Put your hand up if you’ve ever accidentally yanked the entire roll of aluminum foil out of the box when you were trying to swipe a small slice?
My brother, if your hand is up right now, you are not alone.
See, I’m a bit clumsy in the kitchen, too. My oven burners are covered in burnt sauce stains, my sink drains are full of slithery, rainbow-colored bits of last night’s dinner, and my Tupperware cupboard looks like the Tasmanian Devil’s mudroom.
And add to these issues my apparent love of yanking entire sheets of aluminum foil clear out of the box. Honestly, I just give a little tug and out pops the entire roll, hitting the floor and rolling away while laughing its trademark crackly metallic laugh.
Yeah, just tell me that’s not a pathetic scene: cut to freeze-frame of tired-looking man in bedhead and sweatpants holding the edge of aluminum foil in one hand and an empty box in the other, then slowly pan down to a floor covered in a thick, shiny snake of metal crinkled across the floor.
Folks, the only thing that looks worse is the fat, crumpled rolled-back-up roll half-stuffed in the box after you tried to put it back together again.
Yes, we’ve all been there.
But guess what? High tens around the room, because there is hope for People Like Us. Shockingly, I have recently discovered those little tabs on the side of the aluminum foil box that hold the roll in place! Believe it, food preservation fans, because they truly exist.
Yes, the little tabs on the side of the aluminum foil box can be indented so they anchor the roll in the box. Honestly, it’s a jaw-dropping discovery — like finding out your new apartment gets free Wireless or realizing there’s a little arrow in your car that tells you where to find your gas hole.
Now, whenever it was, whenever it is, whenever it will be: how good does it feel when you first discover those little tabs yourself? Give it up for a pretty good buzz.
So join me today as we give thanks to that modern miracle of the kitchen cupboard: those little tabs on the side of the aluminum foil box.
Also on Saran Wrap.
AWESOME!
When I happened to notice the tabs I thought that maybe my mom didn’t want them pushed in. I went ahead and pushed them in… When I showed mom she said, “Tabs? There are tabs?” She didn’t know they existed.
OMG I just went to check my alufoil box, and there they were!
I’m honestly surprised so many people didn’t know those existed.
Total mind blow.
:O I had NO idea!! Way cool–thanks a lot!
How have I lived until now? Like an animal.
My friend referred me to your blog, so I thought I’d come have a read. Very interesting material, will be back for more!
This happens to me all the time, so when I read this I had to go check the cupboards…my roll does NOT have these! :( I’ll be buying a different brand next time I go shopping.
I never noticed those before. What else am I missing?
http://www.middleofthefreakinroad.com
I am stuck at the office right now, but the second I get home, I am going straight to my foil/saran wrap/baggie drawer and checking for these little miracle tabs. I never knew they existed before. AWESOME.
I looked last night….and NOTHING. :( My box of foil didn’t have the little tabs. I will check each brand my grocery store carries next time I shop and will buy the right one next time!
Bummer!
I never knew about these tabs. I guess even at my age (57) you can still learn new things. Thanks for the information. I’m way too old to be crawling on my knees chasing after a runaway roll of aluminum foil.
Truly a revelation. Thank you for saving me from future tinfoil-y embarrassment.
that is pretty cool, didnt know they even existed. and, um, dont think of me as stupid or blonde (coz im brunette), im just Aussie- what is saran wrap? probably like your version of glad wrap, which is my biggest kitchen enemy. i can NEVER get it to work coz its always stretching as i try and tear a large piece off, then of course it sticks and crumples in mid air… >.<
So many simple things that we overlook just because they don’t come with obvious instructions. The manufacturer just expects us to know. Like when I realized you don’t have to use a can opener to open a can of soda :0
hahaha sorry but *that* is funny :D
I’ll always remember the day I discovered this. I was happy literally for hours after this.
Never forget 07/23/08.
Unbelievable – at the ripe old age of 32, I would have thought I’d have discovered this little gem by now!!!
Its really funny,although I just go to the kitchen and pick up whatever I feel like eating,never given a thought about this..lolls
as I website owner I conceive the subject material here is real great , regards for your efforts.
You are so smart, Neil! Thanks!!
Oh God! Thank you!
Another I’ve been told, but cannot confirm, is that the gas nozzle (or any similar direction-y piece/arrow) on a car’s gas gauge points to the side of the car on which the gas cap is located.
I was over 50 years old when someone told me about this. I about wet my pants! haha What an Awesome Moment!
Thank you for saving my (kitchen) life. I’m 55 and pretty together but I could have reached 110 !!!without knowing this, if it weren’t for you:)
Sully
I’ll right away clutch your rss feed as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please permit me understand so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
never knew until now-thanks!
I fortunately was told and have been a happy aluminum foil user ever since. I’ve never seen it on Pinterest so have added it to my board.
Way cool! Now we need a solution for the treacherous cutter. Got a nice, jagged slice on my finger last night from one.
Yeah, nobody likes getting cuts, but those cuts from the metal strips are like paper-cuts x 1000
I’d like to know why the hell there isn’t an indication on the box to punch those suckers in at both ends, OR IS THERE? If not, it needs to be plastered on the front of the box, not the ends. (where obviously no one looks) capeesh? :)