The 5-second rule of food is a cultural belief that if you drop food on the floor, as long as you pick it up within 5 seconds it is safe to eat. The reason people believe this is because bacteria need time to transfer to food so as long as the food is not on […]
Food Science
Can You Get Bird Flu From Eating Eggs?
The current eggs shortage in the United States is due to a large outbreak of Avian Influenza Virus or “Bird Flu” (H5N1) among the nations laying hen population. In December 2024, the average price of eggs was already high at $4.15. The price of eggs is expected to increase greatly this year, if you can […]
What is the Difference Between Sour and Tart?
Technically, there is no difference between sour and tart. Something that is has a tart taste has a sour taste. However, in some culinary circles tart flavors are differentiated from sour flavors. Generally, sour tastes from citrus, such as associated with citric acid, are described as “tart” while other sour flavors are called sour. This […]
Is Potassium Ferrocyanide Anti-Caking Salt Additive Dangerous?
Any food additive with “cyanide” in the name makes me pause. Cyanide is one of the deadliest poisons known to man. Cyanide releasing compounds are found in some of the foods we eat and these foods must be thoroughly cooked or processed to render them safe. So, why in the world add such a compound […]
Do Fast Food Chains Cause Most of the Food Poisoning Outbreaks?
When major fast food chains like Taco Bell or McDonald’s are linked to food poisoning outbreaks, the media reacts in a more sensational way and the public tends to assign more weight to these outbreaks. This familiarity makes it seem as if fast food restaurants are responsible for more foodborne illness outbreaks than they actually […]
The Biggest Myth About Acquired Tastes For Foods
The way most of us think about the concept of an acquired taste for particular foods is completely flawed. The concept itself is grossly misrepresented and misunderstood by almost everyone who talks about it! This is not to say that how tastes are acquired is completely understood in all its aspects and that we know […]
Can Bacteria Survive Microwave Radiation? Do We Really Need to Clean Our Microwaves?
I found this question on one of those Wired YouTube videos where experts answer various questions from the web. A microbiologist gave a less than satisfactory answer to this question: Can bacteria survive high temperatures and microwave radiation? Do we really need to clean our microwaves? First of all, yes, you need to clean your […]
Is it Safe To Eat Raw Dried Pasta?
Some folks like the crunch of raw pasta. They eat it as a snack or just for something to crunch on. Since fresh pasta contains not only raw flour but also raw eggs, it is definitely unsafe to eat. But, not many people would enjoy the taste of fresh raw pasta and children are more […]
The Great Magical EGG CUTICLE Safety Myth
This is how the story goes: In the UK, they don’t wash their eggs. So, the protective coating on the shell, the cuticle, is not removed. This means they don’t have to refrigerate their eggs. They will last much longer at room temperature. But, in the U.S. they wash their eggs and wash off the […]
Interesting Facts About Brazil Nuts
The Brazil nut is fascinating. Named after Brazil, it is native to the Amazon basin and has long been an important staple food of the indigenous people. The nut was first exported to Europe in the 17th century and came to the United States in the early 1800s. Today, the Brazil nut is a popular […]