On this week’s episode of Cooking Issues, hosts Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez take a number of caller questions. They provide some helpful advice on mixing with Sanbitter, discuss humane methods to cook crustaceans that will make them taste better, and much more! After the break, they keep the answers coming, discussing sugar in gummy bears, the pros and cons of canning vs bottling, and fungal infections on plants. This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch . “Ice water does not an ice br...
Jan 14, 2014•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 153
Cooking Issues returns in 2014 with helpful kitchen tips regarding circulators, distillation, koji, and more! Tune into this week’s episode to hear Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez discuss clarification techniques, and why you don’t want to be in the same room as an exploding circulator. Later, tune in for Dave’s home kitchen modification suggestions. Find out why you should install foot pedals for your home sink, and hear why Dave doesn’t stack his mixing bowls by size. This program has been bro...
Jan 08, 2014•1 hr•Ep. 152
This week on Cooking Issues, Dave and Nastasha bring in Rebecca Palkoviks from Booker & Dax and Lara Speier from Days App. They explore the idea of hooking up a tube to a santa robot and pumping fake vomit through his mouth. Then Dave takes a few caller questions about food safety. Tune in to learn some important tips and tricks about refrigerating & freezing food for a long period of time! This program has been sponsored by Regional Access . “Fresh tofu is amazing and it’s not high in a...
Dec 17, 2013•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 151
On today’s episode of Cooking Issues, hosts Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez answer questions about the essential steps to preparing eggnog. Dave calls up chef Pierre Thiam to discuss Senegalese cuisine. Before the break, he answers a caller’s question about cooking for pregnant women. After the break, Dave and Nastassia sample some salami from Underground Meats . This program has been sponsored by Underground Meats . “People are using more and more oil, not for the taste, but just as a sign of b...
Dec 03, 2013•54 min•Ep. 150
On this week’s pre-Thanksgiving episode of Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold, Nastassia Lopez, and Piper Kristensen talk about the upcoming Kickstarter for the Searzall! Tune into this episode to learn why every culinary nerd needs a Searzall in their kitchen, and how you can support their campaign. Tune in to hear about the successes of turning various nut milks into tofu-like substances. Learn how to make a Reese’s-like filling for a pecan pie! Find out if salt-rising bread has the potential to be a...
Nov 26, 2013•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 149
In this episode of Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold answers questions about rolled meats, and discusses low temperature methods of cooking turkey. After the break, Dave praises Virginia peanuts and explains why they blow all other peanuts out of the water. Then he describes a fantastic method of roasting and salting peanuts. Dave also gives us his theory on why agave provides such a unique and important sweetness to margaritas. Finally, he outlines a few of the best options for safely deep frying (wi...
Nov 19, 2013•49 min•Ep. 148
In this episode of Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold discusses some mocktail recipes that most closely mimic all aspects of alcoholic beverages (minus the intoxication). Later, he describes various DIY methods to make your own dry ice. Then, Dave talks about the upcoming Kickstarter campaign for his new product, the Searzall. Finally, he goes over what can cause an oil fire, how disastrous they can be, and how to avoid them. This program has been brought to you by Brooklyn Slate . “From a cooking stan...
Nov 12, 2013•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 147
Can the BLT be improved upon? Is there anything more American than a Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich? Do Tiki bitters belong in egg nog? Tune in to another jam-packed episode of Cooking Issues as Dave answers questions faster than you can think them up! This program was sponsored by Underground Meats . “Jerusalem artichokes are the fartiest vegetable in the world!” [45:00] –Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues
Nov 05, 2013•54 min•Ep. 146
Are octopus aware of their own existence? What’s the best fish sauce? How is pink salt different than regular salt? How do animals experience pain? Dave Arnold continues to plow through listener questions and make food seem easy. Tune in for non-stop knowledge and learn a thing or two about your food! Today’s show was sponsored by Heritage Foods USA . “Nobody understands how to knock out the consciousness in an octopus because nobody knows how an octopus feels consciousness.” [37:00] –Dave Arnol...
Oct 29, 2013•55 min•Ep. 145
Get ready for another jam-packed episode of Cooking Issues as Dave Arnold tackles everything from home-carbonation to hot sauce. Find out where his addiction to Diet Coke stems from and learn about why different foods change color. This program was sponsored by Regional Access “If you don’t like eggplant parm, there’s something wrong with you!” [37:00] –Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues
Oct 22, 2013•51 min•Ep. 144
Why are canned black olives so bad ? This week on Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are talking about some of the cocktails they’re making with crab apples for Martha Stewart’s American Made event. Hear how olives for canning are preserved using huge vats of lactic and acetic acid! Later, Dave answers a listener question about natural pickling. Can you boil vegetables before pickling them? Find out how to change the acid profile of different citrus juices. How should one treat left...
