Feature What are McRibs Made Of? Ribs? No. That story you heard about inverted pig behinds? Also no. The McRib sandwich is our fast food nation’s finest exercise … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Causes a Brain Freeze? The science of ice cream headaches. The technical term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia: the sharp pain you get after eating or drinking something … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented the Buffalo Wing? The inside scoop behind a piece of edible Americana. So the story goes, one night at her family’s Buffalo restaurant, The Anchor … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Why Is Foie Gras So Expensive? Liver is a notoriously cheap cut, so why do geese get all the golden eggs? Liver is cheap. Historically, it’s the cut … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Why Do Fresh Eggs Sink and Expired Ones Float? The science behind the old kitchen legend. Need to tell if your eggs are still good to eat? Here’s a quick kitchen … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Do You Really Need to Salt Pasta Water? It comes down to another simple question: Do you want your pasta to taste good? “Salty as the sea” is one of … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Breadfruit? This spiky tropical fruit is a staple across Polynesia and the Caribbean, and it might just wipe out world hunger. Breadfruit has … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented King Ranch Chicken? On the unofficial state casserole of Texas. While the Midwest is responsible for more casseroles per capita than other regions of the … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Why Do Beans Make You Gassy? And how to stop the toots. Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you ingest large … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Are Oysters Really an Aphrodisiac? There are more effective ways to get in the mood. No matter how far we progress as a civilization, one pursuit that … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is a Bain Marie? All about your cheesecake’s best friend. Anyone who’s hard-boiled an egg knows that they can go from firm and creamy to rubbery … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Do Twinkies Really Last Forever? The end of the world will not be full of snack cakes. “When the world comes to an end, all that will … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between Greek and Turkish Coffee? Don’t tell the Turks and Greeks, but they’re more similar than different. Crowned with dark foam, delightfully bitter, and silty as fresh … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Why Do We Call It Dry Wine? Behind the paradoxical wine lingo we’ve swallowed forever. “Anything as long as it’s dry” has been the American wine drinker’s mantra for … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Does Fresh Fish Really Make the Best Sushi? Most of the seafood that goes into your sushi is actually aged—intentionally and not. It’s a romantic idea: tuna bought fresh at … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented Carrot Cake? It had nothing to do with cutting back on sugar. Maybe you’ve been told that carrot cake was a way for beleaguered … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature Who Invented the English Muffin? They’re not really muffins, but the term sounded better than “griddle cake.” Samuel Bath Thomas, an Englishman who migrated to the United … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature How Did Ketchup Become the Default American Condiment? It’s in almost every American kitchen. But it comes from the other side of the world. Mayo may be the top-selling condiment … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between a Crisp and a Cobbler? They’re actually completely distinct desserts. The terms “crisp,” “cobbler,” and “crumble” often get used interchangeably, but if you dig into their origins, … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What’s the Difference Between Tamari and Soy Sauce? The important thing to know about the sainted sauce of hippies and gluten-free eaters. For people avoiding or abstaining from gluten, tamari … Story: Max Falkowitz
Feature What Is Pancake Syrup Made Of? How a sweetener with zero maple flavoring winds up tasting like maple syrup. One crisp morning in the fall of 2005, dozens … Story: Max Falkowitz
