Latest Cooking Answers

Storing Transglutaminase once opened

I have a sealed packet of Transglutaminase/Activa powder. However its much more than I need for this recipe. I know it deactivates quickly after being exposed t

How to apply transglutaminase brand "Saprona TG F"

I have transglutaminase/activa powder branded "Saprona TG F". The ingredients are Salt, Gelatin, phosphate and transglutaminase. The dose is 1%. I'm making chic

Is there a difference between preheating temperature and baking temperature?

Many cake recipes say something like: Heat oven to 350F, then bake the cake around 25 to 30 minutes. What does this mean? After preheating the oven, what

Is using vinegar a viable way to reduce burning? How would it affect taste?

In House, MD, in season six episode three the main character tags along to a cooking class with his best friend, Wilson. During the subsequent scene, they engag

what is an alternative for baking powder?

I don't want to use baking powder or baking soda. Is there something else without salt I can use in cakes to make them rise.

Why did my shrimp bisque turn out so broth like?

I made a shrimp bisque today. But it came out extremely thin like a weak broth as opposed to thick like a decent bisque should be. I think the problem lies he

Are there any differences in large or small pieces of root ginger?

I find the bigger ones easier to peel, but I've heard that, for example, in potatoes all the vitamins are just below the skin, so I wonder if by a similar effec

How to make soft popsicles

Frozen juice or frozen punch freeze up as a solid block of ice. I want them to be more like a sorbet or gelato, though still solid enough to hold the shape. H

Why do peanut butter sandwiches become hard and how to prevent that?

I've done this with many different types and brands of peanut butter and bread, after a few hours (I typically pack them in the morning as a snack for the after

My gravy turned to jello overnight. How can I make it last for leftovers?

I slow cooked a pork shoulder with some veggies (carrots, onions, celery). When it was finished, I strained out the solids and proceeded to make gravy with the

Why did my ceramic coated loaf pan turn brown?

I used ceramic a coated loaf pan and the inside color which was white, changed to brown, as if it has burnt, is that normal?

Can I substitute mascarpone for ricotta?

I have left over mascarpone that I don't want to waste

Why add flour to grilled onions?

I enjoy a dirty rice recipe that has you sauté onions, celery and green peppers in sausage grease and then add a tablespoon of flour. What does the flour

Can I store dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, etc) together?

I am planning on making a bunch of gingerbread this year, the recipe I use takes both baking powder and baking soda. In order to cut down on dishes and time I

Is it true cooked food cannot be left in room temperature for longer than 4 hours?

I have only recently discovered that cooked food shouldn't be left in room temperature for longer than 2/4 hours. I lived in a tropical country which is warm a

Safely making truffle honey

Since New Zealand has import restrictions on honey, I'm looking to make some truffle honey from scratch. I recall reading somewhere that incorrectly making it

Can sweetened condensed milk be substituted for whole milk and sugar?

I am making a fudge recipe that calls for 1cup whole milk and 5 cups sugar. It also uses 2 sticks of butter and 25 marshmallows. I'm wondering if I can omit the

Preventing my toast from becoming wet when I put it on the plate

Since I moved to my new flat, I have a problem when heating bread in any way. What happens is that if I put it on a plate, it gets very wet on the plate side. T

Can I soak dried fruit in sweet wine instead of liqueur for use in fruitcakes?

The recipes for fruitcake that I've looked at say to soak the dried fruit in brandy, rum, etc., i.e., something with a high alcohol content. I've been using li

What will happen to my Pecan tassies if I use too much butter?

When I was making Pecan tassies, I read the recipe wrong and put a stick of butter in for the filling instead of 2 tablespoons. There are two eggs, 1 1/2 cups b

What causes butter to make risotto shiny?

Why does the addition of butter make risotto shiny? Is there a chemical explanation? I was taught to initially saute onions and garlic in olive oil, then riso

Chocolate spread preservation

I have tried and made chocolate spread at home. I made it using a melted milk chocolate slab added to boiled Amul fresh cream. After a few days, it grew some fu

Is aluminum foil porous?

When cooking certain items in the oven, I line the baking pan or sheet with aluminum foil. Without fail, when cleaning up, I find oil or juices from the food be

Cookie dough consistency problems

I have used the same rugelach recipe for years with out a problem. This year however, the dough is pulling apart and shredding when being rolled out and up. T

Pork shank meat yield

I am trying to estimate the quantity of usable meat four pork shanks will yield. I need to feed 10 people and I have two front and two hind shanks that weigh a

What are the consequences of infusing a tea bag longer than recommended?

I'm a regular consumer of tea (since about 2 years ago), usually from commercial tea bags. They advise to infuse tea for 3 to 5 minutes, but there is some time

Will 93% lean ground beef stick in a non-stick skillet without oil?

I often cook 85% lean ground beef in a non-stick pan. When I first started doing this, I always added some oil to the pan before I cooked it, but then I learne

Substituting different types of eggs

I know that it is unlikely but if I do at some point live in the country and have ducks, turkeys, and geese producing eggs as well as chickens and my chickens f

Could plastic or metal cans damage my oven?

Is it possible to put vinyl plastic and metal cans in the oven at 200 degrees F for roughly 5-10 minutes? More specifically, I was came across DIY Vinyl Bowls

How long should I blanch baby peas?

I have a recipe which calls for a cup of blanched baby peas. Now, I know what blanching is. It concerns cooking the outer layer of green vegetables (James Pete