Latest Cooking Answers

Avoid crumbling pork?

When I broil pork tenderloins, they tend to crumble apart when cut. By contrast, when I get marinated tenderloins from the supermarket, they stay together like

What are Japanese rice seasoning packets called?

While I lived in Japan, I would often buy little packets of seasoning that were carried in every supermarket. I believe their purpose was for seasoning things l

Cutting seared tuna

Just tried searing our local Mediterranean version of skipjack tuna on a very hot pan. However, when trying to slice it, although I'm using a very sharp santo

Repairing Minipimer knife blade

The knife blade of my beloved ancient Minipimer has become loose. What can I do to fix it tighter to the axle. Both the blade and the axle are all metal.

What is the name of this peppermint stick candy?

I've had a hard time finding information online about peppermint candy sticks that are hard, but porous and brittle - the peppermint sticks of my youth. I belie

Drawback of Kullenschliff (Granton) knives

For many knifes are available with or without Kullenschliff while the price differs just a few $ (or few EUR). The positive effect is that soft and sticky food

Should beans for making flour be soaked?

I am considering trying to make my own bean flour from black/pinto/red beans, for use in pasta. I cannot find any references to soaking first, all recipes just

Holes inside a sweet potato

We bought some sweet potatoes from the store and a few days later we chopped them up to make some roasted veggies. To our surprise, the insides of the potato

Homemade plain yogurt

I want to make an homemade plain yogurt,I heard you have to use your leftover yogurt to make some at home.Can I use sweetened yogurt to make my homemade yogurt

Good sauces for large Italian Conchiglioni pasta [closed]

I bought some packets of Italian Conchiglioni pasta (Brand Maestri pasti selection Giovanni Castiello). The Conchiglioni are really large: eac

is it necessary to add sugar while making probiotic(fermenting) apple

In many recipe I have seen adding sugar to water with starter and no salt. Then how does the undesirable bacteria are kept in check? Thank you.

What is the name of a dish where meat is doused with brandy and lit on fire?

In about 1972 as a new bride, I made something with beef in the oven (had to have been from a cookbook) and then poured brandy over it and lit it on fire before

Kosher alternative for butter as emulsifier

Jewish Law prohibits the mixing of milk and meat in cooking. However, butter, a milk product, is a kitchen staple for most cooked emulsions (eg. pan-sauces, sau

Cook steak in oven with tray meant for deserts?

I'm a complete cooking newb. I saw on youtube the other day that you should cook steak in an oven before frying it. I think it makes it softer (not sure, please

Differences between types of Italian coffee [duplicate]

What is the difference between the following types of Italian coffee? Caffè lungo (long coffee) Caffè corto (short coffee) Caff

What's the role of bread in pickling cucumbers?

In the summer, my mother always made Hungarian-style pickled cucumbers (kovászos uborka) by putting cucumbers, spices, salt, and water (no vinegar!) in a

How to make perfect pearl rice in a rice cooker

This question is specifically about short grain pearl rice. I recently got a nice Zojirushi rice cooker that has all the bells and whistles, and I've been want

Why does whipped Cream sometimes sink in warm beverages?

I am a former barista who has encountered this phenomena many times, but could never consistently re-produce the effect.

Cleaning out a smell

Trying to clean out the spice cabinet and I want to re-purpose a shaker from a chili powder based mix to a cinnamon-sugar (it's made principally of plastic but

How to I need to treat dried green lentils? [duplicate]

In the attached picture you see green lentils which I want to prepare in order to make a Dal. They are obviously dried although it is not ment

Does a knife sharpener wear out? [duplicate]

A simple sharpener, will it grind as well as it ground years ago?

How can I cold smoke without any of the equipment?

I need to cold smoke a whole leg of lamb for a few hours. I have a barbecue and plenty of space, but none of the equipment for cold smoking. What can I do? I'm

Grainy texture from creamed coconut

The other day, I made Tom Kha Gai (Thai coconut, chicken, mushroom, etc. soup) using creamed coconut and water, instead of coconut milk. That is, I dissolved/me

Bread baking: dough has little holes after first rise

I'm making a half white flour, half whole wheat flour bread, with garlic, olive oil and dried herbs. After kneading it for about 20 min I left it to rise even t

How to clean a cork bottle stopper?

I was given a cork bottle stopper as a gift. Should I clean it after each usage? What is the appropriate way to clean cork? Since cork is porous, I would be con

Stews coagulating after freezing

I often make stews with meat and veg such as beef and mushroom, cassoulet, etc. I normally eat one portion fresh and then portion and freeze the rest of my stew

How to store chicken breasts for cooking

I've been getting into preparing chicken sandwiches for lunch for my family. I've tried poaching them first then grilling the following day, only to find that t

How to keep biryani hot and moist for a long time

I am looking forward to opening a biryani stall in my area, but my supplier of prepared biryani is far away. What method can I adopt to keep biryani rice fluffy

Turning Harissa into Hot Sauce

I have some Harissa at home but I will probably never use it up as I do not cook meals that are that hot too often. As I think that it's hotness tastes a bit li

Composition/safety of cherry pits

I'd like to prepare cherry preserves (/marmalade), but I'd like to save on the time it takes to remove the pits. I'm considering cooking them whole, with gentle