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1500 questions
19
votes
3 answers

Baking soda as a substitute for baking powder

I am making a pancake recipe that calls for 2 teaspoons of baking powder, which I do not have. I was wondering if it would be ok to use baking soda as a substitute, and if so, how much would I need to use?
orange
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19
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4 answers

Does polenta freeze well?

Does freezing polenta substantially change its consistency? I like polenta but would prefer to make it in batches instead of every time I want to eat it. After I make it, I usually let it cool, cut it into shapes, and then pan-fry it.
Kiesa
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19
votes
3 answers

How much do egg yolks and whites weigh, in grams?

I have an Italian recipe that has been translated to English. The recipe calls for 360g egg whites and 240g yolks. Can anyone tell me how much this is?
My Sister Eileen
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19
votes
7 answers

Do you need to rinse vegetables that can be peeled?

When using garlic or onions - is it redundant to rinse them in water, being that you take off multiple layers before preparation?
Bar Akiva
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19
votes
6 answers

Removing turmeric colour from mortar and pestle

We have a large granite (I think) mortar and pestle, and while keeping it clean generally doesn't seem too difficult, I have absolutely no idea how to avoid it staining when it's used with turmeric powder when cooking curries. Generally, we'll…
Will Robertson
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19
votes
8 answers

Can I reuse cedar grilling planks?

Since wooden cutting boards are safe for use with meat, I was wondering if I can reuse the cedar grilling planks. Yossarian's answer to this question about how to prepare a plank says you can use one again depending on what you're cooking. So,…
JustRightMenus
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19
votes
2 answers

How risky is it to eat raw flour, as in uncooked dough?

Does eating raw flour or doughs containing raw flour pose a significant food safety risk (i.e., greater than other dry goods or ingredients in your kitchen)? If so, are there particular cooking or baking processes where we should be most concerned…
Athanasius
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19
votes
8 answers

Can I use the green part of leeks for stocks?

Most recipes call for the white and the inner green parts of leeks. I feel like I'm wasting half leek. After googling a little, I've found some people consider it edible if properly cooked. I guess a couple of hours of simmering should be enough,…
Julio
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19
votes
2 answers

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 go as long as a week without refrigeration before it's all gone. There have been times…
raven
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19
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19 answers

Can I safely roast a chicken for 4 to 5 hours on a low heat?

Hard pressed office worker and cook here. If I go home at lunchtime and put in a medium sized chicken to roast in the oven can I ensure it's ready to eat when the family get in in the evening? I've found a recipe instructing me to roast at 120C…
Tea Drinker
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19
votes
3 answers

Does soy sauce expire?

Being mostly made of salt, I often used soy sauce well beyond (as in "two years and more") its expiration date without ever having a problem. Is that a bad idea, and did I actually take some health risks doing so?
Dakatine
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19
votes
3 answers

How do you decide what temperature to bake at?

What is the logic behind the choice of temperature for baking? Obviously if you're following a recipe it will say what temperature to use, but I'd like to understand the reasoning behind it. Is it a matter of density (thicker foods need to be cooked…
Gabriel Hurley
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19
votes
10 answers

Can I add uncooked noodles directly to soup?

Most noodle soup recipes that I see call for boiling and draining the noodles separately, then adding them to the broth already cooked. Is there any reason that I can't just add the dry noodles 10 minutes before the soup is done, and add a little…
Matthew Scouten
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19
votes
13 answers

Uses for stale bread?

Community wiki question. I'd like to compile an index of uses for stale bread. Here's a couple off the top of my head. Feel free to just go ahead and edit this list: As an ingredient Breadcrumbs, fresh or dried Breadcrumbs as coating or panade for…
Michael Natkin
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19
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3 answers

How should I organize my fruits for storage?

As I learnt from this post, there are some fruits that should not be kept together with the others (e.g. watermelon and apple). Which fruits should be kept separately in order to prevent rotting?