Food hacks are designed to make it easier and cheaper to cook at home – but not all of the supposedly life-changing tricks actually work, experts have revealed.
Some of the most popular and well-known tips that have been circulating online for years now have been disproved by cooking professionals at Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI).
From storing apples with potatoes to stop them sprouting to keeping salad leaves in clingfilm to make them last longer, these are the hacks that are simply a waste of time.
But the GHI experts have also revealed the tips that really do work – and they could save you money, prevent waste and make your life easier.
1. MYTH: STORING POTATOES WITH APPLES
A common food hack myth is that potatoes won’t sprout as quickly if you store them with apples but it has been disproven
One common food hack myth is that storing apples with potatoes will stop your spuds from sprouting too quickly.
But when GHI’s experts put the hack to the test, they found that the potatoes sprouted and aged like normal despite being stored with the apples.
HOW TO REALLY STOP SPROUTING: Keep spuds in a cool, dark place that won’t get damp. Keep them out of the fridge – a dark cupboard is best.
2. MYTH: KEEP SALAD LEAVES FRESHER IN CLING FILM
One food hack myth says that salad leaves will keep fresher and for longer if you lay them out on damp paper towels and then cover them in clingfilm.
However GHI found that the trick doesn’t work. The leaves didn’t become soggy as quickly, however they dried out a lot faster than if they had been stored normally.
HOW TO KEEP LEAVES FRESH: GHI says the best way to keep leaves for longer is to keep them in an airtight freezer bag or in its original packaging.
3. MYTH: NEVER FREEZE ALCOHOL
While you shouldn’t freeze spirits, you can in fact freeze wine into ice cubes or keep beer in the freezer to get it ice cold more quickly, according to GHI
It’s a common myth that alcohol won’t freeze – but in fact wine will if you store it in the freezer.
However it is true that you shouldn’t keep spirits in the freezer as they won’t freeze and the alcohol content may actually reduce under the extreme temperatures.
HOW TO FREEZE WINE: Pour leftover wine into ice cube trays and you can then add them to dishes or even to glasses of wine to keep them cold without diluting them.
4. MYTH: REMOVE RED WINE STAINS WITH SALT
Rubbing salt into red wine stains will only set the colour so it’s even harder to remove, according to GHI
It’s an urban legend that salt helps to lift red wine stains, but GHI says it won’t work.
It was thought that salt would help as it absorbs liquid, but in fact, it will actually make things worse as it could dye your furniture or clothes permanently red.
HOW TO REMOVE RED WINE STAINS: On a carpet, blot with soda water, or for spills on clothes, spray the stain with hairspray before giving it a good wash.