General Tips
- When thawing frozen meat in the refrigerator, place package in the dish you intend to prepare it in. The dish will be ready when you begin preparing dinner and it'll catch any blood that may otherwise seep out of the packaging.
- Keep a sandwich baggy in your margarine or shortening tub. Use a sandwich baggy as a glove to grease a pan with margarine or shortening. It'll keep your hands clean and make greasing pans faster. Use a pony tail holder or rubber band to help secure it to your wrist if the baggy slips off.
- Use empty salsa glass jars to store bacon grease. It's the perfect size and a spoonful of bacon grease adds great flavor to green beans and other dishes without adding too much fat!
- Strain any type of grease (pork, beef, etc) by securing several layers of cheese cloth with a rubber band over the mouth of a glass jar. Pour the warm grease over the cheese cloth to filter all the unwanted bits.
- Do NOT store fruit in the refrigerator. Fruit continues to ripen once picked so go for fruit that is slightly under-ripe to get the most bang for your buck.
- Use empty spice jars for you own custom spice blends, powdered sugar, toothpicks, paper clips, push pins, etc.
- Use a tall plastic powdered creamer jar for an easy pour sugar container you keep on the counter or near the coffee pot.
- Keep an oversized bowl on the counter for trash, peelings, etc. It'll keep your messes contained and clean up easy
- Use a baking soda/vinegar paste to scour pans, counter & stove tops without removing paint or non-stick coatings. Be careful, the baking soda foams when first mixed with vinegar.
- Be sure to load dishwasher according to manufacturer's instructions and use minimum amount of dishwashing detergent to gain optimum results w/minimal price.
- Use vinegar in dishwasher rinse cycle instead of pricey Jet Dry. You'll get the same drying effect for more than half the cost.
- Quickly wipe down counters and appliances with a vinegar/water solution to cut grease, remove dust, freshen the room.
- Clean the inside of the microwave by nuking a sponge soaked in 100% vinegar or a small bowl of 100% vinegar for 2 minutes, allow microwave door to remain closed another 5 minutes then wipe clean with paper towel or sponge. The heated vinegar puts off moisture and fumes that help break down the gunkiest gook so it simply wipes away. (The idea MAY work in an oven but, I have not tried it yet)
- Run straight vinegar through your coffee pot once followed by 2 fulls pots of clean water to remove any residue or calcium buildup.
- Make spreadable butter by whipping slightly softened butter and vegetable oil together. To prevent butter from softening too fast during the mixing stage, place bowl with butter/oil mixture in another bowl slightly large with ice water. It helps maintain the cool temperature needed so you don't use too much oil. Make flavored spreads by using olive oil, honey, garlic salts, oregano, parsley flakes, etc. Use empty margarine tubs for storage.
- Substitute powdered milk for regular milk when baking or cooking.
- Make your own flavored coffee creamer with powdered milk, sugar, and flavoring or extract. Add small quantities of sugar and just a few drops of flavoring to a cup of powdered milk, blend together in blender. Add sugar and flavoring till you get a combination you like. Store in a jar or old coffee creamer container.
- Extend the life of a can of coffee by grinding coffee grounds into a very fine powder. You'll get a stronger brew using less coffee. This also works VERY well to increase the flavor of inexpensive coffee or store brands. You can use a coffee grinder, food processor, or magic bullet (my personal preference).
- Use double strength beef stock and highly concentrated tea as a natural meat tenderizer. Tannin in tea acts as a natural tenderizer.
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