Customer Reviews

Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them: And 100 Other Myths About Food and Cooking . . . Plus 25 Recipes to Get It Right Every Time

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Time to fess up. I am not much of a cook. I may be capable of making delicious pasta with a nice salad, but that's about it. Yet I'm still not too old to maybe learn a thing or two, so when I had the chance to read Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them I took it.
Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough have once again stirred up a book in their kitchen, this time with an emphasis on all kinds of myths about food and cooking. No matter whether you're a seasoned cook, or more like myself, you will probably have heard that spicy foods will cool you down, that you shouldn't wash mushrooms, or that you can tell if a steak is done by the way it feels. I hate to break the news to you, but it's just not that simple, and sometimes outright wrong.
Seasoned with various recipes, which I admittedly didn't try out, this book is such a humorous and at the same time informative page-turner that I pretty much finished reading it in one sitting. The only breaks I took were those when I couldn't continue, because I had to laugh so hard. Who would have thought that a book about cooking could be so very entertaining? I loved it.
And no, they don't scream. No vocal cords, you know.
In short: A wonderfully hilarious eye-opener for everyone who's fallen victim to cooking myths before!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The name of my blog is The Not So Perfect Housewife..

One of the reasons I came up with that name is because although I LOVE to cook and spend LOTS of time in the kitchen... sometimes I REALLY mess things up.. thus.. I'm not perfect.

Yet after sitting down and reading this book, I'm realizing it wasn't all genetics, stupidity, or lack of talent.. it was all because of the lies my elder family members told me about cooking.

JUST KIDDING MOM!!

It's NOT REALLY their fault. Really it's not.. they were told the same kitchen myths and wives tales that I was.

And thanks to this book.. I just want to stand on top of my kitchen roof with the Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them book in hand and scream to all who would listen..

"STOP Letting your butter get room temperature for Baking!"

"Heating Olive Oil DOES NOT Destroy It's Benefits!"

"Don't Store Your Coffee in The Freezer!"

and SOO Much more!!

All these myths and TONS more are exposed, debunked, and explained in the HILARIOUS book Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them.

Release your inner Master Chef and Baker by reading this book.

Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough have put together a wonderful book that serious foodie, trivia lover, fact finder, or housewife would love.

Each chapter is centered around a theme. Such as:

Because We've Always Done It That Way - The Ten Classics
You're So Cute When You're Drunk - Myths About Alcohol
Grilling is Man's Work - Myths Told Before an Open Fire
Some Day Your Prince Will Come - Myths You May Have Been Told By Your Bubbe, Abuela, MeeMaw, or some other Random Old Person
Being a sarcastic person myself, I enjoyed how each chapter was titled like:

Myth #44 - Chickens in the Wild Would Be All Dark Meat

If This Sounds Reasonable, Up Your Medication

Also included in this book are recipes that are tasty, healthy, and of real. With cooking instructions that will not steer you wrong and will allow you to cook an awesome meal.

I'm truly thinking of stocking up on this book for Christmas and Wedding gifts!

This has to be one of the most entertaining "cookbooks" ever written. Not only will you get some wonderful ideas for working in your kitchen , but you will giggle while learning.

Just got this book. Interesting read but I'm not really learning anything. Most of the so-called myths were either perpetuated by corporations or have simply been dumbed down. Learning from my mother's kitchen is why I don't believe in any of these myths. Lobsters don't have vocal cord...so how do they scream? Most of the "myths" are debunked by the authors by saying something like "Well, it depends." Then they go about explaining why it's not really a myth but more of a misunderstanding of the facts. Curiously this is where the book is interesting.

i couldn't stop laughing. it was such fun. There are few things better than a good laugh and a great meal. I just love these guys; their recipes are great and you can always learn a thing or two. I look forward to more of their work.

I thought this book was hilarious and informative. It was a fun, easy read, and the title reminded me of that scene from Annie Hall when Diane Keaton and Woody Allen were having a lobster boil. But they had me after the first article that dispelled the myth on using room temperature butter when baking cookies. I KNEW it from my first batch of Tollhouse cookies in the 70's, but I'd never actually heard anybody say it was just wrong. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I have been keeping my decaf coffee beans in the freezer. Not anymore! I laughed out loud so much that I took it to the office, where it was "borrowed." Hopefully that person will bring it back sans food stains. I'm buying it for a couple of my friends who enjoy cooking as a Christmas gift, but it defintely qualifies as a coffee table humor book or a reference book. Two thumbs up!

This is a most amusing and fun book, full of great tidbits of truths and non truths in the food world and beyond. Interspersed between myths are some lovely recipes, but you certainly do not have to be a cook to enjoy this book.
The writing is light and humorous, the writers witty and full of interesting food knowledge. I guess I never thought about where gelatin came from, but if you are wondering, and looking for many other fascinating food facts that will certainly keep conversation going for hours, this is a handy book. It is entertaining and will take your mind away from the worries of your day.

Wow! Weinstein and Scarbrough have done it again. A must read book for anyone who spends time in the kitchen, enjoys food, and/or great writing. You may choose to believe the myths or not, but believe me, read this book.

This book is well written and funny. There are many myths (learned from our mothers and grandmothers) that are shattered. Also, has some recipes that look really good (I haven't tried them yet). Great book!

This will make my gift giving a cinch this year for all my foodie friends who I will give this to.
Things they probably never knew and great recipes too. What a find!.