Tag Archives: TikTok

I’ve Found The Secret To Fluffy Jacket Potatoes In Under 7 Minutes

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Jacket potatoes are so close to being the perfect midweek winter meal. They’re filling; they’re tasty; they go with basically anything. They’re also cheap, and spuds take much longer to go off than lots of other veggies.

But there’s one problem; it feels like you can basically while away an entire evening waiting for them to cook in an oven.

I can hear the purists now – and yes, I do agree that a lot of the time, the extra wait time is worth it. It’s a great way to ensure perfect, fluffy spuds with delicate, crispy skins, and other cooking methods (like air frying) take a similar amount of time.

But hear me out ― thanks to TikTok, I’ve been converted to a 10-minute microwave jacket potato-cooking method (yes, really).

What’s the method?

TikToker @harley.salem shared a microwave-based recipe for fluffy, crispy jacket spuds – and it’s racked up almost two hundred thousand likes.

The method is pretty simple: you wash the potato, shallowly stab it with a fork a LOT, deeply stab it with a fork a few times, and then wrap the spud in wet kitchen roll.

Place the damp parcel in the microwave for six minutes, and then carefully remove the VERY HOT cooked spud from your microwave. We recommend doing this with a tool like tongs, as it’s literally steaming at this point.

Then, also using a tool like tongs, peel the kitchen roll away from the potato ― et voila, you’ve got a perfectly fluffy spud.

If your spud isn’t fully cooked by the time it’s come out of the microwave, that’s simple to fix – simply re-wrap it in more damp kitchen roll and let it microwave for a couple more minutes (the bigger the spud, the longer you’ll need).

Why does it work?

Wrapping potatoes in wet kitchen roll is “crucial” for a moist and fluffy interior, according to Tasting Table.

Potatoes are pretty watery, however microwaving them can cause all of this water to evaporate really quickly, drying out your beloved baked spud.

The thinking is that wrapping the potato in wet kitchen roll acts as an “evaporation buffer” helping the spud to retain enough moisture to stay fluffy and delicious.

“Best hack ever … sooo easy,” one commenter shared on TikTok. And having tried it myself, I completely agree – the texture is so far from the soggy, grainy mess microwaves sometimes create.

I will say that it’s not the crispiest skin I’ve ever eaten on a potato and the damp kitchen roll gets very, very hot, so you need to be careful (we weren’t joking about those tongs).

But for speed, efficiency and overall flavour, this gets a solid 9/10 from me.

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The Best Christmas Leftovers Recipe Is Made In An Air Fryer

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Don’t get me wrong ― I love leftovers. But after day two of bubble and squeak and this (delicious) roast potato hash, I’m getting desperate for a different way to repackage my uneaten roast veggies.

Thankfully, the best recipe I’ve found is a fuss-free air fryer recipe that creates zero washing-up ― an easy, goes-with-everything air fryer frittata.

Back in June, TikToker and nutritionist Emma Claire shared a foolproof recipe for air fryer frittatas that’s ready in under 15 minutes ― and having recently tried a Christmas leftover variation, I can confirm that it’s as delicious as it is easy.

To start with, you’ll need to line the airy fryer basket with baking paper so that it covers the sides of the basket, too. You can also use specially-designed paper air fryer inserts if you have them ― so long as the base and sides are protected from the eggs.

Then, drizzle some olive oil on the paper before cracking six eggs into the basket. Claire chucked in her veggies at this point ― I used sliced Brussels sprouts, some fairly small roast potato cubes, old broccoli, and peas. Use whatever you have leftover.

Then, add whatever seasoning you like ― Emma Claire went with paprika on top of regular salt and pepper. I like chilli flakes in mine too, but that’s the beauty of the recipe ― you can personalise it to your exact taste and supplies.

Then, add a thin layer of grated cheese to the top and cook for 15 minutes at 180°C.

“I sliced it in half to make two servings ― perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner,” Claire shared. I also found it’s perfect for two!

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TikTok Says These 2 Sounds Can Get Cats To Come To You ― Here’s What The Experts Think

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I’ll put my hands up ― I straight-up didn’t believe the TikTok trend that saw cats come to their owner’s side as if a dog had been called by name, thanks to two short sounds.

″‘Mah-AH’… means, come here [in cat],” a vet shared on the app. Video after video of cat owners using the trick to summon their furry friends played in quick succession, but I wondered whether it was all just hype.

