sorry to post but this is the only place i can think of for a rant..............in the UK we get biscuits in plastic packs with a spot that says 'tear here' which is supposed to take you to a red strip that splits the pack open. but it never works. i always end up using a knife. do other UK forumites find the same problem and do you get the same issue in the US? rant over back to things that are more important
This is one of those times when English and American differ confusingly.
Strictly, in the UK "biscuits" are to the French form, like cookies but always crisps. However we also use "cookies" as a term, though strictly cookies are not crisp. The similar savoury things are "crackers", or a specific oatmeal type are often "oatcakes" The thinks that in the US that you call biscuits are more like the English "scone".
Whilst on that, what Americans call fries we tend to call chips, though we're increasingly using fries to mean the to mean the slim ones; what you call chips we call crisps.
Ain't language funny?
On the specific question, I've never even looked first for a tear-strip. Usually I just open from the end seal. If that doesn't work I may look for a tear-strip, or I may just run a sharp knife between the biscuits/cookies/crackers/oatcakes and cut the wrapper open that way.
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These "red strings" so to speak, are on a number of products.
Back when they were actually string - many years ago - the string had a habit of breaking, or coming loose on the end. So it wasn't that good.
There are a number of packages, such as bags of shredded cheese, that have a similar idea. As you pull on it, there's a strip of reinforced plastic that's supposed to tear through the plastic. As often as not, it seems to fail.
Bags of chips/crisps can be especially frustrating, because if you're not careful, you can crush the contents.
It's far simpler just to pull out a pair of scissors.
In the 1990s, I spend a month in the UK, driving from London, to Wales, to the Outer Hebrides, down to Dover, and back to London.
I loved the oatcakes, Gordon. Plus English breakfast, fish & chips, scones and tea, too. Before the Internet it was difficult to find good tea here in the USA. We kept biscuits in the car, to munch on during long drives, but I don't remember the red string. What I do remember was enjoying the flavor.
At the time I had an English distributor for my Band-in-a-Box aftermarket products, and he suggested and sent me a green P decal to put on the bumber of the rental car. (For those not in the UK, it means I just got my driving permit or somthing like that.). The other drivers were very kind to me. Even at the end of the trip when I drove into downtoan London. Once there I turned in the car and used your bus, tube and other mass transit options.
I enjoyed the trip, the sights, and most of all, the UK people who were so kind and friendly.
And I only drove on the wrong side of your roads one time. Mrs. Notes job was to say "keep to the left" at intersections, but this time we drove off the rural road to see some what looked like wild or feral cashmere goats and when I got back on, another approached from the other direction, and I realized and corrected my error.
Later I drove in the Bahama Islands, on your side of the road, but with US drive cars. Now that was weird.
Back on topic.
We have various ways to open crackers, biscuits, and other snack foods, none of which seem to work very well.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Last edited by Notes Norton; 09/28/2406:26 AM. Reason: speling misteak
Try that with only one working hand and arm. I dare you.
I bought a snack box on a flight yesterday and spent more time trying to open the various wrappers than I did actually eating. Since they don’t let sharp objects on the plane, this can be really difficult. I have a tiny pair of nail clippers in my carry-on that helps to get things started.
I hope to never lose my front teeth. We’re that to happen, I would never get anything opened.
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I sure hope someone here writes a song about biscuits, so this thread can become somewhat ‘music-related’ as per the forum guidelines 😎
Bob the Biscuit Pioneer
In Essex lived a man, a fine chap named Bob, Who fancied a biscuit while at his job. He bought a pack from his local shop, But opening it was a royal flop.
He tugged and pulled with all his might, But the package resisted and put up a fight. He tried with his teeth, he tried with his knife, But this stubborn biscuit pack was causing him strife.
“Blimey!” he said, “This can’t be right, I just want a biscuit, not a fight!” He gave one last pull and a hell of a yank, When finally, his expression went pale and then went blank.
With crumbs on his face and scattered all around, Bob’s victory was semi-sweet at best, he found. But he munched his biscuits with a big wide grin, And vowed he’d never, no never, let them win.
So if you’re in Essex and bump into Bob, Struggling and wrestling as if he’d been robbed, Give him a hand, give him a wink or maybe a cheer, For Mr. Bob is famous, he’s the biscuit pioneer.
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