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Because spices tend to be sold in bulk and recipes only call for small amounts of ingredients such as cumin and nutmeg, your spices can lose their pungency after sitting in the drawer for a few years. Spices don't actually spoil and won't make you ill, but can lose their bite.
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The Real Reason Mustard Oil Is Banned For Cooking Purposes In The U.S.
Mustard oil holds a particularly special place in South Asian cuisines. However, in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration banned mustard oil. It's also been banned in the European Union and Canada. Here's why. -
You Should Never Eat American Eel. Here's Why
For every food that's having a heyday, there's one that's not quite as popular as it used to be. One example is the American eel, which was once a staple of North American cuisine. Due to concerns about the waning eel population, it might be better to steer clear of the American eel. -
The True Reason You Can't Buy Naturally Decaffeinated Coffee
There are a number of methods by which coffee beans are decaffeinated. Lots of progress has been made since its inception in 1905, when a hazardous chemical called benzene was used. It seems like perhaps there should be a simpler and more natural way to produce decaffeinated coffee. -
The Real Difference Between Impossible Foods And Beyond Meat
Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are both companies that use plant-based proteins to create meat-like products for home consumers and restaurants. While that sounds pretty similar, there are actually plenty of small differences between the two companies and their products. -
The Lie People Still Believe About White Chocolate
While white chocolate is a popular dessert ingredient for everything from ice cream to cookies, it's something of a misnomer because it's not actually chocolate. Typically, the main ingredients for white chocolate are sugar, cocoa butter, milk products, vanilla, and lecithin. -
The Real Difference Between White Rice And Brown Rice
The most popular type of non-white rice is probably brown rice, but what is the difference between the two main varieties? -
The Real Difference Between Coconut Milk And Coconut Water
Coconut milk and coconut water are two liquids derived from the coconut, but they come from different parts of the coconut and are used for different purposes. While you often see people exercising drinking coconut water, coconut milk its not a particularly popular workout beverage. -
The Untold Truth Of Rainforest Cafe
It's tough to make it through childhood without a trip to a Rainforest Cafe, whose motto is "A wild place to shop and eat. The restaurant is lauded (or infamous, depending on how you look at it) for its over-the-top rainforest theme, featuring fish, gardens, and storms. -
The Real Reason You Shouldn't Cook Kidney Beans In A Slow Cooker
Kidney beans are nutritious, and a great source of protein for vegetarians and vegans, boasting 8.7 grams of protein in a 100-gram serving (via Healthline). But, regardless of the type of recipe that calls for kidney beans, it's important to be careful about how you cook them. -
The Real Difference Between Mussels And Clams
Clams and mussels are both shellfish — bivalves, specifically (via The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Both can grow in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but that's more or less where the similarities end (via The Ohio State University and Jstor). -
Here's What Happens When You Eat Kale Every Day
Kale is hailed as a superfood, and considered to be one of the most nutrient-rich vegetables in the world — even healthier in some respects than spinach (via Boston Magazine). It's commonplace in salads and smoothies, and often turned to by people doing a cleanse or going on a diet. -
The Real Reason Decaf Coffee Pots Are Orange
At diners and breakfast joints across the country, there are typically two coffee pots on the burner (or three, when there's a pot with hot water for tea). -
The Real Difference Between Grain Vodka And Potato Vodka
With many liquors, there's only one way to make them, and one set of ingredients to use. However, vodka is an exception to the rule and can be distilled from a number of ingredients including barley, wheat, rye, potatoes, or corn. What's the difference between the potato and grain varieties? -
Here's The Trick To Making A Perfect Pad Thai At Home
Pad thai is a comfort food for many people, a hangover cure for others, and a common order from those think that other menu items on the menu at a Thai restaurant would be too spicy for them to handle. Once you master the tricks and build your pantry, it's also possible to make at home. -
The Weird Ingredient That's In The Gum You're Chewing
Do you ever wonder what strange ingredients might be in the candy you love to eat? For instance, red food dye used in candy is commonly made out of crushed beetles (via Huff Post). No, this is not a joke. Likewise, gelatin made from pig parts is used in candies from gummy bears, to Starburst. -
You Should Never Order Raw Oysters At A Restaurant. Here's Why
Oysters are a divisive food. Love them or hate them, you should refrain from ordering raw oysters at restaurants. -
The Contested Origin Of The Reuben Sandwich
Although the ingredients and preparation for a Reuben are widely agreed upon, discussion about the sandwich origins results in significantly less agreement. -
The Untold Truth Of Limoncello
Limoncello traces its roots to Italy, but no one is exactly 100 percent sure where in the boot-shaped country the syrupy sweet and citrusy beverage comes from. -
The Untold Truth Of Lawry's Seasoned Salt
Sometimes salt and pepper just don't cut it and you need some more flavors to season your food. One great option is Lawry's Seasoned Salt. -
The Strange Ingredient That Used To Be In Ketchup
Ketchup is one of the most common condiments, adding flavor to some of your favorite foods. But did you know it used to have this strange ingredient? -
The Real Difference Between Soda Bread And Sourdough Bread
If you go on a trip to Ireland, one thing you'll see on almost every traditional restaurant menu is soda bread. It may be unfamiliar to those on the other side of the pond, but it's a staple on the Emerald Isle. What sets it apart from other types of bread is that it uses sodium bicarbonate. -
Here's What Happens When You Eat An Avocado Every Day
Have you thought about changing up your diet by eating an avocado every day? Here's what will happen to you if you decide to make that choice. -
Whatever Happened To Mountain Dew Pitch Black?
It seems that soft drink manufacturers are always coming up with flavor variants and limited edition flavors and Mountain Dew is no exception to the rule. Mountain Dew Pitch Black was introduced initially in 2004 as a grape-flavored version of Mountain Dew. -
You Should Never Eat Beluga Caviar. Here's Why
Caviar is a luxury item enjoyed in many countries around the world and consistently ranks toward the top of the list of most expensive foods by weight (via Mental Floss). The most expensive caviar in the world is of the Iranian Almas variety, from sturgeon aged 100 years. -
Why You Should Think Twice About Eating Swordfish
Mercury has severe health impacts on humans. One way that humans can introduce mercury into their systems is by eating swordfish, a popular menu item due to its meaty, steak-like texture. How concerned should you be about swordfish? -
You Should Never Drink Bottled Water That's Been Sitting In The Sun. Here's Why
Bottled water can be good to have on hand on an outing or in your house in case of an emergency. But if you have a stash of bottled water somewhere, one of the most important things to do is keep it out of the sun.