COOKING TIP: Debunking Food Myths
POTATO added to a TOO SALTY SOUP or STEW will NOT make the soup or stew less salty. This is a popular, but incorrect, piece of kitchen lore.
SEARING MEAT, despite popular thought, DOES NOT seal in thejuices. It does, however, caramelize juices on the outside of the meat, which makes it taste better and gives a delicious crust. If searing sealed the surface of the meat, the inside juices would reach the boiling point, boil and would “burst” through the sealed crust. This does not happen because the surface of meat is porous, allowing moisture to escape, whether the meat surface is seared or not.
WASHING MUSHROOMS: Contrary to popular belief, mushrooms CAN be washed to remove sand and dirt before they are used. A quick wash just before use will provide clean mushrooms for your recipe.
NEVER PUT BANANAS IN THE REFRIGERATOR? NOT TRUE! If you have extra bananas that you are afraid that you can’t use before they get all brown and overripe, wrap each one tightly, in plastic wrap and refrigerate. While the skin may get some brown spotting, the flesh will darken a little but the flesh will, essentially, remain in the state it was when the fruit was put into the refrigerator for, at least, eight days (I have done this) and, perhaps, even two weeks.
ADDING BUTTER TO OIL improves flavor but it DOES NOT, as is commonly believed, increase the smoking point of the butter.
Contrary to what is claimed by many food writers, BAMBOO SKEWERS soaked in water before use burn just as quickly as those used dry.
DON'T SALT BEANS BEFORE COOKING. WRONG! Beans soaked in room temperature, salted water (3 Tbsp salt/ 4 quarts water) for 8-24 hours, when drained, rinsed and cooked by slow simmering will be creamy and have tender skins.
STRONG, SHARP FLAVORED LEAFY GREENS - collard, mustard, turnip and dandelion - should only be boiled quickly in NON - SALTED water since steaming or cooking with salt will increase the bitter flavor of these greens. Salt, to taste, after cooking.