New Uses for Food

By Real Simple
Updated January 26, 2016
Antonis Achilleos
Amazing new tricks for items you find in the kitchen.
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Ice Cream Cones as Cupcake Holders

Antonis Achilleos

Bake your cupcakes directly in the ice cream cones. Fill 24 flat-bottom cones two-thirds full with cake batter. Place the cones in a high-sided 9-by-13-inch baking pan and bake in two batches at 325° F for 30 minutes. Let cool, then frost with two 16-ounce cans of frosting. You can have your cake and eat its holder, too.

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Lemon as Browning Preventer

James Baigrie

Stop apples and pears from browning by squeezing a little lemon juice over them.

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Tissue Paper as Cupcake Wrapper

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

This frilly tissue paper wrap makes a birthday treat even sweeter. Cut a circle and gently gather it around the bottom of the cupcake, securing with a rubber band.

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To-Go Container as Paint Palette

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Even a starving artist eats takeout sometimes. Use the plastic top from a to-go container as a palette for mixing colors; when you’re finished, just toss.

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Tic Tac Box as Spice Holder

Erica McCartney; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Pack small amounts of your favorite spice (red pepper flakes, anyone?) in old Tic Tac boxes, to season food on-the-go.

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Gift Box as Sugar Holder

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

More lovely to look at than the branded box from the store, but it still slides easily into the pantry for storage.

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Wrapping Paper as Placemat

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn rectangles of giftwrap into placemats you don’t mind getting dirty. You can even write guests’ names on the edges to designate seats.

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Wrapping Paper as Tray Liner

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

Turn an old tray into a special serving piece with a single scrap of pretty paper. Use double-sided tape to keep it secure.

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Cork as Heat Protector

Nicole Hill Gerulat; Styling: Kristine Trevino

For a heat protector, slip a cork or two under a lid's handle and you'll always have something safe to grab.

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Salt as Homemade Drain Cleaner

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Get a slow-moving drain flowing again and pour a solution of ½ cup of salt for every quart of hot water down the pipe.

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Rubber Bands as Sandwich Labels

Levi Brown

Distinguishing chicken salad from tuna is no picnic. Next time you’re packing sandwiches, stretch a thick rubber band around each one and label it with a permanent marker. Divvying up lunch will be a snap.

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Cornstarch as Makeup Protector

Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Balance the oiliness of moisturizing makeup. Brush on a thin layer as a finishing touch.

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Chopstick as Brewing Tool

Levi Brown

For mess-free tea, tie a bunch of bags to a chopstick and rest it across the pitcher’s rim (use 2 bags per cup of boiling water). Brew for about 4 minutes, then lift and discard the bags.

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Salt as Stain Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Remove coffee and tea stains from the insides of cups by rubbing with a salted citrus peel.

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Cereal Bag as Crumb Maker

Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

These durable bags can take a beating. Fill one up and give it a whack with a rolling pin to make crumbs out of crackers, cornflakes, or candy. Remember to twist the top closed to prevent flyaways.

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How to Clean Stainless Steel Without Any Chemicals At All

Getty Images

Both durable and shiny, stainless steel is the ideal material for kitchens and bathroom. But as anyone who's owned stainless steel kitchen appliances knows, the name is somewhat of a misnomer. The material is prone to fingerprints, streaks, and water stains. The name "stainless" was originally used to describe the metal's ability to withstand heat and humidity without corroding. Although this material is tough, harsh abrasives can scratch it or make it rust, so it's important to learn how to clean stainless steel the right way. Follow the steps below to get your stainless steel shiny and have it live up to its name.

RELATED: Cleaning Kitchen Appliances Checklist

What You'll Need:

  • Soft cloth
  • Mild dish soap
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda

Follow These Steps:

1. Check the manual: Before you clean a stainless steel appliance, it's a smart idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations. Lost the manual? Don't worry, you may be able to find it online. It's important to check the directions for your specific appliance, because there are numerous grades of stainless steel that may be more or less durable, and some appliances are treated with a clear-coat finish, which can be stripped by certain cleaning products.

2. Go with the grain: Just like wood, stainless steel has a grain. Check out the striations on the surface of your appliance, and wipe in that direction, beginning at the top and working your way down.

3. The quick clean: In most cases, wiping down the stainless steel appliance with a clean cloth dipped in hot water should do the trick. But for more stubborn stains, add a drop of dish soap to the water and use the sudsy solution to wipe the surface. Rinse with water and dry thoroughly.

