Food Questions America Is Asking

spices

Is Your Spice Rack Deceiving You? (The Truth Behind Why Your Food Is flavorless)

BY ED MCCORMICK • Dec 22, 2025

And we all know the problem: you’re following the recipe to the letter, and the finished dish still just doesn’t smell right. So, you look at your spice...

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Retrogradation

How Does Retrogradation Impact the Way we Digest Carbs

BY CHEF EDMUND • Dec 12, 2025

We have all been told about the benefits of eating leftovers, helping to save us money and precious time. But what if these leftovers could improve the nutritional...

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choline

A Link Between Choline, Anxiety, and Brain Chemistry?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Dec 11, 2025

The essential nutrient choline is emerging as a critical factor in brain health and anxiety management because it is a vital precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and maintains...

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Freezer Food

When to Throw Out Food in the Freezer?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Dec 1, 2025

You should throw out anything from your freezer that you can’t identify, has freezer burn, forms solid blocks of produce, old bread, gritty refrozen ice cream, seafood older...

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Potato Peels

Why You Shouldn't Throw Potato Peels Down the Garbage Disposal

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 28, 2025

If you're wondering whether potato peels can really cause damage to your garbage disposal or plumbing system, the answer is yes—there's actual science behind why they should be...

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Ammonia in Beef

Is Ammonia Found in Regular U.S. Ground Beef?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 26, 2025

In the U.S., ammonia treatment is used primarily in lean finely textured beef (LFTB) — not in regular ground beef. A strong ammonia smell while cooking ground beef is...

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2026 Trends

What Will Be the Biggest Lifestyle Trends for 2026?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 24, 2025

In 2026, the biggest lifestyle trends will revolve around “effortless mastery”—a shift toward fewer choices, fewer ingredients, and fewer steps, but better results. Across food, wellness, technology, fashion,...

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chocolate chips

What Are the Best Ways to Integrate Chocolate into Homemade Ice Cream?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 23, 2025

Chocolate chips, when added to homemade ice cream, often become hard because commercial chocolate chips contain less cocoa butter and more stabilizers. These ingredients help them hold their...

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canned vegetables

Questions on Improving the Taste for Canned Vegetables

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 23, 2025

Elevate your canned vegetables with these easy tips! Learn how rinsing beans improves their flavor, how to add fresh ingredients like green bell peppers to baked beans for...

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Plastic Container Storage

Which Foods Should You Never Store in Plastic Containers—and Why?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 20, 2025

Certain foods should never be stored in plastic containers because heat, acidity, fat, and fermentation can draw chemicals out of the plastic and into your food.Acidic ingredients like...

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Turkey in Air Fryer?

Can You Air-Fry a Turkey?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 20, 2025

Yes, you can cook turkey in an air fryer — but only if it fits fully inside the basket without touching the heating element. Most countertop units can...

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red 40

The Truth Behind Red 40 and What Parents Should Really Know

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 20, 2025

If you’ve heard other parents, say, “I don’t let my kids go near Red 40,” you’re not imagining the trend, it’s real, and it’s growing. From TikTok moms...

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ginger

How Ginger Works for Digestion: A Natural Remedy for Nausea and Stomach Discomfort

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 19, 2025

Ginger, particularly its active constituents gingerols and shogaols, has long been revered for its digestive benefits. Scientific research has demonstrated that ginger can stimulate gastric motility, alleviate nausea,...

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tofu water

Can You Make Meringue from Tofu Water? A Food Scientist Explains the Surprising Science

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 19, 2025

Most people pour tofu water straight down the drain without a second thought. But hidden inside that cloudy liquid is a surprisingly functional ingredient with real culinary value—one...

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Oats

How Oats Can Make or Break Your Weight-Loss Goals

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 18, 2025

Oats can support weight-loss goals when they’re eaten in minimally processed forms with little added sugar, because their fiber and protein help you feel full and steady your...

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Gut inflammation

Why Low-Fat Foods Can Trigger Gut Inflammation — And What to Choose Instead

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 18, 2025

For decades, “low-fat” labels have signaled healthier choices. But today, food scientists and gastroenterologists are pointing out that many reformulated low-fat products can backfire, especially when it comes to...

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Vinegar & Eggs

What Makes Vinegar Tighten Poached Eggs?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 18, 2025

Every few months, journalists reach out asking why a splash of vinegar suddenly turns wispy, drifting egg whites into perfectly shaped, café-style poached eggs. It seems like a...

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Kale

Why Kale Turns Sweet When You Massage or Roast It — According to Food Science

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 18, 2025

Every week, journalists reach out with questions about how to make everyday ingredients taste better. Kale might be the most misunderstood of them all. Tough, bitter, and grassy...

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mashed potatoes

Why Soy Sauce Makes Store-Bought Mashed Potatoes Taste Better

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 18, 2025

When home cooks ask how to elevate store-bought mashed potatoes, the same question keeps coming up: Can soy sauce actually make them taste better? As a food science...

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salt in coffee

Why Does Salt Change the Flavor of Coffee?

BY CHEF EDMUND • Nov 17, 2025

If you’ve ever taken a sip of coffee and thought, “This tastes bitter,” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common complaints journalists ask me to explain....

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