Food Chemistry

Some people think cilantro and coriander taste like soap. — If you crave tacos al carbon with onions and cilantro or are a big fan of chutney or falafal, you likely appreciate the tangy citrus flavor of cilantro. However, a significant number of people think cilantro tastes like soap. Whether you like cilantro or loathe it depends on genetics and […]

Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap?

This entry was posted on February 7, 2019 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on March 1, 2019)

Snow Ice Cream — Delicious, creamy snow ice cream is one of the best parts of winter! There are many ways to make snow ice cream. You can use snow as the main ingredient or you can use it to freeze any other ice cream recipe. Snow Ice Cream With Snow as an Ingredient […]

Snow Ice Cream Recipes

This entry was posted on November 16, 2018 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on January 19, 2020)

Orange juice tastes bad after brushing your teeth because foaming agents affect chemoreceptors in taste buds. — Orange juices tastes terrible if you drink it right after brushing your teeth. It’s a familiar scenario. You wake up in the morning, grab the toothbrush and toothpaste to start the day with that fresh feeling, and head to breakfast. But, you should really re-think the order of things. Save […]

Why Orange Juice Tastes Bad After Brushing

This entry was posted on September 24, 2018 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 15, 2019)

Real wasabi is green because of chlorophyll. Most "wasabi" is horseradish dyed with food coloring or spinach. (Jay Abrantes) — The spicy-hot green ball served with sushi is called wasabi, but unless you live in Japan, you’re almost certainly eating a substitute. This fake wasabi is made from horseradish, mustard, starch, and either green food coloring or spinach. You have to use the ingredient list rather than the product name […]

Why Is Wasabi Green?

This entry was posted on July 27, 2018 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on August 13, 2018)

Table of Edible pH Indicators (Todd Helmenstine) — Red cabbage juice is the best known edible pH indicator, but there are many safe fruits, vegetables, and flowers that change color in response to acidity or alkalinity. The plant pigments responsible for the color change are anthocyanins. Most of these molecules change from red to purple to blue in […]

Edible pH Indicators From Your Kitchen and Garden

This entry was posted on June 23, 2018 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on April 7, 2019)

Microwave pizza with a glass of water to keep the crust from getting tough or soggy. (Michał Kubalczyk) — When you microwave pizza to reheat it, you run the risk of turning the best food in the world into a chew toy fit only for Fido. Microwaving melts the cheese and reheats the toppings, but toughens the crust. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! You can nuke […]

Why You Should Microwave Pizza With a Glass of Water

This entry was posted on May 21, 2018 by Anne Helmenstine (updated on May 26, 2018)