4. The steam clean: To sterilize stainless steel, you can also use a steam cleaner with a nozzle attachment. The steam will disinfect the surface, which can then be wiped dry with a soft cloth. Because stainless steel can scratch easily, avoid using a brush attachment or any stiff cleaning tools.

5. Try vinegar: For stubborn grease spots or water scaling, wet a soft cloth with a diluted solution of 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. Wipe the entire surface from top to bottom, but never let vinegar sit on the surface. Follow with a complete rinse and dry.

6. Baking soda scrub: Burned or caked-on messes on stainless steel pots and pans or countertops typically need a bit more attention. Make a soft paste out of baking soda and water and apply to the stain, allowing it to sit for about 20 minutes. Then, scrub the area with a cloth dampened in a solution of water and dish soap. It’s important to use a soft cloth and work parallel with the grain to avoid scratches. Be sure to fully rinse and dry.

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Muffin Tin as Large Ice Cube Tray

Levi Brown

The cold, hard truth: Small ice cubes melt fast, leaving a pitcher of lemonade watery. To make long-lasting jumbo cubes, use a muffin tin. Pop them out by running the back of the tin under hot water for 30 seconds.

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Ashtray as Condiment Holder

Philip Friedman; Styling: Linden Elstran

Fill that (clean!) old ashtray with soy sauce instead. The notches make a handy resting spot for chopsticks between bites of spicy tuna.

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Salt as Iron Cleaner

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Eliminate sticky residue from an iron. Run the hot iron (no steam) over plain paper sprinkled with salt.

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Olive Oil as Cat Food Supplement

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Prevent hair balls. Add ⅛ to 1¼ teaspoon to your cat’s food for easy digestion.

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Olive Oil as Sap Remover

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

If dragging and decking out fresh spruce leaves you with sticky digits, pour a tablespoon of oil onto a cloth, then rub until clean. Bonus: The oil is a great moisturizer for dry winter skin.

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Soda Bottle as Pasta Measurer

James Wojcik

Said good-bye to soda? Fill the mouth of a dry 20-ounce bottle with uncooked spaghetti; the opening holds enough for a hearty single serving.

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Baby Food Jar as Easter Egg Decorating Aid

Photos: Erica McCartney; Styling: Linden Elstran

Design Rothkoesque Easter eggs. Fill a jar with dye, then dip half the egg in and let dry. Dip again, but only one-third of the egg. Repeat with both ends of the egg until you have stripes in varying shades.

Need a quick refresher on how to dye Easter eggs? Watch this quick video to learn how to hard-boil an egg, then check out these homemade Easter egg dye recipes.

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Melon Baller as Jar Scoop

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Scoop and strain from a narrow-mouth jar at the same time by using a melon baller. Works especially well for foods like capers and pimento. Submitted by: KimEH1

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Cereal Box as Drawer Organizer

Levi Brown

If you're the flaky type, cereal boxes (including the single-serving minis) can corral desk-drawer chaos. Slice off the tops and the bottoms and fill them with loose odds and ends.

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Cocktail Shaker as Egg Scrambler

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Whip up fluffy omelets by adding eggs, milk, and seasonings together in a cocktail mixer. Give it a few shakes and it's ready for the skillet. Submitted by: suziegirl

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Binder Clip as Chip Clip

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Secure half-eaten bags of potato chips with a binder clip for an easy way to keep your favorite snack fresh and crunchy.

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Paper Doily as Cupcake Holder

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

These cute patterns on cupcake liners are there one minute, gone the next—they virtually disappear in the oven. For a pretty touch, trim off the patterned edge of a large (12-inch) doily and wrap it around the cupcake liner. Seal with clear tape.

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Plastic Easter Eggs as DIY Maracas

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Fill emptied plastic eggs with puffed rice cereal and silver-ball cake decorations to make impromptu maracas for kids.

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Paper Doily as Candy Cone

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Form a cone with a small (5-inch) doily, secure with tape, and fill with candy and treats. The lacy server is a sweet upgrade for the next time you gather the ladies (think bridal shower) or girls (birthday party, sleepover, extra-special playdate).

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Beans as Candle Anchor

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Pretty and functional. Fill a hurricane vase with beans before adding a pillar candle to help keep the candle steady and minimize mess (the beans will catch the wax).

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Dental Floss as DIY Popcorn Garland

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

String a popcorn garland for the holidays (after a pit-stop in the medicine cabinet).

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Drink Holder as Fruit Protector

John Lawton; Styling: Linden Elstran

Rough commute? Slide a drink cooler over an apple to keep it from bruising in your lunch tote.

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