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CONSUMERS ASK
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Published: August 20, 2008
A garden pest chewed my pineapple plant, and the almost-ripe pineapple fell off the stem. How can it finish ripening?
The pineapple may be green on the outside, but the fruit still may be sweet enough to eat. If you want the exterior to look more yellow, keep the pineapple on the counter for a few days. But after pineapples are picked, they won't get any sweeter.
I have several old tea cups with fine cracks. I'd like to keep them, but how safe are they to use?
They should be OK for hot liquids. The amount of time it takes to drink a cup of coffee or tea is not long enough for any bacteria to grow. Plus, the heat of the beverage will slow or stop growth of any bacteria hiding in the cracks. But hot liquids can make the cracks worse and cause the cups to break. Meanwhile, don't use them to store anything edible for extended periods of time and certainly not for anything at room temperature. You may want to put them aside as decorative objects.
What is bruschetta? Can I use eggplant to make it?
Traditional bruschetta is Italian bread rubbed with garlic and drizzled with oil. The bread is then roasted over hot coals until warm. Today's bruschetta recipes may call for chopped tomatoes, basil, onions, olives, any of several different kinds of cheese, peppers and various other ingredients. The toppings are mostly sauteed and served on slices of Italian bread. I have not seen recipes that included eggplant, but I did find one that used eggplant slices instead of bread.
When I make whipped cream, sometimes it doesn't whip properly. Could I be adding sugar at the wrong time?
It depends on what kind of sugar you are using. I found recipes that call for powdered sugar and say to add it after the cream is beaten to the point the beaters begin to leave tracks in the cream. But other recipes call for fine granulated sugar and say to mix the sugar and cream before beating. However, the most common reason for cream not to whip properly is because the bowls and beaters aren't cold enough. Be sure to chill them thoroughly before you whip the cream.
How can figs be preserved?
They can be made into preserves or jam, pickled, canned, frozen or dried. If you choose to dry them, you'll probably need a dehydrator. Our humid weather makes it hard to dry figs without one.
I have an old unopened bottle of cider vinegar. It looks like there is a bit of dark sediment on the bottom, but it is otherwise OK. Is it safe to use?
It should be fine because not much will grow in vinegar. You may find jelly-like lumps after opening the bottle. This is called "mother of vinegar," which is a growth of the bacteria used to make vinegar and sometimes reappears after long storage. It's safe to eat - although most people don't find it appetizing.
What can I substitute for instant coffee powder in recipes?
Usually, coffee powder is used to add either color or a bitter flavor. Unsweetened cocoa powder should work as a substitute in many recipes.
I have a bag of flour with some mildew. Can I still use it?
The flour might taste of mildew. Using a little won't make you sick, but long-term use of moldy or mildewed foods can lead to liver problems. And some molds produce toxins. Is one bag of flour worth the risk?
Mary A. Keith, a nutrition and health agent at Hillsborough County Extension, can be reached at (813) 744-5519 or mkeith@ufl.edu.
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