Here are some household tips I received from a friend that I would like to share with chowtimes readers.

You can flip a toaster on its side and grill cheese on your toast with it. Remember to place a plate in front of the toaster to catch the toast when they are ejected out when done.

You can divide and store ground meat in a ziplock bag. Just break off the amount you need and keep the rest in the freezer for later use.

You can place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling liquid to prevent boiling over.

Marshmallows can cure a sore throat. Perfect for kids who don’t like medicine. I’ll need to test this the next time I have sore throat.

You can run a paper bag through a printer.

Take apart the bananas when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stays fresh much longer and not get moldy quickly.

Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Pepper with 4 bumps on the bottom are stronger in flavour.

Add a teaspoon of water when frying minced beef will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

Use a clean dustpan to fill a container that does not fit in the sink.

Place a rubber band around an open paint can for wiping your brush on and keep paint off the side of the can.

More tips:

Use a staple remover to save your fingernails when trying to add things to your key ring.

Place a micro-fiber cloth on the windshield to prevent frost from forming on cold nights.

Use a comb to keep a nail steady for hammering.

Use a post-it-note to catch drilling debris.