Refers to the culinary definition of fruit: a sweet seed-containing part of a plant that is commonly eaten raw.
57
votes
3answers
12k views
Why did my banana catch fire in the microwave?
Wow, that sounds like a silly question, but really! My wife froze bananas in the freezer with the peel still on. You can't peel them frozen. I put it in the microwave for one minute at 50% power. ...
27
votes
5answers
1k views
How do I pick a watermelon at the supermarket?
Lately, every watermelon I bring home form the organic section of the supermarket has not been sweet. Among the small, seedless varieties, I try to pick the densest. How do I know if it is ripe? Can ...
18
votes
2answers
4k views
Food safety of meat vs. veggies and fruit with mold on them
Obviously, it's bad to eat moldy food, so I don't do so. However, the other day I was presented with both an old pot roast and asparagus in the fridge, both of which had grown mold. Of course, I ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I ripen unripe oranges and grapefruits?
Sometimes when I buy oranges or grapefruits I find out that they are rather unripe when I get them home. How do I ripen them?
13
votes
4answers
342 views
How to deconstruct a pumpkin
In a fit of pumpkin-bread-craving I bought a pumpkin (labelled "for cooking" instead of "show"), only to realize I have no idea what to do with it. I already plan on scraping the seeds out and ...
13
votes
3answers
1k views
How should I organize my fruits for storage?
As I learnt from this post, there are some fruits that should not be kept together with the others (e.g. watermelon and apple). Which fruits should be kept separately in order to prevent rotting?
12
votes
3answers
2k views
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 ...
12
votes
2answers
782 views
How to recover jam that has set too hard?
Every time I make jam I always manage to set it too hard. Is there any way to recover it once it's done this?
11
votes
6answers
266 views
I would like to try grilling fruit - any suggestions?
I had a catered lunch the other day that had grilled fruit (apples, pineapples) it was great and I wanted to try it at home. Are there any tips as far as preparation or what to glaze them with or ...
11
votes
4answers
8k views
how to peel a pomegranate efficiently?
Two well known facts about pomegranates:
they are yummy
they are a pain to peel by hand
do you know of any efficient ways to peel pomegranates? by efficient i mean two things:
quick
minimum ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Do Pineapples Ripen After They Are Picked
Do pineapples ripen after they are picked? I had alway thought you could leave them on the counter to ripen, however, I recently heard they don't ripen after they are picked.
11
votes
4answers
4k views
Can any harm come of eating watermelon seeds?
Is there any harm in swallowing watermelon seeds? Or will they simply pass from one end to the other?
10
votes
1answer
5k views
What does the refrigerator crisper compartment actually do?
In most refrigerators you will be able to find a compartment for your vegetables and fruits. This compartment is called the crisper and it is supposedly able to keep your vegetables and fruits fresh ...
9
votes
4answers
6k views
How do I use whole fresh tamarind?
On a whim I bought some tamarind at the grocery store this week. I'm most familiar with it from the dish Pad Thai. My idea at the time was that I would "do something" with it and a pork chop. Pork ...
9
votes
2answers
384 views
How do you wash fruit and veggies effectively?
When eating or preparing fruit and vegetables, you should wash them beforehand to get rid of pesticides, bacterias, fertilizers, etc. However, I notice that I (and others I know), just put the thing ...
9
votes
2answers
7k views
Which fruits and vegetables should be kept in a fridge, and which outside?
I'm a bit unsure about which fruits and veggies should be kept outside the fridge and which inside. It seems that apples, oranges, and bananas, are normally kept outside, and melons, watermelons, etc ...
8
votes
5answers
14k views
How to pick a good mango at a local store?
Simply just like the title says. I LOVE mango. But the thing is I don't know how to pick a good one at the local store. I read some tips somewhere from Googling (long time ago, I don't remember its ...
8
votes
2answers
9k views
Is it scientifically verified that bananas will ripen faster when kept in a bowl with other fruit?
I've heard you shouldn't keep bananas in a bowl with other fruit. But they all look so happy together.
What I'd like to see is hard science here. Or at least documented and repeatable observation. ...
8
votes
2answers
385 views
How to keep fruits and vegetables fresh
I enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, but the problem is that they seem to go back extremely quickly. It isn't realistic for me to go shopping multiple times a week. Are there any tricks to keeping ...
8
votes
2answers
265 views
Which types of apples are considered to be “quick-cooking” apples?
In my great-grandmother's recipe for Open-Face Apple Pie, she writes, "Cut apples in eighths if they are not quick-cooking." I assume that this means some apples will cook more quickly than others, ...
8
votes
2answers
676 views
How are green and ripe plantains used differently?
I see both green and black (ripe) plantains for sale. I'm assuming they aren't used interchangeably. What kinds of dishes or techniques are appropriate for each type? Are the different types favored ...
7
votes
4answers
8k views
What is the glaze on a bakery-style fruit tart?
I am looking to re-create a bakery-style fruit tartlette. I was wondering what the glaze on top of the fruit tarts you find in US bakeries is and how you can create it at home.
I have heard that it's ...
7
votes
1answer
191 views
How to wash soft fruit?
I bought a pack of blackberries from the supermraket and the label said to wash before use. I tried that and it completely ruined them.
I tried running them under a tap (faucet). Ruined. I tried ...
7
votes
1answer
3k views
Are nectarine seeds edible?
Eating a nectarine this afternoon, I found the pit was cracked open. Curious, I broke it apart and found an almond-like seed (or nut?) inside.
I remember hearing that some almonds, or perhaps their ...
7
votes
3answers
6k views
How to keep fresh-squeezed fruit juice?
