Latest Cooking Answers

How can I take apart almonds?

I buy and freeze whole almonds when they go on sale. I use them whole, chop them coarsely for things like bread and chop fine or food process them for things li

Why do microwave ovens make bread rubbery?

Why does heating bread (cinnamon buns) in a microwave give it a rubbery texture, when a regular oven doesn't? What are the chemical or structural changes?

tinfoil at the bottom of the oven (to catch crumbs) is ruining my pizzas

I put a sheet of tinfoil at the bottom of my oven to catch crumbs because I cook pizzas on the rack all the time. This is ruining my pizzas though, because whe

domestic bread steaming -> will my stone be okay?

Trying to maximise the oven rise of my loaf, and think I will try the steaming method, but what is the best way to do this in a domestic electric oven, and will

Can you make pan gravy if the turkey was brined?

I've read every question here that mentions brining a turkey, and I've seen conflicting remarks about whether the pan drippings are suitable for making gravy. (

What is the difference between Prime Rib and a Standing Rib Roast?

What is the difference between Prime Rib and a Standing Rib Roast? (and a "rib eye roast" while you're at it)

How long should you keep Salami for?

I bought a piece of salami from a supermarket a week ago (a large chunk of a full sausage from the delicatessen, not sliced stuff in a pack) and I was wondering

Toast bread slices in a convection microwave?

Does a convection microwave make decent toast, as a toaster oven would or a bone fide oven set to broil? I have read far and wide on the internet and in operat

How should I care for my knives?

I've finally put down the money to buy a quality knife and it's sharpness is amazing! How do I take care of it so that the edge lasts and the knife stays sharp

How does boiling impact the texture of tofu?

For years, we've been making pasta sauce that incorporates extra firm tofu. To prepare the tofu for crumbling we follow this procedure: cut tofu into pieces co

What is the proper way to use corn starch to thicken sauces?

How do you mix corn starch slurry and how do you use it? Do you add the corn starch to the water, or do you add water to the corn starch? Generally what propor

How to veganize and improve this cake recipe?

I have the Build-a-bear cake pan from Williams-Sonoma. The cake recipe is as follows: 3 cups (470g) all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp salt 16 tbs

How hot is a gas burner supposed to be?

My new range has a 17000 BTU burner (natural gas). It my first gas range. I have the feeling it is not that hot. I can barely keep pasta water boiling (8 cups

How long will a whole turkey keep in a refrigerator?

My daughter bought a fresh, organic, kosher turkey from Trader Joe's last night (her first turkey!), 8 days before she will start cooking it. The company custo

Amount of food to prepare for bagel & lox brunch

I'm putting on a bagel & lunch brunch this weekend for 40 people. I figure 2 bagels per person. How much lox should I need? How much cream cheese?

Our broiler "ruins" pans when we use it

Whenever I broil something (like a piece of fish) in the oven, using either a 1/4 sheet pan or a 9 X 13 pan for example, any fats wind up burning onto the pan a

Gas or charcoal grille which one to buy

I need a grille for doing mainly chicken, there is an inkling to buy a gas grille but I heard charcoal grilles are better for flavour, I like the convenience of

How to make softer biscotti?

I made this biscotti recipe yesterday - Fruity Christmas Biscotti. It contains plain flour, baking powder, mixed spice, golden caster sugar and eggs. The recipe

Can I freeze muffin mixture?

I am making these muffins but would like to freeze half the mixture - will this be ok or will it affect how they cook/rise/taste when I cook my second batch (fr

Toasting bread in a gas oven

I am trying to toast bread in a gas oven on a rack about 8 inches from bottom, but all the toast in the centre part of the rack are burnt and the ones to the si

What do I do with all this cheese?

Last week, a friend helped us out with a trip to Costco (long story, we didn't have time to cook, or grocery shop for a couple of days), and while she got us so

Can Escallion be replaced by onion?

Green onions are said to be milder than onions, which would suggest that if one do not mind the more powerful onion flavour in a particular dish then onions cou

what is the difference between butter spread and pure butter?

first of all, basically what is the difference? what are their uses and is there a big difference? for example is there a case where I should use pure butter f

How can I handle black pepper without sneezing?

Every time I am using black pepper, no matter how little, no matter how I turn my head to avoid sneezing, it still triggers it. I have to run from the work are

Why did mold develop on the top of my sourdough?

I made some sourdough starter from scratch, using garden grapes, flour and water. It was wonderful for the first few batches. Today, I was going to get anothe

Storing potato water: how long can it be refrigerated?

When boiling potatoes, I like to use the leftover water for soups, sauces, etc. Does anyone else use potato water, and if so, how long can it be stored in the r

Pot for cooking long grained white rice on gas range

I do not want to buy a dedicated rice cooker and I have been told by some people that a rounded bottom thick Dutch pot is best for rice cooking on a gas stove I

Does putting salt in coffee really remove bitterness?

I have seen people claim that putting salt in coffee enhances the flavour or removes bitterness. Example. Does this really work? If it does, how does it work?

Can I still use butter that's been left out for 2 days?

I bought butter in 1/4 sticks (one pound box) and left it in my trunk by accident. It's been very cold 35-50° F (2-10° C) at night/day. It's been 48 ho

Baked Stuffing and cooking the turkey

I need to roast my thanksgiving turkey in the oven. I also want to make stuffing but not in the bird. Every recipe I've looked at requires an hour of cooking.