| How to Make Tortilla Chips Posted: 16 Apr 2022 01:00 AM PDT Tortilla chips are an excellent snack, a great side dish, and they're perfect for making nachos or for eating dips and spreads. And while it's easy enough to go to the store and buy a bag of tortilla chips, you can also make your own from scratch in your very own kitchen. The key to making your own tortilla chips is to make your own tortillas first, and to then cut up the tortillas and cook the chips. You can fry the chips for a more traditional tortilla chip, or bake them for a healthier version. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Making Easy Tortilla Chips - 2 cups (470 ml) oil
- 20 6-inch (15-cm) tortillas
- Salt, to taste
[Edit]Making Authentic Homemade Tortillas - 2 cups (228 g) masa harina
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
- 1½ cups (353 ml) hot water
- Oil, for frying or baking
- Extra salt, for finishing
Makes 20 6-inch tortillas, or 120 chips [Edit]Making Easy Tortilla Chips - Preheat the oil. Add about 2 cups (470 ml) of oil to a large skillet or frying pan. Heat the oil over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, until it reaches 350 F (177 C).
- If you don't have a thermometer, you can tell the oil is ready when it's shimmering but not smoking.
- Ideal oils for frying tortilla chips are vegetable and canola.[1]
- Stack and cut the tortillas. Arrange your tortillas into four neat piles. This will make the tortillas easier to cut into wedges for chips. Use a sharp knife to cut the tortillas in half, and then cut each half into three even wedges. Repeat until all the tortillas have been cut.[2]
- For smaller chips, cut each tortilla half into four wedges.
- You can either use store-bought or homemade tortillas to make these chips.
- Fry the chips in small batches. When the oil is ready and the chips have been cut, add 10 to 20 chips to the oil. Make sure the chips aren't crowding each other, or they won't cook evenly. Cook the chips for about two minutes, until golden brown. Flip the chips and cook them for another two minutes.[3]
- Remove the chips from the fryer with a slotted metal spoon. When the chips are golden brown on both sides, carefully remove them from the hot oil.[4] Hold the slotted spoon over the skillet for a minute to allow excess oil to drain off.
- Transfer the chips to a towel-lined baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with a layer of paper towel. Transfer the cooked chips to the baking sheet and set them aside to cool. As they cool, the paper towel will absorb more of the excess oil.[5]
- Repeat until all the chips have been fried, removed from the oil, and transferred to the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with salt and serve warm or cold. Once all the chips have been cooked and have had time to drain on the baking sheets, sprinkle them with your favorite salt, to taste. As soon as the chips are cool to the touch, they're ready to be enjoyed with your favorite dips, or as part of other dishes.
- You can also season the chips with pepper, garlic powder, herbs, and other spices and seasonings.
- Store leftover chips. Transfer any leftover chips to an airtight container or sealable plastic bag with an airtight seal. They will keep at room temperature for about five days.[6]
[Edit]Making Authentic Homemade Tortillas - Combine the masa harina, salt, and hot water in a large mixing bowl. Stir the mixture with a spoon to incorporate all the ingredients. Masa harina is a soft corn flour that's been soaked in an alkaline solution, and that's often used for making tortillas and other corn-based dishes.[7]
- To make these tortillas with wheat flour instead, reduce the amount of water in the recipe to ¾ cup (176 ml).[8]
- Knead the dough. Turn the dough out onto a flat surface, like a countertop. Knead the dough for about two minutes, until it's smooth, elastic, and not sticky. If the dough is too dry or too sticky, there are things you can do to fix this:
- If the dough seems too dry and crumbly, work in a tablespoon (15 ml) of water.
- If the dough feels gummy and sticky, work in a tablespoon (7 g) of masa harina.[9]
- Let the dough rest for 15 minutes. Return the dough to the original mixing bowl. Cover it with a damp towel and set it aside to rest at room temperature. As the dough rests, the flour will finish absorbing the water, making for soft and tasty tortillas.[10]
- The resting period isn't vital if you don't have time to wait, and you can roll the tortillas as soon as the dough is ready. The resting period will give the masa harina time to fully absorb all the water, and improve the texture of the tortillas.
- Roll out the dough for the tortillas. Turn the dough back out onto the counter. For each tortilla, break off about 3 tablespoons (30 g) of dough. Roll each piece of dough into a ball, and then use a rolling pin to roll each ball into a flat circle that's one-eighth inch (3 mm) thick and 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter.[11]
- You can also use a tortilla press to flatten the dough balls into tortillas.
