The short answer: A coconut is a fruit and it’s a TREE nut but it’s not a TRUE nut. Oh, and it can also be considered a seed. Is a coconut a...Fruit?Yes!Vegetable?NoTrue Nut?NoTree Nut?Yes!Culinary Nut?Yes!Seed?Yes! Confused? You’re not alone! But don’t worry, we’ll explain it all in English before we get a little science-y. Read on! What makes something a fruit, anyway? The classifications for plant-based foods [...]
What Is the “Saltiest” Salt for Cooking?
Salt is one of the five main flavors we can detect, and it tends to be one of the more preferred flavors along with sweet. Salt is commonly used in cooking, but with so many types of salt, is there one that is the “saltiest” for cooking? Table salt tends to be the saltiest salt for cooking because it contains the most sodium compared to other types of salt. We’ll compare the sodium content of several popular types of [...]
What Does Umami Taste Like Exactly?
Umami is one of the five main flavors you can identify in foods, but what IS umami, and what does it taste like? Umami, also called savory, is a flavor that is described as being “brothy” or “meaty”. Umami flavor occurs naturally in foods that are high in the amino acid glutamate (glutamic acid) such as tomatoes, meat, chicken, and mushrooms. Some foods with added monosodium glutamate also taste savory/umami, like some fast [...]
Chile Powder vs Chili Powder: What’s the Difference?
Chili peppers (also called chile peppers – which one is the more typical spelling depends on where you live or where you are from!) are a staple ingredient in taco seasoning and hot sauces and are used whole in some recipes. Chile powder and chili powder both contain dried and ground peppers, but what’s the difference between them? Chile powder refers to dried and ground chile/chili peppers ONLY, while chili powder contains [...]
Star Anise vs Anise Seed: What’s the Difference?
Anise and star anise are both used for their natural licorice-like flavor (but they’re different from licorice root). Have you ever wondered why some recipes call for anise seed and some say to use star anise? Are they the same thing?! Star anise and anise seed are both spices, but they are from different plants. They both have a licorice-like flavor, but star anise is considered to have a more intense flavor than anise [...]
The Definitive List of Herbs, Spices, and Seasoning Blends (Over 100!)
You probably don’t think about it much, but herbs and spices give many of your favorite foods their unique flavors and are likely a main reason you like those foods. Whether it’s gingerbread cookies, pasta sauce, or fish tacos, they all contain an herb or spice (and often both!). What ARE herbs and spices, anyway? We’ll explain the difference, review 115 different herbs and spices in detail, and much more in this [...]
