How do YOU do it?

[Gary7]

Thought it might be interesting to have a topic about how we do things. Anything. Post about your way you do something and maybe we can see a few variations. It may spark some new ideas for others on tips & tricks that could be useful.

BANANAS
OK, this may seem banal, but how do you peel a banana? Most people start with the stem, partially snapping it to break the skin, then start peeling. I used to do it this way for most of my life, until I saw a nature program this past year about gorillas. They eat bananas. You know how they peel them? From the bottom.

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The skin flesh is softer there, so it's easier to break through than up by the stem where the fiber count is nearly double. Another advantage is that the stem actually becomes a bit of a handle, if you intend to eat the banana gradually. My technique is to use a knife or thumbnail and make a small slash in the skin near the bottom tip, to make it easier to start the peel. Plus, when peeling off the very bottom tip with a slight "lift", that pesky black "thorn" comes out easily (something you don't want to eat). Because the fiber content in the skin is smaller and less abundant at the bottom, the skin peels down rather easily.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I start at the stem and I have no desire to change. It is not like it is hard to do it that way.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Not sure if this is quite what you're talking about, but you know when you open a box of medicine capsules and they have those pads of pill compartments?

They're a pain in the butt if you don't have a knife or scissors or something, right?

Well, when she was 10 or so, my daughter figured out that if you tear one section loose, the sharp corner is perfect to cut one of the other sections open with. What's more, there's almost always an extra section that has no pills. It's almost like this use is what it is there for, and the pill manufacturers just never bothered to tell us.

So this is how I open these almost every time since then.

 

[Kor]

Thought it might be interesting to have a topic about how we do things. Anything. Post about your way you do something and maybe we can see a few variations. It may spark some new ideas for others on tips & tricks that could be useful.

BANANAS
OK, this may seem banal, but how do you peel a banana? Most people start with the stem, partially snapping it to break the skin, then start peeling. I used to do it this way for most of my life, until I saw a nature program this past year about gorillas. They eat bananas. You know how they peel them? From the bottom.

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Accept third party cookies

The skin flesh is softer there, so it's easier to break through than up by the stem where the fiber count is nearly double. Another advantage is that the stem actually becomes a bit of a handle, if you intend to eat the banana gradually. My technique is to use a knife or thumbnail and make a small slash in the skin near the bottom tip, to make it easier to start the peel. Plus, when peeling off the very bottom tip with a slight "lift", that pesky black "thorn" comes out easily (something you don't want to eat). Because the fiber content in the skin is smaller and less abundant at the bottom, the skin peels down rather easily.

But if I peel the banana from that end, then I have to deal with that hard black thing as a separate piece. If I peel from the stem, then I just leave the black thing attached to the peel once I get to the other end, and I can throw away one piece.

Kor

 

[Gary7]

But if I peel the banana from that end, then I have to deal with that hard black thing as a separate piece. If I peel from the stem, then I just leave the black thing attached to the peel once I get to the other end, and I can throw away one piece.

Kor

Actually you don't... the little black thing usually stays in the end piece. Or if you manage to break it off with some of the banana flesh and it's loose, just toss it. Simple.

 

[Gary7]

I start at the stem and I have no desire to change. It is not like it is hard to do it that way.

Ah, but just try it from the other end. Exercise the brain in doing things differently. See how it feels. You might surprise yourself. I had the same attitude in the beginning. "The other way pretty much works--why change?" Well, it's better from the bottom end. I'm glad I switched. And if you still find you prefer the other way, then that's perfectly fine.

 

[Gary7]

Not sure if this is quite what you're talking about, but you know when you open a box of medicine capsules and they have those pads of pill compartments?

They're a pain in the butt if you don't have a knife or scissors or something, right?

Well, when she was 10 or so, my daughter figured out that if you tear one section loose, the sharp corner is perfect to cut one of the other sections open with. What's more, there's almost always an extra section that has no pills. It's almost like this use is what it is there for, and the pill manufacturers just never bothered to tell us.

So this is how I open these almost every time since then.

Good idea!

On a related note, when you first open a bottle of pills, toss any cotton that's in there. The cotton is meant to protect the pills during shipment. But once air circulates into the bottle, the cotton acts like a "wick" and can absorb some of the active ingredients from the pills. Best to just get rid of it, or add it to the cotton ball bag.

 

[Gary7]

Recycling Plastic Containers
If you enjoy small fruits, you've probably encountered those insidious clear plastic containers that they typically come in. The ones with the snap close lids. When you're done with the fruit, you toss it in the recycling bin. But after a while, you find a lot of space gets taken up by them.

So here's a tip: Trim off the lid with scissors. Rest the bottom on the lid. Now it takes up a lot less space. If you want to save even more space, cut the bottom in half and then "spoon" them together. Now you've saved even more (very useful with larger plastic containers). As you accumulate recyclable plastic containers, spoon the new ones with the old ones.

One final recycling tip: Those big plastic milk jugs take up a lot of space. Put on your shoes and just crush 'em with your feet. Huge amount of space saved in the recycling bin. The flattened jug will try to expand back a little, so it's useful to cram it into the bin nestled along side other plastic and the bin wall.

 

[Kai "the spy"]

I put my pants on both legs simultaneously.

 

[Clerk Kant]

Thought it might be interesting to have a topic about how we do things. Anything. Post about your way you do something and maybe we can see a few variations. It may spark some new ideas for others on tips & tricks that could be useful.

