| How to Dice an Onion Posted: 12 Apr 2021 05:00 PM PDT Dicing an onion into small, uniform pieces is important in many recipes so they cook evenly. Luckily, there is an easy way to cut your onion so your knife doesn't slip and so the pieces are all the same size. As long as you have a sharp knife, you'll have onions that are ready for any recipe! [Edit]Dicing the Onion with a Knife - Cut from the top of the onion. The top of the onion, or the stem, is the pointed end of the bulb. Set your onion on a cutting board, and measure down from the top of the stem by about . Use a sharp knife to make a straight cut so you have a flat edge on top of your onion.[1]
- Leave the root on the other side of the onion uncut.
- Halve the onion from top to bottom. Set your onion down so the side you just cut is face down on your cutting board. Place the blade of your knife in the middle of the root on top and cut straight through the onion so you have 2 halves that are the same size.[2]
- Peel back the outer skin from each half of the onion. The outer peel usually has a top layer that's easy to remove and a second layer that's more difficult to pull off. Rip the loose outer peel off the onion and throw it away. Pick the edge of the next peel with your fingernail to separate it from the rest of the onion. Pull the peel back toward the root without removing it completely.[3]
- The peel still attached to the root can be used as a "handle" to make holding onto your onion easier while you cut it.
- Cut straight lines toward the root of the onion. Hold your onion by the peel near its root. Start on one side of the onion, placing the tip of your knife from the root. Make vertical cuts from the root toward the flat edge you cut earlier. Work your way across the onion, spacing each cut the same distance apart from one another.[4]
- The root will help hold your onion in place, so be sure not to cut completely through it.[5]
- Make 2-3 sideways cuts from the flat side. Press down lightly on top of the onion and hold your knife so the blade is parallel to the cutting board. Start cutting into the flat side of onion up from the cutting board. Angle your knife slightly down so you don't cut toward your fingers. Just before you reach the root, pull your knife out of the onion. When you're finished with the first cut, make cuts that are the same distance apart until you reach the top of the onion.[6]
- Work slowly so you don't accidentally cut yourself.
- Slice the onion lengthwise to dice it. Turn your onion so the root is on the same side as your non-dominant hand. Put your fingertips on top of the onion so the side of the knife blade touches your knuckles. Starting on the flat side, cut through the onion. After each cut, move your fingers back so you can guide your knife. Make cuts until you reach the root.[7]
- Make sure all of your cuts are the same distance apart so your pieces are all the same size.
[Edit]Chopping in a Food Processor - Cut the onion in half with a knife. Cut the stem and root off the top and bottom of your onion so you have 2 flat edges. Set the onion upright on one of the flat sides and cut through the middle of it so you have 2 pieces that are about the same size.[8]
- Make sure the chef's knife you use is sharp or else it will be difficult to cut through your onion.
- Remove the outer peel from the onion. Use your finger to tear off the loose outer peel from your onion. Pick at the edge of the peel on your onion with your fingernail to separate it. Pull the peel completely off so the surface feels smooth to the touch.[9]
- If you have trouble separating the peel with your fingernail, scrape it with the edge of your knife to lift it.
- Put the onion halves in your food processor. Take the lid off of your food processor and put the onion halves on opposite sides of the container. Make sure the onions aren't directly on top of the blades since they won't dice as well otherwise. Place the lid back on top of the food processor and secure it in place so it doesn't come off.[10]
- Be careful of the blades while putting your onions into the machine since they are sharp and could cut you.
- Never operate your food processor without the lid.
- Use the "Pulse" button to dice your onions slowly. Press the "Pulse" button once to start chopping your onions. Watch through the container to see how much it chops your onions. Press and hold the button for 2-3 seconds at a time before letting go so you can see how big the pieces are. Keep pulsing the onions until they're as small as you need them.[11]
- Be careful not to pulse your onions too much or else they will turn liquidy and you can't use them in your recipe.
