15 Reasons You Should Keep Dental Floss in Your Kitchen

Maybe it’s because our homes are full of compartments we call rooms, but we unconsciously relegate many of our belongings to certain tasks or times of the day or places of use. For the most part, our thinking is boxed into our routines and what we’re used to. And while there’s not usually any harm in that, it might make us unaware of things we have that could be used to solve some of home life’s little conundrums. That’s why it’s mildly thrilling to find out about new ways to use humdrum items; it’s like reading a list of aha moments. 

For now, let’s talk dental floss! It’s one of these surprising tools that can be used for far more than just keeping our mouths clean and healthy. Even if we aren’t as religious about actually flossing as we should be (sorry, Dr. Bryant!), most of us have a few little packages of dental floss at home. 

Here’s how to put that dental floss to good use in the kitchen. (Note: The floss should be unflavored and unwaxed.)

Dental floss can be used to cut things in the kitchen that are prone to crumbling. Hold it taught between two fingers and pull it down to slice or, where applicable, slide it under your item and pretend like you’re going to tie the floss but instead keep pulling it to cut off neat rounds. Here are some things you can cut so much more easily with dental floss than a knife.

1. Rolls of cookie dough
2. Logs of cinnamon roll dough
3. Goat cheese
4. Cake slices
5. A cake in half horizontally
6. Wraps or burritos
7. Brie, mozzarella, or other soft cheese 
8. Hard-boiled eggs

Because it’s so thin, dental floss is easy to slip under sticky things that you need to lift. Once you try dental floss for this, you may find yourself reaching for it over your thin metal spatula or bench scraper. Here are some things in the kitchen you can un-stick by sliding dental floss underneath. 

1. Cookies that are stuck to the cookie sheet
2. Rolled-out pastry, pie, or pizza dough 

This dental floss use deserves its own section because it’s just that good. To cut perfect wedges without wasting a single bit of watermelon, reach for the floss. 

First, use a knife to divide your watermelon into large wedges. Next, with the watermelon wedge placed lengthwise from your body out and starting at the far end, run a piece of dental floss parallel to the curve of the rind, where the rind meets the red flesh. Finally, use the floss to slice perfect wedges by pulling the floss down at even intervals. To see this tip in action, check out this video.

The time you realize you need baker’s twine is not when you have a giant turkey that needs to be trussed or a raw roast that needs to be tied. If you remember that dental floss is your new BFF in the kitchen, the problem will be solved. Here are some situations where you might find yourself needing to tie something together in the kitchen and you’ll be glad you stashed some dental floss nearby.

1. Trussing a chicken or turkey
2. Tying a roast together
3. Securing a bundle of herbs put in a pot of soup
4. Tying up fresh herbs so they can hang to dry