Show notes
This week on Supercharged we’re talking about the wonderful world of food hacks. We’re also answering your questions about food. It’s just all about food, thanks to guests Alan Henry and Steven Berger. Got a question or comment? Email it to supercharged@toasterdog.com! Show notes: http://5by5.tv/supercharged/14 Links for this episode:Casey Liss' batch photo editing scriptsIn reference to last week's question about quick batch photo renaming options, courtesy of Jason Becker. LiftAn iOS and Android "don't break the chain" app that syncs! Thank you to Oscar Sanchez for the tip! How to Peel a Mango in Under 10 SecondsMangoes are objectively one of the best fruits in the world (see you in the comments), but they can be notoriously difficult to peel, due to how slippery they are inside. Here's how to skip the mess and get rid of those pesky skins in seconds. Tip Tester: Can You Peel Apples in Seconds with a Cordless Drill?Peeling apples isn't exactly difficult, but if you have a ton to peel (and you don't have a tabletop apple peeler), it can be time consuming. When we stumbled on this method from Instructables user bricobart, we had to give it a try. Good news, it works! Kind of. Peel a Head of Garlic in Less than 10 Seconds with Two BowlsPeeling garlic is kind of a messy endeavor, and it can take a few minutes to peel all that skin off. Cooking web site Saveur shows us how to peel an entire head in less than 10 seconds—using just a couple of bowls. Tested: The Best Tear-Free Tricks for Cutting OnionsI dread cooking with onions. Like many others, doing so makes me weep uncontrollable, stinging tears of frustration. So in a moment of insanity, I decided to test the numerous tricks we’ve posted over the years to tame these tear-jerkers. Here’s what I found. This DIY Knife Sharpening Jig Helps You Get the Right Angle Every TimeWe've shown you how to use a sharpening stone to keep your knives in top condition before, but sharpening flat can make it tricky to get the right angle. This stand-up jig, however, keeps the stone in place and makes adjusting your sharpening angle easy. Plus, it's easy to make. Sharpen Knives with a Whetstone to Keep Your Blades in Top ConditionThe best thing you can do for a good knife is to keep it sharp, and the best way to sharpen it is to use a whetstone or water stone. That's how professional knife sharpeners do it (usually,) and this video is a simple, quick walkthrough of how to do it at home. The Right Way(s) to Sharpen a KnifeKeeping your knives sharp isn't just convenient; it's safe. Any chef will tell you that dull knives cause accidents. But how to keep your blades sharp without calling in the neighborhood knife sharpener or taking them into the local butcher (which is a perfectly good place to start, by the way)? The DIY experts at Stack Exchange have your answer(s). How Do I Sharpen a Kitchen Knife?A dull knife is a cook's worst enemy, and easily the most dangerous tool you can have in your kitchen. Thankfully, keeping your knives in good condition to use isn't terribly difficult, and you probably already have the tools required to do it. Airplane food tastes bad because your brain can't handle the noiseFor as long as there have been hack comedians, humanity has pondered the question: "What's the deal with airline food?" Well, science has figured it out: airplanes are just too damn loud for food to taste good. Give Bottled Airline Wine a Shake to Make It Taste Like First ClassThose little bottles of wine you can get on airlines have a reputation for being not so great—not to mention ridiculously expensive—but if you do partake, the folks at Vinepair have a suggestion: Pour a little out and give it a good firm shake before drinking the rest. Feel Rested After a Red Eye Flight by Adjusting Your Food and Water Intake ScheduleRed eye flights aren't fun, but sometimes they're inevitable. The worst part is getting to your destination early in the morning without sufficient rest. You have to go about your day tired, and that's tough. A thread on Quora, however, suggests you can avoid this problem with a few adjustments to your eating (and drinking) schedule. Delicious Dishes You Didn't Know You Could Make in a Slow CookerYou’ve probably heard about slow cookers, and how they can save you time and money in the kitchen. Most people use them for slowly simmered soups, stews, and broths, which is great—but did you know you can make cheesecake in your slow cooker? What about barbecue ribs? Let's talk about some unexpected, delicious meals that are surprisingly slow cooker-friendly. Make a Giant Pancake in Your Rice CookerRice cookers aren't just for rice. Put the super versatile appliance to work making an epic pancake. Make Broth from Leftover Cheese RindsThe next time you finish off a wedge of cheese and you're left with the rind, don't toss it out. We've mentioned how great it can be in soups and stews, but if you have a few left over, they make a great broth. When you're done, you'll have a perfect base for soup, for pasta or risotto, braising meats, and more. Use Leftover Juicer Pulp to Make Broth or Veggie CrackersIf you got a juicer, or you're using one because you want to eat healthier in the new year, you probably have a lot of leftover pulp and leavings from the fruits and veggies you've been juicing. This video from CHOW shows you how to use those leftovers, instead of tossing them in the trash or compost heap. Turn a Bad Bottle of Wine into Wine Jelly for an Easy to Make, Delicious TreatI'm a bit of a wine fan, so it's rare there's an unfinished bottle of wine in my fridge for more than a day, but I have stumbled on some really bad wines that I just don't want to drink any more of it. You could freeze and cook with it, but here's a way to finish off a bottle of bad wine if you're confronted with one: make wine jelly. Reheat Leftovers with a Damp Paper Towel to Avoid ToughnessFood is never quite the same when it's reheated the next day, but a few Redditors share some tips for making your leftovers a bit more appetizing. Reheat Pizza in a