Cooking "rules"

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

For example, a friend of my insists that the stuffing that she puts into
turkey can't be eaten cold -- it has to be reheated if it's leftover --
because she puts pork sausage in it, and she believes that pork cannot be
eaten cold. I'm sure she's confusing the rule about cooking pork to a proper
temperature, because obviously there are plenty of pork products that are
eaten cooked but cold.

The other day, my MIL proclaimed that "you're not supposed to serve more
than one colorful dish at a meal." And she said she was breaking the rule by
having two "colorful" things at the meal, although I'm not even sure what
she meant by that. Has anyone heard this "rule" or anything like it?

What does MIL mean by "colorful"? I know there is a widespread view that
it's better not to have everything on the plate more or less the *same*
colour (eg chicken breast, cauliflower in cheese sauce and mashed
potato), but that's not a rule, it's an aesthetic thing. Does she think
that if you serve a greek salad you can only have rice pudding for dessert?

There are some rules that are health and safety matters (clean your
chopping board after cutting raw meat), and others that really go to
technique (rest your pastry in the fridge for a while before rolling it
out) but there's an awful lot of old wives tales out there - my MIL
believes you have to cut whacking great crosses into brussels sprouts
before boiling them to death, otherwise they'd be indigestible!

Christine

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

One rule I have heard is that raw meat should not be cooked in a
microwave as it will be unsafe to eat. But the truth is that the
temperature is what kills bacteria. It doesn't matter how the
temperature gets there. Meat and fish can be cooked in the microwave.
It may not be the way that somebody wants it, but there is certainly
nothing unsafe about it as long as it is fully cooked.

I wouldn't call it a rule, but some people are horrified with the idea
of cooking something well done as if that makes it inedible, but some
people (like me) actually prefer it that way. I realize many people
would not enjoy it, but then I don't enjoy rare meat and won't eat it.
We all have our own preferences. It's funny to hear it stated as if
everybody likes exactly the same thing.

"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

One rule I have heard is that raw meat should not be cooked in a
microwave as it will be unsafe to eat. But the truth is that the
temperature is what kills bacteria. It doesn't matter how the
temperature gets there. Meat and fish can be cooked in the microwave.
It may not be the way that somebody wants it, but there is certainly
nothing unsafe about it as long as it is fully cooked.

A long time ago, I read or heard that microwaving killed the nutritional
value of food. Rule or No Rule?

Andy

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

For example, a friend of my insists that the stuffing that she puts into
turkey can't be eaten cold -- it has to be reheated if it's leftover --
because she puts pork sausage in it, and she believes that pork cannot be
eaten cold. I'm sure she's confusing the rule about cooking pork to a proper
temperature, because obviously there are plenty of pork products that are
eaten cooked but cold.

I hope that you don't offer her a ham sandwich.
:-)

"Andy" <q> wrote

Quoted message said:

A long time ago, I read or heard that microwaving killed the nutritional
value of food. Rule or No Rule?

No Rule!

nancy

In article <[email hidden]>,

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

For example, a friend of my insists that the stuffing that she puts into
turkey can't be eaten cold -- it has to be reheated if it's leftover --
because she puts pork sausage in it, and she believes that pork cannot be
eaten cold. I'm sure she's confusing the rule about cooking pork to a proper
temperature, because obviously there are plenty of pork products that are
eaten cooked but cold.

The other day, my MIL proclaimed that "you're not supposed to serve more
than one colorful dish at a meal." And she said she was breaking the rule by
having two "colorful" things at the meal, although I'm not even sure what
she meant by that. Has anyone heard this "rule" or anything like it?

I am very much a "do whatever works for you" kind of person.

If your friend is content to abide by those "rules." More power to her.
I have never heard of either rule. You're probably right in your
suspicion that your friend is confusing the rule about always cooking
pork products adequately before eating them, but if she's happy eating
stuffing only when its heated, why would it matter to you? I do not eat
cold stuffing because I prefer to eat it to be heated first. I couldn't
care less about the colors of food on my plate as long as the food is
reasonably healthy and reasonably tasty.

