Hi All,

I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
do a few things - but chopping is right out.

I've suggested she check the prepared fresh foods
at the grocery store for things like ready-prepped
vegetables, or even the grocery salad bar - but
if anyone has other/better suggestions, I'd love to
pass them on to her!

She lives in a fairly large midwestern city, so has
access to things like Costco. No Trader Joe's, though.

Thanks for any ideas!

Michelle

Michelle wrote:
>
>Hi All,
>
>I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>
>I've suggested she check the prepared fresh foods
>at the grocery store for things like ready-prepped
>vegetables, or even the grocery salad bar - but
>if anyone has other/better suggestions, I'd love to
>pass them on to her!
>
>She lives in a fairly large midwestern city, so has
>access to things like Costco. No Trader Joe's, though.
>
>Thanks for any ideas!

All stores sell bagged salad stuff, just needs to open a bottle of
dressing. Smoothies are pretty easy to prepare with one hand. All
manner of egg dishes need only one hand. I'd keep the menu for the
local Chinese take out handy. Food shouldn't present a problem... and
I'd be pleased to help with her bra, I'm an expert at unclasping one
handed!

On 2015-04-30 4:57 PM, Michelle wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.

Can she use a phone? Order take out food.

In article >,
says...
>
> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.

After a surgery accident my son spent a couple of months with one arm
and its hand completely out of use and (apart from the fact he couldn't
work or drive), cooking was one of the worst practical problems. With
only one hand, it was impossible to slice carve or peel anything, or
chop anything that rolled, use a tin opener, safely lift anything hot
from the oven, etc. Its quite hard to stir anything in a pan when you
can't hold the pan steady.

ISTR he lived on grilled meats, boiled eggs, fruit, bowls of cereal and
ready-bags of salad.

Janet UK

On 4/30/2015 4:57 PM, Michelle wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>

If she is determined, she can adapt. I've known a couple of amputees
that could do anything you and I can do. Even in a cast, that hand can
hold light things.

This lady has some hints
http://www.toysrbob.com/onearm/

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On 4/30/2015 4:57 PM, Michelle wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>>
>
> If she is determined, she can adapt. I've known a couple of amputees that
> could do anything you and I can do. Even in a cast, that hand can hold
> light things.
>
> This lady has some hints
> http://www.toysrbob.com/onearm/

That lady is an inspiration and her step mother needs to thank her lucky
stars she doesn't have that problem and such a nasty helper!


--
http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/shop/

"Michelle" > wrote in message
...
> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>
> I've suggested she check the prepared fresh foods
> at the grocery store for things like ready-prepped
> vegetables, or even the grocery salad bar - but
> if anyone has other/better suggestions, I'd love to
> pass them on to her!
>
> She lives in a fairly large midwestern city, so has
> access to things like Costco. No Trader Joe's, though.
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
>
> Michelle

She might have to get someone to help her at least to do some of the prep
work. Such as chopping. Yes, you can get some things chopped already but I
would think even opening those packages could be trouble for her. I assume
that she lives alone? If it were me, I would have someone chop or cut up
veggies and portion them out into little sandwich bags. She could then if
necessary, cut the bag open with scissors and dispose of it. Also, if it
were me, I likely wouldn't eat much in the way of cooked foods. I would eat
things like raw veggies, nuts, sandwiches. Pizza might be another option if
one liked it. Easy to eat with one hand so long as the pieces aren't cut
too large.

Michelle wrote:
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.

When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
a jar by getting on the floor, holding
the jar between my feet, and using my
my good hand. When that didn't work
with a particularly obstinate jar of
salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
relieving the vacuum in the jar by
stabbing the lid with a knife. That
worked! The lid came right off!

Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
ensued. I could be lying. You pay
your money, you take your chances.

"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
> Michelle wrote:
>>
>> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>
> When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
> a jar by getting on the floor, holding
> the jar between my feet, and using my
> my good hand. When that didn't work
> with a particularly obstinate jar of
> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
> worked! The lid came right off!
>
> Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
> ensued. I could be lying. You pay
> your money, you take your chances.

