How to Create a Plate from a Takeout Chinese Food to Go Box

Last Updated: July 28, 2015

Are you finding it awkward to eat your meal directly from a Chinese takeout box? Sure you can drop your Kung Pao Chicken dish onto a waiting plate but what do you do if you are on the road or don’t have access to a dinner plate? Rather than digging your food from the box, create a ready-to-use plate directly from the takeout container.

Steps

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You will be unfolding the box while the food is inside, so consider how packed the box is and what is inside. Messy sauces or over-packed food containers may end up being a bigger mess when the box is converted into a plate. So size up your meal first.
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Open top of the box and hold open container in one hand. Gently pull one side of the handle from the box until it is dislodged. This may take a little twisting and turning but it will free itself with a little coaxing.
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(Or just leave the other side of the handle in place. You need to be able to collapse the box and the handle helps to hold it in place.)
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You should see either a staple or flaps holding the box together.
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Open the second side in the same way you opened the other folded side of the box. You now have a flat surface or makeshift plate.

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What if it was dumplings?

Otterly Badgerific

Top Answerer

You can use the same method outlined in this article for dumplings too. Essentially, you are making a plate from the takeout box, and it can hold many food types as long as they don't involve liquid or runny contents.

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Tips

Don’t attempt if riding in a vehicle if you are eating from a full box.

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Only create this plate if you are working on a flat surface.

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Things You’ll Need

Chinese food in a to-go box

How to Create a Plate from a Takeout Chinese Food to Go Box

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