Oct 15, 2013•55 min•Ep. 143
This week on Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are joined by Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot of Ideas in Food to talk food science and their new book, Maximum Flavor . Tune into this episode to hear how to reduce foam in shellfish stocks using a pressure cooker, and learn how hard water can affect beans. Are refrigerations naturally dry or moist, and how does refrigeration humidity influence food storage? Listen in to learn more about grilling cheeses, milk proteins, imitation...
Oct 08, 2013•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 142
Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez talking HASIP Plans, 3-D Printing, pudding, and more on this week’s Cooking Issues. Tune in to hear Dave talk about the processed involved with validating HASIP Plans, and why you should support Underground Meats in their mission to create their own! Later, learn about the difficulties associated with pasteurizing fish. Piper from Booker and Dax calls in to talk about how he prefers to make puddings using different varieties of carrageenan. Is there a way to make ...
Sep 24, 2013•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 141
After an unexpected two-week hiatus, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are back with another episode of Cooking Issues! Tune in to hear Dave talk about his recent trip to Harvard University, and why he almost had a disastrous experience involving propane torches in his car on the way to Cambridge. Tune in to hear Dave take on fermentation! Dave talks about fermenting tomato paste and making hot pepper sauce. Learn about salinity, and whether or not it is safe to make ramen noodles using lye. Later...
Sep 17, 2013•1 hr•Ep. 140
What are the culinary and nutritional benefits of egg yolks? Find out all of this and more on this week’s edition of Cooking Issues. Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are in the studio talking fried cheese, agar clarification, and a wealth of other topics. Find out why a good grinder is necessary for quality espresso. How can you create a deep freezing contraption with a salt water brine? Why does hydrolyzed pea protein lend itself to wobbly desserts? Tune in to learn more about the muscular syste...
Aug 27, 2013•57 min•Ep. 139
Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez get fishy on this week’s edition of Cooking Issues. After recounting the events of the recent puffing gun party, Dave gets down to business and talks about the various Japanese fish-killing techniques, and how they alter the texture and taste of fish. What are some of the necessary steps for preserving fish? Dave explains how to can and cure fish! Hear Dave resolve more listener cooking problems regarding chilling drinks, fungus on stone fruit, meat glue, gelatin,...
Aug 20, 2013•59 min•Ep. 138
After sharing some unorthodox ideas for detox methods, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez dig into a new batch of listener questions on this week’s episode of Cooking Issues. Hear how different eggs create different types of mayonnaise, and why one listener is having trouble making mayo from turkey eggs. Listen in to find out about some homemade, DIY immersion circulator technologies! Dave talks about muscle tissue in squid and octopus, and how invertebrates tend to get get mushy after long cooking...
Aug 06, 2013•49 min•Ep. 137
The phone lines are off the hook on this week’s episode of Cooking Issues! Dave Arnold is joined by Nastassia “The Hammer” Lopez, and is enduring the beginning stages of his lemonade cleanse. Learn about the history of the Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanse , and why Dave thinks it’s a bunch of baloney. Tune into this episode to learn the best way to slice country ham at home. What food safety considerations should people on neutropenic diets keep in mind? Find out why sausage casings have a tende...
Jul 30, 2013•1 hr•Ep. 136
Congratulations to the Museum of Food and Drink on their successful Kickstarter campaign! Look out for the cereal puffer in a city near you! Dave Arnold is back in the studio this week with Nastassia Lopez to answer a few listener questions on topics such as micron size and sauerkraut. Find out how to use skin from slab bacon to make homemade pork rinds! Learn how to cook bratwurst in a circulator, and use unconventional fruit flavors in ice cream. Tune in next week to hear how Dave is handling ...
Jul 23, 2013•38 min•Ep. 135
The Museum of Food and Drink’s Kickstarter is drawing to a close; tune into this week’s Cooking Issues, and donate today! This week, Nastassia Lopez, Peter Kim, and Piper Kristensen hold down the studio while Dave Arnold calls into the show from New Orleans. Tune in to hear about some of MOFAD’s upcoming plans, and why it’s imperative to support the MOFAD Kickstarter campaign now! Tune into this episode to hear the differences between young, commercial meat and older game animals. Where is the b...
Jul 16, 2013•48 min•Ep. 134
Dave Arnold calls in from Florida for this week’s episode of Cooking Issues. Nastassia Lopez holds down the fort in Brooklyn, and is joined by Peter Kim of the Museum of Food and Drink. Hear the crew talk about MOFAD’s Kickstarter project, and how they hope to bring interesting food exhibits across the country through a mobile museum model. Learn how to use the flavors of thai basil in your cooking. Find out about preserving deep fry oil and bacon grease, and learn the process of making spring r...
Jul 09, 2013•53 min•Ep. 133
Harold McGee joins Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez in the studio for today’s edition of Cooking Issues! Harold and Dave team up to tackle some listener questions regarding circulators, food aroma, fruit preservation, and more! Why does orange juice taste so terrible after brushing your teeth? Tune into this episode to hear the cast discuss the nuances of different condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and mustard. What brands are preferred? Find out why mustard oils in the United Stat...
Jun 25, 2013•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 132
The puffing gun is up and running! This week on Cooking Issues, Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez recap the first test of the Museum of Food and Drink’s new cereal puffer! Later, Dave takes on some questions regarding bubble size in alcoholic drinks and flavoring Doritos. How can you get brown rice to stick together? Dave helps a caller preserve some cocktail cherries, and talks about his recent foraging adventures at Riverside Park. How would Dave make banana chips at home? Finally, hear about ‘c...
Jun 18, 2013•49 min•Ep. 131
The phones are off the hook on this week’s episode of Cooking Issues! Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are talking about new dishwashing formulas that use sodium carbonate instead of phosphates. How tough are these soaps on scum? Learn how to preserve salt crystals in ice cream applications, and find out why Dave loves induction burners. Tune into this episode to hear more about pressure cookers, apple varieties, and cooking chicken for large catered events. Curious about fruit sex? Tune into thi...
Jun 11, 2013•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 130
We’re smoking fish and steaming pudding on this week’s episode of Cooking Issues. Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are once again joined in the studio by Arielle Johnson, PhD candidate at UC Davis. Tune into this episode to learn how to safely smoke salmon using cold and hot smoking methods. When should you freeze your salmon in order to kill existing parasites? Find out how to use a dehydrate to dry fruits like apricots and mangos. Should one worry about sulfites in dehydrated fruits? Dave wraps...
Jun 04, 2013•57 min•Ep. 129
In this week’s episode of Cooking Issues, Dave begins by answering a question on gluten intolerance by listener Mike Mallory. He then continues on to answer a question on fior de latte ice-cream, and the problems associated with making ice cream at home. Dave’s offers his opinions on different brands and types of ice cream from all around the world, the effects of stabilizers during the production process, and the effects of guar and gelatin during the ice cream making method? In the second segm...
May 28, 2013•55 min•Ep. 128
Despite a bicycling ticket, Dave Arnold speeds into the studio and joins Nastassia Lopez for another week of Cooking Issues! Dave gives some tips about making a a creme anglaise, and tackles the gluten-free trend. Why are so many Americans limiting the gluten in their diets, and does it really make sense to do so if you don’t suffer from celiac disease? Hear what grains Dave learned about in Senegal that hold promise for gluten-free bread lovers. Find out ways to use leftover eggs, and hear abou...
May 21, 2013•54 min•Ep. 127
Chris Young, co-author of Modernist Cuisine and founder of ChefSteps , calls into this week’s episode of Cooking Issues! Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are back in the studio and are answering listener questions with Chris. Tune into this episode to hear Chris and Dave troubleshoot a candied jalapeño ice cream that lacks serious heat. How can you create a booze-y creamsicle? Later, hear Dave pepper Chris with some coffee questions. Hear how to create the ideal latte foam, and learn how grind s...
May 14, 2013•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 126
Dave Arnold is back from Senegal with another episode of Cooking Issues! Joining him in the studio is Peter Kim of the Museum of Food & Drink. Tune into this episode to hear Dave talk about milk- both cow and human. Is it ok to freeze milk? And should you drink alcohol if you are breast feeding? Later, Dave and Peter offer some suggestions for creating non-alcoholic drinks that taste and feel like real cocktails. Find out how to infuse nut flavors efficiently, and how to make large-format ic...
May 07, 2013•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 125
Mark Ladner, chef at Del Posto, joins Dave, Nastassia, and Piper for this week’s Cooking Issues! Dave talks about his upcoming trip to Senegal, and the importance of learning about authentic cuisine from different regions around the world. Dave revisits a question about rice noodles, and then delves into different types of miso. How can one substitute duck fat into baking recipes? Later, Mark weighs in on the bacon vs. pancetta debate. What does he prefer when making a carbonara? The cast tastes...
Apr 23, 2013•50 min•Ep. 124
