All Questions
116 questions
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How can one tell from the outside if a Java plum is sweet or just astringent?
Some Java plums (aka syzygium cumini, Malabar plums, Jambolan plums or black plums) are very astringent and some slightly sweet. How can one tell from the outside if a Java plum is sweet or just ...
0
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0
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64
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How can one tell from the outside how sweet a cempedak is?
Some cempedaks are very sweet, some are moderately sweet, and some are not sweet at all. How can one tell from the outside how sweet a cempedak is?
1
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2
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200
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Why are there (at least in the UK) two completely different-tasting kinds of "extra virgin olive oil"?
EDIT: In my question below, I asked about the existence of an apparent dichotomy that I've noticed in the taste of extra virgin olive oils; anticipating that my experience of this dichotomy might ...
- 111
2
votes
0
answers
135
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Is frozen Pacific Salmon wild?
The Guardian is reporting on the change to drop the word "farmed" from Scottish farmed salmon in the protected geographical indication scheme. It says:
An application by the industry body ...
- 1,533
4
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0
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271
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How to avoid buying chestnuts that are green or rotten on the inside?
Hello I live in Wisconsin and bought some Chestnuts imported from Italy early December from a grocery store. I noticed while I was scoring them that majority of them were green or powdery inside I ...
- 419
2
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4
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575
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Why is part baked wholemeal bread not readily available to the consumer?
In supermarkets in the UK, either in store or online, their are multiple types of bread, of which two are:
"Sliced" bread, eg. this. A large proportion of this bread on the shelves is ...
- 1,533
5
votes
1
answer
896
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How to identify fresh pork liver?
I cook pork liver very often.
Sometimes when grocery shopping, I find pork liver that's kind pale in color and with not much blood. Other times, I find liver that's very red and full of blood.
Is ...
- 245
2
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1
answer
158
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Can I recognize insecticides in tea?
I am a tea fan (especially Chinese teas but Japanese as well)
I found many places on the Internet to buy teas. Good quality and natural tasting.
What is important to me is the quality in term of taste ...
- 123
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2
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1k
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What are the proportions of the parts in a broken down chicken?
I'm debating whether to start buying whole gizzard-less and organ-less chickens and breaking them down myself into parts. I would only do this if it was more cost effective than buying the parts ...
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2
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211
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Is hydrolyzed vegetable protein available in consumer quantities?
Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
(HPV)is vegetable protein, principally soya, hydrolyzed such that it is split into its constituent amino acids. It is a very strong stimulator of the umami taste ...
- 1,533
2
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3
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1k
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What are the most yeasty fruits sold in supermarkets suitable for providing yeast for making bread?
Various fresh fruits, such as grapes, apricots, and dates, can be used to provide the yeast that is needed in breadmaking. But often in commercial production fruits are sprayed with pesticides, and ...
user68238
4
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2
answers
4k
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Why can't I keep chicken in the refrigerator for more than 2 days when the supermarkets can
So I have this raw chicken breast that I haven't opened (sealed shut in the original plastic container) in my refrigerator for 5 days now and there is still 2 days until the expiry date printed on the ...
- 43
3
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2
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241
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What is 91/100 CV when referring to olives?
I often see numbers like 91/100 CV when buying olives.
Example: GREEN OLIVE MACARICO GORDAL 91/100 CV 500G
What do these numbers mean? I tried to do some research and I think it might have to do with ...
- 263
26
votes
4
answers
4k
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Potato for a purpose
I noticed that my super market sells packaged potatoes for different purposes, for example they sell:
potatoes for a salad
potatoes for baking
potatoes for frying etc..
They all look pretty similar ...
- 363
3
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0
answers
423
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Where can I buy piranha in UK?
I've heard that piranha is delicious (for some) and I'm curious about it. I live in Surrey, UK. I've checked various supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsburuy's, ...) and found nothing. Even Amazon says "...
- 131
1
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1
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252
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In uk, can I buy fresh fish directly off the boat? [closed]
In England, can I buy fresh fish directly off the boat?
- 11
2
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1
answer
5k
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What is the meaning of the letters after the expiration date?
I've noticed letters after the expiration date on milk bag tags.
Product: Neilson Milk Bag
Location: Canada
Please see the photos below. Sometimes there are letters after the expiration date and ...
