HELOISE Hint keeps sliced apples from turning brown

Dear Heloise: How do you keep apples from browning after slicing them? Rebecca Digrazio, Willowgrove, Pa.
Don't you hate that? Once cut, apples brown (also called oxidation) -- it's just the natural process! But here's something you can do to help prevent them from looking yucky.
In a bowl, mix together 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of lemon, lime or orange juice. Dip the section into the solution, which should help it from browning so quickly.
Also, if time allows, leave the dishes that use fresh apples to be prepared right before serving -- browning won't have a chance to appear. Heloise
Dear Heloise: When making meatloaf, crumble ground beef in a large bowl. Then, in a smaller bowl, mix the eggs, other liquid ingredients and seasonings. When well-mixed, pour over the beef and mix until the meat absorbs the liquid. If using vegetables, add them and mix again. Then add the bread/cereal/cracker crumbs or whatever you use for filler and mix again. This will ensure a more evenly textured and seasoned loaf. Sue Lalumiere, Leicester, Vt.
Dear Heloise: When canning jams or jellies, make cleanup easy by arranging your jelly jars on a cookie sheet. Pour the hot jam mixture into the jars while they are on the sheet. That way, any spills or drops are contained. Cleanup is a snap, and you won't stain your countertop, either. Molly Nolan, Bergen, N.Y.
Dear Heloise: This might have already been given to you, but I have just discovered it for myself.
Tall, cylindrical potato-chip containers are absolutely wonderful for keeping crackers fresh. Just put an opened sleeve of saltines in one instead of throwing it away. The containers are also good for round crackers. Betty Johannes, Meridian, Texas
Dear Heloise: We only use a manual can opener, and I'm wondering about the best way to keep it clean. The blades seem to get caked with pieces of food and paper from the labels, and then, of course, my husband and sons just put it back in the drawer until the next use. Wendy, Via E-mail
Yuck, and possible food poisoning, too! Some hot, soapy water and a small, stiff brush will work well to keep those manual can-opener blades clean. Remember to clean the blades often, and since it's easy, show your family how to do it.
If the blades don't seem to work very well, give them a shot of nonstick vegetable spray -- a reader said this made hers work like a new one. Heloise
Dear Heloise: I could not keep my coffee maker clean. The coffee grounds splattered in the process, leaving quite a mess that was hard to clean up. Then I started putting a paper basket filter on top of the one that holds the coffee. Just press it down on top of the coffee. No more mess. Dottie Thompson, Jacksonville, Fla.
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate