Latest Cooking Answers

Why is sauteing beneficial?

I've seen multiple recipes which say to saute onions, peppers, green beans, etc. Why not microwave the food to the temperature you want and then mix it (along w

Pickled eggs in a jar. What counts?

Do the nutritional facts on the outside of a package reflect the ENTIRE contents of the package or just what it is assumed a consumer would eat? For example:

Why does my first batch of cookies come out nice while later batches get thin?

The first few batches I bake look good and have a nice thickness to them. The last few batches are thinner. Why would that happen? For reference, I use the Nest

How do I squeeze gelatine?

Every recipe I've seen which uses gelatine says to soak and squeeze it, but none of them say how to squeeze it. I've only cooked once with gelatine, and I just

Technical name for a manual food processor

I am looking to buy a food processor to do very small batches of fruit and vegetables. Very basic, very cheap....and i am looking for something manual(not elect

What cheeses work 'best' in melted cheese sandwich applications? [closed]

I enjoy both toasted and grilled cheese sandwiches, but I generally only alternate between havarti and muenster cheese. I would like to branch

Frying pan width - from base or rim?

I have a recipe that calls for a frying pan about 20cm across - should I measure from the base, or the top rim?

Is there an alternative wrap for spring rolls other than rice paper?

I've been making spring rolls (the deep-fried variety) for some time now, and they are really good, but I've noticed some Asian restaurants use something else f

What is the best way to bake potatoes in embers?

I have fond (and by now possibly largely inaccurate) memories of eating potatoes that had been wrapped in tin foil and baked outside in the embers of a fire. I

Is "instant flour" worth bothering with?

I have not used "instant flour" before as it is not available in my home country, and I have never seen it on my travels I have seen a few references to it in

Bread dough only rises once

I'm new at baking bread but had a very experienced coach. The dough rises well one time but very little the 2nd time. If I put the dough into the baking pan to

What is the impact of repeated cooling and reheating of maple syrup?

Today I discovered a 1/4-full bottle of pure maple syrup had gotten moldy, so searched this site and came across this question: Should maple syrup be stored in

What is the following cooking utensil used for?

I am interested in knowing what the top pot is used for. I have a similar pot with holes at the bottom. I used this one to steam vegetables while I come somet

How to substitute vodka in home-made vanilla extract?

I came across this recipe for making my own vanilla extract. However, the vodka in my country isn't very cheap. So, I would like to replace it with a cheaper al

How to make tofu that is crispy and flavorful outside and soft inside?

I know how to fry tofu to make it firm, and also how to dry fry it and marinade it to make it flavorful. Neither of these cooking techniques mimics the tofu I

Can an American substitute for garam masala be made?

I love Indian food and have been experimenting with curry recipes, and many of them ask for 'garam masala'. I know it's a spice mix but I can't find it for sal

Why do different brands of butter taste different?

This has been playing on my mind for a while and I thought it was time to ask! In any supermakert, there is usually at least 5+ regular brands, then 3-4 superm

Should I buy a mechanical chopper?

A popular example of this device is the heavily-advertised Slap Chop tool. Is there any advantage to buying one of these? Do they tend to be as effective as a

What is a "moist" salt?

I have been looking into buying some gourmet salt, and several of them are described as being "moist salt". What does that mean?

How should I cook a ham bone for chili?

I want to make chili using a ham bone (with a little meat on it). How should I cook it to make good use of both the meat and the bone?

What side dish should I have with saltimbocca?

What is traditionally the side dish you eat with saltimbocca a la romana?

How should block cheese be stored for maximum shelf life?

Just like it says in the title, how can I store blocks of cheese for max shelf life? I will be making a grilled cheese sandwich and shredding 3 varieties of che

How should I store herb butter?

I tried just keeping it in a tightly-closed container in the refrigerator, but soon it was moldy. I've read this question, which seems to indicate that ordina

What is the origin of cheese dip?

I want to know where cheese dip was invented. Based on this article it was invented in Arkansas. This documentary goes into more detail about it being from Me

nutrition facts: what does "as packaged" mean?

I was looking on a box of Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni I bought. The nutrition facts read "as packaged", it only contains 0.5g fat, 120 calories per s

Marinades: Water vs Oil

What's the theory on using water vs oil for chicken marinades? I ask because of this recipe: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1731460

How to combat odor from pickled radishes inside refrigerator?

I know the question is related to How to get rid of the smell from the fridge?. At the same time, I am curious about possible additives as part of the pickling

Temperature probe recommendations?

I am looking for a temperature probe. Specifically the kind you put in meat before putting it in the oven and the display is outside of the oven. I've purchased

Is pyrex safe to use on a gas burner?

There seems to be conflicting views on whether a pyrex dish can be used on a gas burner. Can anybody here provide a definitive answer?

Sugar in Indian curries?

I've seen that sugar is used to balance out other flavors in a dish. I was just wondering if I could add a little sugar to a spicy curry(chicken curry, for exam