- Preheat a griddle. When all the tortillas have been rolled out, heat a non-stick griddle or skillet over medium-high heat.[12] Allow the griddle to heat for a few minutes. To test if the griddle is hot enough, sprinkle a few drops of water onto the surface. If the water sizzles and evaporates, then the griddle is ready.
- Brush the griddle with a thin layer of oil if you don't have a non-stick pan.
- Cook the tortillas. When the griddle is hot, add your first tortilla to the pan. Cook the tortilla for one to two minutes, until the edges begin to curl and the surface is lightly browned.[13] Flip the tortilla and cook for an additional one to two minutes. Remove the tortilla from the griddle and transfer it to a wire rack to cool.
- Repeat until all of the tortillas have been cooked.
[Edit]Making Healthy Baked Tortilla Chips - Brush the tortillas with oil. Fill a small bowl with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of canola or vegetable oil. Use a pastry brush or silicone brush to coat both sides of each tortilla with a thin layer of oil. As you brush the tortillas, make sure you get the edges. This will help the chips to crisp up when they bake.[14]
- Stack, cut, and season the tortillas. Arrange the tortillas into four neat piles.[15] Cut the tortillas in half, and then cut each half into three even wedges. Arrange the chips in a single layer on baking sheets, making sure they don't overlap.[16] Before baking, sprinkle the chips with salt or other favorite seasonings, such as:
- Pepper
- Rosemary
- Garlic or onion powder
- Curry powder
- Lime flavoring
- Bake the tortillas until lightly browned. Preheat your oven to 350 F (177 C).[17] When the oven is hot, transfer the baking sheets to the top rack. Bake the chips for 8-12 minutes, until the chips are slightly browned and the edges have crisped up and lifted off the baking sheet a little.
- Watch the chips carefully as they bake, because they are thin and prone to charring.
- Serve the chips warm or cold. Remove the chips from the oven and set them aside to cool on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes. As the chips cool, the centers will become harder and crispier.[18] You can serve the chips warm as soon as they're cool to the touch, or let them cool completely for another hour.
- Store leftover chips in an airtight container for up to five days.[19]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make a Yo Yo Posted: 15 Apr 2022 05:00 PM PDT Creating your own yo-yo is a fun, simple project. The easiest way to make this classic, entertaining toy is with a pair of bottle caps. Join the caps with a small screw, tie on a string, then add character with unique decorations. For a slightly more complex project, try making a wooden yo-yo. Whichever method you choose, have fun crafting your yo-yo, and enjoy learning cool new tricks with it! [Edit]Making a Yo-yo with Bottle Caps - Make holes in the centers of 2 bottle caps. Place a thick, folded towel or a piece of scrap wood on a tabletop. Set a bottle cap flat-side-down on the towel or wood, then place a #4 (3 mm) pointed screw in the center of the cap. Hold the cap tightly, and turn the screw clockwise with a screwdriver to drill it through the plastic.[1]
- After drilling the hole, turn the screw counterclockwise to remove it from the first bottle cap. Then repeat the steps on the second cap.
- The towel or wood will keep the screw from scratching your tabletop.
- Drive the screw through one of the bottle caps. After drilling the holes, insert the screw into the hollow end of the cap that twists onto a bottle. Turn the screw clockwise to drive it through the hole in the bottle cap.[2]
- The screw's point should be coming out of the flat top of the bottle cap.
- Slide a #4 nylon spacer over the screw to make a bearing. Place an unthreaded spacer onto the pointy end of the screw on the flat side of the bottle cap. You can find nylon spacers at hardware or home improvement stores. Go with a #4 spacer to fit your screw's gauge.[3]
- Note that your screw needs to be long enough to hold the spacer with at least of length leftover to secure the bottle caps. A screw should do the trick.
- A bearing makes it easier for the yo-yo to spin, but you can skip this step if you don't have a spacer that fits your screw.
- Tie cotton yarn or a store-bought yo-yo string to the bearing. If you go with a store-bought yo-yo string, simply slide its looped end onto the spacer. Alternatively, loosely tie an end of a cotton string to the spacer. Make a slip knot on the other end of the string to fit around your finger.[4]
- If you're making your own string, cut it so it's about the length between your belly button and the floor.
- Tie the string right onto the screw if you're not using a spacer.
- Connect the bottle caps so their tops face each other. Line up the pointy end of the screw with the hole in the center of the second bottle cap. Position the cap so its flat side faces the screw. Then turn the screw clockwise to drive it into the bottle cap.[5]
- Drive the screw through the caps tightly enough to hold them in place, but make sure the spacer can still rotate.
- Once you've finished making the yo-yo's main structure, it's time to personalize it with unique decorations.