[Edit]Using Best Practices - Pick firm onions without any sprouts or soft spots. Look for black or brown spots on the onion peel to see if they're starting to mold. Avoid buying any onions that have green sprouts growing from them since they are not fresh and are more likely to spoil faster. Look for onions that feel solid and don't have any discoloration.[12]
- Whole onions stay good in your pantry or fridge for up to 3 months.
- Chill the onion in your fridge for 15 minutes before cutting it to prevent crying. Onions release a gas when they're cut open may make you tear up. Put your onion in the fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes before you want to dice it to help prevent the gas from releasing. That way, you won't get teary-eyed while you're working with it.[13]
- You can also wear kitchen goggles to help prevent any tears.
- Practice safe knife skills. Keep your index finger and your thumb wrapped around the base of the knife and hold the handle securely with the rest of your fingers. Keep the fingers on your other hand in a claw shape so you don't accidentally cut your fingertips while you're chopping. When you make your cut, rock your knife forward to get the cleanest cut.[14]
- Always keep the knife blade pointed away from you so you don't accidentally cut yourself.
[Edit]Warnings - Keep your fingers away from the knife blade so you don't accidentally cut yourself.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Dicing the Onion with a Knife - Cutting board
- Chef's knife
[Edit]Chopping in a Food Processor - Cutting board
- Chef's knife
- Food processor
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Create Study Plans Posted: 12 Apr 2021 09:00 AM PDT Whether you're a university student or simply learning something new on your own, study time is crucial if you want to do well in your classes. With a study plan, the time you need simply becomes a part of your day so you don't have to worry about an exam or deadline sneaking up on you. The process can seem daunting if you haven't made your own study plan before, but never fear! We've compiled all the most useful tips for you to get the most out of your study time. We'll start with advice on how to work studying into your schedule, then give you some bonus tips on how to structure each study session to max out your productivity. [Edit]Carve out time to study every day. - Set aside at least a couple of hours as dedicated study time. If you have a full day of classes and work, you might not have more than an hour or two each day to study. Use the weekend to catch up! If your schedule doesn't leave open a full 2-hour block on any particular day, look for spots where you can sneak in smaller 20-30 minute blocks.[1]
- For example, you might study for an hour in the morning, a half-hour at lunchtime, and another half-hour in the afternoon before work.
- If you're working while going to school, include your study plan on your school schedule and let your manager know that you're not available for work during those times.
[Edit]Schedule backward from exams and deadlines. - Put your exams and deadlines on your calendar when you get your syllabus. If you're taking several classes, you can easily see if you have several exams on the same day or projects due at the same time. Then, plan your study time backward from those dates to make sure you have enough time to get everything ready.[2]
- Plan on getting papers and other assignments done early so you have time to edit and polish them before you turn them in. This also helps you avoid the stress of trying to do the entire thing at the last minute.
[Edit]Include enough study time each week for each class. - The general rule is to study for 3 hours for every credit hour of the class. Use this rule to create your study plan before classes start. As you get into your classes, you might find that some of them require more study time while others require less.[3]
- For example, if you're taking a Spanish class for 3 credit hours, schedule 9 hours of study for that class each week.
- If a subject comes easily to you or you're taking a class that's mostly a review of stuff you already know, you can probably get away with less time studying.
[Edit]Study at around the same time every day. - Your brain will be more focused if you commit to a regular schedule. After a week or two, you'll get in the habit of studying at that time, the same as you get used to having classes at a certain time. If you're going to school full-time, think of your school day as a workday and schedule study time in between classes to get the most out of your day.[4]
- If you have seasonal activities, plan your study schedule around those activities even when they're not going on. For example, suppose you play intramural soccer during the spring, with practice on Mondays and games on Thursdays. Schedule your study time so it doesn't conflict, then you won't have to change your study plan when soccer starts.
