Latest Cooking Answers

Chocolate mousse with cooked eggs?

Most recipes I have seen for mousse require you to use egg yolks and don't involve any cooking of the egg. It's my understanding that when an egg's yolk is stil

Why buy a more expensive kitchen scale

It seems about time for me to give in to peer pressure and get a kitchen scale like everyone else. It seems like they would give my cooking more consistency if

Is cooking with olive oil bad or toxic?

I've heard that cooking with olive oil is bad for you and can be toxic. Is this true? If so, to what extent? I see no warning on the container of my olive oi

To which internal temperature should I cook beef for rare/medium/well done?

I am going to cook a beef roast: To which internal temperature should I cook it for rare/medium/well done?

What does to deglaze a pan mean?

A friend of mine described a recipe to me, and she said she deglazed the pan (I think I understood correctly). What does that mean?

What should I look for in a good, multi-purpose chef's knife?

If I want to buy a good multi-purpose chef's knife, which characteristics should I look for?

What is the correct water to pasta ratio?

I have heard one should use a lot of water when cooking pasta; how much water should I use?

What are the benefits of using a dedicated rice cooker, rather than just cooking rice in a pot?

For which reasons should I use a dedicated rice cooker, instead of cooking rice in a pot?

What is the difference between "mince" and "dice"?

Some recipes use the term to dice, and other recipes use the term to mince. What is the difference between to dice, and to mince used in culinary?

Are there certain kinds of salts that work best for baking (cakes, bread, etc)?

As there are different kinds of salts which contain different minerals, is there a kind of salt that is better to use when baking? Does the kind of salt depe

What substitutes are available for sugar?

I am told that I use too much sugar, and I am trying to use it less. What should I use instead of the sugar to cook, preparing desserts?

What is sumac used for?

A friend of mine told me she uses sumac (I am not sure she was teasing me, or what). Is sumac used in cuisine? If it is used, what is it used for?

Is it recommended to rinse the teapot with boiling water before putting the tea leaves in?

Is it recommended to rinse the teapot with boiling water, or does that make no difference?

How do you know when a cultured item is no longer safe to consume?

How do you know when yougurt (for example) is no longer safe to consume? Do I know it from the taste, how it smells, or something else?

Consuming cardamom pods

I'm making a dish that calls for six cardamom pods added while cooking. After the dish cooks, should I make the effort to locate and remove the pods? I'm assumi

Dutch Oven alternative for campfire?

I am going camping shortly. I have done some dutch oven cooking before, and there is one recipe that I want to make that uses one. However, I do not have a du

Is there a technique to making Caramel in a Microwave oven?

I've made it on the stove top: sugar, corn syrup ect..but wanted to try it in the microwave - any tips on cooking times, techniques?

What are the costs to consider when making jam?

I am trying to dertermine what kinds of jam are particularly cost-effective to make at home. I have been given a few bits of equipment for jam making, and am

How can I achieve perfect consistency with honey-roasted almonds?

I would like to roast my own almonds (or other nuts) with honey. Ideally, at the end of the roasting, the nuts should be slightly caramelized and have absorbed

Butter substitute for 1 cup of butter for baking

What can I substitute for 1 cup of butter in baking recipes (e.g. cookies, muffins, cakes, etc.)? I'm looking for something that has less saturated fat (and a

Possible to freeze jam in glass?

I have read on multiple canning sites that you can freeze jam in glass jars. Has anyone actually done this successfully? Under what circumstances would it be pr

What coarseness of japanese waterstones is ideal for cooking?

Depending on the grit coarseness you can sharpen very blunt objects or refine an already sharp edge. Generally speaking, one can expect that a kitchen knife is

How can I best select a knife to purchase for learning how to sharpen?

I want to buy a good all-purpose Chef's knife and also sharpen it myself. But I have no experience sharpening with a waterstone so I'm a little afraid of spendi

How can I pan fry zucchini without making it soggy?

I really enjoy pan frying zucchini in a small amount of olive oil with some salt and pepper. It always turns out tasting great, but it is often times really so

How much fresh yeast should I use if I want to use it instead of dry yeast?

I have a recipe that lists the quantity of dry yeast I need, but I have only fresh yeast. How much fresh yeast should I use, knowing the quantity of dry yeast?

Is it possible to freeze chocolate covered ants?

I have a recipe for chocolate covered ants and wanted to make it a few weeks ahead of time before a party - if I freeze them will they still be good in about tw

From which culture did our North American meal progression (soup/salad/appetizer + meal + dessert) come from?

In North America (i.e. U.S. and Canada), a typical supper progression is as follows: Appetizer (optional) Salad or Soup Main course (which is called "entree" -

Smell Something Burning. Course of action?

What do I do when I smell something burning in my pot of mutton in gravy? Stirring is the best way to prevent this but what if some charring has already taken p

What seasonings give ranch dressing its distinctive flavor?

I've always wondered this. Is there a collective set of seasonings that equal "ranch"?

How should I prepare Bok Choy before I cook it?

I just bought a pack of bok choy that I want to steam inside a bag along with some halibut. How should I cut it up before putting it in the bag? Would the pre