Food facts

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The Cotton Candy Making Machine That Made Widely Consumed Cotton Candy Possible was Co-Invented by a Dentist

September 2, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out the cotton candy making machine was co-invented by a dentist, who later became the President of the Tennessee State Dental Association. Coincidence? While candy floss / cotton candy-like spun-sugar confectioneries have been around since at least the 15th century, if not earlier, it’s only been recently that cotton candy has been something practical to make and […]

Why are Beets Red?

July 18, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Sharon S asks: Why are beets red? Beets contain a pigment known as betalain, which incidentally is Latin for a certain type of common beet (Beta vulgaris). It was this type of beet that the betalain pigment was first extracted from. (It is contained in many different types of plants) Depending on which type of betalain pigment and the concentration […]

Answers

Can Honey Go Bad or Make You Sick?

June 23, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Barefootangel asks: “I read your report on honey and have a question. Yesterday (June 21, 2012) I went to a farmer’s market and while there I tried a teaspoon of raw honey. It left an awful taste and certainly did not taste like good honey. I helped my grandfather with his hives and know how honey should taste. After leaving […]

Why Iodine is Added to Salt

June 11, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out why iodine is added to salt. Iodine first began being added to salt commercially in the United States in 1924 by the Morton Salt Company at the request of the government. This was done as a response to the fact that there were certain regions in the U.S., such as around the Great Lakes and in […]

Popping Popcorn Completes its Expansion in About 1/50th of a Second

May 26, 2012 Daven Hiskey

A typical kernel of popcorn once it pops will complete the popping/expanding process in under 1/50th of a second. Why Popcorn Pops

Quick Facts

Searing Meat Does Not “Seal in the Juices”

April 30, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Myth: Searing meat seals the juices in. In fact, water in seared meat evaporates at either the same rate or higher, in some cases, than non-seared meat. What searing does do is play a role in browning, which can affect the flavor. But, in this case, the browning is caused by caramelization of sugars combined with a chemical reaction with […]

Quick Facts

The Inventor of the Pringles Can was Buried in One

April 6, 2012 Scott

Today I found out that the inventor of the Pringles can was buried in one (part of him, anyway). Upon his death in 2008, just 20 days shy of his 90th birthday, the inventor of the Pringles can, Fredric J. Baur, was cremated. In keeping with his wishes, his family placed some of his ashes in a Pringles can (not all […]

About Half a Billion Twinkies are Produced by Hostess Every Year

March 28, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Despite their slightly unhealthy nature (150 calories each; with quite a dose of fat included), Hostess now churns out more than 1000 Twinkies per minute or about 500 million per year. The cakes are each baked for 12 minutes; injected with cream; flipped over so the round bottom is now the top; then packaged for shipping. Twinkie Facts

Quick Facts

Apple Seeds Contain Cyanide

March 13, 2012 Scott

Today I found out apple seeds contain cyanide. The seeds of apples, also known as “pips”, contain a sugar/cyanide compound called “amygdalin”, which turns into hydrogen cyanide when it is metabolized in your body. Hydrogen cyanide was one of the key ingredients to Zyklon B, the trade name of the pesticide used by the Nazis in their gas chambers. Other […]

If You Eat an Excessive Amount of Carrots, Your Skin Will Turn an Orangish/Yellow Shade

February 13, 2012 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out if you eat an excessive amount of carrots, your skin will turn an orangish/yellow shade. Take notes those of you from New Jersey, you don’t need to get a fake tan to turn orange, you can simply eat large amounts of orange plants, such as orange carrots. The resulting condition is known as carotenemia and isn’t […]

10 Food Myths Dispelled

January 31, 2012 Noreen

Embed This Infographic: [Source: Today I Found Out]

Navel Orange Trees are All Clones of Each Other

January 19, 2012 Samantha

Today I found out navel orange trees are all perfect clones of one another and all originate from a single tree in Brazil. In 1820, a mutation occurred in a group of sweet orange trees growing on the grounds of a monastery in Bahia, Brazil. The mutation created a seedless orange that was much sweeter than the original citrus fruit. […]

Marshmallows Were Originally Made from the Sap of the Marshmallow Plant

January 18, 2012 Samantha

Today I found out marshmallows were once made from the sap of marshmallow plants. Whether they are a hot chocolate topping treat, in the form of a sugar-coated critter, or roasting over a campfire, marshmallows are a favorite treat for many people. Marshmallows date back to as early as 2000 BC and were considered a delicacy deemed worthy only for […]

The “57” in “57 Varieties of Heinz” Has No Real Meaning

December 17, 2011 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out the “57” in “57 Varieties of Heinz” has no real meaning; it’s just a lucky number. By 1892, H.J. Heinz Company had grown from a small company selling horseradish in clear glass jars, to having over 60 products. Despite having more than 57 products, at the behest of the founder of H.J. Heinz Company, the business […]

Sushi is Not Raw Fish

December 13, 2011 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out sushi is not raw fish, that’s sashimi. Sashimi is just sliced raw fish, sometimes dipped in sauces and sometimes served with sushi. Sushi is any food dish consisting of vinegared rice, usually served with some other toppings, but not always. It happens to often be served with various types of sea food, either cooked or raw, […]

Asparagus Belongs to the Same Family as Lilies

November 5, 2011 Daven Hiskey

##EMBED## Asparagus belongs to the same family as lilies. Once the asparagus buds start to open, the shoots themselves become unpalatable and woody, so typically only young asparagus shoots are used for eating, making all asparagus eaters baby killers. Source

Quick Facts

10 More Fascinating Food Facts

September 28, 2011 Noreen

Embed This Infographic Source: Today I found out 1) Pre-Sliced Bread was Once Banned in the United States In 1943, Claude R. Wickard, the head of the War Foods Administration as well as the Secretary of Agriculture, got the bright idea to ban pre-sliced bread in America, which he did on January 18, 1943. The specific reasons behind this aren’t […]

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