hottest cycle, and get ready to enjoy a steamy and healthy meal!
8. Shred Meat in a Stand Mixer
Shredding meat can be a terribly time-consuming task, but here's a tip that'll help save you a load of hassle. After your meat has been cooked, simply place it into your stand mixer's bowl. Then, use its paddle attachment and a low or medium speed setting to watch the meat fall apart before your eyes! You can use this method for shredding chicken, pork, or even beef brisket.
9. Make Single Servings in an Ice Cube Tray
You can easily store and preserve single servings of things like cubes of pesto, fresh herbs, and even baby food by freezing them in ice cube trays or silicone molds. This is a really convenient and consistent way to store plenty of different ingredients or sauces, and will save you a lot of time in the long run!
Don't let its name fool you, since an egg slicer is actually capable of easily slicing a lot more than just eggs! In fact, we've found that it's perfect for uniformly slicing quite a variety of soft foods, such as cheese, mushrooms, avocados or strawberries.
11. Steam Cleaning Everywhere
Most people only use their steam cleaner to clean floors with hard surfaces. However, you can actually use it to clean your curtains, windows, grills, shower doors, upholstery, and a whole lot more!
12. Using a Crock Pot as a Potpourri Warmer
If you fill a crock pot with flowers, spices, herbs, and fruits, you'll be able to instantly fill your home with whatever kind of scent tickles your fancy. We recommend using a mini crock pot to save on counter space.