[Edit]Decorating a Bottle Cap Yo-Yo - Fill in the bottle caps with hot glue. Add glue to the empty end of one bottle cap, let it cool for 2 or 3 minutes, then fill in the other side. Do your best to keep the glue level with the rims of the bottle caps. To keep the weight even, try to squeeze equal amounts of glue into each bottle cap.[6]
- Running a metal putty knife over the surface can help you level the glue with the caps' rims. To remove glue from the knife, allow it dry completely, peel it off, then wipe away residue with rubbing alcohol.
- The extra weight of the glue will help the yo-yo work better.
- Trace the side of the yo-yo onto colorful paper to make cutouts. After letting the glue cool for a few minutes, place the yo-yo on its side over a piece of paper with a cool design. You could use construction paper, a magazine, a drawing, or an image printed off of the internet. Trace the side of the yo-yo (the bottle caps' circumference) onto the paper, then cut out the circle you've traced.[7]
- Repeat the steps to trace and cut out another circle. You'll use the 2 circles to decorate the sides of the yo-yo.
- Stick the cutouts to clear plastic with double-sided tape. Place the cutouts design-side-down on strips of transparent tape. Then cut around the circles to get rid of excess tape. Peel off the tape's backing to expose the sticky surface, then place the cutouts on pieces of sturdy clear plastic.[8]
- You could use clear plastic lids or thick plastic freezer bags. Trim excess plastic after you've stuck the circles to the pieces. The plastic backings will help protect the cutouts from wear and tear.
- Attach the circles to the sides of the yo-yo. Stick the circles design-side-up to strips of double-sided tape, then trim off excess. Finally, peel off the tape's backing, and stick a circle on each side of the yo-yo to add flair.[9]
- That's all there is to it! Enjoy your new yo-yo!
[Edit]Creating a Wooden Yo-yo - Cut a pair of wide plywood discs using a hole saw. Use plywood to make your yo-yo. Cut out the 2 discs with a drill fitted with a hole saw with a pilot bit. If possible, avoid cutting out areas of wood with knots.[10]
- If you don't have a hole saw bit, trace circles on the plywood, then use a jigsaw to cut them out. Picture each disc as a clock, and draw lines from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock and from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Then, for each disc, drill a hole at the center, or the point where the lines intersect.
- Wear protective goggles and use caution when working with saws and other power tools. If necessary, ask an adult to help you cut the discs.
- Sand the discs until their edges are round and smooth. Use a belt sander fitted with a coarse belt (such as 60-grit) to shape the discs. Compare the discs carefully, and do your best to make them the same size and shape. After shaping them with the coarse belt, sand the discs with a fine, 220-grit belt until their surfaces are nice and smooth.[11]
- You could also shape the discs by hand with sandpaper, but it'll require a little more elbow grease.
- Push a bolt through the first disc's pilot hole. Get a bolt and washers at a hardware or home improvement store. Slide a washer down the bolt's shaft, then push the bolt though the disc's hole.[12]
- The washer should be between the head of the bolt and the disc.
- Slide a nylon spacer onto the bolt. Use a spacer as your yo-yo's bearing. Slide it onto the bolt until it sits flush against the first disc.[13]
- A spacer is deep with a hole diameter of and a total diameter of .
- Attach cotton yarn or a store-bought yo-yo string to the spacer. A store-bought yo-yo string has a loop at one end; slide that end onto the spacer. If you're making your own string, cut a strand of cotton yarn equal to the length between your belly button and the floor. Then tie one end loosely to the spacer, and make a slip knot at the other end.[14]
- Secure the second disc with a locking nut. After tying the string to the spacer, slide the second disc onto the bolt. Add a washer, then twist a locking nut clockwise onto the bolt shaft to hold the yoyo together.[15]
- Take care not to over-tighten the locking nut. Practice throwing the yo-yo, and adjust the tightness until it feels comfortable, spins nicely, and returns to your hand reliably.
- Decorate your yo-yo, if desired. If you'd like, make designs on the sides of your yo-yo with felt-tip pens or paint. For instance, try making spirals or concentric circles in various colors. Alternatively, if you stained or oiled the surface, you could just leave the finish as is.[16]
- You could also decorate the sides with cutouts as you would with a bottle cap yo-yo. However, you'd need to punch a hole in the cutouts and include them under the bolt head and locking nut. Unscrew the nut and take the yo-yo apart, stick a cutout over the outside of each disc with double-sided tape, then put the yo-yo back together.
[Edit]Warnings - Wear safety goggles and use caution when using a saw and other power tools.
