Latest Cooking Answers

Is copper cookware really better than stainless steel?

This is somewhat related to the question about copper vs. cast iron, but this is about copper vs. pure stainless steel. I had an old stainless steel stockpot th

What's a good nondairy substitute for parmesan/grana padano as a salad-topper?

I'm making a salad that's quite bitter (endives, radicchio, arugula, with a lemon vinaigrette dressing). Normally this salad has peeled grana padano on top of i

Sashimi Recommendations?

I've recently been to China, and I've tasted an extraordinary dish I wasn't used to. Later, I've found out that the name is Sashimi, which is made with raw fish

Where can I obtain cream without additives?

Until a few years ago, with only a little effort, I could find whipping cream and heavy cream without carrageenan and other undesirable ingredients in grocery s

Toaster Oven pan Without The Toaster Oven

Growing up, my parents had a couple of little, 2 layer pans that came with Toast-R-Ovens (The appliance themselves had been lost or broke, but the pans remained

What can I substitute for Kaffir Lime Leaves?

Kaffir Lime Leaves seem to be a common ingredient in Thai food, particularly coconut based dishes. I have never seen them in Atlanta, and I've looked (farmers m

What spice rub would be typically Thai?

I'm trying to recreate a dish I had at Alinea a while ago. Their forum actually had a good start for this dish: The garnishes on the surface are Hawaiian

How can I make this curry given my list of ingredients?

I'm trying to recreate a dish I had at Alinea a while ago. Their forum actually had a good start for this dish: The garnishes on the surface are Hawaiian

What is caster/castor sugar?

I've got a Meringue recipe that calls for castor sugar. Is that different than powdered sugar?

Reheating a Pretzel

I bought a large soft pretzel at a pretzel shop yesterday. When you buy them, they are warm and soft. What's the best way to reheat it so that it's as though I

Tips for roasting sweet potato

Does anyone have any tips for roasting sweet potatoes? Since - seems to me - they cook and break down much faster than normal potatoes I skipped the parboiling

Making black bread in a microwave oven

I have received a few packs of dough mixture for German black bread from a friend (Vollkornbrot, black rye bread). All I have available to make it is a bread ma

What is the name of the sauce which is made of Yoghurt and fresh Cucumbers?

I had this "Kebab Bombay" in Holland a few years ago, to which belonged a very thick, creamy, slightly yoghurty, very fresh sauce/salat containing fresh cucumbe

How do I cook a frozen hamburger in the microwave?

I bought some hamburgers (I mean the meat, not the full sandwich) in vacuum packing and I froze them in the freezer. Can now I cook them in the microwave? If s

Advantages of using vinegar as a salt substitute for enhancing flavor?

I read a short blurb in Cooking for Geeks that said vinegar can be used as a substitute for salt, as a flavor enhancer, to make food less bland. I plan on expe

How to deconstruct a pumpkin

In a fit of pumpkin-bread-craving I bought a pumpkin (labelled "for cooking" instead of "show"), only to realize I have no idea what to do with it. I already pl

Good techniques for stirring dough

Is there any particular technique for stirring dough (particularly cake dough) that is to be recommended? When I stir dough, I find that I develop too much glut

Non-cow's milk replacement for Parmesan cheese in Genovese pesto

My family loves Genovese pesto and we'd started making our own (with varied success). One of our number has been diagnosed as intolerant to cow's milk. This rul

What's the best way to store lettuce in the refrigerator?

What is the best way to store lettuce in the fridge? Should I store it in an airtight container, or an open bag? Should I wash and cut it first? Should it be

Crisping prosciutto

This may seem like an obvious question, but I have a couple of recipes that I make a lot that require crumbling crisped prosciutto over / in them. Whilst I ha

Why should I boil pretzels in baking soda water before baking?

This weekend I made pretzels from Alton Brown's recipe. This recipe, and others I've seen, call for dipping the pretzels one by one in boiling water with bakin

How should I adapt a recipe if using very new dried yeast versus slightly older dried yeast?

I make bread and pizza bases using "fast action" dried yeast (like this: http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1287396076254 ). My bread recipe

Should maple syrup be stored in the refrigerator?

Is there any reason to store maple syrup in the refrigerator? It tastes better when it's a little warmer.

How to make a sauce based on tea

I have some pu-erh tea, and I love the smokiness of it. I was thinking about trying to incorporate it into a dish somehow. Specifically, I was thinking about us

How can I make Chinese chicken fingers like in the northeast USA?

Does anyone know how to duplicate the chicken fingers found at Chinese restaurants in the Boston area? The batter on them is very puffy, and doesn't really conf

how to curb the smell of fish?

More specifically while cooking it indoors. My girlfriend hates seafood and hates the smell, is there anything I can do to get this smell to go away faster or

Dissolving cocoa powder in milk

I wanted to make a Stevia-sweetened chocolate milk so I tried mixing some unsweetened cocoa powder with the milk and stevia, but I found that the cocoa powder d

How long can I keep eggs in the refrigerator?

To keep eggs useful and healthy, what is the average time I can keep them in refrigerator? Can I freeze, and re-use them after melting, or will they be useles

Can I make pasta with quinoa flour?

I'm going to be buying quinoa flour and wanted to use it to make up pasta. Is this a direct flour replacement in a typical pasta recipe or are there other chang

(Why) do onions taste sweeter when cooked at lower temperature?

I use onions to add a sweeter taste to some dishes, for example in tomato sauce for pasta. I cook them in oil, with some salt, before adding the other ingredien