Kitchen
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Set up a breadmaker and coffee pot timer at night to wake up to fresh bread and coffee.
It provides warm bread and coffee ready for breakfast at a lower cost than store-bought options.
one person who lived it
Submerge the straw in water with one or two denture tablets and let it sit until clean.
It leaves the straw clean and smelling minty.
one person who lived it
Buy a vacuum sealer to portion and freeze sale meat, preventing freezer burn and keeping packaged goods fresh.
Meat bought on sale and frozen this way remains perfect for months; it also reseals bags to keep snacks crisp.
one person who lived it
Use a rice cooker as a steamer and one-pot meal maker for quick dinners with rice, veggies, and protein.
It simplifies cooking rice and allows for complete meals in about 30 minutes.
one person who lived it
Replace plastic wrap with stainless steel clamp bowls featuring rubber seals for an airtight food storage solution.
The seal is airtight and the bowls can be placed directly on the stove top for reheating.
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buy, ensure, food, cheap21
Skip manual can openers from dollar stores; they may be dull and ineffective.
Do not skimp on kitchen equipment such as pots, pans, and knives.
Cheap knives from Walmart developed brown specks (possibly rust) within weeks and handles started coming off.
one person who lived it
Buy high-quality kitchen appliances rather than cheap ones to ensure they last for years.
Cheap appliances do not last as long.
one person who lived it
Use a milk frother to mix protein powder or other drinks quickly.
It mixes perfectly in 5 seconds, which is better than a shaker.
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Use an electric air popper to ensure no kernels burn.
Hot air popping prevents burning unlike microwave or stovetop methods.
- Some modern models have shorter towers that eject popcorn violently, making a mess.
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Buy conversion disks for stovetops rather than purchasing new cookware.
Conversion disks are much cheaper than buying new pots and pans.
one person who lived it
Replace scratched nonstick pans instead of trying to fix them.
The non-stick coating is easily destroyed and the pan is ruined once scratched.
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Buy a high-quality trash can with replaceable parts to keep recyclables off the counter and ensure longevity.
One user's dual can lasted over 7 years.
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Switch to glass food storage containers to prevent odor retention and staining.
They don't retain odors, don't stain like plastic containers, and no chemicals leach into your food.
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Use an electric kettle to save time and increase convenience.
It saves time and makes life convenient.
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Wash new slow cookers thoroughly and boil water in them before first use to remove chemical tastes.
One user reported ruining dinner because a new cooker imparted a bad taste.
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Buy heavy-duty stainless steel steak knives with hardwood handles at the dollar store for quality comparable to expensive restaurants.
One user found them indistinguishable from table service at Ruth's Chris Steak House.
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Dry out spent coffee grounds, put them in a container, and keep that container in the refrigerator to absorb odors.
One person found this method quite effective against smells and stated it outperforms baking soda.
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Buy a sharpening stone to maintain inexpensive kitchen knives, making them perform like expensive ones.
Makes a $10 knife equivalent to a $200 one.
one person who lived it
Buy a digital meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking temperatures and convince skeptical diners.
Steaks are never overdone and chicken never undercooked; helps convince skeptics.
one person who lived it
Skip manual can openers from dollar stores; they may be dull and ineffective.
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Buy high-end food storage containers like Rubbermaid or Tupperware.
Cheap containers leak or fail to stay airtight, reducing longevity for bulk frugal food making.
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Buy a high-quality can opener to ensure smooth operation.
Cheaper openers often barely work.
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Use a kitchen thermometer to check food temperature.
To avoid undercooking or overcooking meat.
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Buy Pyrex cookware instead of cheaper Anchor brand alternatives.
The Anchor brand is inferior.
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Use stretchy silicone lids to quickly cover bowls instead of cling film.
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If paint rubs off cheap plastic stacking cups, write measurements on them with permanent marker.
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water, soap, clean, remove13
Clean protein shaker bottles with hot water and vinegar to remove odors.
Hold the dish soap nozzle under running tap water while filling the sink to wash away buildup.
This removes crud and prevents soap from being wasted.
- Experiment with the angle to minimize water entering the bottle.
one person who lived it
Push a thin piece of tissue paper through the straw using another plastic straw to wipe out dirt.
This method can remove significant amounts of dirt from the straw.
one person who lived it
Use a clean shoelace to clean straws, as its similar width provides a tight fit against the edges.
It is thought to be the most effective due to the tight fit.
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Rinse the sieve under running water.
To remove soap.
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Get a dishwasher to cut down on the annoyance of cleaning up after cooking.
Cleaning up is the most annoying part of cooking.
one person who lived it
Use a proper scraper to clean cast iron cookware.
Cleaning was miserable until finding one; it is also inexpensive.
one person who lived it
Orient garbage disposals vertically rather than sideways.
Sideways installations are ugly and use up more cabinet space.
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Rinse new slow cookers with vinegar followed by water to eliminate residual tastes.
It helps with the taste.
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Refill hand wash pump bottles to dispense a consistent amount of soap and prevent nozzle buildup.
Pumps eject enough soap with just a couple of pumps, helping control usage compared to indiscriminate squeezing.
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Use a silicone microwave popper for quick preparation, adding toppings after popping and rinsing the device to remove debris.
It is fast and easy.
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Install an automatic soap dispenser in the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination when handling raw meat.
It provides relief from worrying about contaminating hands when needing to wash again after touching items like raw chicken.
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Adjust the tap flow velocity to balance mechanically knocking off crud against allowing time for water to dissolve detergent.
Higher velocity knocks crud off; slower flow allows more time for water to dissolve detergent.
one person who lived it
Clean protein shaker bottles with hot water and vinegar to remove odors.
3 people, independently