Latest Cooking Answers

Roasting corn in the oven

I am trying to roast the corn in the oven, by: leaving it in its husk wrapping it in tin-foil There are results, but far from real-grill roasted corn. Any poi

Why shallots over onions?

It seems that in more advanced cookbooks and when watching professional chefs that shallots are used extensively. They seem to be used in the places where onion

Technique to bake donair meat in an oven

Every time I cook Donair at home, it seems to dry up a lot faster than when I do it in the restaurant. Granted I use the same spice mix and meat mixing method.

Making gelatin from scratch

I found on Wikipedia that it is made from animals' skin and bones. The article describes the steps of gelatin production from a technical perspective: The manu

Can I use a stoneware 9x13 pan instead of a metal 9x13 pan for Caramel Rolls?

I decided to make some caramel rolls for treats for work and realized I only have one metal 9x13 pan. I have a couple 9x13 stoneware pans, but I've never used t

Are some flavour pairings known to work better than others (and if so, why)?

It is commonly known that there are five "primary" flavours: Sweet Sour Bitter Salty Savory (AKA Umami) That leaves 10 possible pairs of two, 10 possible sets

What is the best way to reheat leftover grilled fish?

I have rarely (if ever) looked forward to eating leftover grilled fish. What is the best technique to reheat the fish so that it has the best flavor and textur

How can I substitute or make soft brown sugar?

I have just moved to Germany. I haven't yet been able to find brown sugar of the type we have in Australia ie: soft, small grained, slightly sticky in that it

Cheap sources of protein? [closed]

Soy meat, flax seeds and peas are probably the best known such sources. Are there other cheap sources of protein?

Unexplained Butterflied Roast Chicken Success

Yesterday I started working on a six pound butterflied roast chicken a little too close to an evening meeting. I butterflied the chicken and patted it as dry a

(How) can I prevent pasta water from boiling over with the lid closed?

I always cook pasta with the lid of the pot open, because otherwise foam starts to build up and eventually boils over, maikng a huge mess. I would prefer to kee

Is cheesecake a cake or a pie?

Is cheesecake technically a pie or a cake? I'm curious as to why. Are there solid definitions of what makes a dessert a cake or a pie?

Firm risotto using generic rice. Is it possible?

How can I make a firm risotto, without using the appropriate rice? I'm italian, and I've been cooking delicious risotto for years. But in the place where I'm

How to make your own Tempeh?

I'm looking for information on Tempeh, especially how one make it themselves. Any info would be appreciated.

Advantages of using a non-glass teapot?

I currently have a borosilicate glass teapot. Glass seems to have the advantage that it will not absorb flavours and so can be used for all styles of tea. W

Is it important to warm the flour before making bread?

When I was taught to bake bread one of the tips I was given was to warm the flour first. It's a step I often skip as I haven't really found a quick way to warm

What are the positive effects of adding celery to a sauce?

Many sauces include celery. It's not a flavour I'm particularly keen on, particularly in sauces so I'm wondering why it's included. Is it included simply as a f

Green lettuce water?

Typically I chop up a head of romaine, swish it around in some cool water, then spin it dry. The swishing water ends up very green, however. I'm wondering if

Why is the dishwasher not recommended for my All-Clad MC2 line of pot and pans?

I just looked on the All-Clad website (faq 7 and faq 13). It says that because the MC2 has a brushed aluminum alloy exterior, it mush be hand washed. Why is the

Dried apricots smell of alcohol?

I recently opened a container of store-bought dried apricots and they smell vaguely of fermentation/alcohol. I've never noticed this before. They taste fine,

What is a good way to cut potatoes into wedges?

I have tried making potato wedges before but can't seem to find a good way of cutting them up. My pieces always seem to be of assorted sizes - so when they cook

What are the main differences between sugarcane jaggery, rapadura, and panela?

Jaggery, rapadura and panela are very similar ingredients according to their Wikipedia articles. However, jaggery can be made from not only sugarcane but also p

Why should a stock be simmered and not boiled?

Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles cookbook says that a stock should NEVER be boiled, why is this? Does the higher heat extract bitterness or something else undesir

Substituting Peppers

What pepper can be substituted for a habanero when no habaneros are available?

Substitutions for 11x18 pan?

What's called for specifically is an "11- by 18-inch (rimmed) baking pan (hs note: or jellyroll pan)" in this recipe. I made this once before and it was a hit,

How do baking supply companies blanch their hazelnuts?

A friend of ours used to own a chocolate factory, and she would get blanched hazelnuts in big boxes. These were only lightly toasted, if at all, but they were p

Suggestions for caramel from dark brown (muscovado) sugar?

I'm thinking about making caramels for holiday treats, and as some of the flavors I'm considering are quite intense (and for variety's sake), I'm considering tr

Oatmeal used in apple crisp topping

The recipe I am looking at for Apple Crisp by Ina Garten calls for 1 cup of oatmeal. It doesn't say prepared oatmeal, or rolled oats, just "Oatmeal". Is the r

What is the difference between crepes and Swedish pancakes?

We just made the Swedish recipe this morning, and it seems like crepes...

Why did my oil-only seitan fail?

I tried to make seitan last night using oil and gluten, and after it was done it had a grainy consistency and didn't hold together at all. Is there some sort of