| How to Tell if a Kiwi Is Ripe Posted: 17 Sep 2018 01:00 AM PDT A kiwi is plump fruit that has green flesh and a sweet taste. To figure out if one is ripe, you can first assess its surface, looking for a brown color and plump shape. Then you should feel it and smell it, making sure it is slightly soft and smells sweet and fruity. If all the signs are right, you have a ripe kiwi on your hands. EditInspecting the Surface - Look for an entirely brown skin. A ripe kiwi will have brown skin, including the fuzz on the surface and the skin underneath. If the fruit is totally green or you can see green under the fuzzy surface, then the kiwi is not yet ripe.
- This should not be the only factor that you test on a kiwi to determine if it's ripe. It is only a first step to determine if the fruit is anywhere near ripe.[1]
- Look for a plump shape. A ripe kiwi is typically plump and bulbous, with a full and round shape. However, if the surface looks hard and firm instead of plump, then the kiwi is probably not ripe yet.[2]
- A surface that is wrinkled and is not smooth usually occurs when a kiwi is overripe and has dried out.
- Smell the kiwi. Put your nose close the spot where the kiwi was attached to the vine and smell for a slightly sweet and fruity scent. A ripe kiwi has this distinctive smell, while an unripe kiwi doesn't really have a smell at all.[3]
- Look for an undamaged and unblemished surface. When assessing whether a kiwi is ripe it's best to pick one to look at that has a pristine surface. This will help ensure that the kiwi you are looking at is not damaged, as soft spots can trick you into thinking the fruit is ripe when it's not.[4]
- Severe blemishes and brown spots occur on both overripe kiwis and kiwis that have been dropped or otherwise damaged.
EditFeeling and Testing the Fruit - Squeeze the kiwi gently. Pressing on the fruit with your thumb, feel for a soft but firm texture. The flesh should give slightly when you press on it if it is ripe.[5]
- If you squeeze the fruit and it is very hard, the fruit is not ripe.
- If you lightly squeeze a kiwi and it feels very soft or mushy, it is overripe.
- Inspect the inside of the fruit. If you suspect a kiwi is ripe but you're not quite sure, it is best to cut it open and inspect the flesh. The seeds of a ripe kiwi will all be black and the flesh of a ripe kiwi will have a bright green color if it is a green kiwi and bright yellow flesh if it is a golden kiwi.[6]
- If your kiwi is not ripe, the seeds may be green or yellow and the flesh will not be as brightly colored.
- Do a taste test. The definitive way to know if a kiwi is ripe is to taste it. Remove the thin skin, with a peeler, a knife, or by scraping it off with a spoon, and then cut off a slice of the fruit. The flesh should be soft and squishy and the flavor should be sweet.[7]
- An under ripe kiwi will not be sweet and will be firm instead of soft.
- While you can eat the skin of a kiwi, many consider it unpleasant due to its fuzzy texture.[8]
EditHelping an Unripe Kiwi Ripen - Let the kiwi ripen on your counter. If you don't need to eat an unripe kiwi right away, simply let it sit on the counter and ripen naturally. It will gradually ripen over the course of several days, depending on the temperature and how ripe it was to begin with.[9]
- The warmer the room is, the quicker the kiwi will ripen.[10]
- Check the kiwi daily for ripeness. Eat it right away once you think it is ripe.
- Put your kiwi in a bag with other fruit. If you need your kiwi to ripen within a day or 2, put them in a paper or vented plastic bag with an apple or banana. Putting them together exposes the kiwi to more ethylene gas, which is given off by fruit and causes them to ripen.[11]
- Keep unripe kiwi in the fridge until you want to ripen them. Kiwi can be stored in your fridge for weeks, and sometimes months, if they are not yet ripe. Preserving them this way will allow you to ripen a few at a time, so you can eat them gradually.[12]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Get Things Done Fast Posted: 16 Sep 2018 05:00 PM PDT When you have a lot to do in a short amount of time, it's easy to get overwhelmed and procrastinate on easy tasks. Luckily, you can accomplish tasks quickly by staying organized with a schedule, focusing on one task at a time, and planning your tasks in a logical order. You can even accomplish big projects in a short amount of time if you stay focused and work hard! EditWorking More Efficiently - Focus on doing only one task at a time. When you're trying to get things done fast, it might be tempting to multitask. However, doing multiple things at once will only slow you down. Pick one task and work on only that task until you've run out of time or finished it. Then, you can move on to the next thing that you need to do.[1]
- Even if you have multiple similar tasks to do, only do one thing at a time and don't jump back and forth between them.
