38
votes
Accepted
Why did this gallon of milk stay fresh for so long?
Milk goes bad because it gets colonized by bacteria. There are two sources for this bacteria; ones already present in the milk because pasteurization didn't kill them, and from the environment (that ...
- 54k
26
votes
I need to judge whether my bread flour is ok or not. 50LB bag 11 months old
It's impossible to say whether the four is safe for certain, given the conditions you describe it is likely fine but there are no guarantees. It's very possible that the flour has simply gotten ...
- 72.5k
17
votes
Accepted
Do fresh chilli peppers have properties that ground chilli peppers do not?
The main property that is different is that fresh chili peppers contain water. That means a significant difference in the kinds of flavors that are perceived when you consume them. Probably, most ...
- 69.2k
17
votes
I need to judge whether my bread flour is ok or not. 50LB bag 11 months old
From your description it sounds more like the flour was simply packed tightly rather than getting damp, but even if it remained dry, I think you will likely find the flavor is off.
You said you don't ...
- 787
14
votes
Why did this gallon of milk stay fresh for so long?
Something to be aware of is where the milk is from and how it's pasteurized. My store brand milk is local and pasteurized only, but some other brands are ultra pasteurized and expected to last much ...
- 5,074
10
votes
Accepted
How long can you keep tuna in jar with olive oil
No, it is not safe anymore.
The scombridae family of fish (mackerels, tunas, bonitos) decay in a way that does not necessarily cause a bad smell, as the bacteria just convert amino acids of the fish ...
- 3,094
10
votes
I need to judge whether my bread flour is ok or not. 50LB bag 11 months old
Water activity of the flour would be the determining factor for if the flour is safe or not. From Colorado State University's page on flour safety:
Flour should be stored in a cool, dry place in ...
- 5,340
9
votes
Why did this gallon of milk stay fresh for so long?
Milk often keeps for longer than stated, especially unopened, but I wouldn't want to rely on it even though milk tends to spoil in a way that smells obvious. My experience of keeping it past its date ...
- 41.5k
8
votes
Can I keep herbs fresh by spraying them with fertilizer?
Dousing your herbs with fertilizer is not going to preserve your herbs, and could make you sick as many fertilizers are toxic.
If you want really fresh herbs you can keep them in pots on a ...
- 72.5k
8
votes
Will ground sealed pepper have lost it freshness?
Ground pepper begins to lose it's flavors very quickly. You can try this yourself by grinding your own, then tasting over the course of a couple of days. I find it is always best right after I grind ...
- 69.2k
7
votes
Accepted
Pure fresh semolina pasta with and without eggs
There are two pasta manufacturing techniques. First, pasta can be cut to shape using a blade or roller, and second, it can be extruded at high pressure through a bronze or teflon die. The first is ...
- 1,841
7
votes
Accepted
How to prepare and use fresh herbs with woody stems (thyme, oregano)
There are two ways to deal with herbs like thyme.
First, you can strip the leaves by pinching the stem with two or three fingers and pulling up towards the tips. Nails can be helpful, too. That should ...
- 56.5k
7
votes
Stop Hummus from darkening
Sure, a few tips below. Note that you're not going to be able to keep it from drying/darkening entirely; the below is intended to keep it as appetizing as possible despite this.
Use a higher % of ...
- 54k
7
votes
Accepted
Is chicken with yellowish parts spoiled?
Yellowing (particularly around the hocks) can be an indicator of the breed, and is more prevalent on younger chickens. For females it can fade as they reach laying age, although diet (high in corn) ...
- 651
6
votes
Accepted
Lobster Death! Freezer vs. Alcohol
The way fish (shelfish included) is dispatched impacts both its flavor and texture. The Japanese have a long history of this knowledge. This type of fish killing is called ike jime.
Dave Arnold ...
- 69.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Strange orange gel on surface of zucchini?
The cut end of your zucchini (courgette) looks like it's exuding some water/sap that was previously in the fruit. The colour is due to the rest of the "stuff" in the sap besides water: e.g., perhaps ...
- 2,821
6
votes
Is two-month old eggs laid by backyard chicken still edible?
You can test an egg for its freshness by placing an egg in a bowl of water as seen here.
If the egg sinks to the bottom and lays on its side, it should be fresh and safe to eat.
If the egg sinks to ...
- 166
6
votes
Accepted
How to tell when broccoli has gone bad?
As many people here have noted, these "sell by" and "best by" dates are not very consistent, accurate or well defined. If your broccoli looks fine and smells fine, chances are it's fine.
Signs of ...
- 7,064
6
votes
Accepted
How do I wash farm-fresh eggs?
(from what I can see on the internets)
Just continue what you are doing.
Just before using:
Softly brush off dirt and debris and rinse for a couple of seconds under running water.
- 20.3k
6
votes
Which pasta shape can I make without any equipment?
There are dozens of types of fresh pasta that are made without any special equipment. Many are not difficult at all, but might take some practice. Some examples include gnocchi, pici, orecchiette, ...
- 69.2k
5
votes
Cooking thick fresh egg pasta
The hardness you're experiencing is a sign that you've undercooked it. It isn't really "hard" in the sense that dry pasta is hard. It's not brittle, just very tough and difficult to bite through.
You ...
- 4,416
5
votes
Strange orange gel on surface of zucchini?
Your zucchini (courgette) was loosing sap at the stem end. Apparently, someone by mistake cut the fruit and not only the stem, which will lead to "weeping".
The photo below shows an extremely fresh ...
- 56.5k
5
votes
Lobster Death! Freezer vs. Alcohol
Does cooking a lobster alive alter the flavor/texture?
No, not really.
Is there any truth to the claims that lobsters don't feel pain?
Absolutely not. They feel pain just like you do.
Does killing a ...
- 411
5
votes
Accepted
Process fresh salmon into Sushi / Sashimi salmon?
Sushi fishes are usually flash frozen for a few days before being used for safety (to kill off bugs)
It might change the texture of the fish as it is unfrozen; the better the restaurant the better the ...
- 20.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Which pasta shape can I make without any equipment?
Thanks to the answer by moscafj, some comments, and my own research, I am making a list of pasta shapes which do not involve difficult techniques and which can be made using minimal equipment (butter ...
5
votes
I need to judge whether my bread flour is ok or not. 50LB bag 11 months old
Simple: taste it.
Stale flour tastes notably bad, even in its raw state. If you're still not sure, get a small bag of known-fresh high-quality flour, and compare tastes. Rancid flour will have ...
- 54k
4
votes
Jalapeno Poppers and getting a thick crust?
After many attempts at trying to keep my batter on my stuffed poppers as they are deep fried, I finally found what works best. I roll the stuffed peppers in flour (I season it with salt and a bit of ...
4
votes
What are the principal components of coconut taste, and how do they differ between fresh and stale coconuts?
I don't have more than a basic knowledge of chemistry and the information I have I translated from a German book on spices and seasoning. All errors are therefore mine. The book is basically a ...
- 351
4
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to keep bananas that are half submerged in milk fresh for at least 26-28 hours?
Assumption here:
The main point where prepping what reads like two servings ("every morning" & "26-28 hours) might come handy, is when you have an uneven number of bananas per serving and storing ...
- 56.5k
4
votes
More efficient way to cook fresh caught fish while camping
As you will have the freshest fish possible and only limited equipment and ingredients in your camp, why not choose a preparation that is in its simplicity highlighting the fish, needs almost no ...
- 56.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible