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1500 questions
18
votes
7 answers
Why do chefs traditionally wear a high white hat?
The stereotypical chef beloved of TV, cartoons, and elsewhere is always pictured wearing a high white hat.
A hat I can understand. But why so high?
Tea Drinker
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18
votes
2 answers
Does water boil faster with the lid on?
When bringing water to a boil from cold water, what effect does a lid have on the time to boil? Does it increase or decrease the time? How much? Why?
yossarian
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18
votes
14 answers
Can you make a sauce with beer?
Usually when there is alcohol in a recipe, it's wine. Why isn't there more beer? I've only ever seen it used in beer batters. Can beer be made into sauces or other uses? Do ales, lagers, or stouts have different uses?
I have a fridge full of steak…
SamAlterman
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18
votes
7 answers
Can I cook two types of dried beans simultaneously?
My bean cooking method is to soak overnight, then cook in a crockpot on low all day. By dinner time the beans are ready. I have only ever done this with a single type of bean at a time. However, I would like to make chili and I have two types of…
lemontwist
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18
votes
4 answers
What is the best way to toast pecans?
Amongst other things, I'm making a chocolate & bourbon pecan pie for Christmas in my capacity as family pastry chef. The recipe calls for toasted pecan halves.
What is the best way to toast nuts evenly? I assume a low oven is best to avoid…
ElendilTheTall
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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
votes
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
votes
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
votes
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
votes
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
votes
3 answers
How do I keep fruit from sinking to the bottom of my cake?
I recently had the opportunity to cook a series of yoghurt cakes. The first batch were tasty yet somewhat dense. For the second batch, I (successfully) attempted to lighten the cake by first beating the egg whites until foamy before folding in the…
Kaz Dragon
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18
votes
5 answers
Do I need to sift flour that is labeled sifted?
Is there really an advantage to sifting flour that I bought that was labeled 'sifted'?
cgp
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18
votes
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
votes
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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