Cooking Basics: Defrosting, Slicing & Healthy Substitutes

Essential cooking basics include safe defrosting methods for steak and chicken, along with precision slicing techniques. Discover healthy substitutes for common ingredients like cayenne powder or beer to enhance your home-cooked meals.

Acids & Bases in Cooking

Published Jul,08 2011 | By Cynthia B. Astle

At its most elemental level, the art of cooking is about chemistry, namely how food components react with one another. Acids and bases are the foundation of these chemical reactions in food preparation.

Cynthia B. Astle is a longtime journalist who has written on practically every topic of human interest for newspapers such as the "United Methodist Reporter," magazines including "Response," "Arts Ministry" and the "Progressive Christian" and websites such as Darkwood Brew and United Methodist Insight. She was also a food editor and restaurant reviewer for the "Clearwater Sun."