Tips for bachelors (and bachelorettes).
laundryday
I like!
No thanks!
Favorite
40 commentsReplies
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
I'll start with some simple cooking tips:
To reheat cooked pasta, put it in a colander and run hot water over it for a minute or two. This prevents it from getting that rubbery texture it gets if you reheat it in the microwave.
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
How to cook a hot dog in the microwave: wrap it with a paper towel, soak the towel with water, and heat for one minute. Perfecto.
(I don't use that one too often anymore thanks to my Weber.)
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
Whites can be washed with blue clothes, because blue dye makes whites look whiter.
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
OK, that's all I have off the top of my head. Looking forward to hearing some from others.
cupcakes, really. said, (35 days ago)
Oh. I thought this was for bachelors looking to not be bachelors.
I'll be on my way then.
emm said, (35 days ago)
Popcorn +yums:
Jack some parmesan cheese packets from Pizza Hut. Make popcorn and pour the cheese all over it. Also melted butter, if you're feeling particularly bad. EAT IT AND WATCH LORD OF THE RINGS.
seemingly satanic said, (35 days ago)
When visiting your lady friend's home, do not forget to bring a refreshment.
le_sacre said, (35 days ago)
rice cookers are super useful. they work for any grain that needs to simmer until liquid is absorbed: rice, couscous, quinoa, etc. will also cook lentils: cook rice and lentils together for a complete protein.
no need to buy expensive and usually unhealthy microwave popcorn: just put some oil on medium-high heat, throw some popcorn kernels on it, and cover.
i've stopped separating my laundry, and my whites are doing fine. i wash with cold water. i also machine wash many items that are marked "dry clean only"--no problems so far.
invite people over regularly--it will goad you into living in a relatively clean apartment.
le_sacre said, (35 days ago)
microwaves can cook more than you think. for example, 7-8 minutes in the microwave will effectively bake a squash, 5-7 minutes for a potato/yam (just pierce the skin first).
pepperoni said, (35 days ago)
to remove deodorant marks from dark clothing, rub gently with a clean area of the same article of clothing.
white wine will help remove red wine stains (fresh).
cornstarch will help remove oil stains (again, fresh).
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
@le_sacre: Yeah, I don't do that last one nearly enough, and my band is used to the mess.
pepperoni said, (35 days ago)
using a crockpot to make stew or soup on sunday will give you lunch for the week. inexpensive and healthful!
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
@le_sacre: Also, here's a tip I learned from the mother of the owner of my favorite restaurant - you don't need to measure water for a rice cooker. Just put in the rice, then fill it until it reaches the height of your first knuckle of your index finger while touching the top of the rice. It's a strange one, but it works.
mizsarah said, (35 days ago)
You need to change your sheets at least once a month, or every two weeks if you actually plan to get laid
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
@mizsarah: Thanks for the reminder. I was going to switch to flannel and the electric blanket about a week ago, but it got hot all of the sudden.
mizsarah said, (35 days ago)
On a similar note - a feather duvet with a cotton cover makes it easier to make your bed quickly than having loads of blankets. Then kick all the laundry into the closet and poof, your room is clean enough for company.
mizsarah said, (35 days ago)
Know how to make the following dishes and you'll never go hungry:
an omelet
a roast chicken
spaghetti and meatballs
pork chops
the perfect grilled cheese
chili
chicken soup
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
@mizsarah: Man, I thought was doing good with canned chili and Fritos.
(OK, I don't really feed my kid canned chili & Fritos - at least not every night. I do cook.)
mizsarah said, (35 days ago)
That's okay, my dad fed us canned chili on spaghetti. That and fried egg sandwiches.
erica said, (35 days ago)
I like that these are food tips instead of dating tips, actually.
Ummm, more of a household tip - if you have something impossibly sticky on the counter or floor, let a damp paper towel sit on it for a while. Then it will be as easy as pie to clean up.
Also, when in doubt, try baking soda.
soulcamp said, (35 days ago)
When cooking, the proper ratio for replacing fresh chopped onion with dehydrated ones is 14:1 (i.e. once ounce of dehydrated onion will equal 14 ounces of fresh onion). I just learned that one a few weeks ago.
Make Art said, (35 days ago)
Drying clothes in the microwave is not recommended. It might work if you keep them moving but if you just put in, say a cotton polyester mix white shirt you need for work, and leave it for a few minutes, there's a chance some parts will become especially dry and brittle like burnt paper. Amusing though this is it doesn't help you having a clean shirt for work.
Reamworks SKG said, (35 days ago)
Can some GT! girl go out on a date with @soulcamp and cheer him up?
bluefish said, (34 days ago)
back to the rice cooker, it actually makes a fast and easy-to-clean device for steaming veggies.
a pathetic one, along the lines of eating over the sink... when trying to get spaghetti sauce out of the sauce pan and onto your plate, fork some clean pasta into the pan and use it like a mop.
go.