[Edit]Use your syllabus to plan each study session. - Set specific tasks to do each study session using action words. Think of your syllabus as a roadmap to guide your study sessions until the end of the course. Note when lectures are and what you're supposed to do to prepare, then add in time to review your lecture notes before you prepare for the next class session.[5]
- For example, suppose you have a history class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your instructor assigns reading to prepare for the class. Your study plan might be to read for 1 hour on Monday, review lecture notes for 15 minutes on Tuesday, read for 1 hour on Wednesday, then review lecture notes for 15 minutes on Thursday.
[Edit]Break up larger assignments. - Do smaller parts of larger assignments over a longer period. Working backward from the due date, plan out blocks when you'll work on specific segments of a larger assignment. Use the week of the due date to bring those parts together and do the final polishing of your assignment so it's ready to turn in.[6]
- For example, if you have a research paper due in 3 weeks, you might research the first week, write the first draft the second week, then edit and proofread the week the paper's due.
[Edit]Study the most difficult things first. - Do more challenging things when your mind is fresh. When you sit down to study a subject, start with whatever part is giving you the most trouble. Dedicate as much of your time to that thing as you feel like you need to before moving on.[7]
- If you manage to conquer something that was giving you trouble before, you'll feel more motivated to tackle easier parts of the material.
- While you don't want to completely neglect material you feel confident about, a quick review is usually all you'll need to keep it fresh if you feel like you already know it well.
[Edit]Plan for regular breaks to maintain focus. - Study for 25 minutes then take a 5-minute break. This tactic is known as the Pomodoro Technique and helps you maintain peak focus. When you take your break, though, remember to actually take a real break for the entire 5 minutes. Get up and walk around, do jumping jacks, get a snack, text friends, or watch cat videos on YouTube—whatever you need to give your brain a rest![8]
- This isn't just goofing off—without regular breaks, your brain will internalize less of what you study. Taking frequent breaks helps you get the most out of your study sessions.
- Keeping your study blocks short also helps you stay on task because you know a break is coming up soon. It's easy for your mind to wander if you've been sitting and staring at the same material for an hour.
[Edit]Review as soon after class as possible. - Go over what you covered in class as soon as possible to cement it in your brain. Look over your lecture notes, then try writing a brief summary of what you talked about in class. Think about what you would say if someone asked you what you talked about in class today. Usually, about 15 minutes is sufficient for a review.[9]
- For example, if you have 2 classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you might plan a half-hour study session on those evenings to go over what you covered in each class that day.
- Go through your notes and fill in any areas that might be hard to understand or difficult to read. For example, if you were writing really fast, your notes might be illegible if you don't go back to them for several weeks.
- Reviewing soon after class can also help you identify concepts you don't understand or questions you might have for your instructor. That way, you can send them an email or take advantage of their office hours to get an answer immediately, rather than waiting until right before the exam.
[Edit]Add a cumulative review every week. - Read through your notes for each class at least once a week. It's easy to forget what you've learned when you're constantly learning new things each week. Creating an outline for your class is a good way to do a cumulative review. Then, all you have to do is go over your outline each week.[10]
- For example, if you're taking 4 classes, you might schedule a 2-hour study block on Saturdays in which you spend 30 minutes doing a cumulative review for each class.
- Cumulative review also helps you understand how the later things you learn build on the earlier things you learned. You'll likely notice new connections between parts of the class that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise.
- This is especially important for classes that have a cumulative final exam. If you've done a cumulative review every week, you'll have a lot less work to do to get ready for that big final.
- Look for blank spaces in your regular schedule that can be used for exam study. In addition to your regular study time, you might want to study more in the week or so before an exam. Instead of taking away from study time for other classes, add more study blocks that you can dedicate to exam preparation.[11]
- For example, suppose you have a chemistry exam coming up. You normally study chemistry for an hour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, then for 2 hours on Saturday. If you have free time on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you might add an hour of study on those days the week before the exam.
