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Organizing 3m read
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Why You Need a “Purse Bowl” for Your Essentials

If you regularly rotate purses and are looking for a more efficient way to switch from bag to bag, you need a purse bowl. No, we’re not talking about a bowl for your purses, or using a bowl as a purse (though that would be interesting). We’re talking about a bowl designed to hold all of your purse’s contents (wallet, lip balm, sunglasses, etc.) so you can swap between a crossbody and a crescent shoulder bag in seconds.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

If you regularly rotate purses and are looking for a more efficient way to switch from bag to bag, you need a purse bowl. No, we’re not talking about a bowl for your purses, or using a bowl as a purse (though that would be interesting). We’re talking about a bowl designed to hold all…

What’s a Purse Bowl?

A purse bowl is similar to that catchall dish in your entryway. Only, instead of filling it with keys, coins, and whatever other bits and bobs you find strewn about your space, you fill it with the contents of your purse. This way, you can easily swap out your handbags, crossbodies, and belt bags, depending on the day (and your outfit, of course).

This idea comes from TikTok creator @cocotakes, whose now-viral video explains what a purse bowl is and how to incorporate this organization hack into your daily routine. “I’m always changing my bags, so what I do is I will drop everything [in my bag] at the end of the day in this bowl,” she explains in her video. This way, when she refills her bag the next day, all of her essentials are in one place, making the switch easy.

Related: Create a Clutter-Free Home With These 10 Amazon Organizers

The organization-meets-style hack also helps you be more intentional about putting yesterday’s purse back where it belongs. We don’t know about your habits, but whenever we switch bags in a hurry, our previous purse often ends up on an entryway hook. After several switches, our front door area ends up super cluttered, while our designated closet storage for bags remains noticeably empty. 

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Dumping everything into a bowl also allows you to see what’s inside your bag, encouraging you to get rid of any trash and choose exactly what you’ll need for your next bag swap. 

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Home Improvement 3m read
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Is Your Ceiling Fan on the Wrong Setting?

Ceiling fans do more than gather dust: They circulate stagnant air, keep you comfortable on hot days, and cost less to run than AC. But here’s the kicker — your fan may be spinning in the wrong direction, depending on the time of year. Most ceiling fans have a switch to change their rotation from clockwise to counterclockwise, and vice versa. One setting is designed to circulate cool air during the warmer months, while the other disperses warm air in the winter. So, is your ceiling fan on the right setting? Let’s find out.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Ceiling fans do more than gather dust: They circulate stagnant air, keep you comfortable on hot days, and cost less to run than AC. But here’s the kicker — your fan may be spinning in the wrong direction, depending on the time of year. Most ceiling fans have a switch to change their rotation from…

No Spin, Just Facts

While every ceiling fan is different, most modern models allow you to reverse their direction with a switch on the motor housing or a button on their remote control. Unfortunately, some older models lack this useful feature.

Before locating the switch, first make sure the fan is turned off. Climb onto a stepstool and inspect the motor housing (the body of the fan where the blades attach). You should see a switch that moves up and down or side to side, depending on the model. Flip the switch one way to make the fan spin clockwise, and the other to make it spin counterclockwise — it’s that simple.

During the summer, your ceiling fan should spin counterclockwise. This direction allows the fan blades to push air directly downward, creating a cool breeze. Although the room’s temperature remains unchanged, the movement of the air evaporates sweat, making you feel refreshed.

According to Home Depot, running your fan counterclockwise allows you to raise the thermostat by four degrees while still feeling comfortable, potentially reducing summertime energy costs by up to 30%.

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When colder weather arrives, flip the switch to make the blades spin clockwise. Here’s why: Warm air is lighter than cold air and naturally rises, often getting trapped against the ceiling. A fan spinning clockwise creates an updraft that draws cooler air from below and pushes it up toward the ceiling. The warmer air that was previously hovering near the ceiling gets pushed down along the walls and disperses throughout the room, keeping you nice and toasty when you need it most. Home Depot adds that this trick can save you roughly 15% on winter utility bills.

Related: A Seasonal Thermostat Guide for Maximum Comfort and Savings

Additional Tips

When deciding which way to set your fan, sometimes the time of year matters less than what you’re trying to achieve. For instance, an outdoor fan set to counterclockwise creates a downdraft, the force of which can help keep bugs away. Or if you’re trying to air out the house after burning something on the stove, set the fan to clockwise; this creates an updraft that draws the fumes up and away from people (just be aware that this might set off your fire alarm).

