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
How to Tell If Strawberries Have Spoiled (or Are Moldy)
The clearest signs that strawberries have spoiled are white or gray fuzzy mold spots, excessive softening, and dark spots that leak liquid; fresh strawberries a...
How to Tell If an Egg Has Gone Bad
The water test is a practical way to estimate an egg’s age. Place the egg in a bowl of water: if it sinks and lies flat on the bottom, it is fresh; if it stands...
How Can You Tell When Ayran Has Spoiled?
The clearest signs that ayran has spoiled are noticeable separation, excessive sourness, foaming, and a sharp odor. Fresh ayran has a smooth, uniform consistenc...
How Should Shrimp, Mussels and Other Shellfish Be Stored?
The way to store fresh shrimp is to keep it on ice or in the coldest part of the refrigerator, in a covered container, starting the day it is bought; live musse...
At What Temperature Does Mozzarella Melt for Pizza?
Mozzarella begins to melt at about 60–65°C / 140–150°F. For the soft, flowing texture and light bubbling desired on pizza, the oven is generally set to 220–250°...
How Many Calories Are in a Slice of Rye Bread?
A slice of standard rye bread (about 30 g) contains around 75 calories. The amount can vary somewhat with the proportion of rye flour and the thickness of the s...
How Should Parchment and Wax Paper Be Stored, and Can They Be Reused?
Parchment paper and wax paper should stay in their original box or roll in a cool, dry drawer; a roll left somewhere damp can stick to itself and tear when unro...
How to Tell if Pekmez (Grape Molasses) Has Spoiled
Fresh grape molasses (pekmez) has a dark, syrupy, smooth consistency; its smell is sweet, grape-forward or true to whatever fruit it was made from. Opening the...
How to Store Cooked Fish and Seafood
Cooked fish and seafood should be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for no more than 3–4 days. That is slightly longer than for raw fish, but st...
How Should Solid Fats Like Margarine and Suet Be Stored?
Margarine and animal fat do not have identical storage requirements. Raw internal fat or suet must also be distinguished from rendered, strained animal fat; do...
What Can You Use Instead of Brown Rice?
Bulgur, quinoa, or yarma (cracked wheat) can be used instead of brown rice. Which one to choose depends on the cooking time and the chewy texture desired in the...
How Do You Work Out the Flour-to-Liquid Ratio in Dough?
The flour-to-liquid ratio in dough depends on what the dough is for: bread dough typically holds 60–75% liquid relative to flour weight, while a firmer dough su...