So Apparently, We've Been Using Chinese Takeout Boxes All Wrong [VIDEO]

So Apparently, We’ve Been Using Chinese Takeout Boxes All Wrong [VIDEO]

January 29, 2013 // 12:46 am // By: Elie Ayrouth

In the case of the 1st world’s most epically disproportionate problems, we have just learned that our use of Chinese food takeout boxes is horribly inefficient.

Here’s how we found out. Back in August of 2012, we came across the startling discovery that we’ve been using ketchup cups incorrectly as well. Months after posting a video on the matter and explaining that the condiment cups seemingly unfolded to allow for maximum dunk square-footage, a comment came in close to three weeks ago explaining that Chinese take-away containers follow a similar concept — apparently they unfold into a plate. No more getting the sides of your hands greasy digging deep into a takeout box, no more pouring food into unnecessary communal plates, just fold the takeout box’ sides down and get right to grubbin’.

Thanks to YouTube user Benjamin Shaw for pointing that out, we had to investigate for ourselves:

Sure enough Mr. Shaw was correct.

We tried boxes with metal hooks, and they work even better than the boxes that were held together with some sort of adhesive. Either way, the box seemingly unfolds, lays out into a plate, and if you don’t finish your food in one sitting, it folds right back up and tucks into itself, ready to store back in the fridge for your future face-stuffing.

Chinese food game: changed.

Elie AyrouthTwitterFacebook

Elie is a product of Orange County, CA. In early 2012, his dentist diagnosed him with 8 different cavities, three of which on the same tooth, as a result of his 23-year Sour Patch Kid addiction.

KEEP READING:

Anonymous

I like this. Didn’t think about it until now. Those sneaky Chinamen.
http://www.facebook.com/michael.zenferret Michael ZenFerret

Could’ve done without the first 30 seconds of infomercial level stupidity. And watching the dude stuff his face at the end has put me off my feedbag. Unfunny people shouldn’t try to produce funny videos. This could’ve been trimmed down to a 5 second animated GIF if it wasn’t for the attention whores.
throw125@yahoo.com

While it’s possible this is the intent, the more likely explanation is simply that cardboard can only be made as a flat sheet, and then folded into a box. The fact that they use adhesive that tears the cardboard on unfolding means they probably did not intend this use.

Anonymous

Totally with you, but some boxes with metal handles don’t have adhesive and end up unfolding quite seamlessly once the handle is removed. May not be intended in the original design, but significant enough of an offshoot to bring up with everyone (=

http://www.facebook.com/codejunkie Nick Fotopoulos

Those metal handles are not easy to remove when the container is full of food. Still it’s an excellent way to reuse/re-purpose something. I used to do this when I lived in NYC and would eat Chinese takeout on the go. If your sitting and put the contain between your legs it folds up around the sides making it more like a bowl and helps keep the contents from spilling.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Doobie-Brothers/100002826439134 Doobie Brothers

Nope, not gonna happen. The box is meant to contain the leftovers, unless you’re a pig and eat the entire contents in one sitting, like the glutton in the video. BTW, for some constructive feedback, the video was stoopid.

http://www.facebook.com/brandon.gunnoe Brandon Gunnoe

You must be one of those who don’t read articles in their entirety before posting their view(s).
In bold typeface at the end:
“it folds right back up and tucks into itself, ready to store back in the fridge for your future face-stuffing.”
http://www.facebook.com/derpsley.herpington.5 Derpsley Herpington

Sorry tiny puny human who cannot consume calories.

When I workout each day I need to eat enough food to keep me going.

Your comment shows you do not workout and have no idea how to properly order enough for just one sitting. Instead of ordering too much, like a glutton would do.

http://twitter.com/DaveHimslef DaveHimslef

Working out is not a badge of honor. It is an embarrassing necessity for someone whose life fails to provide them with healthy expenditure of energy. I think its sad that YOU need to work out to be healthy.

http://twitter.com/thecamerasmybff Jenna Beth Schwartz

Do you even biology? As you get older your body tends to downgrade all of that. You’ll lose chemicals and gain body mass because you are past the age of typical fertilization and working, and your body knows it’s time to settle down.

Anonymous

Your comment shows that you do not work out. Becuase you wouldn’t shoven that much crap into your body if you do.
Please..don’t embarrass yourself by trying to pretend to be some great bodybuilder, little boy.

http://twitter.com/thecamerasmybff Jenna Beth Schwartz

Okay I seriously have to stop you here. Do you have ANY idea what the concept of daily workout is? These kinds of people have to eat a LOT of calories just to keep muscle on their bodies. And for your information, our bodies were made to “work out” every day – we don’t do it as much anymore with the inventions of technology and machinery that require us to move a lot less than in previous years.

Some people who work out daily eat as many as 9,000 calories a day without weight gain. And this isn’t even with any rigorous training exercise.

buttsnacher

I had to look up what Chinese takeout is. You’re all gluttons for even being aware of it.
Anonymous

Because the amount in one container is far too big a serving, no matter what it is, how full it is, or who you are!

