From how to peel a banana to cutting a cake we reveal what you’ve been doing wrong – and 8 hacks to make life easier – The Sun

THEY are simple everyday tasks – but you may have been doing them wrong.

We revealed yesterday how myth-busting scientists from the University of Southern Denmark found that tapping a can of beer before opening it did not prevent the liquid fizzing over.

So what other simple tasks have we been doing wrong?

From peeling a banana to cutting a cake, ALICE HALL reveals eight hacks to make life that bit easier.

How to peel a banana

EVER peeled your banana to find you have squashed the top into a mushy mess? It’s because you have been opening it the wrong way round.

We turned to the animal kingdom where monkeys have been doing it correctly for years.

Ignore the handle-like stem and turn the banana upside down to focus on the stubby end.

Pinch this tip between your first finger and thumb to split the skin of the banana into two pieces.

This allows you to peel it back so you can use the stem as a handle while you eat.

Break a Toblerone with with less mess

CHOCS away for a handy hack on how to eat Toblerone.

Breaking off one of the wonderful wedges often results in chocolate-covered fingers.

But rather than pulling the triangles outwards, the correct way is to use your thumb or forefinger to push them inwards, towards the bar.

The chocolate should break off far easier – and with less mess – than if you try to snap it the other way.

But be warned, mastering the correct way to eat this sweet Swiss creation means you are more likely to finish off the whole bar in one sitting.

Secrets of a Coke can ring-pull

THERE’S a simple way to sup from a soft drinks can.

Many think the ring-pull is simply to help you open it.

But there is a second handy use for the tab.

After you crack open the can, you should spin the ring-pull round so it sits over the open hole.

It doubles up as a handy holder for a straw.

It helps keep the straw in place and stops it from rattling around inside the can.

Dispense Tic Tacs one at a time

“SHAKE your Tic Tacs” was the sweets’ advertising catchphrase.

But if you followed this Tic Tac tactic to remove the mini mints, you are doing it wrong.

Because rattling the container often means several mints fall out at once.

The correct way uses the Tic Tac-shaped ledge on the underside of the tiny container’s white plastic lid.

Turn the packet upside down and, instead of shaking, slowly open the lid to dispense one mint at a time.

Keep tin foil roll in the box

DON’T get foiled by this handy wrap. Many folk find it impossible to use it without the roll leaping from its cardboard container.

But look closely at the box and you might spot the instruction: “Press to lock roll”.

Just push in the tabs at either end of the box and you’re ready to roll. Pressing in these tabs – often perforated triangles – locks the roll in place.

Then you can unwind the foil without it winding you up.

Proper way to cut a cake

CUTTING an iced sponge is a piece of cake, right? Apparently not.

Most of us slice cake into triangles but this means the exposed end pieces of any left over turn dry.

But British mathematician Alex Bellos says there is an age-old method that could just be the icing on the cake when it comes to keeping celebratory centrepieces fresher for longer.

He reckons you should cut a round cake by putting two slices straight down the middle, about an inch apart.

Remove this long, rectangular piece and cut into smaller portions for your guests.

Then push both sides of the remaining cake back together and hold them there with string or an elastic band to stop the sponges drying out.

When you come to eat more, simply repeat these steps.

Crumbs! That really is a cut above.

Wrap presents more neatly

YOU’LL be quids in with this nifty trick – and your gifts will look great too.

Traditionally, we wrap presents by centring them on the paper.

But you should turn the item 45 degrees so it sits diagonally instead.

Fold either side of the paper towards the centre of the gift, and tape.

Then fold the other two sides and secure with more tape.

Called the diagonal wrapping method, this saves you cash as it uses less wrap – and is especially good for when you find you’ve cut your paper slightly too small.

Stop headphones falling out

FED up with your earphones dropping out while you’re on the go? Then sound advice is in store.

Altering the way you wear your wired earphones could stop them falling out when you’re walking or running.

YouTube vlogger Matthew Santoro advises: “The best way to keep earbuds in your ear is to loop them from behind your ear and down so that part of the cord is over your ear.

“It may seem odd at first but it will stop the cords from being pulled out of your ear when they sway too much or get snagged on something.”

Music to your ears . . .

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