Cooking is a skill that all of us should have, and because of this new pressure to become independent, we rely on the “hacks” and “tips” that we picked up from the internet. Are all of these true or just common cooking myths?
Today, we’ll settle the score on the most widely accepted and the most controversial kitchen conventions!
Rinse Your Rice
Rinsing it before cooking can clean it off, but it can also remove some of the nutrients. It all comes down to how sticky you want your rice to be.
Avoid Wooden Cutting Boards At All Costs
This is one of the common cooking myths that’s derived from some truth.
Wooden cutting boards have more grooves where food and bacteria can stick. However, a study conducted by UC Davis found that the bacteria dies pretty quickly once the surface is wiped away. ALWAYS wash your cutting board.
Dull Knives Are Just Safer
Sure, a dull knife is less likely to harm you than a sharp knife used with the same force but not everything is as it seem. So why are dull knives dangerous?
The duller the knife you use, the more pressure you will apply to cut your food. If you use a sharper knife, you can press down lighter and be done faster.
Cooking Carrots Ruins Them
Cooked carrots are certainly less crispy, but it isn’t all bad.
Cooked carrots also have more beta-carotene than raw ones, which helps to fight inflammation in the body. Of course, if you want to get some raw carrots in your system you can always dip them in hummus or juice them with oranges.
Salt Is Salt
They may taste the same but when it comes to plain salt vs. iodized salt, there’s actually a clear choice. Table salt is so much less healthy than sea salt! When it comes to your ingredients, you want to stay as natural as possible.
Salt created by the ocean will work for your body much better than salt created in a lab.
Don’t Wash Cast Iron Pans is One of the Most Common Cooking Myths
You’ve probably heard that washing your pan will damage it, but there is a safe way to do so — and you should definitely wash your pans.
You may be wondering how to clean a cast iron grill or pan. Coat the surface of the pan in cooking oil before soaping it down. This way the dish soap won’t damage the seasoning.
Oil Will Stop Your Pasta From Clumping
Oil can certainly help, but it isn’t the superhero of pasta preparation.
It is more likely to sit on the surface of the water in the pot, which won’t do much to stop your pasta from clumping. Stirring is the key here.
Protein Only Comes From Meat
Whatever your dietary preference is, more power to you! But just so we are clear, you can consume protein from a variety of sources.
Some combinations of foods, such as beans and rice, make a complete protein.
While meat can be a complete protein – meaning that it contains all nine essential amino acids – the muscles of an animal who was fed an improper diet are likely not a complete protein. Moral of the story: don’t get it all from one source!
Your Whip Cream Will Flatten The Moment You Stop Whipping It
If you’ve ever gotten whip cream on a to-go drink, you know that this isn’t true.
Changes in pressure can certainly flatten your whip cream, but it won’t flatten simply because you are not actively whipping it. If your cream is cooler, it will stay whipped
Soften Your Butter In The Microwave
This is not the best way to go about it. You are much better off leaving your butter or margarine out to thaw for a while.
This is especially true if you are making a pastry, since microwaving butter compromises the structural integrity.
If you’re wondering how to soften butter without a microwave, you can easily put it down to temperature in three ways. One, you can cut it into cubes. Second, flatten your butter. Or third and the easiest, grate your butter.
Use Potatoes for Over-Salted Meals
Whoops, you added too much salt to your recipe! Instead of just sticking a potato in it, increase the amount of all the other ingredients.
This will help to balance out the salt much better than relying on just one food.
Pepper Seeds Carry All The Heat
It actually isn’t your pepper seeds that are hot, it’s the membrane that is around them.
This membrane contains capsaicin, the chemical that makes your pepper spicy. Peppers are hotter when they are cooked in drier soil, so if you want to make your own salsa you know what to do.
Old Eggs Work Better For Boiling
The truth is that new eggs boil just as well as old ones. This actually comes from a conservation trick. Families who only had old eggs would boil them rather than prepare them a different way. It’s better than, say, scrambling them.
Nutrients Disappear In The Microwave
The truth is that nutrients break down every time you heat your food, whether it is in the microwave, on the stove, or in the oven.
The key is to use a lower temperature and to heat your food as little as possible – while still warming it up enough to be enjoyable. You wouldn’t want to over-heat your food anyway; it would come out dry and possibly burnt!
Stale Bread Just Needs Moisture
Sometimes dampening stale bread can help to save it, but the moisture loss is not the reason why the bread is stale.
It is actually because the starches are starting to crystalize. When it comes to bread, you want to eat it as fast as possible.
Flour Must Always Be Sifted
Some recipes specifically call for sifted flour, but not every recipe does! If you are worried that your flour is a little clumpy, give it a stir with a whisk. That’s how to sift flour without a sifter.
Use Ice In Smoothies
Ice is just water, meaning that you are diluting your smoothie when you add ice.
If you want a nice, cold smoothie, add frozen fruit. If you don’t want to invest in frozen fruit, stick your fresh fruit in the freezer for an hour or so before making your smoothie. For a quick morning routine cut your fruit the night before and place it in the freezer until you are ready to blend it.
Add Vinegar To The Water When Hard-Boiling Eggs
Contrary to popular belief, boiling eggs with vinegar won’t make them easier to peel.
The real secret is in the temperature. Make sure the water is already boiling before placing your eggs in the pot.
Takeaway
Which one of these common cooking myths are you guilty of following? Remember, not everything that you see on the internet is true, even when it comes to these kitchen hacks. We hope these tips can shed light on some questions and make cooking easier for you and your family.
Source: Eat This, Not That!