The AnswerBank Articles

Aberdeen-Angus cattle

ouedtaria asked: Are the breed of Angus cattle born with no horns or are they removed as calves Aberdeen-Angus cattle are naturally polled (hornless). They are also hardy, black, and the 'world's00:00 Tue 07th May 2002

Tried, Tested and (sadly) Untrue

Nelli asked why inserting a silver spoon into the neck of an opened bottle of champagne keeps it fizzy for longer. The real answer is that... it doesn't. Yes, we accept that Nelli did test it and00:00 Fri 26th Apr 2002

How is Greek yoghurt different from the yoghurt we eat

A. People in Central Asia, the Balkans and Turkey have made yoghurt throughout history to preserve milk, much in the same way as people in Northern Europe have made cheese and butter. it was00:00 Mon 29th Apr 2002

Where does pumpernickel derive its peculiar name

A. Debates about Germany's black bread have raged for centuries. The origins of the bread's curious name have interested linguists and historians for almost as long. Meyer's Konversationslexikon in00:00 Mon 29th Apr 2002

Do monks still make green Chartreuse

A. The liqueur is made at the Chartreuse distillery in France by the Carthusian order. They are not an enclosed order and do have limited contact with the outside world. Q. How long have they been00:00 Mon 29th Apr 2002

Is cider made from more than one variety of apple

A. Traditional ciders are made from a blend of cider-apple varieties, to enchance their richness and apple fruitiness. The more varieties you use, the more likely you are to have a complex and00:00 Mon 22nd Apr 2002

Why are truffles considered so luxurious

A. Fresh truffles have always been synonymous with luxury, transforming even the simplest foods. The black truffle's great culinary gift is that it impregnates food with a deep, farmyard savour. A00:00 Mon 22nd Apr 2002

Which types of seaweed are edible

A. The most common sort of seaweed is the finely branched red and green seaweed called carragheen, found on the coastline in the UK For centuries, Scottish, West Country and Irish cooks used00:00 Mon 22nd Apr 2002

Where did HP Sauce get its name

A. HP Sauce was invented at the end of the 19th century by Mr FG Garton, a Nottingham grocer. He was down on his luck and couldn't pay his bills, so when Edwin Samson Moore, owner of the Midlands00:00 Mon 15th Apr 2002

Where does the word 'paella' come from

A. Paella is the generic name of the 200 or so distinctive rice dishes of the Valencia region of Spain. There are all sorts of theories about the dishes' origins. The most romantic is that the dish00:00 Mon 15th Apr 2002

How should you handle fresh horseradish

A. With care. Grow your own horseradish with caution, as it is rampant and self-seeds from the smallest piece left in the soil. Handle the root with care, as once it is cut or grated it gives off00:00 Mon 15th Apr 2002

How easy is it to avoid nuts in food

A. Nuts, particularly peanuts, are used in a surprisingly large number of products, including breads, desserts, yoghurts, chocolate and vegetarian products. If a production line is used for a food00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

Why does wine sometimes cork

A. If you've opened a bottle of wine to discover it smells like a musty old hymn book, it's the chemical compound called 2,4,6-trichloranisole. TCA, as it's known in spitting circles, is responsible00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

What's the most popular diet around at the moment

A. The nation has been obsessed with the idea of dieting since the early 20th century. Then it was called "Banting" after the obese William Banting was put on a weight loss regime by his doctor.00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

Where is the festival devoted to lard

A. While lard is something generally avoided in the UK, abroad it's a delicacy worthy of its own festival. Lardo di Colonnata is one of Italy great foodstuffs, revered like its olives, creamy goats'00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

Is it best to boil or simmer

A. Boiling as a cooking technique works by heating food with liquid convection streams. Since this means cooking at a maximum temperature of 100C, it precludes browning as caramelisation requires a00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

What does the 'extra' mean on an olive oil bottle

A. Virgin oils can be single estate or a blend of oils from sought-after producers - the most sought after are labelled 'First Cold-Pressing Extra Virgin'. First cold-pressing tells you this is the00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

Which foods will make my hair more shiny

A. Changes in the condition of your hair and problems such as hair loss can be a sign of nutrional deficiencies. You need to ensure your diet is rich in certain types of vitamins. Make sure you00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002

How many different types of Dijon mustard are there

A. Mustard made in the French city of Dijon is sold worldwide in dozens of flavours, varying from mild to hot, sweet to spicy. Some include whole grains of mustard seed, others are flavoured with00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002