How to Open a Drinks Carton Without Spilling a Drop!

Thursday 22 February 2007 was a big day for me.  After years of mopping up sticky messes from kitchen surfaces and my fridge I at last worked out how to open one of those wretched Tetra Brik drinks cartons without spilling a drop.  The trouble with them is that they are usually full to the top, which means that as soon as you puncture them the contents spurt out.   Furthermore, the built-in "easy-pour" (ha!) openings (if they have them) always dribble until the level of liquid has gone down far enough to allow pouring at a steep angle.

Here's the answer:

(1)  Detach one of the folded-down corners -- it'll be stuck to the end of the carton -- and bend it upwards.

(2)  Pinch this upfolded corner tightly between finger and thumb, leaving just the tip projecting.

(3)  With your free hand take a sharp pair of scissors and cut just this projecting tip off.  Ideally you want to make a tiny hole about 2 mm diameter (1/8 inch).

That's all!  Now when you pour there'll be a stream of liquid from the tip that'll project clear of the carton.  It's easy to catch in a receptable.  There will be no dribbles or spills.

When you put the carton back in the fridge, make sure fold the tip is folded upwards and jam that end of the carton against the sides of the fridge to hold it thus.

Now do your friends and family a favour and tell them about this wonderful technique, (c) R. Eric Swanepoel, 2007.