What is that thingamabob called?

By now most of us know that the plasticky bit at the end of your shoelace is an Aglet and the pointy thing next to your vegetable peeler blade is used to scoop out blemishes on your fruits and veggies, but what else is there to know?

We love learning new things.

There is a wealth of click-bait out there, promising “50 things to do with your dishwasher” or “101 ways to use a wooden spoon”…but let’s be honest – Most of it is rubbish not really revolutionary, or helpful.

Kitchen common sense

Storytime: I live with the worlds biggest geek. A single-minded scientific monster-brain who can do complex mathematics in his head, instinctively understands any electronic device, has perfect recall for stats and specs and can play the most intricate musical pieces after hearing them once.

But the man cannot cook.

Never mind cook – the man can barely make a sandwich. (I was away from home for a while, and on day 11 I received a desperate WhatsApp: “Uhm, where do we keep the bread?” (We have a large, bright pink bread bin, standing on the counter next to the kettle with the word “BREAD” on it in large black print…)

That is when I realized, kitchen common sense isn’t so common.

So, I have sorted through the masses of so called “kitchen help” and here are some really interesting, helpful and sensible kitchen life hacks you might not have known about.

Theres a science behind packing a dishwasher.

According to a 2015 study done by the University of Birmingham (Yes – they spend actual research money on this), science shows that there is in fact a wrong way to pack a dishwasher.

Because the waterjets of your dishwasher spin in a circular motion, the strongest water spray hits the middle part of the bottom rack on your dishwasher. This is where you need to place those dishes that have the tough, high carb mess on them. Think mashed potatoes and gravy and blancmange sauces, with egg and meat (protein and fatty messes), doing well on the sides. The study also suggests placing thinner plastic containers on the top rack, because the direct heat form the heating element on the bottom can cause them to warp or melt.

Make the most of your microwave.

Now that you know how to pack your dishwasher, how about that other trusted kitchen appliance?

Salt and seasoning attract the micro-waves used for heating your food. This means its better to add extra salt to your dish after you’ve heated it. If you are heating something like soup or porridge, its best to stop the microwave and stir it through before giving it a last spin. If you are heating up pizza or a single solid piece of food like lasagna, cottage pie or apple tart, give it a slice down the middle and slightly pull it apart. This will ensure even heating and avoid hotspots.

Blenders and food processors are two different things.

Have you ever given real thought to your blender? It whips up your smoothy every morning, but what else can it do?

Blenders are best for soft, liquid food. Dips, soups, smoothies, and cocktails. Food processors are better for making things like cauliflower rice or other courses ingredients. Blenders and food processors have different blades, spinning at different speeds.

Blenders have a fixed blade at the bottom of the jar, that spins fast and finely purees your ingredients. Food processors on the other hand, have interchangeable blades and speed settings, allowing you to slice, or coarsely chop without pureeing your ingredients.

A blender also has a tall jar, for easy pouring, while a food processor has a bowl for chopping up vegetables and big ingredients.

There you have it – common knowledge that makes sense!

We hope you have learnt something new, and that this wasn’t just another mindless list of dodgy kitchen hacks. Before you buy a million new gadgets, its useful to first get the most out of the ones you already have…and if all else fails, at least just read the sign on the bread bin please!