Hehehe. I remember Sheldon saying some stupid thing about doing something
to the jar lid to break the seal. Only what he said to do would render the
lid unusable. So it would work if you were going to use the whole jar at
once but not if you wanted to keep some for later.

"Julie Bove" > wrote:
> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message ...
>> Michelle wrote:
>>>
>>> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>>> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>>> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>>> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>>> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>>
>> When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
>> a jar by getting on the floor, holding
>> the jar between my feet, and using my
>> my good hand. When that didn't work
>> with a particularly obstinate jar of
>> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
>> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
>> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
>> worked! The lid came right off!
>>
>> Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
>> ensued. I could be lying. You pay
>> your money, you take your chances.
>
> Hehehe. I remember Sheldon saying some stupid thing about doing
> something to the jar lid to break the seal. Only what he said to do
> would render the lid unusable. So it would work if you were going to use
> the whole jar at once but not if you wanted to keep some for later.

Normal people would put the leftovers in a different container, not toss it
out.
--
jinx the minx

"jinx the minx" > wrote in message
...
> "Julie Bove" > wrote:
>> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Michelle wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>>>> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>>>> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>>>> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>>>> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>>>
>>> When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
>>> a jar by getting on the floor, holding
>>> the jar between my feet, and using my
>>> my good hand. When that didn't work
>>> with a particularly obstinate jar of
>>> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
>>> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
>>> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
>>> worked! The lid came right off!
>>>
>>> Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
>>> ensued. I could be lying. You pay
>>> your money, you take your chances.
>>
>> Hehehe. I remember Sheldon saying some stupid thing about doing
>> something to the jar lid to break the seal. Only what he said to do
>> would render the lid unusable. So it would work if you were going to use
>> the whole jar at once but not if you wanted to keep some for later.
>
> Normal people would put the leftovers in a different container, not toss
> it
> out.

Really? So... Normal people would take one pickle from the jar, then put
the remaining contents in another container? I don't think so.

"Julie Bove" > wrote:
> "jinx the minx" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote:
>>> "Mark Thorson" > wrote in message >> ...
>>>> Michelle wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
>>>>> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
>>>>> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
>>>>> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
>>>>> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>>>>
>>>> When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
>>>> a jar by getting on the floor, holding
>>>> the jar between my feet, and using my
>>>> my good hand. When that didn't work
>>>> with a particularly obstinate jar of
>>>> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
>>>> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
>>>> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
>>>> worked! The lid came right off!
>>>>
>>>> Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
>>>> ensued. I could be lying. You pay
>>>> your money, you take your chances.
>>>
>>> Hehehe. I remember Sheldon saying some stupid thing about doing
>>> something to the jar lid to break the seal. Only what he said to do
>>> would render the lid unusable. So it would work if you were going to use
>>> the whole jar at once but not if you wanted to keep some for later.
>>
>> Normal people would put the leftovers in a different container, not toss > it
>> out.
>
> Really? So... Normal people would take one pickle from the jar, then
> put the remaining contents in another container? I don't think so.

If the lid was broken, yes.
--
jinx the minx

On Thu, 30 Apr 2015 22:05:21 -0700, "Julie Bove"
> wrote:

>
>"jinx the minx" > wrote in message


>>>
>>> Hehehe. I remember Sheldon saying some stupid thing about doing
>>> something to the jar lid to break the seal. Only what he said to do
>>> would render the lid unusable. So it would work if you were going to use
>>> the whole jar at once but not if you wanted to keep some for later.
>>
>> Normal people would put the leftovers in a different container, not toss
>> it
>> out.
>
>Really? So... Normal people would take one pickle from the jar, then put
>the remaining contents in another container? I don't think so.

Do you ever think before you speak?
Janet US

On 5/1/2015 1:18 AM, Mark Thorson wrote:

> When that didn't work
> with a particularly obstinate jar of
> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
> worked! The lid came right off!

Relieving the vacuum is the best way to open a jar. Usually a can/bottle
opener will do the trick, even a knife blade to lift the edge.
Stabbing, of course, if you really have to.

