Question 1

Onions are an important part of cooking.  Vidalia and Walla Walla are varieties of what kind of onion?

Accepted Answer

Sweet onions - Vidalias & Walla Wallas are sweet varieties of yellow globe onions.

Question 2

Most regions of the world have some form of local cheese.  What nation is considered the home of feta cheese?

Accepted Answer

Greece - Feta is a sheep's-milk cheese made in Greece since the 8th Century BCE.

Question 3

Another famous cheese is "Reggiano".  What kind of cheese is Reggiano?

Accepted Answer

Parmesan - Reggiano (the "King of cheeses") is a parmesan that must be made via highly specific ways in specific locations to qualify as Reggiano.

Question 4

Tomatoes are another staple of the kitchen.  Which tomatoes are considered the top of the line by most professionals for cooking?

Accepted Answer

San Marzano - San Marzanos are the gold standard of cooking tomatoes, canned and shipped to kitchens worldwide.

Question 5

The spiciness of peppers is an essential consideration in how they can be used.  What scale measures that "heat"?

Accepted Answer

Scoville - Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, developed this scale which rates how dilute a pepper can be while still having detectable piquancy.

Question 6

Herbs and spices are important seasonings for food.  What makes herbs different from spices?

Accepted Answer

Herbs are leaves & foliage - Spices can be seeds, bark, roots, rhizomes, but they can't be leaves.

Question 7

One plant that provides both an herb and a spice is cilantro.  What are cilantro seeds called as a spice?

Accepted Answer

Coriander - Cilantro is the greenery and coriander is the dried seed from the same plant.

Question 8

Rhubarb is an unusual plant as it's a vegetable used as a fruit.  What is important to know when preparing rhubarb?

Accepted Answer

The leaves are poisonous - Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and anthone glycosides that should not be consumed by humans.

Question 9

Potatoes are a vital source of food.  What unlikely plant is in the same family?

Accepted Answer

Deadly nightshade - Yes, the notorious poison belladonna (deadly nightshade) is related to the potato as well as several other popular vegetables.

Question 10

Ginger and turmeric are two popular spices used both fresh and dried.  What else makes them similar?

Accepted Answer

They're both rhizomes - They are also related to each other, members of the Zingiberaceae family.

Question 11

Cranberries are a popular part of the holidays for many people.  Why are they different from other commercial berries?

Accepted Answer

They're grown in bogs - Cranberries grow in very wet conditions (bogs in the US and fens in the UK).

Question 12

Yeast breads and wine are almost completely different, yet both depend on what process?

Accepted Answer

Fermentation - Fermentation is absolutely essential to wine and risen breads (no, soda breads don't qualify), yeast being the essential ingredient to both.

Question 13

Corned beef is made by  specific process involving seasonings and spices.  But why is it called "corned"?

Accepted Answer

The salt - Yes, the "corned" term refers to the rock salt used in early preparation, though modern versions often use finer forms such as kosher.

Question 14

Kosher salt is important to Jewish cooking.  Why?

Accepted Answer

It helps draw out blood - Kosher salt is actually "koshering" salt... salt which helps draw blood from meat which would make it "trefah" (forbidden).

Question 15

Speaking of salt, why is some salt iodized?

Accepted Answer

It prevents thyroid issues - Iodine is needed for proper thyroid function, preventing goitres, etc.  Two billion people worldwide may suffer from iodine deficiency.

Question 16

Sugar has been an important sweetener for foodstuffs for centuries.  But where did it start?

Accepted Answer

India - Sugar originated in India with granulated sugar being first recorded over 2000 years ago.

Question 17

Which fruit has such varieties as Northern Spy and Granny Smith?

Accepted Answer

Apples - Apples come in over 7500 (yes, seven THOUSAND five hundred) varieties.

Question 18

Pastrami and corned beef are staples for any self-respecting delicatessen.  What makes them different?

Accepted Answer

Pastrami is smoked - Yes, while spices and flavorings can vary from recipe to recipe, pastrami is defined as being smoked while corned beef is not.

Question 19

The making of salami, prosciutto, sausage, and other preserved meats is classed as which form of cuisine?

Accepted Answer

Charcuterie - Charcuterie literally means "cooked flesh".  Yeah, it may be truth in advertising, but "charcuterie" sure sounds more appealing.

Question 20

Pasta is an important food staple.  While pasta can be made from a variety of bases, what is the traditional foundation of Italian pastas?

Accepted Answer

Wheat - While pasta can be made from any of the above, duram wheat is the historical basis of Italian pastas, both fresh and dried.

Cooking: Knowing Your Ingredients Quiz

2) Most regions of the world have some form of local cheese. What nation is considered the home of feta cheese?

3) Another famous cheese is "Reggiano". What kind of cheese is Reggiano?

4) Tomatoes are another staple of the kitchen. Which tomatoes are considered the top of the line by most professionals for cooking?

5) The spiciness of peppers is an essential consideration in how they can be used. What scale measures that "heat"?

6) Herbs and spices are important seasonings for food. What makes herbs different from spices?

7) One plant that provides both an herb and a spice is cilantro. What are cilantro seeds called as a spice?

8) Rhubarb is an unusual plant as it's a vegetable used as a fruit. What is important to know when preparing rhubarb?

9) Potatoes are a vital source of food. What unlikely plant is in the same family?

10) Ginger and turmeric are two popular spices used both fresh and dried. What else makes them similar?

11) Cranberries are a popular part of the holidays for many people. Why are they different from other commercial berries?

12) Yeast breads and wine are almost completely different, yet both depend on what process?

13) Corned beef is made by specific process involving seasonings and spices. But why is it called "corned"?

14) Kosher salt is important to Jewish cooking. Why?

15) Speaking of salt, why is some salt iodized?

16) Sugar has been an important sweetener for foodstuffs for centuries. But where did it start?

17) Which fruit has such varieties as Northern Spy and Granny Smith?

18) Pastrami and corned beef are staples for any self-respecting delicatessen. What makes them different?

19) The making of salami, prosciutto, sausage, and other preserved meats is classed as which form of cuisine?

20) Pasta is an important food staple. While pasta can be made from a variety of bases, what is the traditional foundation of Italian pastas?