The only rules I pay attention to with food preparation are those
involving safety and sanitation. Maybe I am a maverick because such
rules strike me as being pointless, except for the safety and sanitation
rules. Hell, I evenn drink red wines with chicken! Ohhh! Ahhh!

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

One rule I have heard is that raw meat should not be cooked in a
microwave as it will be unsafe to eat. But the truth is that the
temperature is what kills bacteria. It doesn't matter how the
temperature gets there. Meat and fish can be cooked in the microwave.
It may not be the way that somebody wants it, but there is certainly
nothing unsafe about it as long as it is fully cooked.

I have never heard of that rule. I agree, that rule makes no sense.
Perhaps that's why I have never heard about it.

Quoted message said:

I wouldn't call it a rule, but some people are horrified with the idea
of cooking something well done as if that makes it inedible, but some
people (like me) actually prefer it that way. I realize many people
would not enjoy it, but then I don't enjoy rare meat and won't eat it.
We all have our own preferences. It's funny to hear it stated as if
everybody likes exactly the same thing.

Yup. I hate well done food, but if a guest requests a steak or something
well done, I will happily comply. If I am told the well done item tastes
good, I might ask how the person could possibly know, but I would not
deny the request.

In article said:

"[email hidden]" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

One rule I have heard is that raw meat should not be cooked in a
microwave as it will be unsafe to eat. But the truth is that the
temperature is what kills bacteria. It doesn't matter how the
temperature gets there. Meat and fish can be cooked in the microwave.
It may not be the way that somebody wants it, but there is certainly
nothing unsafe about it as long as it is fully cooked.

A long time ago, I read or heard that microwaving killed the nutritional
value of food. Rule or No Rule?

All forms of heat kill some nutrients in food. I suspect microwave
cooking is no different in that regard. When cooking certain foods such
as vegetables, there are ways to cook them that avoid sacrificing
nutrients such as steaming. Because cooking vegetables in a microwave
requires less liquid than most other cooking methods, it may even be
healthier, compared to methods such as stir frying.

Quoted message said:

D.Currie said:

Do you know people who tell you that things are "rules" for cooking, but
they seem odd or wrong to you?

For example, a friend of my insists that the stuffing that she puts into
turkey can't be eaten cold -- it has to be reheated if it's leftover --
because she puts pork sausage in it, and she believes that pork cannot be
eaten cold. I'm sure she's confusing the rule about cooking pork to a proper
temperature, because obviously there are plenty of pork products that are
eaten cooked but cold.

Of course the first rule is that the pork must be fully cooked prior to
stuffing into poultry.

Actually the rule is to remove stuffing cooked inside poultry quickly
and store in fridge separately... then there is no reason it shouldn't
be eaten cold... but if left inside poultry for any appreciable time,
like over night, it shouldn't be eaten at all, and the poultry in
proximity should be considered suspect as well. Your friend is an
idiot, but then so are you.

Sheldon

Stan Horwitz said:

I am very much a "do whatever works for you" kind of person.

If your friend is content to abide by those "rules." More power to her.
I have never heard of either rule. You're probably right in your
suspicion that your friend is confusing the rule about always cooking
pork products adequately before eating them, but if she's happy eating
stuffing only when its heated, why would it matter to you? I do not eat
cold stuffing because I prefer to eat it to be heated first. I couldn't
care less about the colors of food on my plate as long as the food is
reasonably healthy and reasonably tasty.

The only rules I pay attention to with food preparation are those
involving safety and sanitation. Maybe I am a maverick because such
rules strike me as being pointless, except for the safety and sanitation
rules. Hell, I evenn drink red wines with chicken! Ohhh! Ahhh!

You forgot to mention the most important rule... Heinz Ketchup RULES!

Sheldon

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1148138578.956608.89680
@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

You forgot to mention the most important rule... Heinz Ketchup RULES!

Sheldon

Yeah, right! It's only nutritional value is sodium and sugar (genetically
engineered high fructose corn syrup).

