Palm oil and coconut oil are both tropical oils that have played important roles in global cuisine and commerce for centuries. They share similar origins — both derived from palm fruits — yet their taste, color, composition, and culinary roles are surprisingly distinct. Let’s take a closer look at how …
Wasabi and horseradish are often recommended as substitutes for each other. And you may already know wasabi is sometimes referred to as Japanese horseradish. Does this mean that they are the same thing? No, it does not. In fact, they have some differences that you should understand before choosing one …
Choosing the right salt for a particular dish can be challenging, especially since there are so many different types on the market. For example, Himalayan salt is a popular option, but does it offer anything that you would not get from regular table salt? Is it all that different, outside …
Vanilla powder and vanilla paste are two great ways to add vanilla flavor to dishes. What’s more, neither of them contains alcohol, so neither will give the alcoholic aftertaste that can come with vanilla extract. How do these two forms of vanilla compare to each other? How should you use …
In recent years, coconut sugar has been promoted as a healthier sweetening option when compared to cane sugar. Is this true? Will both of these sugars work equally well in most or all applications? Let’s compare the two to help you make the best decisions for your cooking. How does …
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) are unrelated plants that have a few things in common but a lot of differences. Here’s where things can get confusing: hibiscus is called sorrel in some parts of the world. If you are attempting to use one or the other, it is …
Tarragon is often described by French chefs as the king of herbs and is widely used in French cooking; in fact, it is one of the major French fines herbes. There are two main varieties of this herb: French and Russian. Most cooks agree that the French version is the …
Celtic sea salt and table salt are found in many kitchens and serve the same fundamental purpose of adding flavor to food. Even though they both have salt in the name, they differ dramatically and should you can use each of them differently. Let’s compare the two to help you …