Easy Shortcuts for 14 Everyday Tasks

by Amanda Hinnant

From running errands to thawing chicken for your dinner, here's how to get everything done faster.

Run Errands

Plan the order of your stops in a clockwise direction to avoid time-consuming left-hand turns. Also, schedule your errands so you can drop things off on your way out and pick them up on your way home. And keep a cooler in your car for perishables, too. Then a stop at the market doesn't have to be immediately followed by a run home to the refrigerator.

Dry Your Tears
Try sticking your head in the freezer for a couple of seconds after cutting onions. The cold air stops the tears and reduces redness and puffiness by constricting blood vessels. If you're not in the kitchen, try dabbing―not rubbing―away the wetness. Then use an over-the-counter eye whitener to get the red out, or disguise it with blue eyeliner.

Get Cut Flowers to Bloom
First try cutting the stems at an angle, then placing the bouquet in warm water. If that doesn't work, use a blow-dryer with a diffuser to simulate the sunshine's warmth, which will open them up.

Thaw Meat
Whatever you do, don't zap it in the microwave. It cooks the meat from the inside out, which removes moisture, retains the freezer aftertaste, and leaves your meat gritty. Instead wrap your cuts in small, resealable packages before you freeze them―one steak, two lamb chops. Then, when dinner is just a couple of hours away and you haven't had time to thaw the main course in the refrigerator, soak it (bag and all) in cold water for about two hours.

Continue reading: 14 Shortcuts for Everyday Tasks.

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