Is it bad to taste from the stirring spoon? Why you gotta make everything political? (PODCAST E25)

On this episode of the Ask Adam Podcast, Adam answers your pressing questions. Including the most pressing question: is it bad to tase from the stirring spoon?

00:11 - Is it bad to taste from the stirring spoon?
40:16 - Why you gotta make everything so political?

[AtomicShrimp]

You can't please everyone and you probably shouldn't try. I taste with a clean spoon most of the time just as a habit, but even when I do, I get people complaining that I double-dipped the same spoon (because of course I edit out the part of the video where I throw the used spoon in the sink and get a fresh one - who would want to see that?). If you make a thing of explaining that you didn't double dip the spoon, you annoy the majority of viewers who were not complaining.

[samb]

Q: Is sipping from the cooking spoon gross?
Adam: We're all flesh automatons animated by neurotransmitters and all you know will rot.

[necrojoe]

As long as the "Treat yourself; lick the bowl" sign stays in the kitchen, and out of the bathroom, you'll be OK.

[jonathanknox]

With respect, A USDA meat inspector who is looking for a puncture in intestines during the slaughter process *IS* trying to read the future in the entrails. Specifically, they're trying to determine if someone, in the future, might get sick from eating that meat. It is the one time where haruspicy, is actually valid, and it tickles me.

[JasonWindsor]

I laughed out loud at “my child sneezed directly into my eyeball the other night” because my own kid coughed in my face & I felt droplets landing in my mouth yesterday. Unfortunate but inevitable indeed.

[terubokmasin]

As an Asian living in Asia 🙄, I find Adam's take on things related to food - history, economics, culture etc.... illuminating (as in i learn something). In fact, it's those things that make me follow this channel because Adam covers stuff a whole lot deeper than just presenting food & food preparation, and those 'political' stuff are what I really am curious about.

[anftrew]

As a Brit, I'd like to say that your explanation of our sewage system is bang on point. But I'd add one extra detail. Decades of under investment has led us to our disgusting situation. The government sold all the national infrastructure to the private sector decades ago, meaning its all about profit now rather than actually serving the taxpayers.

[Jeriun]

As a black person, I want to thank you for saying "black people" instead of African American. There are other countries and lands where the majority of the population is black. Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados...yes they may have come from Africa, but over the years they've developed their own customs and identities. We wouldn't call white Americans anything like European Americans, unless they actually came from Europe and obtained dual citizenship. It is just as foolish as calling a black person from Europe an African American. It's silly. I did not come from Africa. I was born in America. I am, a black American

[pqrstsma]

2:03 that person's gotta remember that the majority of what Adam cooks in his kitchen will be eaten only by Adam and his wife and kids, not sold to customers where a liability case can ensue

[Ryan_Perrin]

as someone who worked in a deli/butcher.. me tasting from a cooking spoon in my own house is much cleaner than the majority of things that happened in that place; even when considering we followed the rules as much as possible

[bladesdna]

I really appreciated how you handled the "why politics". There was no pandering, no apologizing, no coddling, no backpedaling. I'm sure you may lose some viewers as a result. We need more people who make arguments and opinions in good-faith without virtue signaling or self-editing just for the fans. I like your content because it expands my mind, challenges some of my notions ( or sometimes confirms them ). On the best days it even changes my mind on long held opinions ( I stopped washing my brown rice ). Keep up the editorial on all things, It's what I love the most about the channel.

[katetarot]

I used to get asked this question all the time when I ran a Level 4 commercial kitchen. And my answer was always that I adhere strictly to food safety rules in the commercial kitchen but not at home. Why?? Because at home, I know who I'm cooking for. In the commercial kitchen, I have no idea if someone is immune-compromised, is pregnant. Also young children and the elderly can be more susceptible... all people I was feeding in the commercial kitchen. Anyone eating in my home kitchen...wel, I know if they had chemo this week.... And I think this "know your audience" rule of thumb guides a lot of pro cooks and home cooks alike.

[ratatoeskr-melodicdarkambi]

I cannot stress enough how much I love this channel. The second part especially had me smiling and nodding all the way through and yes, it is important to always have an eye on political implications and ones own responsibility to learn from former mistakes. We here try to do that to a Point, where people from other country tell us to be a little less strickt and no, we should not be less strict. Some Things that happened shall never ever happen again and there are waaaay to many people who disagree in this. Very Kind regards from Germany!

[alessandramacedo]

You're so well spoken. I know those videos are probably scripted and you just read from a screen but still. It's really well written and well read. Even your intonation helps deliver the meaning you're trying to convey. Those videos are very nice to listen to as someone who speaks english as a second language. Very clear language and reasoning.

[JamesWPomeroy]

Thank you Adam, I grew up in the countryside and have since moved to a large city where most people are from the city or its suburbs. The amount of people in my white collar environment that hate being reminded of the inherently dirty and chaotic world that we live in boggles my mind. So many people seem to be so removed from the world and I'm glad you are addressing it.

[cogspace]

If, like me, you often cook for someone with an irrational fear of germs, I recommend the two-spoon tasting method, which I learned from Claire Saffitz (Dessert Person on YouTube): Use one spoon to scoop from the pot, and drop it into a second spoon for tasting. Zero cross-contamination, and very little additional spoon-washing. =)

[BasswobbleFattronix]

15:43 "only a tosser would sip from the saucer" made my day, had a good giggle to that!

[kaiwilliams]

If I'm cooking for others (coworkers, friends, etc) I'll use a distinct spoon (one for every individual time I taste) for tasting and wash my hands a little more often. If it's me and my family, then off the stirring spoon and from my fingers are okay.

[jacquespoulemer]

Adam, howdy, I'm a devoted amateur cook as is my partner. And I've been living in Mexico since 1986. I noticed the Wheat Corn Divide in Mexican cooking. And the problem of making filled dishes with pure corn masa (gorditas empanadas, etc). They tend to leak, split etc. My Partner and I devised a solution. to mix the corn masa with flour (half and half is what we mostly prefer) to retain the corn flavor but not have the structural problems. This is a perfect compromise for the north south debate as well as something I don't see widely done in Mexico (or the other videos I watch, even the US). Enjoy your shows....keep doing what you love...JIM

[cathyn]

I'm a grandma. (no farm experience.) When I cook for my family I use the two-spoon system. I scoop from the pot and pour it into a second spoon and taste from that. And I gotta say I particularly loved this episode, Adam. Everything has political aspects, and food is no exception.