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1500 questions
18
votes
10 answers
Mushroom replacement in Beef Wellington
I saw a great recipe for Beef Wellington on Serious Eats that I'm eager to try. However, my roommate does not eat mushrooms (both because he dislikes the flavor and because he had a bad experience as a child, so "hidden mushrooms" are out too). I…
Yamikuronue
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18
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2 answers
Cups v. weighing scales - is there an historical explanation?
Broadly speaking UK recipes will specify amounts by weight (lbs/ounces or metric), whereas American recipes will specify amounts by volume (cups).
Is there an explanation for how the two different approaches arose in the first place? I'm not talking…
Tea Drinker
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18
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7 answers
Stewing beef - how long is too long?
From what I understand, the cooking process melts the collagen, turning it into gelatin and making the meat more tender. However, the process also tends to cook the meat itself, making it tougher. So too long or too high and the stewing beef is…
Jeff
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18
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14 answers
When is a Utility Knife to be preferred over a Chef's or a Paring knife?
A Utility knife is a kitchen knife that is midway in size between a Chef's knife and a Paring knife.
Although I own a Utility knife, I don't believe that I have ever used it except when my Chef's knife was unavailable. I took a look around to see…
Chris Steinbach
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18
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4 answers
How does adding baking soda to soaking beans/lentils reduce the gas they make you have?
I've heard a few times that adding a pinch of baking soda to the water you use to soak beans/lentils in, reduces the gas it makes you have. I've not do any measured experiments myself, but I have anecdotal evidence it does help. But what's the…
notthetup
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18
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5 answers
Order of combining wet and dry ingredients when baking
I've always learnt that you add the wet ingredients to the dry ones.
Looking at some recipes:
"Combine the dry ingredients, the flour ... Add the other wet ingredients, melted butter ..."
"Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just…
rbrayb
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18
votes
8 answers
What is the best way to pop popcorn on the stove?
I have a kettle-corn popcorn recipe that I have to pop on the stove as I don't have a popcorn maker and I wouldn't want to add the sugar to the popcorn maker. This makes me wonder what the best way to pop popcorn, in a pot with a lid, over the stove…
Kyra
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18
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5 answers
How long does it take for milk to spoil unrefrigerated?
A half gallon of milk (in the paper carton, not plastic) got left in the car for 1.5 hours in about 80 degree (~27 °C) weather (evening so no direct sunlight). Is it still probably safe to eat if one has a strong stomach or pretty risky? Any…
Jessica Brown
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18
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11 answers
How to imitate commercial fried chicken?
I'm trying to develop my own "secret" fried chicken recipe, something that is similar to Popeye's or Church's. I'm a LONG ways from getting there. Here's what I did in my last experiment:
Chicken was marinated in buttermilk with Cajun spices and…
CookingNewbie
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18
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2 answers
Eating food from a slightly rusting cast iron dutch oven...is it safe?
I have a cast iron dutch oven. It has a self-basting lid, basically it has a grid of little cone shapes on the underside of the lid. The idea is that liquid condenses on underside of the lid and these little cones help the liquid drip back down onto…
milesmeow
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18
votes
2 answers
Is it true that smell is lost flavor?
This is a maxim that I hear frequently, especially as a defense of cooking methods that don't produce a lot of aroma: if the aroma is in the air, it means it's left the food.
As an example, some people complain about the lack of aroma produced in…
Ray
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18
votes
5 answers
What's the difference between masa for tortillas and for tamales?
I often buy fresh prepared masa from Mexican markets in order to make tamales and pupusas. Mexican cookbook authors stress getting the correct masa for the recipe, either masa for tamales or masa for tortillas. However, the masa at the market is…
FuzzyChef
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18
votes
10 answers
Do slow cookers require liquid to operate?
I have a Butterball turkey breast roast that I'd like to cook tomorrow, and I'm planning to do it in my slow cooker.
The recipe as provided online is the same one that is on the turkey packaging:
Slow-Cooker Instructions:
Place THAWED roast, skin…
Steve V.
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18
votes
3 answers
Are there any negative effects to kneading bread dough longer?
Is there such a thing as over-kneading bread dough. From what I understand, kneading the bread dough is what allows the gluten strands to align and form the beautiful gluten networks that create bread with all the little air bubbles.
If that is the…
Jay
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18
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7 answers
Should I use my microwave's 'popcorn' button?
My microwave oven has a "POPCORN" button. Its manual reads:
Touch this pad when popping popcorn in your microwave oven. The oven's sensor will tell the oven how long to cook depending on the amount of humidity it detects from the popcorn. See page…
msh210
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