Simply Curious
All the answers to your smart but random questions.
![A hand holding a giant zucchini](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/xqDGSq3LNTgsJBbyDVLcfahYk7A=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-How-Big-Zucchini-LEAD-ed6210211aee4c9c97823d26d74fa528.jpg)
When Is Zucchini Too Big to Cook With?
![Green, yellow, and red bell peppers on display at a store in the produce section](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/B15nSFl7c_D1e260sBqxQPZD6Es=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Bell-Pepper-Color-Price-LEAD-c5658676a6204bb38e2b58a92686f8d7.jpg)
Why Are Different Colored Bell Peppers Different Prices?
![sliced cucumbers on a cutting board](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/aSn8pkADjslXKgCyLlPB8uVNW84=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Waxy-Cucumbers-LEAD-f46dbda3d589434ab63a3b50b7cbd94c.jpg)
The Real Reason Cucumbers Look and Feel Waxy
![Chunks of frozen watermelon](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/pcWz-as55QqpZ4D6Wvby9zIDFI4=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Freeze-Watermelon-LEAD-02-97b3f512dc224e21b4f2564810886013.jpg)
Can You Freeze Watermelon?
![cooked salmon fillet on a bed of mixed greens, all in a small cast iron skillet](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/hTtdS0rjOv_jZbgX_2ppN-QkXPk=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Should-Rinse-Salmon-LEAD-OPTION-03-38784936ec104c8183b1263377c960a2.jpg)
Is It Safe To Rinse Salmon Before Cooking? The Experts Weigh In
![Bread tabs](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/XdTijaJXKi8fSPChAQUyREOwkKc=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SR-LEAD-02-87cce8618f4b41219d809d2ee7a14399.jpg)
I Fact-Checked the Colored Bread Tag Myth and Discovered the Truth
![Raw potatoes](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/Evo6arli0sz-RxJGnbkbs3Ep-Mg=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Safe-to-Eat-Raw-Potatoes-LEAD-8854365c35e64516b82b8d6fd9294319.jpg)
Is It Safe To Eat Raw Potatoes? Here's What the Experts Say
![Gray meat on a pan](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/DesdMbZCFnppmGM4M3KlbeN_Viw=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Safe-Gray-Meat-LEAD-e54c862dae91409191cfa5d74f05a106.jpg)
Is It Safe To Eat Ground Beef That Has Turned Gray?
![Trader Joe's bell at check out counter](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/kMgCBIu4nBSzrxTXOzcNmN0bwiI=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Trader-Joes-Bell-LEAD-3-acdeeb0d39fa4e468780931797be452c.jpg)
A Trader Joe's Crew Member Reveals What It Means When They Ring the Bell
![Photo of an open oven with an exclamation illustration next to it](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/b3yHCvzZA0QKoqHO1r2-XAB_u84=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Self-Clean-Oven-OPTION3-3a3d7721ac4b4be9bec9384d97bf4162.jpg)
Is It Safe To Use Your Oven’s Self-Cleaning Function?
![white and brown eggs in a bowl](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/n0cz2qudGI-1XPY5PX_PRLTbYrI=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SimplyRecipesEggsInaBowl-5058a7c6f1a2456eb812f915b295fbc9.jpg)
The One Reason Why Eggs Aren’t Refrigerated in Some Countries
![filet of salmon on a sheet of foil](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/o5z1w4pF8L3el8oin44NDxC4x8M=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Baked-Salmon-Side-METHOD-07-ce613cf675644eb6b00dea8de66cfbba-2-f73d83baeac3439ca032a4ec9c5b6847.jpg)
Shiny vs. Dull Side of Foil: Which Should You Use?
![Carton of eggs on the counter and some blue and yellow lines in the lower right corner of the photo](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/shTMBHIXIfgd8LmDSyPuVFyUZHM=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Eggs-Expired-Story-LEAD-OPTION2-7d54ead293514c558a8db14006cb1a06.jpg)
Is It Safe to Eat Expired Eggs?
![black bananas](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/-AT8DwYvuJmM6m3vU66CgWJJIpc=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Safe-to-Eat-Black-Bananas-LEAD-883bc57592ea47e092bb61c8135be2e3.jpg)
The 3 Signs Your Bananas Are Too Ripe to Safely Eat
![Puffed up container of meat](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/KL7ZPeqg-7TjxqTNtiyD12KYXLI=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Puffed-Meat-Containers-Safe-LEAD-a4bb0d5acaf54beda38b511bc5d6551e.jpg)
Is It Safe To Eat Meat in Bloated or Swollen Packaging?