Because!

http://www.simplistips.com/ Brian S.

You could at least link to the reddit posts that have been the inspiration for a lot of these articles. I understand some of your readers would never have seen the posts otherwise but give credit where credit is due.

http://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/17g523/i_took_the_metal_handle_off_of_my_takeout_chinese/

Anonymous

maybe the redditor read the comment from the video foodbeast posted and then decided to try it out and say, “look what i discovered!!!” for the karma. all of the internet is essentially recycled content from anonymous people.

it’s the internet. on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.
no one.

http://twitter.com/licoricepirate licoricepirate

why are the commenters here so mean??? chill out!!!
Anonymous

This is so stupid. You can say this about tinfoil. This wasn’t how it was designed. Thats like saying they give you the paper placemat on trays FOR dumping your fries on. And if you don’t eat perfectly cleany putting it back together is going to be a mess. Try it with rice or a similarly messy or saucy dish and see how Practical it is.
http://twitter.com/MSRG_Pubs Michael A. Miller

It was totally worth it to waste all that food to illustrate how to fashion a plate that won’t hold up very well unless you’re a really fast eater.
http://www.facebook.com/realeyesrealizereallies4 Moriah Carter

but….leftovers?
http://www.facebook.com/realeyesrealizereallies4 Moriah Carter

but….leftovers?

Anonymous

Fold it back up, the box has a lid that will hold everything together (=

http://www.facebook.com/catnipdream Jonathan Berman

Has nobody heard of bowls?
http://www.facebook.com/catnipdream Jonathan Berman

Has nobody heard of bowls?

Anonymous

Wait, WHAT?!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Mary-W-Lukens-Goodson/100000194585042 Mary W. Lukens Goodson

IF your dish doesn’t have a lot of sauce on it, this MIGHT work. And now I want Lo Mein for dinner. =)
Anonymous

Oh America – you so dumb.
http://twitter.com/DaveHimslef DaveHimslef

This was worthy of the last photo. Thats all.
http://www.facebook.com/jeff.townes.547 Jeff Townes

what exactly are you eating in the video?
Anonymous

You know you are a crappy blog when you keep this series of “you are doing X wrong” crap based on nothing but ione some idiot THINKS is how it should be done.
http://profiles.google.com/skratakh Anthony Konarski

we don’t get those containers at chinese takeaways in the uk, we get plastic tubs or foil trays with card lids. i’ve only ever seen these containers in films/tv shows from the US.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=15502484 Brian Tinker

It’s for your own safety. You wouldn’t believe the number of deaths by pointy-Chinese-takeout-box per capita in the US.

http://twitter.com/NerdsAreFaggots Nerds Are Faggots

blog post was authored by a homosexual
http://www.facebook.com/fernando.decillis Fernando Decillis

but if I do that, I won’t be able to sit back on the couch, one hand holding the box, and the other holding the sticks.. I would have to eat on a table.
Anonniemuss

Christ I hate clicking through to an unfamiliar new site and discovering that it’s written in 20-something-ese. Reference to 1st world problems, check; use of the word “epic”, check; site design that looks like every other crap food site that already exists, check. Why bother with this completely redundant enterprise?

Anonymous

Christ I hate people who whine like a little bi*ch about “first world problems” becuase he can’t think for himself and that is the buzz word of 2012-2013.

http://twitter.com/pishabh pishabh

Deeply disturbing
http://www.facebook.com/yu.dumash Yu Dumash

This is the “WRONG” way to use the box – it is NOT intended to be opened flat like a plate! You only need to open one side (to unhinge the metal handle, pull so that the hook stays inside the flaps and doesn’t cut you) then hold the box with one hand, undo and open the unhinged flaps – now you have a “bowl” to eat out of (and sit on the couch as one commentator, below, likes to do). And if there are leftovers, you can still close the box up (and reinsert wire handle if you want to but you don’t need to).
Linda Lovelush

Just dump it onto a paper plate, for crying out loud. Too much trouble to unfold, then fold back up if you have leftovers (some of us don’t eat the whole portion in one sitting). Besides, eating out of the box with chopsticks is half the fun.
http://www.facebook.com/nekesha.boyd Nekesha Boyd

Wow. Never knew.
K Radwill

Great post! food boxes can be used any way you want to. Unfolding them like you did in your post works, and keeping them together as a bowl also is just as good. You can even use them to store other things!
http://twitter.com/MonicaRicci Monica Ricci, CPO®

Well gee it would have been nice of Mr. Chinese Restaurant Owner to tell the silly round-eye this when I ordered takeout eh? Good tip!

So Apparently, We’ve Been Using Chinese Takeout Boxes All Wrong [VIDEO]

Chinese food game: changed.

More in Features (34 of 182 articles)