9 weird kitchen hacks

Weird is often wonderful, as in these neat kitchen tricks to help you get it all done as quickly as possible.

You've rinsed and spun your salad, but those green leaves are still wet. Don't waste paper towels to dry each one; instead, set your hair dryer on low/cool and gently wave it over the greens.

Finding it impossible to peel ginger without losing some of its precious flesh? Here's a chef's secret: If you're a righty, hold the ginger in your left hand, and using a teaspoon, firmly scrape the edge of the spoon along the knob with your right. The papery skin will peel right off.

Held taut, dental floss slices layer cakes, tender quick breads, soft cheeses, butter and plenty of other soft foods even better than a sharp knife.

Cut off the top third of an empty plastic bottle and turn it upside down. Now you can easily funnel leftover sauces, gravies, kidney beans, or even grease into containers for storage or trash.

A sharp (and rust-free) handsaw works wonders when you're serving those juicy racks of ribs at your annual summertime gathering. Slip the blade between the bones, give it one or two good saws, and the result will be perfectly separated ribs.

Beef and poultry drippings from a roast make the most delicious, flavourful gravy base but are often small grease bombs. Save the flavour and kill the fat by straining the cooking juices through a paper coffee filter.

Use clean household scissors to snip fresh herbs and green onions into salads or mixing bowls. Scissors are also perfect for cutting steam vents in the top crust of a pie about to be put in the oven.

Store serving spoons, whisks, tongs and other kitchen tools in flowerpots set at the back of a countertop. To make the pots more decorative, paint each one in a different pastel colour.

A clean shoehorn has at least two uses in the kitchen. Scrape the wide end along a corn cob to remove the kernels, and use the narrow end to gently release baked muffins from their tin.

Time spent in the kitchen will go much faster with these quirky kitchen hacks — and your family will be impressed with your ingenuity!

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