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Gardening 3m read
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Always Get a Perfect Fit When Repotting Plants

There’s something so satisfying about adorning your front porch, patio, or balcony with potted plants. They’re convenient to pick from when you need fresh herbs for cooking, and easy to switch up seasonally if you prefer pansies in the spring and mums in the fall. But repotting plants from their nursery pots to their new homes can be a messy endeavor — one that often requires some trial and error. Fortunately, we found a hack that will completely change the way you repot your greenery — no green thumb required.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

There’s something so satisfying about adorning your front porch, patio, or balcony with potted plants. They’re convenient to pick from when you need fresh herbs for cooking, and easy to switch up seasonally if you prefer pansies in the spring and mums in the fall. But repotting plants from their nursery pots to their new…

How To Repot Plants Without Making a Mess

Bringing plants home from the hardware store or nursery often means facing the messy truth of repotting. While repotting mats can help make the process (or at least the cleanup) more efficient, one TikTok creator has an ingenious hack that prevents messes, reduces digging, and makes placing multiple plants in the same container infinitely easier.

Related: The Best Houseplants for Beginners

The next time you repot your plants, @nicecuteset suggests this method: Start by squeezing the bottom of the plastic nursery or grow pots to carefully release the plants. Next, fill the new container with soil up to the level where you would typically add your plants. But instead of putting your plants directly on top of the soil, place the empty nursery pots into the new container and fill the dirt around them. Pack the soil down tightly, then water thoroughly with your hose’s spray nozzle or a watering can.

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Once the soil reaches the height you want, remove those plastic pots (which will be filled with dirt) to reveal perfect, cylinder-shaped holes. You can then insert your plants into these spots — sort of like fitting a puzzle piece. This method makes repotting so much easier, all while keeping things neat and tidy.

Since the nursery pots are now filled with soil, you can repurpose them to plant new seeds or even repot seedlings (perhaps using the same trick if the grow pots are large enough). If you don’t have a need for the grow pots, simply pour the extra dirt back into the bag of soil and recycle the plastic pots — or save them for future seed starting or transplanting. 

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Food & Drink 3m read
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The Lime-Cutting Hack That Gets You More Juice

Limes are essential in any home kitchen. They’re the stars of margaritas, limeade, and zesty desserts, and they add a burst of flavor to marinades, salad dressings, and other savory staples.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Limes are essential in any home kitchen. They’re the stars of margaritas, limeade, and zesty desserts, and they add a burst of flavor to marinades, salad dressings, and other savory staples.

But what’s the best way to juice a lime? Most people simply cut the citrus crosswise, then squeeze each half by hand or with a press. But it turns out there’s a better way. The trick is to slice the lime into wedges around its core, which exposes more of the flesh. Not only are these wedges much easier to squeeze than lime halves, but they also yield considerably more juice.

What You’ll Need

Limes

Cutting board

Sharp knife

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How To Get More Juice From a Lime

1. Hold the lime vertically on your cutting board.

2. Cut the lime into thirds vertically. You should end up with two rounded “cheeks” and a flatter middle piece containing the core.

3. Lay the middle piece flat on your cutting board, then cut it in half, trimming away the core.

4. To juice, simply squeeze each wedge into a bowl or other receptacle.

This method can yield up to double the amount of juice compared to a lime cut crosswise. By removing the core, you reduce resistance, which is good news for your joints and your next batch of spicy margaritas. If you prefer to see this hack in action, here’s a helpful video tutorial.

Related: You’re Storing Lemons Wrong

If You Need To Juice a Lot of Limes

This hack works best when you need juice from just a couple of limes. If you’re juicing a whole bunch for a party or a lime-centric recipe, here’s another tip: Microwave your limes for 10 to 20 seconds. (Start with 10 seconds to be on the safe side.) After that, juice them as normal, either by hand or with a citrus juicer. We’ve previously covered this technique for lemons, but it also works well for other citrus fruits.

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Bonus Hack: Store Your Limes at Room Temperature

It’s tempting to refrigerate limes, especially in summer, when hot weather can wither fruit quickly. But refrigerating citrus fruits sucks the moisture out of them, which is why professional chefs always store them at room temperature. Room-temperature limes will consistently produce the most juice. Once a lime is cut, however, it should be refrigerated.

