Pesticides on fruit and vegetables: does washing really work? What it can and cannot reduce
Pesticides on fruit and vegetables: washing can reduce some residues but not remove them all. What a review of 47 studies actually found.
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Leftover rice in the fridge, how long does it last and how many times can you reheat it?
Leftover rice in the fridge, how long it lasts, how quickly to chill it and how UK and US guidance differs on storing and reheating rice.
Fruit in the fridge or on the counter? Where to store it and when to move it
Apples, bananas, berries, peaches, pears and kiwifruit do not all belong in the same place. Some keep longer in the fridge, while others need to ripen at room temperature first. But hiding all our fruit in the refrigerator can also make it easier to forget.
Nitrites in processed meat, why they are used and what happens when they are reduced
Nitrites do more than give cured meats their familiar colour and flavour: they also help preserve them. A new study shows what happened when sodium nitrite was reduced in one cooked turkey ham.
Leftovers in the fridge, common mistakes when cooling, storing and reheating
Cooling food too slowly, keeping leftovers too long or reheating them poorly can increase risks: here is what official guidance recommends.
Does freezing dough change bread and pizza? What actually happens in the freezer
A new scientific review looks at what freezing does to starch, water and gluten in dough, helping explain why bread and pizza can lose volume and change texture after frozen storage.
What is tsukudani? The Japanese technique that turns ingredients into an umami-rich condiment
Soy sauce, mirin or sugar and slow simmering turn ingredients into tsukudani, a traditional Japanese preparation now being explored for plant-forward and low-waste cooking.
How much whole grain should you eat per day?
A new study looked at how the amount of whole grains we eat may matter. The strongest results for several health measures were often seen around 60–100 g a day, but this is not a new target everyone needs to follow.
Do fruit and vegetables lose vitamins in the fridge? What happens after shopping
Storage can change the nutrient content of fresh produce, but not all nutrients behave alike. A new review explains what actually changes over time.
Potatoes, onions and avocados: where should you actually store them?
Fridge or pantry? Potatoes, onions and avocados need different storage conditions — and potato advice can even vary by country.
Mould on food, when can you cut it off and when should you throw it away?
Bread, fruit, cheese and jam need different treatment when mould appears. Here is when to discard food and what mould allergy changes.
Freezer burn explained and whether the food is still safe to eat
Freezer burn dries out frozen food but does not automatically make it unsafe. Here is how to recognise it, prevent it and decide what to do.