So, I reached out to three cat experts ― vet Dr Liza Cahn, a consultant for Embrace Pet Insurance, Mieshelle Nagelschneider, cat behaviour specialist and owner of The Cat Behaviour Clinic, and veterinarian expert Dr Dwight Alleyne ― about the trend.

And?

“Many of our cat clients have tried ‘Ma-AH’ with their cats and have had immediate results,” Nagelschneider told HuffPost UK.

“Even with our own cats, we can call them over and over again with ‘come here’ with no response and then with ‘ma-AH,’ it definitely gets their attention.”

Dr Alleyne, however, says “The effectiveness of this will depend on multiple factors.”

Cats may simply find the sound novel and appealing, he told HuffPost UK, and “the owner may have unknowingly conditioned their cat to the sound through a positive interaction.”

Dr Cahn agrees, sharing that “If your cat comes, they are most likely responding to your tone of voice and body language. This response will also be reinforced if they receive praise or treats.”

All three experts agreed that “mah-AH” could well work to get cats to come closer to you ― but the two vets weren’t convinced the tones had anything intrinsically appealing to the pets.

In other words, “mah-AH” will probably work depending on your cat’s temperament ― but it’s not quite the same as saying “come here” in cat.

So… what is?

Even Nagelschneider, who seemed most convinced by “mah-AH,” said there are other sounds ― like a kitten’s “mew-mew-mew” ― which will elicit a similar response.

Dr Alleyne told HuffPost UK that a lot of combinations of soothing sounds and cupboard love will get your cat to heel ― “Other methods that may work better include the actual calling of the cat’s name, using treats or clickers, or using a high pitched sound or tone to get them to come,” he wrote.

Dr Cahn says that despite what you might have heard, training cats isn’t as tough as you’d think.

“To train your cat to come when called, first, choose a cue word (such as “come” or “here”) and a high-value reward like a tasty treat or favourite toy,” she told HuffPost UK.

“You can either wait until your cat naturally approaches you, or get them to head your way by luring them with the treat or toy. Use the cue word just as they arrive, and immediately give them their reward.”

Over time you can increase the distance ― over time, your cat will learn to associate the reward with responding to your call.

So, “mah-AH” may not be a magic word; but positive reinforcement, high-pitched sounds, and new experiences are a pretty great way to train your cat regardless.

In that sense, the trick is likely to work at least some of the time.

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The ‘Winter Arc’ Challenge Is All Over Social Media. But What Does It Mean?

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I like to think I’m aware of most internet trends.

I’ve been on team Moo Deng and Pesto since day one, I’m all over autumn’s Tavern Food trend and I even like finding niche Subreddit obsessions.

But it took a rise in Google searches for “winter arc” for me to learn about the challenge.

If that seems odd, given that one TikTok about the topic has gained almost 24 million views at the time of writing, perhaps that’s because I don’t have much gym content on my FYP (working out seems to be a big part of many people’s “winter arc”).

If you’re as unfamiliar with, or confused by, the trend – the most popular video of which shows a man simply shaving his head – as I was, allow us to explain.

In its most basic form, it’s about transforming yourself over winter

The “winter arc” refers to the “90 days before the end of the year where you can get ahead of the ‘New Year, new me’ crowd and hit your goals,” TikToker @jessback2earth explains.

That means that yesterday, October 1, was the start date of the “winter arc”, which is basically an early New Year’s resolution.

Some people are signing a “winter arc contract” with themselves, establishing the rules of their new resolutions.

The main categories seem to revolve around working out, dieting and generally “glowing up,” however.

The tone of some “winter arc” videos seems needlessly punishing – lots of them are shot with gloomy greyscale colouring, and show people working out in the pouring rain.

Others, which warn “bro, it’s gonna get cold out… trust me” are a little hard not to wince at – it can run a bit Fight Club-esque.

Perhaps that’s why one video, which calls “mfs who unironically say ‘winter arc’” “cornballs” and uses the hashtag “cringe”, has gotten almost 70k views.

Still, as a TikToker commented on that clip, “it’s all about improvement at the end of the day.”

Should I do a ‘winter arc’?

Depends on what your “rules” are.

Some – like this TikTok which suggests breaking off any relationship to avoid “distractions” – are obviously quite silly.

In fact, isolation seems to be a big part of many winter arc rules – a Redditor claims they’ll “reject all social events with no purpose for three months” and avoid “girls”.

That’s a bit of an issue, seeing as socialising can be extra-important during the winter months.

Some posts, which promote exercising and getting sunlight in the winter, can be beneficial as vitamin D levels drop in the colder months and many of us stop working out just as our bodies need the benefits of exercise the most.