- For example, work on only sending emails or finishing a report. Don't finish a page of the report and then send a few emails before working on the report again.
- Group tasks based on where or how you do them. Try to accomplish multiple tasks in a row in the same spot, like by your computer or on your phone. Then, you can get all of the things done that you need to do in one place without wasting time by starting and stopping tasks to move from place to place.[2]
- For instance, if you have to look up the phone number for a few local businesses and buy something online, you can use your phone to look up the contact information, and then place the order through an app. Then, you can put your phone away and focus on completing other tasks.
- If you have a few phone calls to make, make them consecutively, and then take a break from using your phone while you finish other tasks.
- Do your most challenging tasks in the morning. Try to get your most difficult tasks out of the way in the morning when you have the most energy and motivation, which will help you work through them quickly. Aim to finish all of your difficult tasks before noon, leaving the second half of the day for less important tasks and planning for the next day.[3]
- For instance, if you have a term paper to finish and a few calls to make, you should plan to finish the paper in the morning, and make the phone calls in the afternoon. That way, the paper will be completed and you can knock out the smaller tasks quickly.
- Put on a pair of headphones to block out distracting noise. When you're trying to work quickly, distractions can throw off your schedule. Wear a pair of headphones and listen to music, an audiobook, a newscast, or a podcast to block out distracting noise.[4]
- This is especially helpful if you're working around other people who are talking or generally being loud.
- Reward yourself with frequent, short breaks to refresh your energy. Avoid burnout by giving your mind and body time to rest throughout the day. Some experts recommend 10 minutes of rest for every 50 minutes of work, but you can adjust this as needed. On your break, check your text messages, grab a cup of coffee, go for a walk, or have a snack.[5]
- Even if you don't feel like you need a break, take a short one anyway. Stand up and stretch, or take some time to drink some water. Your body will thank you!
EditReducing Time Spent on Household Tasks - Make a cleaning bucket or "tool belt" for deep cleaning. Fill a bucket with all of the cleaning products that you need, or repurpose an old tool belt by filling it with brushes, towels, and cleaning supplies. Then, carry the bucket or wear the belt around the house while you clean to keep you from running back and forth to your cleaning supplies.[6]
- When you use an item, remember to put it back in the bucket or replace it with a new one for the next time you clean.
- Ask the rest of the people in your house to lend a hand. Have your kids or a roommate help with doing laundry, or create an assembly line for putting away the dishes. Delegating different jobs to different people means that one person won't end up doing all of the work, and everyone will feel like they contributed.[7]
- If your house or apartment has multiple floors, consider having a bucket for each floor to avoid having to carry all of your products up and down the stairs.
- Focus on completing one room at a time. Start working on a room and don't stop until you've finished everything that needs to be done in that room. Avoid moving back and forth between rooms, and plan your cleaning so that you can work your way through the house in order.[8]
- For instance, in your bedrooms, focus on gathering dirty clothes, putting away clean clothes, making the bed, dusting, and vacuuming.
- Once you finish the bedroom, move to the bathroom to spray down the surfaces, clean the toilet, clean the mirror, scrub the sink and shower, wipe down the surfaces, and mop the floor.
- In the kitchen, do the dishes, load the dishwasher, clean the counters, wipe down appliances, and mop the floor.
- Save the living room for the last part, and remember to clean up clutter, dust the room, wipe down surfaces, and vacuum the entire room.
