Question: Some packages say to rinse quinoa before cooking and other brands don’t mention it. I can’t taste the difference. Should I rinse quinoa or not?Answer: There’s a natural substance on quinoa called saponin that can cause it to have a soapy or bitter taste. Most packaged quinoa already has been processed to remove it. But some brands may still have it. If you try a brand and notice a bitter taste, you’ll know to rinse it next time. Otherwise, don’t worry about it.If you do need to rinse it, put the quinoa in a bowl, add cold water and swish it around. Let it stand a few minutes so the seeds settle to the bottom, then pour the water off before cooking it. You won’t lose as much as when you rinse it in a sieve.Question: My oven is slow. Should I increase the temperature or increase the cooking time?Answer: If the temperature is lower than the setting on the dial indicates, you should increase the temperature. Consider getting an oven gauge — they don’t cost much at most hardware or kitchen-supply stores. You can use one to find out how off the temperature is and check to see if increasing the temperature is working.If the oven temperature is off by more than 50 degrees, call an electrician or service provider to check it. It’s common for home ovens to be off a little, but if they’re off a lot, it can indicate a bigger problem.

Question: Sometimes I’ve seen people use aluminum foil to cover frosted cakes. After a while, tiny holes begin to appear in the foil where it touches the frosting. What’s happening, and is it dangerous?Answer: It’s common to see those little holes when you use foil to cover foods that are high in acid, particularly tomatoes or tomato sauces. It can leave dark spots on lasagna as well as holes in the foil.Other things can cause the reaction, too, particularly salt and citrus fruit. Sugar is a little acidic and could cause the reaction.The acid isn’t actually eating away the foil. It’s creating aluminum salts, such as sodium aluminum phosphate, which can get in the food. While studies haven’t shown a connection between aluminum salts and health effects, some people are concerned about exposure to aluminum and avoid it.