- 371
8
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2
answers
3k
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Mild chili powder?
My mother and I are having trouble finding pure mild chili powder in our area (Superstore, Walmart, Your Independent Grocer, and an Indian grocery store or two. We don't got much else in the suburbs).
...
- 139
1
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2
answers
1k
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How can I tell an eggplant is not bitter and very seedy?
Aubergines / Eggplants are sometimes bitter or particularly seedy.
Since this is at the market or supermarket, we can look at it, smell it and carefully touch it, but not poke mushy indentations in it ...
- 227
2
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2
answers
137
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Quality of Garlic
Is grocery store garlic as good as it gets or are there places to get higher quality garlic that will elevate ones cooking?
Would better quality garlic last longer? I don’t cook much and often find ...
- 517
0
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3
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494
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How do I know if water in supermarket's seafood tank is salty enough?
Undoubtedly no body is to taste water tank in supermarkets with live seafood!
Don't ask me rely on supermarket salespeople. When I ask, they either don't know or can't answer straight. They say "Oh ...
user24882
6
votes
1
answer
545
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Does the size of capers influence their taste?
I read in several (non scientific) sources that smaller capers have a more "refined taste". I was not able to find an explanation what this "refined taste" is supposed to be. In supermarkets the ...
2
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0
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60
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Are there published standards for "cuts" of seafood similar to the NAMP guide?
I've been using the NAMP Meat Buyers Guide (pdf) to specify to butchers what, exactly, I'm looking for. That guide is simply an organized list of unambiguous names and descriptions of meat cuts. ...
- 413
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1
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217
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Who sells unstabilized (truly raw) oats in the U.S.?
Who sells unstabilized (unsteamed, truly raw) oats in the U.S.?
- 1,102
3
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2
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578
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What variety of tomato is typically used in Italian, canned, peeled tomatoes?
I'm experimenting with different brands of canned tomatoes and I just bought some Italian peeled tomatoes, the brand it Petti. Here is a image of the can.
I was looking into what variety of tomato ...
user37482
1
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4
answers
438
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Where can I find nut-free chocolate in the EU?
I'm looking to make homemade chocolate bars but I'm having a hard time finding any sort of chocolate (chips or otherwise) that are nut-free.
Where can I look for these types of chocolate? Are there ...
- 113
0
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1
answer
370
views
Is refrigerated seafood fresher than seafood displayed on ice but uncovered?
I'm guessing that seafood displayed in refrigerators aren't exposed to room temperature
would be fresher than seafood exposed on ice?
user24882
12
votes
8
answers
7k
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Finding cheap but quality steak for grill
We recently moved to a nice apartment building with great rooftop grills. I have started to learn about grilling, and it was a mistake, as now I really like prime ribeye steak off the grill (I think, ...
0
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1
answer
236
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How can I check if a watermelon is sweet or not when buying? [duplicate]
I buy watermelon from the market, sometimes they are sweet and sometimes they are not. How can I check if a watermelon is sweet or not?
- 311
13
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2
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4k
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How can I examine fruits or vegetables in a market, while minimizing mechanical damage?
From this answer and the discussion in comments:
[T]he problem is mechanical damage: every time someone picks up a
piece of fruit and puts it down again it may cause small soft spots
and local ...
- 237
5
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1
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1k
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How to choose coconut in supermarket?
I am an avid eater of coconut... Well, I would be if I had some decent coconut to begin with! It happened quite a few times that when I bought a coconut in a supermarket (you know the brown, ripe ...
- 473
8
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5
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952
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What kind of cheese did I buy in Bulgaria...and how am I supposed to eat it?
Today I was doing some shopping at the Tsentralni Hali in Sofia and bought some cheese, cause it looked so damn gooood.
Well, it is good indeed...but it has the consistency of a brick and you don't ...
- 489
0
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1
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176
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How one may recognize whatever fish fillet is fresh?
Is there any way to judge whatever fish fillet is fresh (except judging shop itself)?
Accepted answer at How can I tell if fish is fresh? explicitly mentions that it does not apply to fillets.
Only ...
6
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1
answer
1k
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Where can I find black cocoa powder (a.k.a. black onyx cocoa powder) in the UK?
