What Does “Salt To Taste” Mean in a Recipe?

cook adds salt to taste

Salt to taste is a vague and confusing instruction in a recipe. However, it exists for a reason. While many home cooks prefer precise instructions, sometimes, cooking is about taste and preference. As I explained in the difference between seasonings and flavorings, salt is usually a seasoning; rarely a flavoring. So, when we are told to … Read more

Does Ice Cream Really Contain Seaweed?

ice cream mix being made

While ice cream does not actually contain seaweed, many mass-produced food products, ice cream often contains a gum ingredient. One of these, carrageenan, comes from seaweed. Food gums are naturally occurring non-digestible carbohydrates that are used as stabilizers, thickeners, and binders. Guar gum is a common example of such an ingredient that is often found … Read more

Is It Possible to Pasteurize Milk at Home?

Yes, you can pasteurize milk at home and yes boiling and rapidly cooling can be used to pasteurize at home. It is unlikely that home pasteurization will be a perfect substitute for commercial pasteurization. However, it can be done and it will work. There are a few methods you can use. The last step is … Read more