Smart Girl Dumb Questions

Is Cooking Art or Science? with Kenji Lopez-Alt

29 snips
Apr 18, 2025
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ADVICE

Eggs Expire Slowly and Safely

  • Eggs can last well beyond their sell-by dates if stored properly, especially when not washed of their natural protective cuticle.
  • Don't rely solely on smell to check eggs; they rarely smell rotten even when old, and they're safe cooked after months in the fridge.
INSIGHT

Recipes Are Mere Directions

  • Recipes are like turn-by-turn directions for cooking; understanding technique lets you adapt and improvise.
  • Reading background and technique around recipes is more valuable than rigidly following instructions.
ANECDOTE

Unreproducible Family Recipe

  • Kenji's mom made mapo tofu with a mix of dumpling filling and freezer vegetables, never a fixed recipe.
  • He recreated it as best as possible but acknowledges it can never taste exactly the same.
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