Cooking ‘Wisdom’ That’s Handed Down

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

A thread for all those foodie things that you have been told by friends, relatives and general instructions from your food ministry that you’ve always believed or done.
Especially the ‘received wisdom’ that you believed to be true and then at some point you realise it wasn’t the best advice!

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Turkey needs to be cooked for hours and hours.

The fear of food poisoning has meant packaging (and some chefs) advocate completely over cooking it.
For generation upon generation we have been serving dry turkey because.. well just because everyone says we should!

Here’s the packaging for my turkey crown.
It advises a cooking at 180° (356f) for 3hrs 8mins!

In reality it took just 1½ hours!

I decided on a lower cooking temp of 160° (320f) and the thermometer reached 62° (143f) in 1½hours.
I pushed it an extra 20mins just in case my thermometer was poorly positioned.

A separate meat probe confirmed the cook over took it to 76° (168f) in the thickest parts, higher at thinner ends.

I appreciate they don’t know how efficient peoples ovens are or how cold the turkey is when it goes in but to take a cooking time and double it seems crazy!

 

[badjak]

Beans need to be boiled on high heat for at least 10 minutes..

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Beans need to be boiled on high heat for at least 10 minutes..

Never heard that one.
What sort of beans and what happens?

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

Onions and garlic go into the frying pan at the same time.
Only if you want to risk the garlic becoming bitter.

 

[badjak]

Never heard that one.
What sort of beans and what happens?

I seem to recall that was for kidney beans

 

[badjak]

And I found this How to Safely Cook Kidney Beans & Cannellini Beans in a Slow Cooker

 

[JAS_OH1]

And I found this How to Safely Cook Kidney Beans & Cannellini Beans in a Slow Cooker

I have no idea how my family and I haven't gotten ill over the past 25 years. I've cooked kidney beans in the crockpot many, many times. We've all eaten more than 4 of them lol. I have always soaked and drained them first but not boiled them. Huh. Who knew!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

And I found this How to Safely Cook Kidney Beans & Cannellini Beans in a Slow Cooker

I don't think it would ever occur to me to use a slow cooker to cook them in when I know they must be cooked correctly in order not to be a problem. And why I'd boil them on a pan for 30 minutes then put them into a slow cooker is beyond me.

I just either boil them until done or in summer, to reduce the heat in the kitchen, I'd pressure cook them.

 

[JAS_OH1]

I don't think it would ever occur to me to use a slow cooker to cook them in when I know they must be cooked correctly in order not to be a problem. And why I'd boil them on a pan for 30 minutes then put them into a slow cooker is beyond me.

I just either boil them until done or in summer, to reduce the heat in the kitchen, I'd pressure cook them.

I didn't know. I would soak for a lengthy time and rinse, then put them in the slow cooker with lots of water before going to work. They would cook all day. They were tender and yummy and no one got sick. I just didn't know!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I didn't know. I would soak for a lengthy time and rinse, then put them in the slow cooker with lots of water before going to work. They would cook all day. They were tender and yummy and no one got sick. I just didn't know!

Kidney beans are the only ones I was aware needed to be boiled before the cooking. And I guess it will also depend on the source of your beans. Each variant of red kidney beans will have different levels of the lectin. Plus you're giving them a lengthy soak before and not using the same water which is also a very important fact. I don't even put that water over my herbs or vegetables.

BBC Good Food Guide: Kidney beans

 

[badjak]

I don't use slow cookers.
That link was just the first I found and it sounds pretty odd, to first cook them and then move to the slow cooker ..

Anyway, in my mind that cooking part just got remembered as 'cook beans hard for 10 minutes'
The type of beans got pushed into the background.

 

[karadekoolaid]

My mum taught me to make pastry; especially for apple pies.
Just mix the butter and the flour with your fingertips, then add cold water.
Works an absolute treat, and there's no sticky pastry below your knuckles!

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

My mum taught me to make pastry; especially for apple pies.
Just mix the butter and the flour with your fingertips, then add cold water.
Works an absolute treat, and there's no sticky pastry below your knuckles!

I think that’s one of those received wisdom’s that really is a good received wisdom.

 

[msmofet]

I use canned red kidney beans and cannellini beans. Any other dry beans I may use are not soaked, just cooked in my Instant Pot for 35 minutes.