The Best Way to Get Ketchup Out of the Bottle
Nothing's more satisfying than adding a dollop of ketchup onto your burger before you take a big bite. But we've all been through the struggle of trying to get that stubborn condiment out of the bottle to no avail. As hard as we tap the bottoms of those glass bottles, it just seems to never slide out, leading to bland hot dogs and flavorless French fries. Luckily, there's a hack that will leave your bottles oozing with ketchup with every pour.
If you're using a traditional glass Heinz ketchup bottle, there is a secret way to easily get every drop of ketchup out. According to Heinz's website, you shouldn't be smacking the bottom of the bottle to get the ketchup out. Instead, you should be hitting the "sweet spot," a.k.a. the "57" marked near the neck of the bottle. The 57 is part of the glass bottle and is a little raised from the rest of the neck.
If you're struggling with a bottle of ketchup that isn't Heinz, don't fear! Thanks to research conducted by Anthony Stickland, researcher and senior lecturer from the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Melbourne, there's another technique to get stubborn ketchup out of the bottle.
According to Dr. Stickland, you've been pouring the ketchup bottle completely wrong. As much as we would like to believe that hitting the bottom of the ketchup bottle will help gravity do its thing, it doesn't help get the condiment moving. Ketchup is considered a soft solid so it stays in place and only moves when the right amount of force is applied.
So, how can you get an effortless dollop of ketchup on your next burger bun? Dr. Stickland explains that first, you should shake the bottle. "You need to overcome the yield stress to mix it, so it needs a decent oomph—briefly invoke your inner paint shaker," he said in an instructional video. Then, flip the bottle over (with the cap still on) to try to get the ketchup to the opening, giving it a few whacks to make the ketchup move. Next, flip the bottle upright, pop the cap off, and tilt it to a 45-degree angle, with one hand at the neck of the bottle and the other tapping the base lightly to push ketchup out.
Voilà! You have a perfect amount of sweet and tangy ketchup to dip your fries into. Just be sure not to use it for any of the #1 Worst Menu Option at 41 Popular Restaurants.