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Organizing 2m read
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The Smartest Way To Label All of Your Food Containers

Who doesn’t love the look of an organized pantry? Matching food storage containers paired with equally aesthetic pantry labels are the vision of Pinterest perfection many of us hope to one day achieve. But while they might be an organization lover’s dream in theory, those labels aren’t always practical. Perhaps you’re constantly swapping out pantry items and need to replace the labels, or you find they aren’t as waterproof and durable as advertised when it comes time to wash the containers. In either case, using pantry labels can become more of a hassle than a help. But of course, there’s a hack out there to resolve this dilemma, and we’re here to share it with you.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Who doesn’t love the look of an organized pantry? Matching food storage containers paired with equally aesthetic pantry labels are the vision of Pinterest perfection many of us hope to one day achieve. But while they might be an organization lover’s dream in theory, those labels aren’t always practical. Perhaps you’re constantly swapping out pantry…

A Simple Swap

So, what’s this easy hack, you ask? It’s very simple: Use a chalk marker. Rather than investing in overpriced, fancy-looking labels, reach for a chalk marker to label your food storage containers.

The Best (and Easiest) Way To Label Food Containers

To use a chalk marker to label containers, start with a clean, dry surface. If the marker is new, you might need to press it down a few times on a hard surface to get the ink flowing. Once it’s ready, you can write directly on the food container.

Why You Should Opt for Markers Over Labels

Chalk markers are incredibly easy to use. Just give them a shake, pop off the cap, and label to your heart’s content. You can get a classic white, or opt for more colorful labeling with a vibrant marker pack or one with more subdued (but still striking) vintage-inspired colorways.

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And let’s not forget the best part about using chalk markers over traditional labels: the cleanup, or rather, the lack thereof. Chalk marker easily comes off with a damp cloth or when the food containers run through the dishwasher. (Note: For effortless removal, chalk markers should only be used on nonporous surfaces such as plastic, glass, glazed ceramic, and stainless steel.)

Related: How To Get Stubborn Stains Out of Plastic Food Containers

This makes reusing the containers — whether for the same item or something else — significantly easier. And who wouldn’t want that?

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Decorating 3m read
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This Paint Trend Makes Rooms Feel Twice the Size

Want to make a small space feel bigger without knocking down a wall? All you need is a gallon (or two) of paint. Color drenching — painting walls, trim, ceiling, doors, and built-ins the same color — provides a cocoon-like feel that’s equal parts intimate and expansive. 

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Want to make a small space feel bigger without knocking down a wall? All you need is a gallon (or two) of paint. Color drenching — painting walls, trim, ceiling, doors, and built-ins the same color — provides a cocoon-like feel that’s equal parts intimate and expansive. 

“Color drenching creates visual continuity, since your eye doesn’t stop to register contrast or hard edges,” Boston-based interior designer Sarah Cole says. This tricks your brain into thinking the room is bigger than its actual square footage.

Want to try the paint trend yourself? Read on for Cole’s tips for successful color drenching. 

Pick a Color Palette

It’s daunting enough to select a wall color you’ll love for years to come, let alone a shade for trim, doors, and possibly a ceiling, too. There’s no wrong answer, but Cole recommends midtones and earthy hues, which tend to be more forgiving than stark whites and primary brights. Consider colors with depth and softness, such as slate blue, mushroom, ochre, sage, or clay. For a dramatic statement, opt for a deep, moody hue.

Related: Create a Whole Home Color Palette That Looks Expertly Designed

“Keep in mind the color doesn’t have to be bold,” Cole says. “Color drenching works just as well with subtle colors and even neutrals.”

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Layer Lighting

When color drenching, it’s important to layer light sources. This will bring out the richness and dimension in the paint. Cole says warm bulbs often play better with darker and earthier tones, though it ultimately depends on the specific shade. Before committing to a paint color, she recommends testing samples on multiple walls and observing how they look at different times of day, both in natural light and with the fixtures you plan to use in the space.

Bonus Tip: Use Color Drenching To Camouflage Quirks

Rooms with odd angles or low ceilings are perfect candidates for this paint technique, Cole says, since the continuous color downplays architectural quirks, creating a more unified space.

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Consider Fixed Elements

One common mistake when color drenching is not taking fixed elements of the room into account. White vinyl windows are a notorious offender. “The whole point of color drenching is to create a seamless, uninterrupted visual flow,” Cole explains. “If you drench the room in a beautiful moody hue and then leave bright white vinyl windows exposed, those windows suddenly become the loudest thing in the room.”

It’s possible to paint vinyl window frames yourself, but it requires surface preparation and the right materials to ensure a lasting, professional-looking finish. If that’s not something you’re prepared to do, consider adding window treatments in the same color as the rest of the room to draw attention away from the window frames.