[Edit]Evaluate your plan regularly and tweak it if necessary. - Increase or decrease study time based on your grades and class performance. If you start to feel like you're really struggling in one class, figure out where you can make more time to study for that class. You might also want to try different study methods if what you're doing isn't working, such as joining a study group or going to the professor's office hours.[12]
- If you had an exam for a class that you thought was easy and you did really well on, you probably don't have to study as much for that one. Take some study time from the easy class and use it for one you find more challenging.
[Edit]Use group study sessions to prepare for exams. - Work with classmates as it gets closer to exam time. If you're weak in one area, chances are there's someone else in the class who's strong in that same area and can help you understand it. If you've got something down, teaching it to someone who doesn't helps you understand it even better.[13]
- In classes where problem-solving and thinking are important, working in groups is an asset because you can learn different ways of thinking and approaching problems that you might not have thought of on your own.
- Even if you don't think you work well in groups, give a study group a chance—especially if it's your first year in university—just to see if you get anything out of it. You can always drop the group if you don't feel like you're getting any benefit from it.
[Edit]Set up a dedicated study area. - Choose a well-lit, comfortable spot where you can focus and concentrate. It's usually better if you always study in the same place and have all of your materials handy so you don't waste any of your precious study time hunting for something. If your study area is outside your own home, you might want to pack up a separate backpack with all of your study tools so you know you'll always have them with you.[14]
- Think about your own needs—everyone's ideal study environment will be different! If you need absolute quiet with no distractions, you might find it best to study in a carrel in the library. But if you need a certain level of ambient noise and movement in the background, a café might be a better choice.[15]
- The right study environment for you will depend on what type of learner you are. For example, if you're a visual learner, you might work best in an environment with a lot of color and brightness. If you're a kinesthetic learner, you might work best in a place where you can get up, move around, and write things down on a whiteboard.[16]
- Studying with a friend or group can help you stay motivated.[17]
- Use short bursts of time between classes to quickly review your notes or go through flashcards.[18]
[Edit]References |
| How to Get Discounts On Amazon Posted: 12 Apr 2021 01:00 AM PDT Amazon is simple to use and a great place to find almost anything you need. There are also a ton of ways you can get discounts and save money. Like the site itself, many of the deals and discounts are easy to find if you know what you're looking for. To make it easy for you, we've put together a handy list of ways you can take advantage of all of the deals and discounts on Amazon so you can save as much money as possible. [Edit]Become a Prime member. - Shop the exclusive deals that come with it. Amazon Prime is Amazon's membership program that allows you to take advantage of exclusive deals and discounts such as flash sales and Amazon Prime Day, an annual shopping holiday available only to Prime members. Visit the Amazon homepage and choose the option to sign up for a Prime membership. It's free for 30 days and then it costs $12 a month, but you can pay an annual fee of $119 for a better deal.[1]
[Edit]Apply for an Amazon Prime Rewards Card. - Earn money and get cash back whenever you use your credit card. Whenever you purchase items at Amazon.com or at Whole Foods, you can earn 5% back. If you use the card at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores you can earn 2% back. For all other purchases that you make with your card, you'll earn 1% back, so no matter what, you'll always be earning cash back! Visit the Amazon website and fill out the application to apply for the card.[2]
[Edit]Join Amazon Family if you need stuff for your kids. - Get discounts and age-specific deals. If you plan to use Amazon for things like diapers, baby registries, or for products for your children, sign up for Amazon Family. You'll get access to discounts on family-related subscriptions and deals that are tailored for you and your family. Amazon will email you deals and discounts on a regular basis.[3]
[Edit]Sign up for Amazon Student if you're in college. - Take advantage of free shipping and cheaper rates. If you're a college student, visit the Amazon page and choose the Amazon Prime Student option. Fill out the information to confirm that you're a student and start taking advantage of the benefits of Prime for free, including Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Photos, and free two-day shipping.[4]
