From whipping cream in a coffee plunger to cooking an omelette in a sandwich press: The surprising things you never knew you could use your kitchen appliances for
- Consumer group choice has found some nifty tricks for your appliances
- Using a french press you can whip some cream or cook salmon in a dishwasher
- With the use of a slow cooker you can make your very own infused oils overnight
From whipping cream in a coffee plunger to cooking an omelette in a sandwich press, these are some of the things you never knew your kitchen appliances can do.
Australian consumer group Choice has rounded up the surprising uses beyond what your everyday items are intended for.
Most of these items you will have around the house or stashed away at work – but you might want to make sure they are given a good clean before and after use.
Normally used to make the perfect cup of coffee, the humble French press can also be used to whip up some freshly whipped cream
1. Using a French press to make Whipped Cream
Normally used to make the perfect cup of coffee, the humble French press can also be used to whip up some freshly whipped cream.
If you don’t have access to a hand mixer or a whisk – or perhaps you just can’t find it at the time – this glass canister can do the trick.
Load half the canister with some cream, then plunge away.
Choice added you can also use this trick to froth up milk for you cappuccino.
A relatively simple but very effective method for removing all kinds of annoying stickers without leaving a mess is by using a hairdryer
2. Use your hairdryer to remove stickers
A relatively simple but very effective method for removing all kinds of annoying stickers without leaving a mess is by using a hairdryer.
Simply heat up the sticker and watch as the adhesive melt and separate from it’s spot.
This is especially useful for car windscreens or other glass surfaces where messy glue is easily noticed.
Using your slow cooker simply add rosemary and garlic to olive oil and leave it to sit overnight on the warm setting
3. Make your own infused oil overnight
For lovers of the often expensive infused oil, the ability to make your own can save you some serious cash.
Using your slow cooker, simply add rosemary and garlic to a bottle of olive oil and leave it to sit overnight on the warm setting.
If you’re hungry at work but there’s no stovetop in sight, turn on the sandwich press to whip up some delicious items on the menu
4. Use a sandwich press to cook an omelette
If you’re hungry at work but there’s no stovetop in sight, turn on the sandwich press to whip up some delicious items on the menu.
Making an omelette is as easy as pouring the ingredients onto the surface, heating it for a few minutes until you fold it over and lower the sandwich press lid to make sure everything is cooked through.
A sandwich press is essentially a two-sided grill so it can also be used for to cook eggs, wilted spinach and salmon.
You can blend scrap paper or junk mail with a bit of water to make your own homemade paper
5. Use a blender to recycle paper
You can blend up scrap paper or junk mail with a bit of water to make your own homemade paper to write or draw on.
It is absolutely possible to make your own recycled paper according to PaperSlurry but keep in mind you won’t be able to use the blender for food anymore.
- Take used paper, junk mail or any other paper scraps and tear them up into pieces about one inch squared.
- Soak them overnight before you pop them into a blender and churn it into a slurry in small amounts as to not burn out the motor.
- Pour it into a large plastic tub and use a specially made mould and deckle, which you can find on their website, and pulled out individual sheets of paper.
- They will now need to be taken out of the mould carefully and pressed
- Finally let it dry on a non-absorbent surface for several days
Australian consumer organisation Choice cooked honey soy glazed salmon in a dishwasher before plating the meal on dishes cleaned in the same cycle
6. Make salmon in your dishwasher
If you don’t like the idea of making salmon on your work sandwich press is your dishwasher is the next best thing.
Choice previously cooked honey soy glazed salmon in a dishwasher before plating the meal on dishes cleaned in the same cycle.
The group said ovens and dishwashers are similar as they are both ‘big boxes with heating elements’ and Salmon is safer as it is known for cooking at a lower temperature.
To make things extra secure they used Ziploc bags to keep the food sealed and the results at least appeared to be delicious.