Latest Cooking Answers

Why do my teriyaki steaks come out hard and dry?

I have tried to make Teriyaki steaks (beef) and they come out dry and hard. They have been marinated with the Teriyaki sauce as instructed by various recipes bu

How do I know when fish cooked in parchment or salt is done?

I want to try fish (either fillets or whole) baked in parchment or salt. I have found several recipes but they specify a certain weight fish. How do I adjust

Pan frying chicken breasts?

I've got these nice chicken breasts, pre-marinated, from the supermarket meat counter. There was a little sign on 'em that said "Great for pan searing!" (Is th

Japanese cold soba broth?

I remember having been in Japan and ate several meals of cold soba. Their cold soba broth taste like soy sauce with only a stint of saltiness; it doesn't taste

Can water cause fermented pickles to spoil?

I recently learned about Indian lemon pickles. There is a lot of variation between recipes but the ones I am trying consist of chopping lemons or limes, addin

Why do chicken wings turn chewy if cooled between cookings?

I prepared some chicken wings by: Place chicken wings, raw, in cool oil. Heat corn oil to ~180°F, hold at ~180°F for 3 hours (in the oven). Heat peanu

How to fry crispy bananas?

I've fried bananas in a pot with some butter, but they remain soft and I would like to make them more crispy. Should I use oil instead?

Why does oil change the color of salmorejo?

We did a few experiments last year with salmorejo, a cold soup made of very ripe tomatoes and bread, very similar to gazpacho. We noticed that while blending,

baking cupcakes in a commercial sized pan?

I bought a 24 cup cupcake pan from a restaurant supply store because I am baking cupcakes for my daughter's wedding. The cups are regular size, just in one big

Can I leave a cake / cupcakes frosted with cream cheese frosting out on the counter?

I need to frost a cake and cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting for a late morning party tomorrow. I do not do a lot of baking so I'm concerned about when I sh

Vertical Smoker Cooking Times

I have a gas vertical water smoker that I got from Cabela's earlier this year. I've had some success smoking a few different things: whole chickens, baby-back r

how to freeze individual chicken pot pies

I am trying to find a good way to freeze chicken pot pies...I am assisting a person that is low income next week and we are working on making healthy meals for

Pickles are really salty (lactic fermenation)

I decided to make pickles following a recipe that our crop-share association (CSA) suggested: Three Secrets To Crispy Pickles, And A 'Lost Recipe' Found. After

Thinning copper-bottomed staninless pot

In copper-bottomed cookware, can the stainless begin to thin and allow the copper to leech through? My potato pot has discoloration at the bottom that another p

Is it worth roasting my own red peppers?

I recently realized roasted red peppers make so many of my dishes pop, but it's a pretty pricey ingredient. A small jar costs three bucks and a big jar is seven

Knife cleaning: safe to do without soap?

Knife Skills Illustrated: A User's Manual suggests that knives can be cleaned with hot running water alone. "With sufficiently hot water, soap should not be nec

How to peel bell peppers effectively?

We tried everything and there is no easy way to peel bell peppers without doing it with a very sharp knife. Peeled bell peppers are easier to digest (if you or

How to avoid the rhubarb teeth effect?

I have a lovely rhubarb plant in the backyard. It grows like a weed, as rhubarb is wont to do. On occasion, I like to slice off some stalks and bake myself up

Is it true that good pistachio nuts should have yellowish shell, purplish skin and greenish flesh?

In China, where I live, most pistachio nuts sold on the market have very white shell, and yellowish skin and flesh, like this: Today I read some articles cla

How do you wash fruit and veggies effectively?

When eating or preparing fruit and vegetables, you should wash them beforehand to get rid of pesticides, bacterias, fertilizers, etc. However, I notice that I (

What can I use as an alternative sweetener for smoothies?

I make fruit smoothies often, and started off adding sugar. I'm looking for a more "natural" sweetener though. I know I can use honey, but it adds a distinct ta

Can salmonella show up in a raw-egg product once it has already been made?

I know raw eggs should be avoided, especially by sensitive people (children, pregnant women), as they may contain salmonella. Let's say I make a big tub of ice

Troubles with quinoa consistency

I've been having some trouble cooking quinoa. I know that it needs to be cooked for long enough so that just the spirals are left, but the quinoa can often dry

How to choose an upright, self-defrosting freezer?

All, we're in the market for a freezer. It will be in our (converted) garage, and due to our space constraints we want a self-defrosting upright freezer. I f

How do I make home-made Vietnamese or thai rice noodles?

In Vietnam, fresh noodles are easy to find, however in Australia, the nearest substitute seems to be plain (and dry) rice vermicelli noodles, which do not have

Can I make pickled eggs that don't require refrigeration?

This time of year I have a ton of extra eggs. In the winter I have fewer. I have, therefore, been experimenting with egg preservation techniques. I like pickle

What is the sign of mozzarella being old?

Short of looking at the "best before" date on the package - how can I tell if my mozzarella is ok to eat? Would it smell bad, or can it be "dangerous" anyway?

Uses of kohaishu vs santoku

I have a couple santoku knives that I use all the time cooking. A friend of mine has a kohaishu knife. I've tried to use it once or twice but it wouldn't stay

How do I prevent filled pretzels from blowing out?

A little while ago I made cream cheese and jalapeno filled pretzels. I used a standard, mall-style, pretzel dough. The filling was cream cheese, cheddar chee

What's a good way to taste a variety of alcoholic beverages? [closed]

I've never been too keen on alcoholic beverages since trying things growing up and not liking them. However, I try to keep an open mind and wo