Tomato sauce or ketchup is typically used to accompany a meal, whether squeezed onto a hot dog roll or as a dip for fries. But this simple condiment is so much more versatile that you think! In fact, if you thought tomato sauce was just for meal times, prepare to be utterly surprised.
From restoring shine to your precious jewellery to removing pet odours from your home, check out 20 hacks and tips with tomato sauce that you’ve never thought of before:
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Tomato sauce can be great for simple cleaning tricks. Make tarnished silvery rings, bracelets or earrings shine again by dunking them in a bowl of ketchup for about 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.
Be sure not to leave them in there too long though as it may do more damage than good.
Sounds bonkers, but it’s worth a try! Next time you or your child gets bitten at a BBQ, just dab on some of the red stuff – the salt content should soothe your itches.
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If your cooking pans or copper trinkets are starting to dull, shine them up like new by massaging them with ketchup and watching it dissolve away the tarnish.
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Repair any chlorine damage to your locks by rubbing in some ketchup and letting it set for about 20 minutes. Be sure to rinse it out thoroughly afterwards though.
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When you’ve run your ketchup bottle dry why not wash it out and use it as a storage container for glitter, sequins or craft items?
They make great paint dispensers for when the kids are painting too and the squeezy action hopefully prevents any accidental knocks and spills spoiling your carpet. The glass bottles could also make a small homemade vase for a lovely bunch of flowers.
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Bake a neat and tidy batch of steaming hot pancakes by using a ketchup bottle to squeeze out your batter mixture into the pan. Of course, this works best with one of those squeezy bottles.
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Struggle to master a piping tube? Use a ketchup bottle filled with icing instead when you’re adding the final flourishes to your cupcakes and showstopper bakes.
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If your little ones are heading to a fancy dress party or like playing practical jokes, a splash of tomato ketchup makes brilliant fake blood. Just be careful how gruesome you get with it as ketchup can leave stains in clothes. Or you can also get creative with ketchup in your Halloween food, like this Chicken And Cheese Frankenrolls.
Got a raging headache? Freeze the small packs of ketchup you get in restaurants and cafes for instant ice packs to numb aches and pains.
It might sound crazy but adding a tablespoon or two of ketchup to a chicken tikka masala or vegetable curry recipe helps add a real kick of sweetness. Try it out in our Chickpea and Vegetable Curry recipe!
Has your dog been rolling in something they shouldn’t and left the house smelly? Give their fur and any clothing that may be carrying the smell a ketchup wash and then leave it to soak in for half an hour before washing off.
Ketchup makes a great base in a recipe. Add to onion, vinegar, water and Worcestershire sauce and then soak on steak or chicken for 8 hours for a delicious dinner. Try it for this Steak Sandwich with Capsicum Relish recipe.
If you have an adventurous toddler in the house who loves putting things in their mouth, use ketchup as an alternative to finger painting with the real stuff.
Lathering up your face with tomato sauce might sound a step too far but it does work as a great exfoliator when you add a tablespoon of it to three packets of fake sugar. Wash it off well and enjoy that new silky smooth feeling on your face.
Just like with metal jewellery, you can remove tarnishes from metal car parts, such as wheel alloys, by giving a good rub with tomato sauce.
Yes it doesn’t smell great, but if you find yourself caught short for shaving lotion, tomato sauce makes a safe alternative and can be used on legs, armpits or even the face.
Make an amazing prawn cocktail sauce by combining tomato ketchup, Worcester sauce, horseradish and lemon juice.
A dash of tomato sauce can be just the ticket for making the perfect mince dish. Just add it in while you’re cooking. Try this Versatile Bolognese Sauce!
Run out of brown sauce? Make your own by adding brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper to ketchup.
Rusty garden chairs? Pop on a bit of ketchup and the rust will easily wash away.
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