- Vacuum and mop from the farthest corner of the room to the doorway. When you need to clean the floors, start in the farthest corner away from the door, and work in long, straight lines to cover as much area as possible. Try to avoid overlapping rows, and don't be concerned about missing a small strip of floor in between rows.[9]
- Once you're done mopping or vacuuming, you can pull the vacuum or mop out of the doorway and move on to the next room.
EditManaging Your Time - Write down all of the tasks that you need to accomplish. Planning ahead will help give you a realistic idea of how much you can do in one day. Think of all of the things that you need to do, and write them down in a to-do list, or keep an ongoing list on your phone.[10]
- For some people, having a written list is more helpful because they can cross of each task as they finish it.
- If you won't get distracted by your phone, you can use a reminder or to-do list app to make a virtual list. Then, you can remove each task as you finish it, and you don't have to worry about losing your list.
- Estimate how long it will take you to do each task. Give yourself enough time to finish the task, but don't overestimate how long it will take. Try assign each task a 15, 30, or 60 minute block of time to accomplish that task. All of your estimates should correspond with the amount of work that goes into each task.[11]
- For example, vacuuming the house might take 15 minutes, depending on how many rooms you have to vacuum.
- Writing a business report might take longer, like 60 minutes, because it requires research and writing.
- Set a 5 or 10-minute time limit on smaller tasks. Things like making phone calls or sending emails can become very time-consuming. When you're making your daily schedule, devote a short period of time to accomplishing as many small tasks as possible in that window of time. This will prevent them from taking up the majority of your day.[12]
- For example, if you have a lot of phone calls and emails to send, devote 10 minutes to making as many phone calls as possible, focusing on the most important calls first.
- If you have a lot of emails to reply to, set aside 10 minutes to respond to the most pressing emails, and then leave the rest for a day when you have more free time.
- Use a timer to ensure that you're staying within your time limits. Set a timer on your phone or use a stopwatch to remind you how long you're taking on a task. If you allotted 30 minutes for a task, set the timer for 30 minutes and check your progress when the timer goes off. If you're close to finishing, use an extra 5 or 10 minutes to get the task done.[13]
- If you're less than 3/4 of the way finished with the task, consult your schedule to see which tasks can be put off so that you can finish.
- Alternatively, you can stop working on the task if it doesn't need to be completed that day
- Get back on schedule after a distraction. If you do happen to get distracted during the day, don't worry! Consult your schedule to see how much time you spent, and get rid of tasks that aren't important. Give priority to tasks that need to be completed today, and put off anything that can wait.[14]
- If you need to ask for an extension on the deadline for an assignment, be sure to explain the situation. Don't expect to be granted an extension, and don't use the extension to procrastinate until the new deadline!
- Pay close attention to your calendar and deadline. Sometimes, having a deadline can make you work faster in order to "beat the clock." This will also help you organize your work to get it done in a timely manner.[15]
- If your deadline is far away, you can split up your work over many days. However, if it's closer, you may need to devote a few days just to working on completing the project.
- If you do get distracted or off-schedule, don't give up! Focus on the next item on your list and keep moving forward.
EditSources and Citations= EditQuick Summary
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| How to Make Oxygen and Hydrogen from Water Using Electrolysis Posted: 16 Sep 2018 09:00 AM PDT The process of splitting water (H2O) into its atomic components (hydrogen and oxygen) using electricity is known as electrolysis. This experiment has significant implications in terms of what these 2 gases can be used for in their own right, with hydrogen being one of the cleanest sources of energy we have access to. Although it may sound complicated, it's actually easier than you think if you have the right equipment, the right knowledge, and a little bit of know-how. EditSetting up the Equipment - Fill a glass with warm water. You don't need to fill it all the way to the top, so leave a little bit of room. If the water is warm, it will conduct the electricity more effectively but it will also still work just fine with cold water.[1]
- You can use either water from out of the tap or bottled water, it doesn't matter which.