Or maybe their new one-carb ketchup (splenda'd). Or their "no salt
added" ketchup.

http://www.dietfacts.com/list.asp?brand=Heinz

Gimme tomatoes anyday or organic tomato paste even.

Andy

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

For example, a friend of my insists that the stuffing that she puts into
turkey can't be eaten cold -- it has to be reheated if it's leftover --
because she puts pork sausage in it, and she believes that pork cannot be
eaten cold. I'm sure she's confusing the rule about cooking pork to a proper
temperature, because obviously there are plenty of pork products that are
eaten cooked but cold.

The other day, my MIL proclaimed that "you're not supposed to serve more
than one colorful dish at a meal." And she said she was breaking the rule by
having two "colorful" things at the meal, although I'm not even sure what
she meant by that. Has anyone heard this "rule" or anything like it?

There's only one rule, and that's "there are no rules in cooking."

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

The first rule is true, but your friend cites the wrong reason.
Stuffing cooked inside a bird, when gradually cooled down, has a
chance to grow nasties, and should be well reheated.

Sorry but that's nonsense. If stuffing has been cooked properly in the
first place the bacteria will have been killed and there is no such
worry.

Quoted message said:

I used to love the bull rule that if you heat a stainless pan before
adding oil to it, foods won't stick, or will stick less than if you
add oil while the pan is cool and then heat them together before
adding the food. Absolute nonsense.

'
That's one of the kitchen myths I bust on my web page - you might enjoy
it:

http://www.pgacon.com/KitchenMyths.htm

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

In article <446ec0fd$0$31517$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-
01.iinet.net.au>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

my MIL
believes you have to cut whacking great crosses into brussels sprouts
before boiling them to death, otherwise they'd be indigestible!

Interesting - Julia Child suggests cutting such crosses to help them
cook evenly - but of course she does not cook them to death!

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths pages at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

Andy said:

Sheldon said:

You forgot to mention the most important rule... Heinz Ketchup RULES!

Yeah, right! It's only nutritional value is sodium and sugar (genetically
engineered high fructose corn syrup).

Or maybe their new one-carb ketchup (splenda'd). Or their "no salt
added" ketchup.

http://www.dietfacts.com/list.asp?brand=Heinz

Gimme tomatoes anyday or organic tomato paste even.

Andy will be a Newbie for lots and lots of years.

Sheldon

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Andy said:

Sheldon said:

You forgot to mention the most important rule... Heinz Ketchup
RULES!

Yeah, right! It's only nutritional value is sodium and sugar
(genetically engineered high fructose corn syrup).

Or maybe their new one-carb ketchup (splenda'd). Or their "no salt
added" ketchup.

http://www.dietfacts.com/list.asp?brand=Heinz

Gimme tomatoes anyday or organic tomato paste even.

Andy will be a Newbie for lots and lots of years.

Sheldon

Every day's a new day!

Andy

Peter A said:

There's only one rule, and that's "there are no rules in cooking."

I have to agree.... although there are some "personal preferences".

I, for one, will NOT boil eggs and potatoes in the same pot (at the same
time) - although some of my family may disagree with me on this. I have
no "scientific" reason for this - I just find the whole idea bleh.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Andy said:

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Andy will be a Newbie for lots and lots of years.

Sheldon

Every day's a new day!

Andy,

As far as Shelly (and some others) is/are concerned, you and I will be
Newbies until we have been posting here for 12 years. Lemme see.... you
are gonna be 60 and I am gonna be 57 when that happens. Help us! 😉

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Chatty Cathy <[email hidden]> wrote in news:2c14k3-vls.ln1
@foo.bar:

Quoted message said:

Andy said:

"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Andy will be a Newbie for lots and lots of years.

Sheldon

Every day's a new day!

Andy,

As far as Shelly (and some others) is/are concerned, you and I will be
Newbies until we have been posting here for 12 years. Lemme see.... you
are gonna be 60 and I am gonna be 57 when that happens. Help us! 😉

Cathy,

LOL!

You'll always be "Baby" to me. 😉))

Andy

Andy