Magazine

The Ancient Grain Revolution Lives in Your Kitchen The Ancient Grain Revolution Lives in Your Kitchen (image credits: unsplash) Think you know how to cook pasta? You’re probably making the same mistake nearly everyone makes – tossing dried noodles into a giant pot of boiling plain water. Recent groundbreaking research from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment has revealed that even something as simple as adding salt to water creates complex physical phenomena, leading to the formation of unique, visually appealing patterns. But here’s what’ll blow your mind: cooking … Read more

When Your Mixing Technique Betrays You When Your Mixing Technique Betrays You (image credits: unsplash) Ever wondered why your perfectly measured ingredients still produce a sunken cake disaster? The culprit might be lurking in your mixing bowl. Overmixing your cake batter can cause your cake to sink and collapse, as you can create too many air bubbles, which results in a weak structure that isn’t able to support the weight of the cake as it bakes. Think of it like blowing up a balloon too much – eventually, it can’t hold all that air. If you cream your butter and … Read more

The McDLT: Hot Meets Cold in a Styrofoam Spectacle The McDLT: Hot Meets Cold in a Styrofoam Spectacle (image credits: unsplash) Remember when McDonald’s thought the secret to a perfect burger was serving it in two different containers? The McDLT kept the bottom half of the bun and meat in one container while the top half of the bun and veggies were kept in another half, preventing the heat of the burger from making the veggie bits all nasty and hot. This was back when things were not made to order, but instead were already cooked and ready to go. … Read more

Flavored Yogurt Cups Pack a Sweet Punch Flavored Yogurt Cups Pack a Sweet Punch (image credits: unsplash) Here’s where breakfast gets tricky. While yogurt sounds healthy, some flavored yogurts are mega added sugar bombs. Some even have as much as 24 grams of sugar per half cup. That’s almost as much as the 27 grams of sugar in a regular-sized Snickers bar. The problem isn’t just the fruit – it’s all the extra sweeteners manufacturers sneak in. Turns out, fruit-flavored yogurts are sweetened with more than just fruit. Shapiro’s thoughts: “I’m not a fan of the fruit-flavored yogurts, because they … Read more

1. Understand the Importance of Handwashing 1. Understand the Importance of Handwashing (image credits: unsplash) Handwashing isn’t just a good habit—it’s your kitchen’s shield against nasty germs. The CDC recently stated that washing your hands with soap and water can cut down the risk of foodborne illness by as much as half. That’s huge. Every time you handle raw meat, crack eggs, or even touch the fridge door, you’re picking up invisible bacteria. Scrub your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds—hum the chorus of your favorite song if you need a timer. Dry them with … Read more

Corn Dogs: The Ultimate State Fair Mystery Corn Dogs: The Ultimate State Fair Mystery (image credits: pixabay) If you’ve ever wandered through an American fair and seen someone casually chomping on what looks like a small yellow bat, you’ve witnessed the corn dog in its natural habitat. A corn dog is a hot dog on a stick that has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried and originated in the United States and is commonly found in American cuisine. While the rest of the world scratches their heads at this creation, Americans have turned it … Read more

1. Classic Vanilla: The Undisputed Favorite 1. Classic Vanilla: The Undisputed Favorite (image credits: unsplash) Vanilla continues to dominate as America’s most craved flavor, according to the 2024 International Dairy Foods Association’s annual report. Despite its simplicity, vanilla remains highly versatile, serving as the backbone for countless desserts, beverages, and baked goods. Nielsen’s data from January 2025 shows vanilla-flavored products accounted for over 20% of all dessert sales in the U.S., outpacing every other flavor. Ice cream manufacturers like Ben & Jerry’s and Häagen-Dazs report that vanilla consistently ranks as their top-selling variety. Even in new product launches, vanilla is … Read more

Whole Fish That Stares Back at You Whole Fish That Stares Back at You (image credits: unsplash) Walk into any seafood market and you’ll see them – glistening whole fish with their glassy eyes staring right back at you. From cooking it to eating it, I have people tell me constantly they have a fear of fish. The reality is that roughly one in four Americans admits they’re completely intimidated by preparing seafood, even though it’s one of the healthiest protein sources available. People get completely freaked out by having to handle something that looks so, well, fish-like. The scales, … Read more

Cashews: The Creamy Culprit Cashews: The Creamy Culprit (image credits: pixabay) Cashews often get a bad rap among health nuts, and it’s not entirely unfair. Unlike many of their nuttier cousins, cashews have a noticeably higher carbohydrate content—about 9 grams per ounce—which can trip up anyone watching their blood sugar. But they’re not the villain of the snack world; their creamy texture hides a trove of magnesium, vital for hundreds of bodily processes, and copper, which helps your body use iron and build healthy blood. Cashews are calorie-dense, and it’s way too easy to eat a handful… then another. Nutritionists … Read more

Neglecting Hand Hygiene Neglecting Hand Hygiene (image credits: unsplash) It’s surprising how often hand hygiene slips through the cracks in home kitchens. Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the most effective ways to prevent foodborne illness, a fact highlighted by the CDC. Yet, a recent survey found that only about 30% of people actually wash their hands properly before preparing food, after handling raw meat, or after using the restroom. This oversight can lead to dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli spreading to food and surfaces. Even though hand sanitizer … Read more