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1500 questions
51
votes
5 answers
What's the difference between a cupcake and a muffin?
I was debating with someone today whether what we were eating was a cupcake or a muffin, but realized we didn't really know the difference. So what's the difference between a cupcake and a muffin in American English?
In case you're wondering, what…
msh210
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51
votes
13 answers
Should I refrigerate eggs?
I've read a lot of conflicting advice on whether it's advisable to store eggs in the refrigerator. The case against seems twofold: (1) that eggshells are porous, and eggs can take on unwelcome flavours, or even spoil faster in the fridge, and (2)…
trioptimum
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50
votes
7 answers
When boiling water without any other ingredients in it, why start from cold?
A question about probably the most mundane subject in cooking: boiling water.
For cooking techniques where you drop ingredients in simmering or boiling water - such as for vegetables, pasta, many rice recipes - I have often seen the recommendation…
Erik P.
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50
votes
4 answers
Why fry rice before boiling?
Ordinarily when I make fried rice, the general process is:
Boil the rice until done.
Fry the cooked rice in oil.
However, I recently made a different rice recipe which flipped the order:
Lightly fry the dry rice in a pan.
Then boil the rice until…
indigochild
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50
votes
5 answers
Why is eating pretzels safe when they are bathed in lye?
I read many recipes of pretzels and they required to dip the raw dough in a bath of lye. As anyone should know for their own safety, lye is caustic and shouldn't be ingested.
What is the process involved that make them edible?
Edit: I am aware of…
A.D.
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50
votes
12 answers
When you cook spaghetti, do you add olive oil to the boiling water?
Many people (at least in Germany) think that Italians add olive oil to the boiling water for spaghetti. However, Italians tend to tell the opposite (from my experience).
So, can you please state objective reasons for or against adding olive oil to…
Rasmus
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49
votes
8 answers
Is it true that bananas are radioactive?
Is it true that bananas are radioactive, and if you eat too many it can kill you? If yes then how many bananas are good to eat at once.
mava
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49
votes
2 answers
Why throw pizza dough besides for show?
What are the reasons to throw pizza dough beyond putting on a good show?
Related: How to throw a pizza dough?
dpollitt
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49
votes
20 answers
How can you reduce the heat of a chili pepper?
There are many chilis that have amazing flavors but are so hot that it is hard for most of us to appreciate them. Beyond the standard suggestion to discard the seeds and cut away the ribs, are there any other methods that can lower the capsaicin…
Michael Natkin
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49
votes
4 answers
How do I know if food left at room temperature is still safe to eat?
If I left food out of the refrigerator for some period of time, is it still safe? If I left it out too long, can I salvage it by cooking it more?
SAJ14SAJ
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49
votes
5 answers
Never ending soup; is it actually safe?
In the poor student or youth worker days it was popular to have never ending soup; a large pot on the stove that was topped up with new and leftover ingredients when available.
Normally the pot was stored in the fridge overnight.
Food items added…
TFD
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49
votes
17 answers
Is it bad to cook frozen meat without thawing it?
I wonder if it is bad to cook frozen meat (chicken, fish, beef,...) without waiting for it to thaw?
Sometimes, I realize I forget to take meat out of my freezer beforehand, when I am too hungry already.
Tim
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48
votes
11 answers
When I'm separating egg whites, how much does it matter if a little yolk gets in?
I was separating egg whites today and one of the yolks broke and contaminated my bowl of whites. I started from scratch, but I'm wondering if I really needed to; would a tiny bit of yolk (say, 1/8 tspn in 4 egg whites) mixed in with the whites make…
Highly Irregular
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48
votes
7 answers
Why do people smash garlic?
It seems a lot of people say to smash or crush a clove of garlic before they cut it up. Why is this?
I've cut up garlic both ways, and I could see crushed being potentially a little easier to handle since it's flatter and doesn't roll as much.
Benny Jobigan
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47
votes
7 answers
Why are there so many different pasta shapes?
Do the different pasta shapes serve any purpose, or are they just for fun? Some difference appear to be cultural (lo mein vs spaghetti), but there are so many different syles of Italian pasta, is there a reason for this?
Clearly there need to be…
DaveParillo
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