Latest Cooking Answers

How should I choose corn?

What should I look for when I'm buying corn on the cob? We have a lot of roadside corn stands where we live, and I'm never sure how to pick the best ears.

How should baking soda be used to tenderize meat?

At some Chinese restaurants, I've had beef dishes where the meat was unusually tender. It also has a somewhat unusual texture, which is hard to describe. I un

Should tuna steaks sit out before cooking?

If beef steak needs to sit outside the refrigerator before cooking, should the same thing be done for tuna steaks too?

In what kinds of dishes is asafoetida traditionally used?

A friend recently gave me a small jar of asafoetida without telling me how to use it (or that it smelled horrible). In my googling, all I've been able to find o

How do you prepare Jello with fruit pieces?

I would like to make individual containers of Jello with fruit pieces, but the fruit always sinks to the bottom,is there a way to prevent this?

Does vanilla powder really prevent melted chocolate from seizing?

Don't want to mention the company, but they have a product that is pure powdered vanilla (contains maltodextrin, whatever that is). They say it prevents melted

What is the difference between a macaron and an amaretti biscuit?

Other than differing in origin (Italian (amaretti) and France (Macaron)), what is the difference between these two biscuits?

Doing túró at home

Is there a way to do túró (a Hungarian quark cheese/curd with a very specific taste) at home? I miss that specific taste and I've not found a chee

Alternatives to serve with a tomato salad [closed]

This weekend we are making a Tomato and Chorizo salad. The recipie suggests serving it with goats cheese and ham, but we don't really fancy th

How is long-lasting whipped cream made?

Cakes made of whipped-cream by professionals last for a long time in a consistent, white state. However, from what I know, whipped cream tends to become yellow

What's the best order to add ingredients to a Stir Fry?

I make nice stir-fry with bell peppers, mushrooms, onion, sugar-snaps, jalapenos and bean sprouts (and anything else that might be handy and in danger of being

What good substitutes for saffron exist?

I am a big fan of paella, amongst other uses for saffron. However, it can be a very difficult and/or expensive spice to obtain. What good substitutes exist?

How do I keep my enchiladas from getting soggy when they cook?

I love enchiladas. I almost always order them at a Mexican restaurant. I've made them at home a few times with a recipe that's delicious, but it's not the same

What's the difference between Red and Panang curry?

I love Panang curry and Thai food in general. However, whenever I try to make curry at home it always comes out as indistinguishable from Red curry. What's the

Sources for authentic recipes

Are there any sources for authentic versions of traditional dishes? For instance I believe that the version of Guacamole that I prepare is not traditional becau

How long do black olives last once opened?

I opened a can of sliced black olives for my pizza and only used half. I put the leftovers into a sealed container with the liquid and put it in the fridge. Und

What is the purpose of dry aging a steak?

I picked up some Porterhouse steaks this weekend and intend to cook them up steakhouse style, dry-aged and broiled(US) under high heat. What does dry-aging do t

Using a vacuum sealer to marinate?

With the vacuum sealers that have hit the market, they're have been a lot of toys added onto the products. One such device is used for marinating meat. It jus

Is there a problem with defrosting meat on the counter?

I generally defrost meat on the kitchen counter. A friend of mine suggested that this was dangerous and suggested that I defrost meat in the refrigerator. I am

How long will a fresh herb paste last?

I make a paste using ground fresh basil, ground fresh mint, ground dried ginger, salt, ground roasted coffee, and raw honey (enough to coat all of the ingredien

What can I substitute for dairy products in kosher meat dishes?

I have converted a number of traditional dishes to kosher (cannot mix meat and dairy ingredients) but have trouble finding substitutes for dairy ingredients tha

How Do You Know What's In Your Pantry?

I often times find myself making decisions about what I'm going to make for myself and my fiancee at work before I go home, and then stop at the store for any n

When is it appropriate to serve shrimp with the tail still attached?

I ate at a local Italian dive last night and ordered Shrimp Fra Diavolo, which included a spicy sauce served over linguini noodles. The dish was great, but the

How can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?

Last night I was grilling chicken thighs on a barbecue and I was told that if there was any pink inside them, they are not safe to eat. My question is twofold:

Finding a farmer's market

A lot of people advise getting fresh produce and other ingredients at a farmer's market, where you can find items that are local and high quality, and have vari

What sauce / spices can make a tofu steak taste like a beef steak

I had an unbelievably good tofu steak in a restaurant in Tokyo many years ago. I have never been able to reproduce it. It tasted uncannily like a beef steak.

How can I store root ginger for maximum shelf life?

I have root ginger which sometimes dries out and goes a bit wrinkly. Currently I just store it on the side in a bowl. Is there a better way to store it to max

How to tell the proper amount of oil to use when sautéing vegetables and meat?

A common meal That I make in a pinch is Italian sausage with peppers and onions. I'll cut up a few red and yellow peppers, a whole onion, and throw it in a pan

What is the danger in cross contamination?

This question was prompted by this one on how to clean tools to prevent cross contamination. I wanted to ask it in the comments but realized it might be better

What technique best infuses spices into a dish?

If I have a group of spices, all dried and ground, say: nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper... I'm curious about how to maximize their flavor fo