Latest Cooking Answers

Understanding 2 unit yield from 1lb ready to cook chicken

I have a recipe that calls for 2 unit (yield from 1lb ready to cook chicken) and it says it is 158 grams. Can someone explain how this measurement works. How d

Substitutions for "European style" butter in croissants

I've been trying to make croissants at home. Many recipes I've read specify "European style" butter, with a higher fat content. However, finding this kind of bu

Keeping Donuts fresh

Is there a way to preserve donuts and sell them in retail packaging, similar to how you would buy chips and cookies at the supermarket. I see Entenmann sells pa

Cooking chicken breasts in Buffalo sauce, cast iron

I really like to cook chicken in my cast iron skillet and I cook it down with butter and Texas Pete Sauce (my mother does the same, but in Teflon). My issue is

What is the name of this Chinese Fish Soup where guests cook their own fish in broth?

One of my friends tells about some kind of a delicious fish soup that he ate in china. But he doesn't know the name of the dish. It was served in a big bowl in

How to use vanilla beans?

I used a vanilla bean in a water-based beverage and did not get any taste. Further research showed that vanilla is apparently oil soluble, not water soluble.

Making KFC-like chicken

I brine my chicken and use only salt, pepper and garlic powder in bleached flour to taste. I think this comes close to the Colonel's. Can anyone taste other spi

Tricks for knowing when a cheesecake is correctly done [duplicate]

I have just made a cheesecake, (not my first), but will admit that for me it is a bit of a guessing game to know when it is perfectly done.

Explaining raising dough

I bought dough containers and would like to know a couple things: When I mix the dough do I put it in the refrigerator right away and can I seal it with the lid

Ling Ling Potsticker Sauce or Similar

I love pot stickers. I love them steamed, but even better deep fried. I've tried different brands and they all have a similar dipping sauce. It's hard to descri

Is butter ever the same after having been melted?

I was recently doing some experiments with butter which involved melting it gently in the microwave and pouring it into dishes. It seemed to me that after the b

Clarified butter: what happens if the foam isn't skimmed off?

I know that most recipes for making clarified butter discard this foam. But I've also seen some recipes, like this one for ghee, which do not skim the foam.

Replacements for baking soda in a cake

Sometimes I wish to bake a cake, but the country where I am in doesn't have baking soda. I have tried using actual soda, but this has limited success and the ca

Fresh pasta noodles in lasagna

When making lasagna noodles from scratch, do you need to cook the noodles first? If I was making it the regular way, layers, I wouldn't think it would need to b

How can I achieve a good socarrat with paella cooked in the oven?

I'm cooking dinner for a friend who pointedly bought me a paella pan. Normally, I would never consider making paella in the oven, but my stove is electric and t

What can I do to fix/improve a dry cake?

So a lot of times a cake is really dry, whether the recipe author intentionally does that or if I did something wrong I'm not sure (maybe it's how it's meant to

How do I drain sauerkraut?

One of my favorite sandwiches is the Reuben. One problem I tend to have when making this at home is the sandwich is damp from the sauerkraut. I buy sauerkraut

Sauté meat then vegatables, or vegetables then meat?

Most Joy of Cooking recipes call for browning of meat, then removing the meat, and sautéing vegetables, until they're soft, though occasionally it's the

What constitutes a 'waxy potato'

Potato salad, dauphinoise, sauteed, with potato cooked but firm and keeping its form with a wonderful waxy texture. Common all over France but a rarity in the U

How to dry Eucalyptus leaves (to later on make herbal tea from)?

I recently collected Eucalyptus leaves that I'd like to dry out to later on make herbal tea from. I've cleaned the leaves and scattered them on a grid, but I'm

Effecient way to dab grease from dehydrating meat without paper towels

I have read the question here but that question doesn't help me, since the options available in that situation, are not applicable in this situation (see "Limit

Flavored caramelization

When should flavorings to brown sugar-caramel be added: during caramelization of after? I make caramel regularly for inclusion in coffee based drinks. The cara

Why does food spoil in the freezer?

Many recipes suggest storing perishable food, such as left-over chicken stock, in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Why could one not store it frozen for longer

How well does it work to just throw in all the ingredients and boil?

I'm wondering about this recipe. It tempts me because I'm really lazy. But I'm skeptical because I've always been taught to sauté onions first, then p

what does watt specify in induction stove

what does watt specify in induction stove? Does a higher watt induction stove implies that the cooking will be faster? Is electricity consumption of higher wa

What is the difference between a hen and a chicken? In terms of cooking, flavor, price, and anything else culinary related.

I have a recipe from James Peterson for chicken stock that asks for a chicken carcass and a stewing hen. So I'm wondering what the difference is. The problem is

What is this metal utensil tool with wooden handle?

Saw this at a flea market with other kitchen tools and do not know what it is. The end of the tool that is pictured is attached to a wooden handle, not a gear o

Cracks Developing in Straight-Sided Stainless Steel Vessels

Over the years I have acquired several grades and sizes of (straight-sided) stainless steel storage containers - some from India and some from US (origin unknow

How long can I keep cannoli shells with no filling and how should I store them

How long can I store cannoli shells with no filling? What is the best way to do this? I am traveling 5 days to my destination.

How can I increase the longevity of my bananas? [duplicate]

I have some bananas that I just bought at Trader Joe's. They're nice, fresh, yellow, and full of general banana-ness. But if I take more tha