Skillet to Bring Back Crispy CrustsInstead of microwaving your leftover cold pizza to make soggy hot pizza, reheat the pizza slices in a large skillet on medium heat for 4-5 minutes with a domed lid for the pizza made with aluminum foil to help reflect heat back to the toppings without trapping steam inside. Refresh Pasta and Rice with a Quick SautéIt's great to cut down on food waste but many foods don't handle the trip to leftover land very well. Save pasta, rice, and other cooked grains from a clumpy, bland fate by giving them a quick sauté to firm them up. Find recipes based on what you've gotPopular recipe site Allrecipes lets you search their extensive recipe database based on ingredients you'd like to use. Not only that, but you can also specify ingredients you don't want, and you can limit your search to the type of food you're looking for. The Best Ways to Reuse Your Most Common Kitchen LeftoversIf you've had people over for a party, made a big meal, or you just happen to have a lot of scraps in your kitchen, there's a lot of ways you can use those things instead of throwing them all out. Use a Cheese Grater to Get Super Flaky Pie CrustThere are lots of things people do to get a super flaky pie crust—using vodka instead of water, for example—but this trick is useful if you want a really flaky crust, or if you don't have a rolling pin. Just reach for a cheese grater, as this video explains—you'll get an even better, flakier crust. Make Cold Brewed Coffee in Your BlenderCold brewed coffee is a great way to enjoy your daily caffeine fix, but making it can often be a little fussy depending on the method. This technique is quick, easy, and uses items you likely already have at home—no added equipment necessary. Quick Cold Brew Coffee in a Whipping SiphonCold-brew coffee, with its low acidity and rich body, might be worth the 24 hours it usually takes to make. But here's a great trick to make it in two hours. Place the water and coffee into a pressurized environment (we use a whipping siphon), chill it, and filter. Repurpose a Squeeze Bottle for Perfect PancakesIf your quest for the perfectly-shaped, drip-free pancake has lead you down the dark halls of infomercial madness, take note: all it takes is the re-purposing of a condiment squeeze bottle. Steam Scrambled Eggs with an Espresso MachineIf your morning scrambled eggs are coming up short and you happen to have an espresso machine handy, the next time you decide to cook up a batch, steam scramble your eggs for a delightfully creamy concoction. Cook Pizza in a Cast-Iron SkilletThink you need a pizza stone to make some great homemade pizza? Megan from DIY home weblog Not Martha suggests trying your trusty cast-iron skillet before shelling out for a uni-tasking pizza stone. Use Your Old, Neglected Waffle Iron to Make Brownies, Muffins, and Even Hash BrownsThe waffle iron has long been considered the quintessential "back of the kitchen cabinet" gift, only dragged out for that one time every few months you bother to make waffles from scratch, but thanks to the folks at Chow, it doesn't have to be. After all, what's a waffle iron but a pair of heating elements with a small space between? That's perfect for waffle-shaped brownies, muffins, and yes, even crispy fried hash-browns, just the way you like them. This might be old hat to some people, and indeed we've mentioned how to make cookies, make bacon in a waffle iron before. Use Non-Stick Cooking Spray to Make Scooping Sticky Ingredients a SnapIf you've ever had to measure honey, molasses, or corn syrup for a recipe, you know it kind of sucks. You never get as much out as you put in, and the measuring cup is hard to clean afterward. Well, Alton Brown has a simple fix: Spray it with some non-stick cooking spray first. Sticky stuff slides right out. Make Your Own Delicious Ramen That's Even Cheaper Than InstantInstant ramen is a poor shadow of the noodles you get at a ramen shop. Now you can make better-than-instant ramen at home for even less than those cheap packets you find at the grocery store. Turn a Watermelon Into Party-Friendly Jello ShotsWatermelon is delicious, but you know what's also delicious? Watermelon-flavored, boozy jello shots. Thankfully, if you have a watermelon, you can enjoy the best of both worlds—the watermelon itself, and party-friendly shots out of the watermelon rind. Here's how. Sink SteakThe Food Lab's Complete Guide to Dry-Aging Beef at HomeDry-age your own beef! Porterhouse PerfectionAlton Brown's Good Eats video guide. Make Delicious Two-Ingredient Ice Cream, No Machine RequiredIf the weather near you is like it is here, it's ridiculously hot and a cold treat can take the edge off the summer heat. Thanks to Instructables user doodlecraft, this ice cream recipe can hold the heat at bay, and you don't need a machine or a ton of ingredients to make it. It's simple and easy. Make Two-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse for a Quick and Delicious TreatDesserts don't have to get overly complicated—plenty of awesome two-ingredient options exist. We've previously featured cookies and ice cream. Now you can make chocolate mousse that way, too. Make Two-Ingredient Banana Pancakes for a Fun and Easy BreakfastWhile pancakes may not be the most healthy breakfast option, you can improve their contents with a small alteration. On top of that, it only takes two (and a half) ingredients to make them. Use a Shower Cap to Reheat Your Food Faster and with Less MessJoni writes in to share a favorite food hack: "I have one that is more for leftover food than actual food preparation. If you are at an office party (or any party, really) and have a plate of food that you just want leave on the plate and cover, instead of using foil or plastic wrap, you can use a shower cap. Just cover the entire plate with the shower cap and you're done! (I really hope this is obvious, but it should be a clean, unused shower cap.)" Bacon Pancake SticksA food hack favorite from listener David. This week's sponsor is Codeship. Thanks Codeship!
Full show notes at the publisher