3 Life-changing hacks (backed by science!)

4 min read

Hosting a small dinner party this coming holiday? Here are some (scientifically-backed) hacks that can save your party!

Be a sauce boss

No party is complete without dipping sauces (not scientifically backed). Especially when there are kids around, ketchup is a must-have at most, if not all parties. When we pour out the sauce, we often either get a watery mess before seeing that ketchup, or an explosive squirt that makes you look like you just exited from a murder scene.

The reason why this happens is due to ketchup being a suspension of different ingredients. When the ketchup settles, it separates into its different ingredients, with more runny ones like water on top (the culprit of the watery goo).

Another reason: ketchup is a non-Newtonian substance. Newtonian substances, like water, flow the moment you tip the bottle, and the rate of flow does not change with the amount of force exerted. You can punch or splash water at a swimming pool, and it pretty much remains the same.

Unfortunately, many sauces do not work that way. In the case of ketchup, hitting the bottle causes the ketchup to thin, causing the ketchup explosion that we are all too familiar with.

To overcome this problem, simply do the following:

1. Shake the bottle well to mix the suspended particles together.

2. With the lid on, turn the bottle upside down.

3. Open the lid and tilt the bottle while waiting for the ketchup to flow. Tapping the neck of the bottle gives a more controlled flow than whacking its bottom.

Enjoy your mess-free ketchup. This tip works for chilli sauce too!

Take a chill pill

Minutes into the party, horror strikes as you recall that you were supposed to chill the beverages in the refrigerator and you have run out of ice. Instead of worrying that your guests will go home with memories of warm drinks instead of the fun party, try the following:

Wet a piece of kitchen towel and wrap the beverage in it. If you are environmentally conscious, any reusable towel will work as well.
Place the wrapped beverage in the freezer for a few minutes. Water in the towel absorbs heat rapidly from the beverage in order to evaporate.
Enjoy your ice-cold beverage.

Defuse the stink bomb

After a party, there are often lingering memories…and smells. Whether it’s burnt food or garbage, odours are caused by volatile compounds in the air, meaning they turn from liquid to gas easily. These gases enter our noses and stimulate our olfactory receptors, triggering a reaction (mostly in the form of disgust).

Eliminating the stench is as easy as the following:

Pour baking soda onto a dish.
Leave the baking soda out for a few days.
Enjoy the fresh, odourless air.

Most odours are caused by acidic volatile compounds. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) acts as a base to neutralise these compounds, removing the odour in the process. Now your place is all ready for the next party!