1. When cooking pasta you should put oil in the pot to prevent sticking. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. Do not put oil in the pot when cooking pasta, it will coat your pasta and prevent the sauce from adhering to the pasta. To prevent sticking, stir the pasta frequently while cooking.

2. I should wash my pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to remove the starch. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. The starch helps the sauce adhere to the pasta and therefore is a good thing. You should only wash pasta if you are using it in a cold salad.

3. Adding salt to pasta water will increase the flavor of pasta. True or False?

This cooking myth is…TRUE. Salted water is important when cooking pasta. Bring your water to a boil then add salt. Salt helps to bring out the flavor of the pasta. Use plenty of salt, 2 tablespoons per pound of pasta. Most of the salt will wash away when you drain the pasta, so it will not increase the sodium in your meal.

4. I should not rinse mushrooms with water, because they will soak up the water. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. Mushrooms are porous, but a rinse will not make much of a difference in your dish. And it will ensure you have clean mushrooms. So, rinse away.

5. Dry spices never go bad. True or False?

This cooking myth is…TRUE & FALSE. While dry spices never go bad, they do lose their potency of flavor in a relatively short period of time. The rule of thumb is to toss your opened spices six months after the date of purchase. Most spices actually keep better in the refrigerator provided the humidity is low.

6. When cooking with alcohol, all the alcohol burns off during the cooking process. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. Only about 50% of the alcohol is burned off when you flambé, sauté, simmer or bake a dish with alcohol. The only way to burn off all the alcohol is to cook a dish for a few hours.

7. Baking soda and baking powder will stay fresh forever. True or False?

This cooking myth is…TRUE for baking soda and FALSE for baking powder. Baking soda will stay fresh for a very, very long time. Baking powder on the other hand starts to lose its potency after it’s opened. Don’t store baking powder in the refrigerator, store in a dry place. It will keep for about three to six months.

8. Soaking potatoes in salt water before frying will make them crispier. True or False?

This cooking myth is…TRUE. Yes, soaking raw potatoes in salt water for several minutes before cooking will help make your french fries crispier.

9. When grilling meat it is best to flip only once to ensure browning. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. Flipping meat multiple times produces more evenly cooked meat then meat flipped only once. It will also be just as brown as meat flipped only once and cooks in less time. So, flip away!

10. Salting beans before cooking will cause them to be tough. True or False?

This cooking myth is…FALSE. Actually soaking beans in salted water before cooking is a good thing. The salt water actually tenderizes the skin. Your beans will come out creamier, seasoned and will be less likely to explode during cooking.