But, as with New Year’s resolutions, they can run the risk of being extreme and self-defeating, especially as Christmas, Halloween, and other festivities roll around.

Why are people shaving their heads for a ‘winter arc’?

Still confused as to why that buzz-cut video we mentioned earlier has gotten so many views? TikToker @jayboogz2x has answers.

His “number one” winter arc rule is that “you’ve gotta go the buzz cut route”.

That’s because, he said, “that way you ain’t even thinking about your hair – you’re thinking about how you can level up”.

Other “distractions” include video games, masturbation, and sleeping ”’til 8 or 9 am”, the creator said.

We’re not saying a “winter arc” is inherently bad, and a lot of commenters disagree with its most extreme adherents, instead using the time to self-reflect and maybe get a few more gym sessions in.

But if, as TikToker @lenalifts says, your “new January 1st is October 1st,” remember to set reasonable, safe expectations.

And if possible, keep attending “social events with no purpose” as the nights grow longer.

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I’m A Doctor ― This Common Gut Health Buy May Be A Waste Of Money

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It’s well-known that if you’re going on antibiotics, you’ll need to supplement the tablets with probiotics to protect your gut’s microbiome, right?

The medication wipes out the “good” bacteria along with the bad, and you need something like a specially-designed probiotic drink to restore it, the common argument goes.

But Dr. Karan Rajan, who’s known for spreading his medical know-how on TikTok, recently shared a video explaining that the relationship isn’t as straightforward as that.

Why not?

“Whilst there are some strains of bacteria known to have a protective effect at reducing the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, there’s no guarantee your average supermarket probiotic [drinks] contain these strains, even if they claim to,” he says.

“And even if they do contain it, are they even alive or present in sufficient concentrations to have any effect?” he asked.

He’s not alone in doubting the supermarket supplement.

Women’s Health writes that “the benefits [of supermarket probiotic drinks] are negligible,” with or without antibiotic use; dietitian Sophie Medlin told Which?, ”[the effect of probiotic supplements] depends on what bacteria is already present in your gut. This is why it’s hard to prove probiotics offer the same benefit to everyone.”

Medlin and Women’s Health both agree that research into the effectiveness of probiotic drinks is thin on the ground.

It’s not that nobody thinks any probiotic drink can help; it’s just that proving they do can be harder than you’d think.

“The jury is still out about which strains and which dosages are the most effective,” Dr. Karan Rajan says.

“So instead of spending your money on [probiotic drinks], there is something more evidence-based and effective that you can do during and after taking antibiotics.”

Which is?

I hate to be this person, but; plain ol’ fruits and veggies, apparently.

“Add more prebiotic fibres to your meals,” the doctor advised. “These plant fibres feed and encourage the growth of the existing good bugs.”

He added that “you can get these prebiotics in the form of supplements like psyllium husks or fibre-rich plants ― fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses.”

The doctor went on to say that brightly-coloured plants “tend to have a higher concentration of polyphenols, which our good gut bugs love.”

“Instead of these store-bought probiotics, go for the stuff naturally found in food ― they’re more likely to contain live bacteria in the form of lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which happen to be two of the most researched strains of probiotics,” Dr. Rajan ended his video.

Of course, listen to your doctor first, and if you’ve noticed benefits from drinking probiotic drinks then continue enjoying them.

Though some argue there’s not much proof for their effectiveness, there’s no definitive proof they don’t work, either.

But as dietician Kaitlin Colucci told Which?, while they “can be beneficial” for people who are unwell, “For healthy people without symptoms there’s no need to take probiotic supplements.”

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The 1 Thing That Will Make Your Bathroom More Dementia-Friendly

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According to the NHS, research shows there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia, and this is only increasing as people are lving longer.

The NHS also state that in the early stages of dementia, sufferers may be able to live at home, continuing to enjoy doing the things they have always done and having an active social life.

However, there are steps you or a carer can take at home to make the condition easier to manage and offset the more difficult days of dementia.

Now, Dementia UK have shared tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly

On their TikTok channel, a specialist dementia nursing charity have shared their tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly, and they’re really simple.

Most notably, the charity recommend using brightly-coloured towels which, as well as just making your bathroom a little more colourful, will stand out more on the towel rail and make spotting them easier.

Additionally, the experts recommend that if you have a fabric bathmat, this should be rolled up when not in use to prevent trips and falls.

