# Clever hacks that you've never gotten to work **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692 "2021-02-25T01:15:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/141 "2021-03-12T12:05:02Z")
^My gf has an egg cooker like that and swears by it. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/142 "2021-03-12T16:25:12Z")
I’ve got one, too. I got lazy and didn’t want to dig it out of the cabinet, but I totally should have. I love my egg cooker; sometimes it under-cooks the eggs, but if you let it sit for about 3 minutes once it’s done, they’re great. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/143 "2021-03-12T18:04:26Z")
A friend showed me years ago how to tie bunny-eared shoelaces with one pass, but I can’t remember how he did it. There’s no spin-tying. He just grabbed the laces, pulled, and voila. I’ve googled, but all I get are tips for tying one-handed. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/144 "2021-03-14T04:21:10Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > the yolk was a perfectly poached ping pong ball somewhere toward the back of the microwave and the whites were splattered over the roof and sides of said appliance, with none to be found in the actual mug itself. Saran Wrap over the mug, with a hole poked into it. ---
**Author:** ![wjChia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wjChia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wjChia)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/145 "2021-03-14T15:54:18Z")
probably something like this, which I use to tie my shoelaces > **[How to Tie a Handcuff Knot? Tips, Uses & Step-By-Step Instruction](https://www.101knots.com/handcuff-knot.html)** > > The handcuff knot, also known as the hobble knot forms two loops on a length of rope secured at the center that can be used as makeshift handcuffs as pointed out in The Ashley Book of Knots. However, since it does not have any inherent locking... ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/146 "2021-03-14T16:18:43Z")
Yep. Once in a while those don’t work and I run the jar/cap under hot water for a minute or two. The metal lid expands faster than the glass, and then with the addition of the silicone grip, generally works. I’m not above whacking the top to break a seal though either. And only occasionally after applying all three of these need to use the tool of last resort - my husband. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/147 "2021-03-14T17:49:28Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > the tool of last resort - my husband. That doesn’t speak well to your relationship. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/148 "2021-03-14T18:02:10Z")
😝 ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/149 "2021-03-14T21:50:12Z")
That’s an expensive boiled egg. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/150 "2021-03-14T21:51:24Z")
> [@LoneRhino](#): > > That’s an expensive boiled egg. - It gets used for other things. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/151 "2021-03-14T23:04:06Z")
Every time I see a gadget marketed as e.g. a “microwave egg poacher”, the smartass in me says “Gee, I wonder what a microwave elephant poacher would look like”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/152 "2021-03-14T23:16:24Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Every time I see a gadget marketed as e.g. a “microwave egg poacher”, the smartass in me says “Gee, I wonder what a microwave elephant poacher would look like”. - He would be carrying one of these. [![](https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/ar_4:3%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTc0MjgyMDI2MDkzMzI0MTU2/microwave-radio-communications.jpg) ](https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/ar_4:3%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_1200/MTc0MjgyMDI2MDkzMzI0MTU2/microwave-radio-communications.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/153 "2021-03-15T16:39:46Z")
That makes way too much sense. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/154 "2021-03-15T17:09:40Z")
Thanks! So simple! ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/155 "2021-03-15T17:43:10Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > The one where garlic cloves are supposed to be de-skinned ( or very much easier to skin ) if you shake them vigorously in a covered bowl. I tried this once and got it to work, but the key is that you need really high-velocity impacts of the garlic against the sides of the bowl. This required two critical features in the method: - Instead of a bowl with a cover, I used two large bowls, one upside down on the other. This created a long “fetch” length so that when you were shaking the whole rig, the garlic could build up greater relative speed before slamming into the opposite side of the enclosure. - Seek the services of someone with substantial upper body strength, i.e. someone who can shake this thing with extreme violence. Although I got it to work on that one occasion, I haven’t repeated it because it was such a hassle. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/156 "2021-03-15T20:21:49Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Instead of a bowl with a cover, I used two large bowls, one upside down on the other. I never got the shaking bowls trick to work either but this make me wonder if a cocktail shaker wouldn’t work at least as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/157 "2021-03-15T21:36:51Z")
I’ve been trying to use the advice in this thread, but I made a godawful mess when I crushed the egg with the flat of a butterknife. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/158 "2021-03-15T21:43:01Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’ve been trying to use the advice in this thread, but I made a godawful mess when I crushed the egg with the flat of a butterknife.- You probably forgot to steam it first! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/159 "2021-03-15T21:46:52Z")
Silly @needscoffee ! Steaming a butter knife takes _forever_. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2021, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692/160 "2021-03-15T21:52:04Z")
^^ Add a tsp of baking soda. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clever-hacks-that-youve-never-gotten-to-work/933692.md?page=9)