# Your life-hacks (formerly known as tips & tricks) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267 "2024-07-15T12:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [August 8, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/81 "2024-08-08T14:07:43Z")
Oh, speaking of freezers, and relevant for those of us in northern Ohio right now, it’s super-easy to make a thaw detector. Take some small container with a lid, fill it with water, freeze it, put a penny on top, and put it in the freezer. Have a power outage, and you’re not sure when power comes back on if your food is safe? Check the thaw detector. If the penny is now at the bottom of the container, your freezer thawed. If it’s still at the top, it stayed frozen. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/82 "2024-08-08T15:01:41Z")
good low-key indicator … as somebody who worked in frozen foods for quite some time, please bear in mind that thawed food is not by default bad (even if it refreezes) … What freezing does quite well is - keeping bacterial grow at pretty much zero. If things thawed (temp. above freezing), but still stayed cold (think refrigerator cold) that bacterial grow starts again - but very slowly. If you freeze it again (e.g. due to poweroutage) you just freeze (=halt) the bacterial growth again at this stage (with a slightly higher bact. count)… so from a bacterial POV it is still perfectly fine. This perpetuated fear seems to come from the early days of freezers (1950ies, 60ies) when producers of freezers had to educate consumers and took the easiest (for them) solution: **DONT REFREEZE!** And that stuck with generations of people as “_oh my god, this lasagna thawed, you cannot freeze it again, or we all will die a slow and painful death_” repeated cycles might/will worsten the texture of your food (as tiny ice crystals will pierce cell-walls and might make your food mushy … but that’s about it - as long as you cook/heat your food afterwards and it has not been sitting in a warm (say 20°C) freezer for days you should be good. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/83 "2024-08-08T15:44:45Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > please bear in mind that thawed food is not by default bad (even if it refreezes) … Well, _some_ is (e.g. ice cream). ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/84 "2024-08-08T15:46:07Z")
I do the same thing with ice cubes. Ice cubes are routinely removed from the tray and kept in a container for use, if the ice cubes are still cube shaped, we’re good. If they’re melted and refrozen, danger! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/85 "2024-08-08T16:13:17Z")
When you are choosing your hand of bananas, weight counts. Lighter weight, but ripe looking means they’re still fresh. Heavy and yellow they may be getting old. I’m not sure why, I’ve been doing that for years. I don’t like buying them green. It never seems to work out. ---
**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/86 "2024-08-08T17:18:44Z")
Bananas: I only peel them “monkey-style” if the stem has become soft or had some other failure when bending it to peel the traditional way. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/87 "2024-08-08T17:41:17Z")
Yeah, my test only tells you whether the freezer thawed or not. You can’t make any single definitive statement about the food inside, because that’ll depend on the food. Yesterday I transferred a bunch of stuff from my mom’s freezers to a place that still had power, and some things are going to have to be thrown out, but all the frozen fruit (which will mostly be turned into jam or cobbler eventually) should still be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/88 "2024-08-08T18:04:26Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > and those wooden kebab skewers, when feathersticking them, make for a great hair-retrieval-device to get long hair-“bunnies” out of your bathroom sink (father of 3 teenage girls ;-). > > [https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/kqEcVip9hpLWv1rISK6SD\_muYODBEVTff2Xh3BcfCAE-SBddM9L7CEiTTvzpujhYsrV1\_rCnUHM2gN2GKNrx7Bn72uBAPXulezfoYAY](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/kqEcVip9hpLWv1rISK6SD_muYODBEVTff2Xh3BcfCAE-SBddM9L7CEiTTvzpujhYsrV1_rCnUHM2gN2GKNrx7Bn72uBAPXulezfoYAY) I made something similar recently by cutting teeth on the edges of a long zip tie with a razor knife. Worked a treat. I select oranges by weight on the theory that the heavier they are, the juicier they are. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/89 "2024-08-08T19:32:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, my test only tells you whether the freezer thawed or not. You can’t make any single definitive statement about the food inside, because that’ll depend on the food. I know that the internet connect refrigerators I’ve seen have a bunch of seemingly useless stuff (screens in the door, Alexa or whatever flavor of home automation, recipes, inventory management, etc.) but what would really be useful is a temperature monitoring and logging function, power outage details, power usage, and things like water filter change reminders. With e-mail, text, or app connectivity. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/90 "2024-08-08T23:39:29Z")
The ice cube ones above reminded me of another. I don’t remember where I first heard this and it sounds dumb but it works. After you fill your ice tray and are carrying it to the freezer, to avoid spilling any of the water, hum while you hold it and you won’t spill a drop. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/91 "2024-08-08T23:45:18Z")
I, being a higher primate who knows how to buy and use tools, I have a knife. So cut in half I will. I’ve done it like that since I had little kids who would waste a whole banana but happily eat 1/2 of one. Luckily I had an even number of kids. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/92 "2024-08-09T01:34:05Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Luckily I had an even number of kids. obligatory SDMB-nitpick: well, you had an odd number of kids before you had an even number … unless… (I leave the door open for nitpick-nitpickery) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/93 "2024-08-09T10:23:21Z")
Always have twins, that way, you get a conveniently even number of kids with half the pregnancies. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/94 "2024-08-09T14:13:32Z")
That’s a lot of fuss just to avoid having to eat the last half-banana yourself… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/95 "2024-08-20T06:26:04Z")
Before putting a frozen pepperoni pizza in the oven, take off the pepperonis, stack them, cut them into quarters, and sprinkle them back over the pizza. You’ll get more efficient pepperoni coverage and won’t have to worry about cutting through a slice when you cut the pizza. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/96 "2024-08-20T14:28:58Z")
That’s a great idea! It bothers me when I have to cut through a slice of pepperoni and only a sliver gets on one piece. I know - big problems! 😆 ---
**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:** [August 20, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/97 "2024-08-20T21:14:07Z")
I have always had an even number of children. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/98 "2024-08-20T22:44:25Z")
And how _are_ the quadruplets doing? ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/99 "2024-08-21T18:49:19Z")
Same for video game consoles, which I like tucked away on a shelf or in a cabinet unfortunately without good ventilation. XBox360 was very prone to overheating crashes, resting it on a trivet solved all of the issues. My later PS4 would have similar crashes which went away with a trivet. The PS5 isn’t shaped to be able to rest on a trivet, so I have it out in the open instead of in a cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267/100 "2024-08-22T01:53:04Z")
I have a 3 level paper tray in a metal mesh - my router goes on that [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-life-hacks-formerly-known-as-tips-tricks/1004267.md?page=6)