Latest Cooking Answers

How are green and ripe plantains used differently?

I see both green and black (ripe) plantains for sale. I'm assuming they aren't used interchangeably. What kinds of dishes or techniques are appropriate for each

Sous vide eggs - how to get a perfect soft-boiled egg?

I cooked an egg for 75 min at 65C, the yolk was PERFECT - holds the shape, but still not hard-boiled. In fact the yolks were perfect after about 60 min. But t

How to make ice cream without a machine?

I recently made a poor-man's ice cream by making an egg custard and freezing it in the freezer in a metal bowl, stiring about every half hour. I was expecting i

Blowtorch - hardware store vs kitchen store. Is there a difference?

When looking for a blowtorch for the kitchen, you can buy some reasonably expensive tools. When looking for a blowtorch for plumbing, you can buy some reasonabl

When "sorting" lentils, what exactly am I looking for?

When a recipe calls for lentils, sorted and rinsed, what am I looking for? I've heard debris, such as leaves or sticks, but also "bad" lentils. Is there anythin

Defrosting pizza dough correctly?

Last time I made pizza dough I was a bit...generous with the ingredients - not a problem, I thought, as I'd read before somewhere that pizza dough is nicely fre

How can I clean dark non-stick pots (e.g. Calphalon)?

We have Calphalon non-stick cookware and it seems, after 5 years, not to want to get clean. Even the best scrubbing leaves kind of a hazy look on them. Additi

What is a good way to steam tamales without a "tamale steamer?"

I am looking for ways to to cook large quantities of Tamales but I don't have a Tamale Steamer. Anyone do this before with other standard kitchen gear? I woul

Are there any other gums that work in gluten-free baking besides xanthan and guar?

I'm curious, are any other substances that could substitute for guar gum or xanthan gum in gluten-free baking? Xanthan isn't an option because of allergies, an

How to Get a Nice, Round Home-made Corn Tortilla

My corn tortillas have been turning out great in taste but the shape is not so good. I have a press that works OK, but I think it may be part of the problem.

How does butter remain edible for so long without refrigeration?

My wife and I keep a stick of butter in the cupboard rather than the refrigerator. Even with just the two of us, it rarely lasts very long, but I'd say it may

Is it possible to substitute Wax Paper for Parchment Paper during baking?

If I don't have parchment paper, can I substitute wax paper for baking recipes. What is the difference between the two?

Is it possible to freeze nuts to keep them from going bad?

For convenience, I like to keep a variety of nuts on hand for cooking and baking. Is it possible to freeze nuts to keep them from going bad? Walnuts, Almonds,

Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot?

What is the difference between a crock pot and slow cooker? Both terms seem to be used for the same thing. Is this correct? Are they the same? Or is there so

When to add diced vegetables when cooking rice

I like to add diced vegetables (or peas) when I make rice in my rice cooker, but I'm not sure when is the best time to add them. I find if I add them too early

What is the proper way to make a cup of mate?

I've seen different videos on how to make a perfect cup of mate. After putting loose tea in the gourd, some people cover the gourd and shake it upside down, som

What causes the difference between Maine and Canadian lobsters?

In a first-season episode of the US TV show Kitchen Nightmares, the well-known chef Gordon Ramsay states that there's a "big difference [in] taste and flavor" b

Is it possible to have sushi pizza?

I've found very few places that dare to combine those two in one dish. None of them succeeded, in my opinion. At first I thought it was due to mixing rice and

Julienne applications

I've found that the julienne cut is an important subject when talking about knife skills, but in my recipes (from books, internet etc.) I've never found a sugge

How can I improve the 2:1:1 margarita recipe? [closed]

I bought my wife that Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, and it is awesome. We make a lot of margaritas, but always with pre-made mixes.

Uses of leftover vegetables from slow cooker

After slow cooking my pork over a bed of carrots, celery and onions. The pork gets eaten, the juice gets reduced to an amazing sauce base. What can I do with t

What's the name of this slow cooking technique?

I just discovered the joy of slow cooking meat, separating the juice, then boiling it to a reduction, then simmering the meat in its own concentrated juices (wi

Is there a way to recover hardened Pecorino Romano?

I've had a wedge of Pecorino Romano wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge for a while. There are many of you out there that probably have had the same problem.

What are the pros and cons of Convection Microwave Ovens?

Are convection microwave ovens a useful item to have? Or are they not good as a microwave and not good as a convection oven either? I understand that a regula

What's the best/easiest way to de-vein king prawns?

I often buy raw king prawns (maybe they're called shrimp where you are, they're about 3-4 inches long) - they are already shelled and beheaded, but they've stil

What can I use to replace eggs in the recipe?

I'm not a vegan or something, but my stomach can't take many chicken eggs in food. I've got a recipe for an Imeritian khachapuri variant (cheese-filled flat br

Is It Possible to make corn tortillas at home without a press?

I don't own a tortilla press and until I have more cabinet space, one is not in my future. However I value making as much as I can from scratch and love using

How to Make Home-made Flour Tortilla Bowls for Salads?

I have tried a couple ways to do this and they have been OK. Of course, when I worked in industrial kitchens, using a deep fryer and a stainless steel potato m

If dark pans brown food faster, do I need to make adjustments to baking when I use a light colored pan (and vise-versa)?

Would lining a dark pan with foil inhibit the browning significantly?

Refrigerating olive oil

I made some mojo de ajo using Rick Bayless’s recipe. He says that it will keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator, so I stored it in the refrigerator.