While this is probably just good practice in general, NHS Inform urge that dementia sufferers are at a higher risk, saying: “There are different personal risk factors that cause people to fall, however, people with dementia are at greater risk because they: are more likely to experience problems with mobility, balance and muscle weakness.”

Dementia UK offer more tips for making bathrooms accessible

On their website, Dementia UK recommend the following steps for making bathrooms a safer place for dementia sufferers:

  • Stick a written sign or a picture of a toilet to the door to help the person identify the bathroom
  • Leave the bathroom light on at night to help the person find their way
  • Fit a toilet lid and seat in a different colour from the toilet itself to make it more visible
  • Use a free-standing toilet roll holder. These are easier to see than wall-mounted holders, and putting it right next to the toilet means the person does not have to stretch and potentially lose their balance – but if the person is prone to falls, be aware that they may be a trip hazard
  • Install rails or handles at useful points such as in the bath/shower and next to the toilet
  • Provide a bath or shower seat if the person has mobility or balance problems
  • Use flood and scald prevention plugs in the basin and bath
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I Just Learned Why Lemons Look So Juicy On TV, And Frankly I Feel Betrayed

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how forecasters know where to point on green screens when announcing the weather.

We’ve even shared how actors manage to look so, well, dead while playing corpses; so you’d think we’d be pretty familiar with Hollywood magic by now.

But it never even occurred to me ― until now, at least ― to ask how lemons on TV look so darn juicy.

It took a TikTok from director and filmmaker David Ma, who shoots commercials and movies alike, to realise that what I’d been seeing on-screen had been a scam all along.

How?

He started his video with a syringe, injecting water into a plump slice of lemon.

“This is the trick to getting the perfect squeeze,” he captioned his video, revealing a slow-mo shot of the artificially juiced-up citrus splashing its droplets of lies over some broccoli.

I knew stars tended to use more injectables than we think, but I wasn’t aware the procedure extended to their dinner.

Other sneaky food-filming tricks include placing a water-soaked, microwaved tampon behind a bowl of food to create the illusion of a steaming meal and using acrylic ice cubes (which don’t melt) for cold drink campaigns.

Meanwhile, most on-screen “ice cream” is basically a form of buttercream made from vegetable shortening, corn syrup, and icing sugar.

Oh, and that “frost” on the glass of beer in adverts? Yeah, that’s more than likely aerosol deodorant sprayed onto the container to give the illusion of cold condensation.

Don’t even get me started on poultry in adverts, which is usually so raw it’s bloody on the inside (!!) and brushed with dish soap to get that perfect glisten.

People had *thoughts* in the comments

“Here I’ve been thinking I had all dry lemons for the last 10 years,” one commenter wrote.

“Not lemon filler…” another commented.

“I thought those gains were natural,” yet another TikTok user joked about the falsely turgid segment.

Looks like Hollywood’s not above setting unrealistic beauty standards for fruit, too…

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The Simple Reason Why You’ve Been Storing Your Cheese Wrong

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Have you found that no matter how well you seal plastic food bags, cheese always tends to go off inside of them very quickly?

Yes, me too. I find myself reaching for the cheese a couple of days later, only to see that it’s suddenly inedible.

Well, it’s not because we haven’t sealed them effectively, according to one medical expert. It’s much more simple than that and in part comes down to the types of cheese we’re having.

Dr Karan Rajan explained in a recent TikTok video that if you’ve been wrapping your cheese in food bags, you’ve been setting yourself up for failure.

How to properly store cheese

So if, like me, you thought that most foods could be refrigerated in the same way, this will be a cold awakening. (Sorry.)

Dr Rajan explained: “Once you finish gobbling your cheese like a hungry little rat, try and avoid putting your cheese in a plastic bag. Especially softer cheeses which have a higher water content.”

These include Havati, Mozzarella, and Gouda.

He said: “This is because moisture can get trapped in the plastic bag and cover the cheese surface. This provides a breeding ground for bacteria and mould — and not the tasty kind.”

Instead, Dr Rajan recommends using cheese paper, which actually is a thing, yes. Alternatively, parchment paper is a good choice, too.

If you are still keen to use plastic bags, Dr Rajan recommends first wrapping the cheese in wax, parchment or cheese paper before placing it inside of the bag.

Fortunately, harder cheeses like Parmigiano can withstand plastic bags no problem.

He did also point out that you could just eat the food very quickly, ‘for science, of course’ and to reduce food waste.

Of course.

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TikTok Creators Are Telling Us To Go Sunscreen-Free, WTF Is Going On?

