I came across this list and then thought, "hey, you like food and cooking and such" and that's why I wanted to share this with you... a list of some common food misconceptions!
From searing to the shelf life of TWINKIES, here are some truths you should know because they're worth knowing:
• Searing does not seal moisture in meat; in fact, it causes it to lose some moisture. Meat is seared to brown it, improving its color and flavor.
• Twinkies have a shelf life of around 45 days, despite the common claim that they remain edible for decades.
• The vast majority of expiration dates in the US are regulated by state governments and refer to peak food quality, not safety; the “Use by” date represents the last day the manufacturer warrants the quality of their product. With the exception of some perishables, properly stored food can safely be eaten past their “expiration” dates.
• Turkey meat is not particularly high in tryptophan, and does not cause more drowsiness than other foods. Drowsiness after holiday meals generally comes from overeating.
• Rice does not cause birds to die by inflating their stomachs until they burst. Birds do eat wild rice, though some species avoid it. This common misconception has often led to weddings using millet, confetti, or other materials to shower the newlyweds as they leave the ceremony, instead of traditionally throwing rice.
• Spinach does not have a particularly high iron content. The alleged origin of the misconception, that it was caused by a decimal point error, is also false, and the creator of the character Popeye never claimed that the source of Popeye’s strength was the iron in the spinach but its vitamin A.
• Coffee, tea, diet cola, and other drinks containing caffeine are not dehydrating. Many medical experts continue to claim that “coffee is dehydrating”, misinformation that may have begun with a 1928 study.