DEAR HELOISE: When having a large barbecue, try this hint for cooking corn on the cob. It's so easy and keeps corn hot all day. Boil a large (soup) pot of water, shuck all the corn, place the corn in a clean cooler and pour the boiling water over it. Now just close the lid for 35-40 minutes. Every time you take out a piece of corn, make sure to close the lid again to keep the remaining corn hot.
-- Andy K. in Maryland
DEAR READER: This is a great way to make large amounts of corn without using up space.
DEAR HELOISE: When I was growing up, my mother always kept a coffee can under the kitchen sink to collect unwanted bacon fat. When it hardened, she simply threw it in the trash. The worst thing you could have done back then, and presently, is to pour it directly down the sink.
I have found a way to eliminate the danger of spilling the hot grease into a container and the unwanted smell under the sink. After you finish frying the bacon, turn off the heat and lay three sheets of paper towels in the pan. The paper towels will soak up all the grease. Wait a minute and simply throw all the grease-soaked paper towels into the garbage. Surprisingly, the greasy paper towels cool down quickly, so there is no damage to your trash pail or the plastic lining.
-- Robert D., via email
DEAR READER: I agree -- do not ever throw grease of any kind down the sink. However, I would caution that you should always let the grease cool before adding the paper towels, and never pour hot grease into anything.
DEAR HELOISE: While making a pineapple upside-down cake (which called for 1/2-inch slices of fresh pineapple), my husband and I discovered a hint for coring the slices. He was having difficulty coring the individual slices, and I suggested he use the small doughnut cutter that comes with a biscuit cutter. The small, round cutter worked perfectly on the pineapple slices, and was just the right size. He was finished in no time, and it was much easier than using a paring knife.
-- Jean D., Omaha, Neb.
DEAR HELOISE: The other day, after opening a new bottle of soda, I could not find the cap. My husband grabbed an old wine cork to seal the bottle.
-- Leah W. in Kentucky
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Food on 07/27/2016