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In an era of widespread misinformation, it’s perhaps not surprising that people are now shirking sunscreen. Why not, eh?

Currently on TikTok, the hashtag #AntiSunscreen has amassed over 5.3 million views.

Over on X (formerly Twitter) influencer Gubba Homestead said in a video that amassed 1.2 million views: “I don’t wear sunscreen, and I never will. We blame the sun for cancer when we should be blaming our diets… Sunscreen and a poor diet will make you sick.”

Additionally, data from Glam reveals that this trend is having an impact on Google searches with searches for “Does sunscreen cause cancer” increasing by 160% in the past 30 days.

This is particularly frustrating as Cancer Research UK revealed this year that rates of the skin cancer melanoma — which is caused primarily by UV rays — are at the highest ever in the UK.

Alarmingly, as little as five cases of sunburn in a lifetime increase the risk of skin cancer melanoma, which can spread to other organs.

Experts urge people to apply sunscreen

This trend is not something experts approve of, or recommend.

Dr. Mariano Busso, a Beverly Hills board-certified cosmetic dermatologist, spoke with Glam and said: “Seeking health advice from content creators can be dangerous.

“Using sunscreen has been scientifically proven to protect skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, including both UVB and UVA rays. By not using sunscreen, you are greatly increasing your odds of sun cancer.”

There is no proof that sunscreen causes cancer, but there is plenty of evidence that not protecting your skin against the sun can lead to skin cancers.

Studies show that regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen, when used as directed, can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent.

How often to apply sunscreen

According to John Hopkins Medicine: “Generally, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.

“If you work indoors and sit away from windows, you may not need a second application.”

I’d listen only to experts when it comes to cancer, TBH.

TikTok Community Guidelines strictly do not allow harmful misinformation, including medical misinformation that may cause negative health effects.

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Daters, Meet “Pebbling” ― The Penguin-Based Dating Trend Social Media Loves

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “tolyamory,” where one or both partners silently permits the infidelity of another without ever explicitly addressing it.

We’ve covered the “orange peel” and “Dorito” dating tests, too. But what’s “pebbling” ― a penguin-inspired dating trend I keep seeing on my For You Page?

A viral TikTok from @jakeyboiarts describes it as giving “someone a bunch of something because you’re thinking about them, for example, a penguin that gives a pebble to another penguin they love.”

The video, which has earned over 640k views as of the time of writing, explained that “pebbling online is like someone who gets videos, memes, whatever, and you send them to someone.”

What’s that got to do with dating?

It doesn’t have to. Another TikTok video by autism-specialising therapist @myautistictherapist suggested that “the way [many autistic people] share love is through giving information” ― “pebbling” facts, as it were.

And that love can be for friends and family as well as partners. “A lot of the autistic people on this app are showing the world love by sharing what they know,” the therapist said; of course, the same goes for anyone else. It’s a little gift for those you love.

But seeing as the Gentoo penguin-based habit it’s based on is used for amorous avian couples, the trend has taken on a romantic hue on social media ― and the pros seem to approve.

Older forms of “pebbling,” like giving someone a gift, bringing them home a snack, or even telling them about a part of your day that made you think of them have existed for as long as love has, Psychology Today points out.

But relationship expert Gigi Engle told Metro.co.uk that the newer, online application is great for couples; “I think it’s the cutest thing ever because memes are a love language these days,” she said.

“Pebbling started with the advent of meme sending as a form of creating a connection with people… It can definitely strengthen a relationship because it’s similar to sending a message saying, ‘I saw this and thought of you,’” the romance expert added.

So… it’s always good?

As with anything else, you can have too much of a cute thing.

App user @jakeyboiarts’ TikTok references opening your phone to “hundreds” of notifications ― that might be overwhelming to some (it’s me, I’m ‘some’).

Engle also told Metro that, “Pebbling does have the potential to set an expectation of communication you’re going to have throughout your relationship, so that’s something to keep in mind.” Your partner may feel hurt if you’re unable to keep up the pebble pace for long.

And in the same article, dating expert Drew Wyllie of Pure dating app, advised that “What is deemed sweet and thoughtful for someone, may be irrelevant for someone else” and suggested pebblers “make a mental note of your partner’s likes and dislikes as well as their daily behaviours so you can make your presents more relevant.”

“Pebbling alone is not going to get you far,” Psychology Today adds, stating that the memes should be a jumping-off point for deeper connections and not your main romantic meeting point.

Still, though, if you are your beau have a sweet meme exchange going, then take it from the Gentoo gents and keep it rolling.

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