Food Detectives
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Food Detectives | |
 Food Detectives Logo |
|
| Format | Food science |
|---|---|
| Starring | Ted Allen, Dr. Adam Ruben |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Food Network |
| Original run | July 29, 2008 – Present |
Food Detectives is a food science show hosted by Ted Allen that airs in North America on Food Network. Allen, backed by research conducted by Popular Science magazine, investigates various food-related beliefs, such as the validity of the five-second rule or the effectiveness of ginger as a means to relieve motion sickness. In addition to support from scientists such as molecular biologist Dr. Adam Ruben and Popular Science staff members, Allen is assisted on-screen by a group of so-called "Food Techs," often-silent assistants who serve as the participants in simple experiments exploring a range of food-related myths, beliefs, practices, and folkways.
[edit] Tests
- Tastes like chicken- 7 out of 8 tasted 'chicken' when served guinea pig, alligator, frog, and rabbit.
- Blotting pizza to reduce calories- Reduces 35 Calories per slice on average.
- Blowing out candles contaminates birthday cakes- True, bacteria grew on the test cakes greater than that on the control.(However, it appeared more from dirty candles than blowing out the candles)
- Eating carrots improves eyesight- Untrue, other than in very specific cases such as night blindness, cataracts...
- Does burning your tongue cause permanent damage- Unlikely, the tongue heals much faster than other organs.
- Is moldy cheese okay to eat?- Yes
- Are "dirty water hot dogs" as dirty as you think.- Some are but common sense indicated which vendor would be unsafe based on their general sanitation practices.
- What has the most caffeine-coffee, tea, soda, or energy drinks?- in descending order; Energy drinks, Soda, Coffee, Tea, Green Tea.
- We will also reveal the best way to keep ice cream from falling off the cone?- Wasn't answered instead they made Dondurma.
- Does MSG in food cause headaches, stomach pain, or other problems?- No, MSG's only effect on food is to make it more savory.
- Does drinking lots of water make your skin look better?- Not answered, One subject was intentionally dehydrated drinking only 32oz of water a day the second subject drank 64oz per day. The dehydrated subject had poorer skin than the properly hydrated subject.
- Can you taste the difference between liquid smoke flavored baked foods and grilled foods?- 1 subject guessed the liquid smoke, 1 guessed the grilled food when asked "which was grilled"
- Is throwing pasta against the wall is really the best way to see if it’s done cooking?- No, pasta will stick before it is fully cooked.
- Does drinking alcohol kill braincells?- No, it temporarily inhibits brain function though in large quantities.
- What causes the Mentos Diet soda reaction?- The surface of the Mentos have lots of small ridges and pocks which allows millions of mini bubbles to form which then merge into larger bubbles.
