No Funnel? No Problem. You Can Use This Aluminum Foil Hack In A Pinch

A funnel is one of those utensils with a wide range of functions. They are a must if you buy liquids in bulk, and perfect for transferring loose herbs for storage. In most cases, these cone-shaped tubes can help move ingredients from one vessel to the next. Occasionally, your trusty funnel is nowhere to be found — perhaps you're cooking by the fire or misplaced the piece and can't be bothered to look for it. An easy hack can help keep transferring chores moving without having to pause. 

There are a ton of clever aluminum foil hacks to use around the kitchen, and a quick twist of the material gives you a similar shape to your lost funnel. Use your finger to get the roll started. Once the smaller end of the rolled piece of aluminum is set into the opening of the smaller vessel, it should be easy to hold in place as the larger, open end points skyward. Those not trusting their handiwork can strengthen their crafty creations with tape placed on the outside of the rolled tin foil. Heavy-duty foil is ideal, especially for larger quantities of ingredients, as the thinner version can be flimsy.

Aluminum foil is ideal for this hack because it can be easily shaped and molded to fit a range of jar openings and sizes of containers. Depending on the kinds of materials and ingredients you're looking to transfer, you may need to bulk up your makeshift funnel with extra layers, but you'll have a handy tool that can help you pour powder into smaller jars or move liquids into containers. Once your project has been successfully completed, you can reuse the aluminum foil for a baking hack: It's also the secret to wonderfully moist banana bread. This disposable version of a funnel is perfect if you don't want to dirty up your regular tool with ingredients that are hard to clean out. 

Though using an aluminum foil funnel may not be ideal for hotter ingredients, this quick approach works when you're short on time or patience and want to keep culinary tasks moving. Should you not have aluminum foil in reach or forgot to restock that last empty package, look for heavier-weighted paper that can be rolled, jammed into the opening of a container, and held in place while you dump ground spices or homemade pancake mix into a vessel that can be sealed.