Cooking Quiz: Can you tell truth from myth?

True or false? The key to brewing a great tasting pot of coffee is to start with cold water.

This myth is true. When you allow running tap water to get hot before adding it to a coffeemaker, the hot water will dissolve a greater amount of impurities and chemicals from the kitchen pipes than cold water will. A pot of fresh coffee will taste no better than the quality of the coffee and the water. Use bottled spring or distilled water unless you have spring water.

True or false? Add oil to water when cooking pasta to keep the pasta from sticking together.

False. The real key to preventing pasta from sticking is to use plenty of water. For every pound of pasta, use at least 4 quarts of water. Bring the water to a full boil before adding the pasta, and stir occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking. Don’t use oil in the pot unless you are preparing lasagna.

Using cooking oil in the water is only desirable when separating the noodles for a layered casserole. Oil will prevent the sauce from coating the cooked pasta. Also, adding salt to the water will enhance the pasta’s flavor, but add it only after the water has come to a boil. (Salted water takes longer to boil.)

There is no need to rinse cooked pasta. The starches on it will help the sauce to adhere and the flavors to integrate.

True or false? Fresh tomatoes should be peeled when making spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, or salsa.

False. There is absolutely no need to peel tomatoes when making homemade sauces. Wash the tomatoes well, quarter, then chop in a blender with the skins on, and say farewell to the chore of peeling tomatoes. Source: Pearls of Kitchen Wisdom by Deborah Tukua.

Originally published in the 2006 Farmers’ Almanac.