Tipper Point: The many uses of a freezer

There are always a bunch of things on our checklist that we keep pushing right to the bottom simply due to the enormity of the task! It could be anything from a boring chore to a new hobby we have been postponing. Somehow, we have convinced ourselves that the task at hand is so complex; we will never find time for it.

That is where ShopYourWorld walks in and presents some tips and life hacks that will make your life a whole lot easier. The first thing that we are going to tip you about at ‘Tipper Point’ is how to make the best use of your freezer. Yes, your freezer can more than just keep cold meats, beer and frozen foods.

There are some fabulous things that your freezer could achieve that you never knew about. For instance, did you know it could extend the burning time of your wax candle? All you have to do is freeze the wax candles before use and lo, they are going to shine their light for longer! The freezar also works its charms in increasing the life of your NiMH and NiCad batteries if you store them. Just remember you need to thaw them completely before use. 

Seeds that grow well in cold climes can be beautifully preserved in your freezer till you plant them. You could also place a sealed envelope inside the freezer for a few minutes to open it. So just in case absent-minded-you forgot to keep that document, this is how you can reseal it! 

Keep all your soft furnishings and delicate stuffed toys in the freezer before you wash them. This removes all dust mites. You could ‘cold clean’ your jeans by keeping it in a Ziploc bag and stashing it in your freezer. Be assured that the smells and dirt will disappear in a week’s time. 

We saved the best news for the last so you could savour it with a pleasant shock. So here’s the showstopper of a tip about your freezer: you can actually revive your cranky hard drive for a while, if you store it in your freezer for 3-5 hours in a Ziploc bag. Remove it from deep freeze and attempt to access it once again. Leap in joy, for your hard disk will work for a while. Quick, backup all the important data! 

So now that you are well equipped with all the other secret super powers of your freezer, remember to drop by the ShopYourWorld blog every once in a while for more tips and tricks. Be the know-it-all around the house and save yourself plenty of time, money and energy.

The Nut Factor

Our homes are filled with so many things - fruits, vegetables, processed food, medicines, clothes, electronics, furniture, and the list can go on. A growing phenomenon in most homes is stocking up on processed food items – jams, spreads and canned food. We use all these things daily, but do we ever stop to think and question where it came from or what else can we do with them? Nine out of ten times, we don’t. And that’s why we’re here; to give little ‘knoworthy’ information about all the things you interact with daily.

Knoworthy facts about Nutella

At some point, all of us have OD’d on Nutella – smeared on bread, chappathi, biscuits or just spoonfuls shovelled down with greed. And that’s one substance abuse we’re not ashamed of!

Most research results show that both kids and adults love this creamy smooth Italian hazelnut flavoured chocolate spread unconditionally. So much so that people have Nutella on their monthly grocery list! For those of you who are constantly thanking the genius who came up with the idea of making Nutella, you might want to remember the name, Pietro Ferrero. 

It all started with a bar of solid chocolate (how we wish every story started this way!). In the year 1964, owing to World War II rationing, cocoa was on limited supply and the bar of chocolate needed a little revamp! The chocolate was hence mixed with hazelnut as it was the perfect substitute that maintained the volume of the chocolate and added to the taste. And that is how this creamy spread, which we know today as Nutella, evolved. Yes, it’s super tasty and addictive, and now we know what makes it so perfect too.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development used Nutella for a case study and came up with this map.

The green dots on the map represent the places from where each of Nutella’s ingredients is sourced. With the best of raw material going into making this jar of instant happiness, it’s no wonder Ferrero is producing about 250,000 tons of Nutella every year, to meet the demands from 75 countries all over the world.  

And here’s a bonus fun fact – 5^th February is celebrated as World Nutella Day! So the next time you’re indulging in this chocolaty delight, don’t forget these interesting and cool facts about your beloved Nutella. 

Source: oecd.org and nutellausa.com