Ask a Question on o5 Community
Instagram for Twitter
 

Q&As in


How do I know oil is hot enough for deep frying?

Here’s a trick from chinese cooks. Just stick a chopstick into the pan. When the oil sizzles around it, the oil is ready! You can now add the food. Just don’t crowd the pan or the temperature of the oil will drop.

What’s a polite way of getting rid of guests who overstay?

It’s late, the party’s over, and the guests just won’t leave! Turning off the music and switching on the lights is one polite cue. If that doesn’t work, get the plates and dishes and start washing! In most cases the guests will take the hint and leave. If not, you can try the “direct-but-sweet” approach: [...]

Can violent video games make kids more aggressive?

The short answer? It depends. Video games, on their own, can’t turn an otherwise well-adjusted child into a bully. They know the difference between fantasy and reality. The video game can even be a healthy outlet for frustration and stress. BUT if a child is already agitated or emotionally troubled, and lacks parental supervision and [...]

How do I get chewy brownies?

A lot depends on the recipe. But as a general rule try to get more liquids into the recipe (like corn syrup — just reduce the sugar) and fats (like butter). Take out the brownies before they’re completely cooked and then let them cool.

How much wine should I buy for a party?

Depends on the number of people. A general rule is to allot 2 glasses per person. A small group of 4 people need about 8 cocktails or glasses of wine. Eight people, on the other hand, may need 16 glasses of wine. If the party will last for more than two hours, multiply the number [...]

Do I need to adjust the cookie recipe if I live in high altitudes?

Above 3,000 feet the atmospheric pressure becomes lower, liquid boils quicker and evaporation is faster. This means flavor, especially among sugars, become more intense. In concrete terms your chocolate chip cookie may become flatter and sweeter if you bake it on a high mountain than on sea level. To help adjust for this, reduce the [...]

Can I substitute cake flour for all purpose flour?

Most recipes all for all purpose flour which you can buy bleached and unbleached. Don’t use cake flour unless the recipe says that it is an acceptable substitute. Cake flour contains less gluten and is more powdery, and tends to produce a lighter cookie. If you only have cake flour subtract two tablespoons of cakeflour [...]

How can I avoid the tourist traps?

Ask the locals where they go! For example, you can ask the concierge where he takes his family on weekends. Check local newspapers and magazines for interesting features or restaurant reviews (if they have an online component, you can also shuffle through the archives).

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a very small text file that a website saves on to your hard drive. It can help make web surfing easier (like when you ask a website to save your login details, or if your favorite online store saves your information). Websites can also use cookies to track how you navigate a [...]