On 2015-05-01, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> Relieving the vacuum is the best way to open a jar. Usually a can/bottle
> opener will do the trick, even a knife blade to lift the edge.
> Stabbing, of course, if you really have to.

I've always used the "whack the lid with the back of a knife" method.

You take a table knife, and hit the corner of the top of the lid with
the knife. Sometimes using the handle to whack the lid works better.
Whacking consists of glancing blows to the lid all around the top edge
in the direction that opens the lid (lefty-lucy). I've also used this
in removing rusted nuts/bolts. Take a chisel and hammer to the
nut/bolt edge and tap in removal direction. Works better than most
lid removal tools.

nb

On 2015-05-01 11:44 AM, notbob wrote:
> On 2015-05-01, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> Relieving the vacuum is the best way to open a jar. Usually a can/bottle
>> opener will do the trick, even a knife blade to lift the edge.
>> Stabbing, of course, if you really have to.
>
> I've always used the "whack the lid with the back of a knife" method.
>

It has always worked for me.

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
> On 5/1/2015 1:18 AM, Mark Thorson wrote:
>
>> When that didn't work
>> with a particularly obstinate jar of
>> salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
>> relieving the vacuum in the jar by
>> stabbing the lid with a knife. That
>> worked! The lid came right off!
>
> Relieving the vacuum is the best way to open a jar. Usually a can/bottle
> opener will do the trick, even a knife blade to lift the edge. Stabbing,
> of course, if you really have to.

The bowl of a spoon usually works too.

On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 5:50:22 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Thu, 30 Apr 2015 21:18:45 -0800, Mark Thorson >
> wrote:
>
> >Michelle wrote:
> >>
> >> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> >> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> >> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> >> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> >> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
> >
> >When I couldn't use one hand, I'd open
> >a jar by getting on the floor, holding
> >the jar between my feet, and using my
> >my good hand. When that didn't work
> >with a particularly obstinate jar of
> >salsa, I had the brilliant idea of
> >relieving the vacuum in the jar by
> >stabbing the lid with a knife. That
> >worked! The lid came right off!
> >Or maybe it didn't. Maybe disaster
> >ensued. I could be lying. You pay
> >your money, you take your chances.
> You lives and learns as they say. My hand from elbow down was in a
> cast last year, on balance I managed quite well. Some things like
> putting toothpaste on the brush, tended to be messy.
>
> I wanted to chop some garlic and figured I could manage it. When the
> knife slipped it didn't go far and met resistance. The resistance was
> the bone in my finger and I was left with plenty of blood and a
> garlicky smelling underlay to the cast. I always believed that saying
> about it isn't the sharp knife that cuts and kept the knives like
> razors. What it does is just make it so when it hits bone, it does it
> effortlessly.
>
> She will manage, one does when it is imperative.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll pass them along.

On 4/30/2015 2:57 PM, Michelle wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>
> I've suggested she check the prepared fresh foods
> at the grocery store for things like ready-prepped
> vegetables, or even the grocery salad bar - but
> if anyone has other/better suggestions, I'd love to
> pass them on to her!
>
> She lives in a fairly large midwestern city, so has
> access to things like Costco. No Trader Joe's, though.
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
>
> Michelle
>

I think the microwave and freezer section, or some pre-made pizzas are
her go to.

On Thu, 30 Apr 2015 13:57:51 -0700 (PDT), Michelle
> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks for
> cooking with a broken arm. My sister had a car
> accident, and is in a cast for 5 weeks. Fortunately,
> it's the left arm, and she is right handed, so she can
> do a few things - but chopping is right out.
>
> I've suggested she check the prepared fresh foods
> at the grocery store for things like ready-prepped
> vegetables, or even the grocery salad bar - but
> if anyone has other/better suggestions, I'd love to
> pass them on to her!
>
> She lives in a fairly large midwestern city, so has
> access to things like Costco. No Trader Joe's, though.
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
>
I'm sure there's more than one product like it, but this is the first
one that came to mind.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...t=1&pldnSite=1
Believe me, she's not as helpless as she or you think. I drove a
stick shift car with my left leg in a walking cast. If I can do that,
she can use a knife.

--

sf