![An open bag of baby carrots](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/-TwYLjOid_hyC5y341gRpBFIJmA=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Soapy-Carrots-LEAD-1-7b6475b89c604a95809ad5338d957e9a.jpg)
The Only Way to Prevent Carrots From Tasting Soapy
![A ceramic dish in an open microwave with cooked egg exploded all over the insides](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/DHYGEMMlXZJzsXyy7EAypev8xc8=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Eggs-Explode-Microwave-LEAD-1-b223425431d24eb9a1170e3d937b3cc9.jpg)
Why Do Eggs Explode in the Microwave?
![a frozen package of beef stew meat with freezer burn](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/smg0w5U3_sj_moA1x0TA31LCapM=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Freezer-Burn-Meat-LEAD-7a165bbf3632461f9083cdb7cb2369d5.jpg)
Is It Safe to Eat Meat With Freezer Burn? Here's What the Experts Say
![white stripes on chicken](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/gu98GChZzxEg-ZxRFQrOsJjfIiU=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-LEAD-01-b7211ce9c4dd4afa8e499d5500b9ea64.jpg)
Ummm, What Are Those White Stripes on My Chicken Breasts?
![Four sticks of salted butter isolated on white.](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/KMfaP9RpgHv1uvC24sZlxZdX_rs=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Salted-Unsalted-Butter-LEAD-103bb946f98245819eb93293b451b69b.jpg)
Can I Swap Salted Butter for Unsalted Butter?
![English cucumbers wrapped in plastic wrap](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/Gth3Sm-RH6F46PkxJcVrLt7pbdU=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply_Recipes_English_Cucumbers-fb1ad6f8066541a6be5eeacca3839913.jpg)
The 3 Reasons English Cucumbers Come Wrapped In Plastic
![Sticks from fruit](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/SvZ9KnMOIr2skooE2GtBaIhU9mw=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Fruit-Stickers-Safe-to-Eat-LEAD-2-4bf493fe9e7241c8b0220b837392d18a.jpg)
Is It Safe To Eat the Sticker on Fruit? Here's What the Experts Say
![Unrecognisable woman choosing fresh ground beef in supermarket.](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/3M_1hvx6mXGSEpqxz4rfSDoITyc=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Ground-Beef-Percentage-LEAD-1-e84e5dd5bbf54dfdbd6f14845bbd28ad.jpg)
What Do the Percentages on Ground Beef Mean?
![Yellow Dutch oven on table](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/aQ6eP4bitkd1s5F3pv3d--jXKYk=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SimplyRecipesDutchOven-ec9195dccbc74e0bac01d8358a94c53d.jpg)
Why Is It Called a "Dutch" Oven Anyway?
![Stove Top Mac and Cheese with Chicken Make the Sauce](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/lJQ8qj_Edi-CO7z9w_WwGPgp8es=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__simply_recipes__uploads__2018__02__Easy-Chicken-Mac-Cheese-5-METHOD-mellt-cheese-f3451291f5914b75bd92f912eaedbeae.jpg)
What's the Difference Between Grated and Shredded Cheese?
![Bunches of green onions on a white marble countertop](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/1RXRV-NFOLjiu6wlHxMJurThas8=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-The-Best-Way-To-Store-Green-Onions-METHOD-1A-e625d1c233384353b53e49615f93c485.jpg)
The Only Way to Prevent Green Onions From Getting Slimy
![Close-up of mold on two slices of wholegrain bread](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/G3CnLaVLjln8Nb5yBernt3LX1NY=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Safe-to-Eat-Moldy-Bread-LEAD-1-fe7ef151e0ba4572ac30a6dea63bcba8.jpg)
Is It Safe To Eat Bread That’s Just a Little Moldy? Here’s What the Experts Say
![Popped Pillsbury biscuit can](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/YmNUdsvLJFx5uZe4w3bw9-NYgm8=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply-Recipes-Refrigerated-Biscuit-Tubes-LEAD-af11f8be9dc3438cbf1b68d2f4089d95.jpg)
*Pop!* Why Do Pillsbury Biscuits Come in Those Scary Tubes?
![Rinse Aid compartment in dishwasher](https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thmb/hMdx_Sx0qwLtNuJgmO_F9GMDhe8=/300x225/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Simply_Recipes_Rinse_Aid-47c844c812774a2c9ea9d3fdb7dad657.jpg)
Is Dishwasher Rinse Aid Really Necessary?