- Warmer water has a lower viscosity and allows ions that conduct electricity to move more freely.
- Dissolve 1 tbsp (17 g) of table salt in your water. All you need to do is pour it in and then stir it around a little bit to help it dissolve. This turns it into a saline solution.[2]
- Sodium chloride (which is table salt) is an electrolyte which helps aid the conductivity of the water, as water by itself isn't particularly conductive.
- By making the water more conductive, the current from the battery flows through more easily which results in the water being split into hydrogen and oxygen more effectively.
- Sharpen both ends of 2 #2 pencils so the graphite is exposed. Make sure to remove the eraser at the top of the pencil. You need to sharpen the pencils enough that the graphite is fully exposed at both ends.[3]
- These graphite shafts that are encased within the pencil are your electrodes and will conduct the electricity that comes from the battery.
- The graphite works really well as it doesn't dissolve or get damaged in the water while you conduct the experiment.
- Cut a square piece of cardboard that is big enough to cover the glass. Use cardboard that is thick enough to maintain its structural integrity when it has some holes punched through it. Try cutting a square portion out of a shoebox or some other kind of thick box.[4]
- The purpose of the cardboard is to suspend the pencil graphite in the water without allowing it to touch the walls of the glass.
- Because cardboard has no metallic properties to it, it can sit on top of your glass without affecting the outcome of the experiment.
- Punch 2 holes in the cardboard using the 2 pencils. Use the actual pencils to do this as you need to snugly fit the pencils into the holes so the pencils don't move around or slip. If the graphite touches the walls or the base of the glass, it will interrupt the experiment.[5]
EditConducting Your Experiment - Connect one end of each alligator clip to the terminals of the battery. The battery is what actually produces the electrical current and so the alligator clips provide the pathway for transporting that current to the water. You need to attach one clip to the positive terminal and one to the negative terminal.[6]
- Use a 6-volt battery but if you cannot find one, use a 9-volt battery.
- You can find this size of battery at pretty much any convenience store or supermarket.
- Connect the other end of each alligator clip to each pencil. Make sure that the metallic part of the alligator clip is connected to the graphite of the pencil. You may have to shave down a little bit more of the wood from the pencil just to make sure that the alligator clips are completely connected to the graphite.[7]
- Doing this completes the connection to the battery and allows the current to be transferred from the battery all the way through into the water.
- Place the cardboard on top of the glass so the pencils are submerged. The way you cut the cardboard earlier means that it should sit nicely on top of the glass. Try to do this gently so that the pencils that are stuck through the cardboard don't get disturbed from their position.[8]
- For this experiment to work, the graphite of the pencils needs to not be touching the side of the glass so just double check that here and adjust the pencils if need be.
- Watch the separation of hydrogen and oxygen occur. At this point, bubbles start to rise from the submerged points of graphite. This is the hydrogen and oxygen gas being split. Hydrogen gas will be bubbling from the pencil connected to the negative terminal and oxygen will be bubbling from the pencil connected to the positive terminal.[9]
- Once you connect the alligator clips to the battery and graphite, the current begins to flow immediately.
- There will be more bubbles coming from the hydrogen pencil because there is twice as much hydrogen as oxygen in each water molecule.
- If you can't find graphite pencils, you can use little pieces of wire instead and just wrap them around the battery on one end, and leave the other end in the water. This has the same effect as the pencils.
- Try using a different sized battery. This will affect the size of the current that goes through the water which will, in turn, affect the speed at which the water molecules get split.
- Do this experiment under the supervision of an adult as you are working with electricity and gases which, although unlikely, do have the potential to be harmful.
- Once you add an electrolyte like salt to increase the conductivity, just be aware that there is a small amount of chlorine by-product that gets created. This isn't enough to be dangerous, but you may notice a subtle smell of chlorine.
EditThings You'll Need - 2 #2 pencils
- 1 6 or 9-volt battery
- glass
- 2 alligator clips
- Pencil sharpener
- Table salt
EditSources and Citations
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