Weird Food Science Questions, Answered
What Makes Okra Slimy?
The Africans brought it and the French Creole championed it as a culinary staple. While okra— a member of the mallow family, along with hibiscus and cotton — is praised for its taste and thickening qualities in soups and stews, many people refuse to eat it. Why? For the same reasons this harmless pod is used to thicken soups and stews like gumbo. Okra can make for a slimy mess on the palate if prepared improperly.
Can You Really Fry An Egg On A Piece Of Paper?
There's nothing like a fried egg to liven up a boring dish. Speaking of livening things up, English food personality Stefan Gates' party tricks include wrapping a chicken in gold foil and poaching salmon in a dishwasher, but can he really fry an egg on a piece of paper? Check out his secret trick – try it at home, but keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Does Drinking Alcohol Repel Mosquitoes?
Try and try as we do, we can't seem to rid ourselves of the mosquito problem, even when there seem to be an endless list of remedies and solutions, from sprays to tiki torches to citronella candles. What if I told you that warding off those winged pests could be as easy as drinking a cocktail? Though it may sound preposterous, science suggests that those apertif pisco sours are good at more than just whetting your appetite.
What Makes Meat "Fall Off the Bone?"
Beef and pork are delicious, but only when they are cooked the right way. Luckily, even the toughest cuts of meat will fall off the bone when the right techniques are applied, leaving you with tender, juicy meat that will be the talk of the town. The question is: How? What causes meat to fall off the bone?
Does Champagne Go Straight To Your Head?
There's just something about a bottle of bubbly — be it traditional champagne (from Champagne) or sparkling wine (from anywhere but Champagne) — that makes any birthday or anniversary all the more special. Yet amidst all the excitement and general baller-ness surrounding it, the one question you're probably not dwelling on is: Does champagne really go straight to my head? Remember, there are no stupid champagne questions. Technically speaking, it does (once you've mastered bottle-opening, of course).
Why Do Beans Make You Gassy?
Whatever the bean, be it black, lima, kidney, pinto or good old refried, the old school rhyme still rings true. You know the one: Beans, beans the magical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot. Juvenile as it sounds, the message it holds is anything but a joke; beans make you gassy. But why?