Is there any way to keep fresh-squeezed fruit juice (especially apple or orange) for at least one week without losing taste and vitamins in it? Would a jar with a tight lid be useful?
7
votes
5answers
241 views
What's the most efficient way to juice halved lemons and limes?
Between squeezers, reamers, and juicers, what's the fastest way to juice small citruses?
Limes are cheap in my area, so I'm willing to sacrifice juice per fruit if I can get the same volume faster ...
7
votes
3answers
6k views
How can I keep chopped fruit fresh for 2-3 hours?
I need to cut up a large amount of fruit for use in a pavlova dessert tomorrow night - although the same question would no doubt apply to a fruit salad or other fresh fruit item.
Anyway, I won't have ...
7
votes
3answers
4k views
How do I make dried blueberries?
How do you make dried blueberries? Can I use an oven? Is there a proper technique or do I just bake them on low for a few hours?
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Tips for Creating a Creamy and Smooth Sorbet
Recently I purchased and ice cream maker and have been making lots of sorbets with our surplus frozen fruit. Often I will follow a recipe however sometimes not: sometimes the sorbets are icy after ...
7
votes
3answers
371 views
How to wash pesticides from fruit skins?
We eat many fruits and veggies at home and I am concerned about the amount pesticides on fruits like strawberries. Is washing the fruit effective enough? Does a thorough wash vs. a quick rinse make ...
7
votes
2answers
864 views
Cooking fruit with or without sugar solution
Why does fruit retain its shape when heated in sugared water but break down when heated with just plain water?
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when you bake Winesap apples?
In researching the answer to a question of why the apples in a pie became mushy, I noticed that two of my cookbooks contradicted each other on the Winesap apple, on whether it remains firm upon ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Substitute frozen cranberries for fresh berries
I just came across this recipe that calls for 1 1/4 cups of fresh cranberries. I was wondering if it was possible to substitute frozen cranberries instead. I am assuming that I have to
thaw the ...
7
votes
5answers
773 views
Kids Lunch box - suggestion for fruit smoothie packaging
Could you suggest how to package a home made fruit smoothie to make it appealing to young children. The kids seem to love fruit tubes by innocent in their lunch boxes as they are colourful, easy to ...
7
votes
1answer
226 views
How do I adjust a baking recipe for fruits of different PH?
I just cooked some apple bread, and I'm curious about adapting it to other fruits. I'm led to believe that the acidity of a fruit will cancel out some of the effect of baking powder or baking soda by ...
6
votes
5answers
853 views
How do I pick an avocado?
When buying an avocado from the grocery store or farmers market how do I know when it is ripe? What are some signs I should look for to know that it is either a good or bad avocado?
6
votes
7answers
4k views
What's the least messy way to prepare grapefruit?
I usually cut it in half (through the equator) and eat it with a spoon but the juices tend to spray everywhere. Is there a better way?
6
votes
3answers
816 views
6
votes
8answers
1k views
What fruit pair well with spinach?
What fruit pair well with spinach? This is for a cold spinach-based salad rather than cooked spinach, but I'd be interested in warm spinach too.
6
votes
2answers
312 views
How can I create this coconut milk, fruit, and veggie snack at home?
My baby and I both enjoy Happy Creamies. I don't enjoy the price, however, and I do enjoy making food for my family. I'm trying to figure out what the basics of a similar homemade item would be.
...
6
votes
5answers
612 views
What things are good to spherize with algin?
Using sodium alginate, I know you can make "caviar" of many things. For those who are not familiar with the process, here is an online explanation
Looking online, however, I keep seeing the same ...
6
votes
3answers
25k views
What's Fruit Salt?
A recipe I am trying out (for khaman dhokla) requires fruit salt. What is it? What can I use as a suitable substitute?
6
votes
4answers
987 views
How can I keep my blueberry pie firm without the flavor of corn starch?
In the summer, I often make a refrigerated blueberry pie. The recipe calls for a graham cracker crust, and you make the filling by cooking one pint of blueberries with one cup of sugar and 3 ...
6
votes
1answer
695 views
What are the fundamental differences between citrus fruits that necessitate different cooking techniques?
I used to cook pastries and tarts quite a bit, and one thing that always intrigued me was how recipes vary in their treatment of citrus. For instance, if you make a lemon tart, you can generally do ...
6
votes
2answers
320 views
How can I let fruit ripen faster?
In addition to specific fruits like avocados and bananas, and the specific trick of using a brown bag, I would like to know if there are ways to let fruit and vegetables in general ripen faster. Are ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What considerations should be taken into account when adding any fruit to any cake?
I have a pineapple-orange cake recipe that is very good, but is from a relative - I didn't develop it. I am curious how to adjust a typical cake recipe or even a box cake mix so that I can add fruit ...
5
votes
2answers
331 views
What is “Zest” - In particular: lime/lemon zest?
I saw a recipe that asked for Lime Zest and was wondering what it was?
5
votes
4answers
268 views
What is the practical way to peel off zest of an orange?
Peeling the zest doesn't seem like peeling a full peel of an Orange.
Any special kind of knieves to be used? Any special method?
What precautions need to be taken care off?
What is the practical way ...
5
votes
7answers
466 views
Nutritional information on fruits and veggies
I've been looking online for an extensive database of nutritional information on various fruits and vegetables. I've been advised by my doctor to start eating healthier and I'd just like to know the ...
5
votes
2answers
286 views
Can bright green avocados be ripe?
I very rarely buy avocado, but now I happen to have two of them in my kitchen.
I'm used to ripe avocado having this colour:
Now, mine are more brightly green, like this:
They aren't very soft, ...