BANANAS
OK, this may seem banal, but how do you peel a banana? Most people start with the stem, partially snapping it to break the skin, then start peeling. I used to do it this way for most of my life, until I saw a nature program this past year about gorillas. They eat bananas. You know how they peel them? From the bottom.

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

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The skin flesh is softer there, so it's easier to break through than up by the stem where the fiber count is nearly double. Another advantage is that the stem actually becomes a bit of a handle, if you intend to eat the banana gradually. My technique is to use a knife or thumbnail and make a small slash in the skin near the bottom tip, to make it easier to start the peel. Plus, when peeling off the very bottom tip with a slight "lift", that pesky black "thorn" comes out easily (something you don't want to eat). Because the fiber content in the skin is smaller and less abundant at the bottom, the skin peels down rather easily.

No wonder it's so fucking hard to snap that stem sometimes.

 

[TrickyDickie]

Not sure if this is quite what you're talking about, but you know when you open a box of medicine capsules and they have those pads of pill compartments?

They're a pain in the butt if you don't have a knife or scissors or something, right?

Well, when she was 10 or so, my daughter figured out that if you tear one section loose, the sharp corner is perfect to cut one of the other sections open with. What's more, there's almost always an extra section that has no pills. It's almost like this use is what it is there for, and the pill manufacturers just never bothered to tell us.

So this is how I open these almost every time since then.

Those are 'blister packs'. No cutting required. Push down on the plastic covering the gel cap and it will pop the foil covering on the back and the gel cap will come right out. Almost like popping a blister....hence the name.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Those are 'blister packs'. No cutting required. Push down on the plastic covering the gel cap and it will pop the foil covering on the back and the gel cap will come right out. Almost like popping a blister....hence the name.

So...I'm going to assume that either you're from a different country than the U.S., and thus there are different packaging laws and requirements or just a different manufacturing process there, or, you're of above-average strength.

I know that conceptually, you're correct, but, there's an extra layer of thin cardboard over the part you can just pop the pills through, and getting that off is a giant PITA. Notice those notches on the perforation, in the middle? The idea is supposed to be that you can tear them open there, but that, also, is a pretty mean feat. My daughter's method is the quickest way with the least effort that I've seen yet, even if there *are* other ways to get the job done.

 

[TrickyDickie]

So...I'm going to assume that either you're from a different country than the U.S., and thus there are different packaging laws and requirements or just a different manufacturing process there, or, you're of above-average strength.

I know that conceptually, you're correct, but, there's an extra layer of thin cardboard over the part you can just pop the pills through, and getting that off is a giant PITA. Notice those notches on the perforation, in the middle? The idea is supposed to be that you can tear them open there, but that, also, is a pretty mean feat. My daughter's method is the quickest way with the least effort that I've seen yet, even if there *are* other ways to get the job done.

I just took a look at some in our medicine cabinet and they are plastic and foil....no cardboard involved. This was store brand of Phazyme, but I have seen plenty of others made the same way. Here in the U.S. Guess I just haven't happened to encounter the cardboard version....

 

[USS Triumphant]

Some brands and drugs *are* still easy to get into. I think the main concern is that what I shared applies to one of the most common meds people get: Dayquil/Nyquil (and their store-brand equivalents).

 

[Kor]

Ah, but just try it from the other end. Exercise the brain in doing things differently. See how it feels. You might surprise yourself. I had the same attitude in the beginning. "The other way pretty much works--why change?" Well, it's better from the bottom end. I'm glad I switched. And if you still find you prefer the other way, then that's perfectly fine.

Funny story... I grew up peeling the banana from the non-stem end. Then as I got older and noticed that everybody else was peeling from the stem end, I figured that our family must be doing it the wrong way. So I switched.

Kor

 

[Gary7]

Those are 'blister packs'. No cutting required. Push down on the plastic covering the gel cap and it will pop the foil covering on the back and the gel cap will come right out. Almost like popping a blister....hence the name.

Sometimes the foil is really tough... and you have to press very hard. But it's a cinch if you just puncture it with the corner of the blister packaging, as @USS Triumphant suggested.

 

[Kor]

I usually find it easier to take some kitchen shears and cut the little chamber that contains the pill.

I've had cold medicine where you are supposed to peel off a sticky layer first before pushing the pill through a thin layer beneath that. But the first step never works since you end up tearing off only a little tiny section of the outer layer, so it's still absolutely impossible to press the pill out, and I don't want to end up breaking the pill into tiny little pieces and messing up the time-release functionality in the process.

Kor

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I put my pants on both legs simultaneously.

Radical!

 

[USS Triumphant]

I usually find it easier to take some kitchen shears and cut the little chamber that contains the pill.

If you have scissors at hand, then absolutely. It's just that often I find myself picking up Dayquil, for example, on the way to work - and I don't keep a pair of scissors in the car. I do carry a pocket knife, but that seems like a recipe for stabbing myself, especially if I'm shaky sick. (And I have what used to be referred to as "essential tremor" even on good days.) Or, if I'm sick and on bed rest, I may not have pre-positioned scissors and may not feel like messing with getting up to take another dose.

The point is (get it? point? ), it works and may be useful for some.

 

[Kor]

If I'm served shrimp with the shell still on, sometimes I eat the whole thing instead of peeling the shell off.

Kor