Start Small

To dip your toe into the color drenching trend, skip the living room for now. Instead, Cole suggests starting with a smaller, low-stakes room, such as a mudroom or powder room.

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Cleaning 3m read
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How To Get Stubborn Stains Out of Plastic Food Containers

Tomato sauce, kimchi, chili — all the best red foods are typically made in large batches, meaning you’ll need somewhere to store them until every last bite has been devoured. Unfortunately, storing tomato or chili-based items in plastic food containers often results in stubborn stains that never seem to go away, no matter how hard you scrub.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Tomato sauce, kimchi, chili — all the best red foods are typically made in large batches, meaning you’ll need somewhere to store them until every last bite has been devoured. Unfortunately, storing tomato or chili-based items in plastic food containers often results in stubborn stains that never seem to go away, no matter how hard you…

But what if you could lift these stains without wearing down your dish sponge? We found a time-saving hack that lets you do just that.

No More Red Rings

You’ve probably tried scrubbing your plastic food containers the same way you would any other dish — with a sponge, dish soap, and plenty of elbow grease. While this tactic works well for ceramic, stainless steel, and glass, it just doesn’t seem to do the trick for plasticware. Fortunately, there’s a faster, easier way to get your favorite containers sparkling clean.

Related: How a Chef Removes Stubborn Stains From Wooden Cutting Boards

First, empty your container and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. Then fill it about halfway with warm water. Rip off a full-size sheet of paper towel, fold it into a square, and place it in the container. Top it off with a few more squirts of dish soap, attach the lid securely, then vigorously shake the container for about 60 to 90 seconds, or until you see the stains lift. If you’re concerned about water leaking, wrap the food storage container in a dish towel as you shake.

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All that’s left to do is to pop open the lid and use the paper towel to wipe down the inside of the container — your plastic will look good as new.

Why Does This Work?

When we said to shake vigorously, we meant it. This hack works better and faster than conventional hand scrubbing or even a run through the dishwasher because of agitation. Shaking the container as hard as you can causes the paper towel to quickly scour the sides, and the paper fibers absorb any food particles rather than spreading them around the surface. If you have a particularly stubborn stain, repeat this trick a couple of times, replacing the soapy water and towel after each attempt.

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Home Improvement 3m read
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How To Test Your Oven’s Temperature Accuracy

When it comes to baking something in the oven, accuracy is essential, as it can mean the difference between a perfectly cooked chicken and a bird that’s still raw in the middle. Unfortunately, not all ovens are 100% precise; the digital screen may not align with the actual temperature inside. But fear not, because science is here to save the day. Here’s how you can easily determine if your oven is operating accurately or if something is out of whack.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

When it comes to baking something in the oven, accuracy is essential, as it can mean the difference between a perfectly cooked chicken and a bird that’s still raw in the middle. Unfortunately, not all ovens are 100% precise; the digital screen may not align with the actual temperature inside. But fear not, because science…

Aluminum Foil to the Rescue

This hack comes to us from the TikTok account (@museumofscience) of The Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts. While it may seem like an experiment straight out of high school science class, it’s a simple yet effective way to gauge your oven’s accuracy. All you’ll need is some aluminum foil and granulated white sugar.

To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While it heats, tear off a sheet of aluminum foil and form two small, square-shaped pans with raised edges. They should be 2 to 3 inches square, or roughly the size of a Post-it note. Then fill each pan with 1 tablespoon of granulated white sugar.

Related: An Easy Way To Remove Baked-On Food in Your Oven

At this point, you might be wondering, “Why sugar?” Sugar contains a chemical compound called sucrose, which caramelizes at 367 degrees Fahrenheit. By setting the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you can determine if it’s running warm. Once you’ve figured that out, set the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for a second test to see if it’s running cold.

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What the Sugar Test Reveals

Once the oven reaches 350 degrees Fahrenheit, carefully place one sugar-filled aluminum pan inside for 15 minutes. (If you’re concerned about it falling through the oven rack, you can use a larger sheet of aluminum foil underneath.) Take the pan out when the time is up. At this point, the sugar should still be as white as it was 15 minutes ago; if it’s brown, your oven is likely running hot. Next, set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it reaches that temperature, place the second sugar-filled aluminum pan inside for an additional 15 minutes. This time, the sugar should be brown when you take it out, as 375 degrees Fahrenheit is above sugar’s caramelization point. If it’s still white, chances are your oven is running cold.