- In order to verify that you're a student, you'll need to upload a scan or image of your student ID, a transcript or class list with your name on it, your tuition bill with your name on it, or an official acceptance letter for the upcoming term.[5]
[Edit]Click on the "Today's Deals" page. - Take advantage of limited-time discounts. Amazon maintains a page dedicated to deals and discounted items. It's updated on a daily basis so click on the link and take a look through the items to see if there's anything you're interested in. Snag any discounted items you want while they're priced low.[6]
[Edit]Use Amazon Coupons on specific items. - Save the digital coupons and use them at checkout. Click on the Amazon Coupons page and take a look through it. Keep an eye out for coupons that will work on items that you buy a lot or on items that you're interested in purchasing. Click on the "Clip Coupon" option to save the digital coupon to your cart so they can be automatically applied when you check out.[7]
[Edit]Choose "Subscribe and Save" for repeat buys. - If you buy certain items regularly, use this feature to save money. If you purchase an item or product on a regular basis, whether it's weekly or monthly, you can save up to 15% simply by using Amazon's Subscribe and Save service. Choose the option to "subscribe" to the item and set how many and how often you want them shipped to you.[8]
- For instance, if you buy a bag of dog food once every month, you might as well sign up for the feature to save some money on it! You can choose to have 1 bag sent to you each month.
[Edit]Check out Amazon Warehouse Deals. - Look through the open box and used products for reduced prices. If an item is opened and then returned to Amazon, or if there are used items that were traded in, then Amazon will put them up in their Amazon Warehouse Deals. You can get great discounts on products that have been tested by Amazon to make sure they're still working.[9]
[Edit]Look through the Amazon Outlets hub. - Check out the markdowns, clearance items, overstocks, and more. The Amazon Outlets hub features items that have had their prices reduced in an effort to get them sold. Avoid paying full price for items by checking through the page for things that you like. Browse different filter options for different items and deals.[10]
[Edit]Choose the no-rush shipping option. - If you don't mind the wait, you can save some money. The standard shipping charge from Amazon guarantees that your items will arrive within 2 days. But if you don't mind potentially waiting an extra day or so, you can choose the option for free, no-rush shipping. You'll immediately receive a discount on your order or a reward to your account once your order ships.[11]
- Amazon defines "no-rush" as within 6 business days. So if you don't mind waiting about a week, you can get a nice discount.
[Edit]Convert old gift cards. - Turn them into Amazon gift cards you can use. If have some old gift cards lying around such as Visa or Express gift cards, you can convert them into Amazon gift cards. Log into Amazon and visit the eGift Card page. Enter your gift card info and apply it to an Amazon gift card that you can use on the site.[12]
- For instance, if you have a bunch of old gift cards with low balances on them, you can combine them all into an Amazon gift card.
[Edit]Set up a bonus on your reloadable gift card. - Get a 2% bonus whenever you reload and use it. If you have an Amazon gift card, you can reload it and add more money to the balance. Whenever you do, you can earn a 2% bonus. Use the debit card that's linked to your account and the extra bonus will be added to the gift card's balance whenever you reload it.[13]
- You can also earn a 2% bonus whenever you reload an Amazon gift card that you've given to someone else!
[Edit]Use an online coupon site. - Enter coupon codes to get discounts on certain items. There are a bunch of coupon sites such as Groupon, The Krazy Coupon Lady, and Coupons.com. Visit them and look for coupons that you can use on items that you buy from Amazon. Grab the coupon's discount code and apply it to your Amazon order at checkout to save some extra money on your purchase.[14]
- Additionally, there are groups on social media sites like Facebook that are dedicated to finding deals on Amazon. You can join them and take advantage of the deals that interest you.
- Keep in mind that deals are constantly updating on Amazon. So if you want something, but it's too expensive, you can try checking back on it later.
[Edit]Warnings - Be careful about giving out your financial information online, especially on other websites that aren't secure like Amazon.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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