Tip For Stronger Keurig My K-Cup Coffee

From Amazon:

Here's a tip for stronger coffee, October 10, 2008

By 

V. Germano

This review is from: Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter (Kitchen)

After reading many reviews about the problems with the My K-Cup and experimenting on my own, I have found an easy solution to the problem of weak coffee using this filter. As others have noted, the water goes through the My K-Cup way too fast as compared to the K-Cups. My solution was to take apart a K-Cup and use the outer plastic shell with the My K-Cup filter. Here's all you need to do:

Take a used K-Cup and cut the top foil off of a K-Cup. Cut the paper filter out of the K-Cup. It's okay not to cut it all the way off of the rim of the K-Cup because you will need to cut the top of the K-Cup (where it gets wider at the top). You need to cut the top of the K-Cup off because you need to fit the K-Cup shell into the My K-Cup holder. Once you slide the bottom shell of the K-Cup into the holder, you can add your coffee into the My K-Cup (tapping or gently pressing the coffee so that it is not loose inside the filter). Then place the My K-Cup filter into the holder and cover as normal. When brewing, the K-Cup shell surrounds the My K-Cup filter and slows down the water by making it pass through the punctured hole that the prepackaged K-Cup normally uses.

The great thing about this is that you can re-use the K-Cup shell that you cut apart over and over so once you have cut one apart you don't have to worry about it again- use the My K-Cup as you normally would.

I'm hoping Keurig will have figured this out in the near future and add a premade piece that is included the My K-Cup, but until then, I have found that this solves the problem of weak coffee. 

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid Sets

 By Catalicious

 

I have now purchased six sets of the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid systems. Six might seem excessive, but they have a tendency to disappear, so I don't actually have six sets in my cupboard. Sometimes it is a kid forgetting one at school. Sometimes it is when we take one to a get together and forget to take it home with us. Sometimes it is when my husband brings a bunch home all at once from work leaves them on the work bench and then the dog gets to them and decides they are chew toys. I mean these are so great that the dog even loves them, even if it is just to chew on them. Thankfully he just chews and doesn't eat the plastic (that could be quite the vet bill).

Now I could get upset and buy the cheap disposable storage containers, but those seem to be just as expensive as the Rubbermaid containers and they don't stack as nicely or nest, so instead I just replace them when our stock gets low. I don't even get upset about losing a few storage containers now and then because after figuring cost I realized that I spend more per day on allergy medicine for my family than I spend on each piece (lid and container) of Rubbermaid.

For the cost these are the best storage containers I can find. They stack easily in the fridge and keep my storage container cupboard organized. Rubbermaid also has a green lid set that is for produce which helps keep your produce fresh, where they can tend to get squishy in other containers. Rubbermaid also makes a glass version of these storage containers as well as a premier which uses a plastic that does not stain, though those versions of the Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid system are more expensive.

A few tips for storage containers:
If you are storing a red sauce like spaghetti sauce rinse the container with cold water before putting the sauce in it this should keep the container from staining. I can't explain why but it was a trick mom taught me and it seems to work every time and I always regret it when I don't use it because I end up with stained containers.

If you are not using a produce container and want to keep hour salads fresh fold a paper towel up and put it at the bottom of the container. This will keep the salad from getting soggy or squishy. You can also put a paper towel around your lettuce and pack it with your sandwich, then when you are ready for your sandwich unwrap the lettuce and add it to your sandwich, no more soggy sandwiches.

Other reviewers have included a breakdown of what comes in each set. Unfortunately these configurations change regularly so I have done my best to give an update on what is in each of the sets. There have been some sets that seem to indicate they include a divided container. The only sets that I have been able to verify have a divided container are in the premier line. The sets listed below are only the basic Rubbermaid Easy Find Lid Sets and DO NOT include the premier, glass or produce sets. I have compiled the list based on what I could find currently so do still check the contents listed for set you are purchasing as the configurations of the different sets change regularly. Also sometimes it is less expensive to purchase two smaller sets than one large set so check your prices, you might also get a better variety that way.

50 Piece Set:
6 - .5 Cup
6 - 1.25 Cup
3 - 2 Cup
4 - 3 Cup
2 - 7 Cup
1 - 9 Cup

48 Piece Set:
6 - .5 Cup
5 - 1.25 Cup
2 - 2 Cup
4 - 3 Cup
3 - 7 Cup
1 - 14 Cup

40 Piece Set
5 - .5 Cup
5 - 1.25 Cup
4 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
2 - 7 Cup

36 Piece Set
4 - .5 Cup
5 - 1.25 Cup
4 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
1 - 7 Cup

34 Piece Set
4 - .5 Cup
5 - 1.25 Cup
4 - 2 Cup
1 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
1 - 7 Cup

30 (24 piece set with 6 piece bonus) Piece Set
3 - .5 Cup
2 - 1.25 Cup
3 - 2 Cup
3 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
2 - 7 Cup

28 Piece Set
5 - .5 Cup
3 - 1.25 Cup
2 - 2 Cup
1 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
1 - 7 Cup

28 (24 piece with bonus 4 pieces) Piece Set
4 - .5 Cup
2 - 1.25 Cup
2 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
2 - 7 Cup

24 Piece Set
2 - .5 Cup
2 - 1.25 Cup
2 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
2 - 5 Cup
2 - 7 Cup

22 (18 Piece with 4 Piece Bonus Piece Set
3 - .5 Cup
2 - 1 Cup Twist and Seal Containers (bonus)
3 - 1.25 Cup
1 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
1 - 5 Cup

20 Piece Set
3 - .5 Cup
3 - 1.25 Cup
1 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
1 - 5 Cup

18 Piece Set
3 - .5 Cup
2 - 1.25 Cup
1 - 2 Cup
2 - 3 Cup
1- 5 Cup

16 Piece Set
3 - .5 Cup
2 - 1.25 Cup
1 - 2 Cup
1 - 3 Cup
1- 5 Cup