Let’s summarize the results. If the sugar retains its white color at 350 degrees Fahrenheit but browns at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, then your oven is probably calibrated just fine. However, if the pans stay white at both temperatures, your oven’s internal temperature is cooler than what’s listed on the digital screen. Conversely, if both pans of sugar burn, your oven is hotter than what the digital thermometer claims. If something seems amiss, contact an expert repair technician. Otherwise, you can rest easy knowing that your appliance is working accurately.

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Gardening 3m read
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Use Leftover Cooking Water To Nourish Your Plants

Dietitians often emphasize the health benefits of steaming or lightly sautéing vegetables. Why? Because many of the nutrients in our foods are water-soluble, and boiling them can cause some of that nutrition to leach into the cooking water instead of your belly, where it belongs.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Dietitians often emphasize the health benefits of steaming or lightly sautéing vegetables. Why? Because many of the nutrients in our foods are water-soluble, and boiling them can cause some of that nutrition to leach into the cooking water instead of your belly, where it belongs.

Usually, those nutrients go right down the drain with the water they’re dissolved in, but it doesn’t have to be that way. One of the best uses for that cooking water, assuming you aren’t reusing it in the kitchen, is for watering plants. Here’s why.

Related: The Best Houseplants for Beginners

Houseplants, Garden Plants, and Cooking Water

Many of the foods we eat contain nutrients that are highly beneficial to the plants we grow. For example, the starches that cook out from rice, pasta, or beans provide the raw materials for plants to create their own carbohydrates. All those vitamins and minerals released from vegetables provide trace nutrients that can help nourish your plants and keep them flourishing. Even the modest amount of calcium that leaches from eggshells in the process of boiling eggs can be surprisingly useful, helping to prevent issues such as blossom-end rot in tomatoes.

Next time you’re boiling vegetables or pasta, here’s what you can do:

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• Drain the water into a heat-safe bowl instead of pouring it down your drain. 

• Set the bowl aside to cool completely to room temperature. 

• Water your houseplants with the cooled water, or take it outside for your garden plants.

You can also dissolve your ordinary fertilizer in it, just as you would when watering plants regularly, or use it to dilute a liquid fertilizer.

Two Things To Avoid

This hack is fairly simple, but there are two important things to keep in mind. First, do not use any broth or cooking water that contains meat or fats, as this will attract unwanted pests and smell bad. Second, avoid using heavily salted water. Salt can build up in your soil (especially in pots or containers) and eventually become toxic to your plants.

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Food & Drink 3m read
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This Pantry Staple Will Make Your Grill Nonstick

For many of us, summertime is grilling season, and why not? Cooking outside is a social activity, it keeps your kitchen cool, and food just plain tastes better outdoors.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

For many of us, summertime is grilling season, and why not? Cooking outside is a social activity, it keeps your kitchen cool, and food just plain tastes better outdoors.

Of course, grilling comes with its own chores and inconveniences, from checking propane levels to cleaning grates between uses. One of the most frustrating issues is food that stubbornly sticks to the grates. This not only ruins the look of your food but also makes the next grill cleaning even more difficult. Fortunately, there’s a simple potato hack that can help keep your food from sticking.

Related: Potentially Dangerous Grilling Mistakes You Might Be Making

The Potato Tip You Didn’t Know You Needed

Say your meat and vegetables are prepped, and you’re ready to hit the grill. But how do you plan to keep everything from sticking? Cleaning your grill grates beforehand is crucial, whether you use a brush or lean into a hack like using an onion. Once the grates are clean (and perhaps subtly onion-flavored), it’s time to apply a nonstick coating using a potato. That’s right, a potato.

Choose a nice, fresh potato, ideally a starchy russet (though Yukon Gold and most others will work, too, as long as they’re fresh and juicy). Heat the grill to medium-high, then:

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• Cut the potato in half lengthwise.

• Spear the potato horizontally on the end of a long barbecue fork, cut side down.

• Using the fork to keep your hands safe, press the potato down firmly against the grill grates.

• Rub the cut side of the potato against the grates, covering the entire food-contact area.

If the grates are hot enough, the potato juices will rapidly sizzle as their water evaporates. The starches left behind will cling to the grates, forming a shiny, visible glaze. This glaze creates a nonstick surface, so now when you slap your meat on the grill, it won’t cling and tear when you turn it. As a tasty bonus, you can dice up the other half of the potato and enjoy it alongside your chosen protein. 

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