- If necessary, get help from an adult before using a hot glue gun, saw, or belt sander.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Making a Bottle Cap Yo-yo - 2 plastic or thin metal bottle caps
- #4 screw
- #4 nylon spacer
- Cotton yarn or store-bought yo-yo string
[Edit]Decorating a Bottle Cap Yo-yo - Hot glue gun and glue
- Colorful paper or printed image or design
- Scissors
- Double-sided scotch tape
- Clear plastic lid or thick freezer bag
[Edit]Creating a Wooden Yo-yo - thick plywood board, at least in size
- Safety goggles
- Power drill
- hole saw with pilot bit
- Belt sander with 60-grit and 220-grit belts
- Stain or tung oil (optional)
- bolt with locking nut
- washers (2)
- nylon spacer
- Store-bought yo-yo string or cotton yarn
- Felt-tip pens or paint (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Convert Minutes to Hours Posted: 15 Apr 2022 09:00 AM PDT Not sure how to change a time in minutes to a time in hours? Not to worry! It's easy to make this conversion task in just a few simple steps. As a general rule, dividing your number of minutes by 60 will give you the same time in hours. This is because there are exactly 60 minutes in an hour.[1] [Edit]Sample Minutes to Hours Converter [Edit]Converting Minutes to Hours - Start with your number of minutes. You can do this a few different ways. For example, if you're working on paper, you might write down the number of minutes and label it with the word "minutes." If you're using a calculator, just type in the number.
- As an example, let's say that we want to find out how many hours a 150 minute movie will be. In this case, we'll start by writing down 150 minutes. In the next few steps, we'll solve!
- Multiply by "1 hour/60 minutes." Next, write (or type) a multiplication sign (×), then the fraction 1 hour/60 minutes. This fraction shows how many minutes are in an hour (60). When we multiply, we'll end up with the correct units, too (since the two "minutes") cancel out.[2]
- This is the same as dividing by 60/1, or 60. If you need help dividing and multiplying fractions, see WikiHow's help article on this topic.
- Solve. Now you just need to do the math. The answer you get will be the number of hours you're looking for.
- In our example, 150 minutes × 1 hour/60 minutes = 2.5 hours, or 2 1/2 hours. This is the same as 150 divided by 60 or 150/60.
- Multiply by 60 to get back to minutes. Taking an hours measurement and multiplying it by 60 will get you minutes again. Technically, you're multiplying by 60 minutes/1 hour so that the two "hours" cancel properly.
- In our example, multiplying 2.5 hours × 60 minutes/1 hour = 150 minutes — exactly what we started with.
- If your measurement is in hours and minutes, just deal with the minutes. Sometimes, time measurements are given like this: x hours y minutes. In this case, you can just convert the "y minutes" portion to hours, then add it to the "x hours" portion. This gives you the total time in (just) hours.
- For example, let's say that we need to convert 3 hours and 9 minutes to just hours. To do this, all we need to do is figure out how many hours 9 minutes is, then add it to 3 hours. In other words, 9 minutes × 1 hour/60 minutes = 0.15 hours + 3 hours = 3.15 hours.
[Edit]Converting to Hours and Minutes - Convert your minutes to hours as normal. Up until now, we've only discussed how to get answers written in hours. However, since time is often written as hours and minutes, it's nice to know how to do this too. Luckily, this is easy. To start, just convert your minute measurement into hours like you learned in the section above.[3]
- Let's follow along with an example problem. If we want to convert 260 minutes to hours, we would multiply 260 minutes × 1 hour/60 minutes = 4.33 hours or 4 1/3 hours.
- Multiply the decimal or fraction by 60. Unless your minutes converted perfectly to hours, you'll have an answer with a decimal or fraction in it. You want to multiply this part by 60. Leave the whole number alone — we're only dealing with the "extra" decimal or fraction part. Label your answer as "minutes".[4]
- In our example, we would multiply just the ".33" by 60. 0.33 × 60 = 20 minutes.
- If we use a fraction instead of 0.33, we get the same answer. 1/3 × 60 = 20 minutes.
- Write your answer as hours and minutes. The answer you just got is the "minutes" part of your final answer. You already know the "hours" part — it's the whole number you got when you first converted. Write your answer like this: x hours, y minutes.
- In our example, our first answer was 4.33 hours. We just found out that the ".33" part is equal to 20 minutes, so we would write our answer as 4 hours 20 minutes.
- Looking for a quicker, more convenient way to make this conversion? Online calculators like this one let you type in a number of minutes and get an answer in hours in a few seconds![5]
- If you're dealing with minutes and seconds, things can get a little trickier. First, divide the number of seconds by 60 to get it into minutes form. Add this to your number of minutes, then divide again by 60 to get hours.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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