Cooking Tips — little secrets from the pros
Why does rice turn out fluffy, why won’t dough rise, why does meat get tough? 2163 tips tested by chefs and the community — sorted into categories and explained one by one.
All Tips
2,163 tips listed
Why Leave Headspace in a Container Going into the Freezer?
Water expands as it freezes; if a liquid dish is frozen in a container filled to the brim, the expanding ice can lift the lid, warp a plastic container, or crac...
How Long Is Food Safe in a Lunch Box?
Food in an insulated lunch bag or lunch box is safe as long as it can be kept below 5°C / 40°F or above 60°C / 140°F; once it moves outside that range, the two-...
Why Do Foods Pick Up One Another’s Odors in the Refrigerator?
A refrigerator is a small, enclosed space. Volatile odor molecules released by foods travel on circulating air to every shelf, and high-fat foods absorb them. T...
Why Does Vacuum Sealing Extend Shelf Life?
Vacuum sealing removes air and oxygen from around food. This slows the growth of molds and bacteria that need oxygen, delays rancidity in fats, and slows discol...
Can Nuts and Dried Fruit Be Stored in the Freezer?
Nuts can be stored in the freezer, which is a much better place for them than the pantry; because they are high in fat, their main enemy is rancidity, and cold...
Can You Use Aluminum Foil in the Freezer?
Aluminum foil can be used in the freezer and is better than plastic wrap at retaining moisture, but it is not sufficient on its own because it punctures easily...
Where Should Each Food Go in the Freezer?
A freezer does not stay at the same temperature throughout. The door shelves and top compartment are the first to meet room air and fluctuate the most whenever...
Can You Put a Glass Jar in the Freezer?
You can freeze food in a glass jar, but not just any jar: use jars without shoulders, with openings as wide as their bodies, and marked as freezer-safe. In a ja...
How to Convert Fahrenheit and Gas Oven Settings in Foreign Recipes
To convert a Fahrenheit temperature to Celsius, subtract 32, then multiply the result by 5 and divide by 9. On gas ovens with numbered settings, the numbers rep...
Should You Keep an Opened Package in Its Original Packaging or Transfer It to a Jar?
An opened package can stay in its original packaging if it can be sealed tightly again; otherwise, transfer it to an airtight container. Transferring protects a...
Why Does Oil Reach a Higher Temperature Than Water?
Water begins to boil and evaporate at 100°C / 212°F, and no matter how much it is heated, its temperature does not rise above this point; the extra heat goes to...
What to Do With the Liquid Released by Thawed Food
The liquid released by thawed food is fluid that escaped from the cells during freezing and is not reabsorbed by the food. For raw meat, poultry, and fish, disc...