I live in the UK and want to buy some black cocoa powder, also known as black onyx cocoa powder. This is a type of cocoa powder that has been alkalized more than standard cocoa powder. As a result, it ...
- 247
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1
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6k
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Can powdered citric acid be used instead of baking soda?
So I couldnt find baking soda anywhere, went to a shop and the guy gave me citric acid saying its the same thing? I bought it anyway but I want to know if its same because I use baking soda in face ...
- 11
18
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4
answers
8k
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How can I tell which limes have the most juice?
I frequently find myself at the grocery store looking at limes for cocktails and wondering which will yield the most juice.
Sometimes, a lime will practically liquefy itself (which is what I want), ...
- 762
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2
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3k
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Why are mushrooms safe for everyone to touch at the supermarket?
Food safety laws generally apply to most food you can touch with your hands at supermarkets - such as loose leaf spinach, bread rolls in the bakery, and anything at the deli. When handling these foods,...
- 113
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4
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103k
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Where can I buy fresh, live yeast for making bread? (NOT active dry yeast)
Where can I buy live yeast? Who sells it? Can I buy it non-commercially? Does anyone sell it online?
I've found it difficult to find, at least in the United States's grocery stores.
- 1,102
6
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1
answer
2k
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How to buy eggs to avoid dark specks
There have been many occasions when I've bought eggs and on breaking them, they have little specks of dark solids inside (sometimes a lot and sometimes too much). I generally, just remove them by a ...
- 4,796
1
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2
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197
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How to not buy the bad apple?
I eat 2-3 apples a day and use them in various recipes - usually desert or pork related.
I have found that I am literally terrible at picking out apples though and seem to be getting no better.
...
- 754
1
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0
answers
405
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In Belgium or from where to buy this grill over rack, steamer rack?
I have this microoven which has grill functionality. But to grill chicken like following picture:
i do not have that stand (steamer rack) which is holding the chicken on top.
Do you know in Europe/...
- 111
5
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2
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2k
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Mackerel, how to get the good stuff?
I have a real problem getting good mackerel. What I consider to be "real" mackerel is that served typically in sushi bars, which I assume is Atlantic mackerel on the east coast of the USA. This fish ...
- 3,538
24
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3
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6k
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Why might packaged pineapple contain egg, soy, peanut, fish, milk, sulphites, tree nuts, sesame, crustaceans, shellfish, mustard seeds, wheat?
Here is the proof:
I'm a bit scared to eat it. What do they do to it?!
- 371
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193
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Essenial cookware/utensils to buy from scratch for sustanence in the US? [closed]
I am a guy from India going to settle in the US(Houghton, MI) for higher education for a period of 2 years.
I have been bombarded by a variety of stereotypes for cooking (You won't get this and that ...
- 543
2
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1
answer
219
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Where to find Tara gum?
I'm looking for a source for "tara gum" powder. It is used like xanthan and guar gum, but reportedly
increases the general benefits and adds a "creamy" taste. The only providers I have located only ...
- 21
3
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2
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256
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Where can I buy a larger than usual 13x4x4 pull man pan?
I want to make Italian style pain de mie bread for sandwich which is much larger size than the usual 13x4x4 pull man pan available on the market.
Where can I find a larger size baking pan for pain ...
- 31
1
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1
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209
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New Oven in the US, Which would home cooks prefer?
I am an English girl living in New York and looking to re-do my kitchen. The most common oven in the US appears to be 30" single space with a warming drawer underneath. In the UK it is a 24" double ...
- 11
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1
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2k
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Do Asian groceries carry vital wheat gluten?
I want to buy vital wheat gluten for bread baking but I've only had luck finding it at health food stores where it's quite expensive. I know seitan is made from vital wheat gluten so I was wondering ...
- 610
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2
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457
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Should I be suspicious of meat/seafood on sale?
Recently a local grocery store had a sale where Fresh Salmon Fillets, apparently normally $6.99/lb, were dropped down to $1.99/lb. My parents were all too eager to load the car with 20lb of salmon ...
- 1,809
4
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2
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1k
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How to classify the parts of a recipe ingredient?
I'm build a recipe app/website, and I'm interested in how to properly classify the sections of an ingredient (as you would find in a cookbook or on a website) with regards to the terminology. Let me ...
- 199