# Life hacks you figured out on your own **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041 "2023-03-11T20:36:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/470 "2023-05-10T19:06:21Z")
When I make manicotti, I don’t cook the pasta before filling, I just spoon the cheese mix into the uncooked tubes and cover with slightly watered down sauce so that there is some liquid for the manicotti to soak up while baking. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/471 "2023-05-10T22:51:36Z")
This all makes me want to learn how to make lasagna. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/472 "2023-05-11T00:09:48Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I haven’t cooked lasagna noodles for years. . . . I put them in uncooked and have never had an issue. A “friend” told me about this trick right before a dinner party I was throwing. Like a fool I went ahead and trusted her; the result was a gluey mess. I was mortified, and ordered pizza for my guests instead. Multiple people have told me they do this and it comes out wonderful, but there is something they do that is different than my method. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/473 "2023-05-11T01:26:47Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > trying to handle those hot, slippery noodles. I _think_ you can get used to it over time. My gf can’t handle hot stuff in the kitchen and is amazed that I can. I cooked for a living for a year in my youth and maybe picked up techniques or calluses. I’m hands on with other stuff. Turning burgers/kabobs/etc on the grill I use a spatula under and my hand over. ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/474 "2023-05-11T07:18:56Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > there is something they do that is different than my method. I have found that putting the lasagna together in the morning and leaving it in the fridge all day, or until next day, will avoid the gluey mess, which I have had too when I have been pressed for time. I suppose the plates are softened, lying in the sauce for hours. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/475 "2023-05-11T14:03:54Z")
> [@Mikkel](#): > > I have found that putting the lasagna together in the morning and leaving it in the fridge all day, or until next day, will avoid the gluey mess, I’ve done it your way and I’ve also done it where I put it together and bake immediately. I’ve never noticed a difference. It’s always come out great. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/476 "2023-05-11T14:35:22Z")
Some lasagna recipes include a lot more free liquid than others do. The wetter ones will soften the noodles adequately. The drier ones won’t. Some ricottas are much wetter than others. Some meat fillings are quite fatty while others are quit lean. Lots of differences there too. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/477 "2023-05-11T14:48:00Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > If you have a disposer in the sink, run that (with running water) while you are pouring the bleach, which throws the bleach combo everywhere. I tend to fill the sink with warm, soapy, bleach water. When it is almost overflowing and then pull the plug and turn on the disposer. It works well for me. I may be wrong, but ‘warm, soapy, bleach water’ produces some poisonous gas, right? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/478 "2023-05-11T14:52:11Z")
Depends on what other cleaners you mix with the bleach. Because consumers are stupid, the warnings on the bleach bottles say to never mix _anything_ with bleach. They’re more interested in not getting sued than they are in scientific accuracy. It happens that ordinary liquid dish soap is safe. Although it’s hard to know when that formulation might change and add at least trace amounts of something problematic. Here’s a cite: > **[Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners](https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/bleach-mixing-dangers)** > > Don't mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaners. Mixing bleach with common cleaning products can cause serious injuries. Be sure to always read the product label before using a cleaning product. Chlorine Bleach Sodium Hypochlorite is the... ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/479 "2023-05-11T16:23:22Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Depends on what other cleaners you mix with the bleach. This. The bleach (and other cleaner) bottles used to be more specific. You can put bleach in the washing machine you run in your home and that mixes with your laundry cleaner. Yet people have lived to tell the tale. Same goes for dish soaps. But don’t mix with ammonia, lye, etc. But your dish soap is safe. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/480 "2023-05-11T17:28:03Z")
Do not mix bleach and ammonia - boy, I almost learned that one the hard way. Working at a pizza place in college, one day I was assigned to clean out the grubby 55 gallon rolling trash cans in the kitchen. I poured some ammonia in the bottom of a trash barrel and sprayed in a bunch of hot water. Then, just before I commenced to scrubbing, I thought “hey, how about some bleach to help de-gunk this thing?” The manager on duty saw what I was doing and literally grabbed me by the collar and yanked me back as I was about to dive headfirst into the trash barrel to scrub out the bottom. 😲 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/481 "2023-05-11T17:28:43Z")
Noodle technology seems to have improved over the years. Most brands say you can simply bake the noodles in sauce when making lasagna. They didn’t always say this, though I have never used any other method. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/482 "2023-05-11T18:11:49Z")
There’s such a thing as “no boil” lasagna noodles according to a recipe I found. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/483 "2023-05-11T18:23:54Z")
It’s been my experience that oven ready pasta needs plenty of sauce to cook in. Oven ready is easier but I prefer to cook the noodles first, and it’s easier to get them to fit in a smaller baking dish if already cooked. Though I have been successful in snapping them first when dry. Sometimes I just want two small bakes ( one veg, one meat) and not one humongous whopper of a bake. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/484 "2023-05-11T18:32:04Z")
Googling tells me that no boil lasagna noodles are thinner. Also they are preboiled and then dried so kind of par cooked. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/485 "2023-05-12T22:36:45Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Multiple people have told me they do this and it comes out wonderful, but there is something they do that is different than my method. Add a little extra liquid because the noodles will have to absorb some of what’s there. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/486 "2023-05-13T16:36:18Z")
I’ve always made lasagna with dry noodles. I’ve never had a problem with it coming out crunchy or soggy. I must have a gift. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2023, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/487 "2023-05-13T23:28:52Z")
I make lasagna a lot, but I’ve never used unboiled noodles. I figure the absolute best case is it will turn out a little dryer than I want it to be, and I don’t see any upside in monkeying with my recipe to try to add enough extra liquid to avoid that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/488 "2023-05-14T00:25:06Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I _think_ you can get used to it over time. My gf can’t handle hot stuff in the kitchen and is amazed that I can. I cooked for a living for a year in my youth and maybe picked up techniques or calluses. My grandmother had asbestos hands. She’d been known to get casseroles out of the oven without pot holders. Nobody, including her, was ever sure how she was able to do it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041/489 "2023-05-14T01:48:48Z")
If you routinely handle stupid-hot stuff you get used to it. Somehow. As a HS & college student I was involved in theater lighting. In that gig you’re always handling hot metal. I got able to easily deal with temps that would have made me cry 3 years previously. Or raised blisters quickly in an ordinary person. Now, 50 years later, that “skill” has been gone for 40 years. But it _was_ real. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-hacks-you-figured-out-on-your-own/981041.md?page=25)