VENTURE BEYOND THE MICROWAVE

Few people know the difference between grilling and broiling. Do you?

Image: Annie Spratt

From the ancient technique of holding a food item with a stick over an open flame to the intricate ways of modern cuisine, the art of cooking has many forms. And while some of us are happy sticking to a couple of those techniques, the most experienced or adventurous cooks can use a whole lot more of these methods for their preparations. Take a look at some of the most used cooking methods and see which ones you use!

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If you have ever eaten poached eggs, then you know what we are talking about. Poaching is a gentle cooking method that submerges food in hot liquid between 140 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The low heat works well for delicate items, preserving moisture and flavor without needing fat or oil.

Poaching is a common method of cooking eggs that results in a soft, tender egg white and creamy yolk. It's more health-conscious than pan frying since you don't need oil. You can use broth, wine, or aromatics as the poaching liquid, which adds flavor to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The finished product is tender chicken that can be cubed, sliced, or shredded.

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A more intense variant than poaching, simmering is a gentle method of cooking food that utilizes higher temperatures than poaching, usually between 180 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range lies below the boiling point and produces tiny bubbles.

To achieve a simmer, bring water to the boiling point and lower the temperature. Simmering produces cooked rice with a light, fluffy texture. You can also choose tough cuts of meat that will release fat and collagen as they simmer, like chuck roast.

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In case you didn’t know it, steam can cook food. To steam food, boil water continuously to produce a steady steam cloud. The steam surrounds food and cooks it evenly while retaining moisture. You can also use a pot and steamer basket, a microwave, or wrap food in foil and cook it in the oven.

You can steam most vegetables with excellent results. Sturdy vegetables like beets, carrots, and potatoes take a bit longer than delicate foods like leafy greens. As for fish and seafood, you can cook a more flavorful fish by adding broth or wine instead of water.

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Boiling simply involves submerging food in water heated to the boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The boiling water produces large bubbles, which keeps food in motion while they cook. The expression "slow boil" means that the water has just started to bubble slowly but is not quite heated to the boiling temperature. A full boil occurs at the boiling point, appearing as fast-moving, rolling bubbles.

Pasta is one of the most commonly boiled foods. The hot water cooks the pasta quickly, allowing chefs to remove it from the water before starches break down to prevent a mushy texture.

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A somewhat similar cooking method to roasting, baking uses indirect heat to surround foods and cook from all sides. However, roasting refers to cooking meats or vegetables, and baking indicates making bread, rolls, and cakes. Additionally, baking usually uses lower temperatures than roasting.

Baking transforms wet dough or batter into a final product with a firm texture. You can also bake pizzas in a hot oven to form the crust, harden the dough, and melt the cheese.

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The cooking method of choice for outdoor barbecues, grilling is similar to broiling because grills use radiant heat to cook food quickly. Most grilling equipment features an open grate with a heat source beneath the food.

Flip food items to cook on both sides and adjust the grill's temperature to get grill marks from the hot grate or rack. A grilling favorite, hamburger meat is moist and cooks well on a hot grate. The high heat sears the outside of the burger for a delicious charred flavor.

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The meatier cousin of baking, roasting is performed inside an oven and uses indirect heat that cooks from all sides for even browning. Choose low temperatures of 200 degrees to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to roast tough cuts of meat, or higher temperatures that reach up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for more tender cuts.

Roasting cooks large cuts of meat slowly and evenly. Prime rib, beef tenderloin, pork butt or shoulder, and pork loin all benefit from roasting.

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Possibly not the healthiest cooking method on this list, frying is a popular technique that involves immersing food in hot oil or fat. The hot oil cooks the food quickly, creating a crisp exterior while retaining moisture.

There are different types of frying techniques, including shallow frying, deep frying, and stir-frying. Pan-frying cooks food in a shallow layer of oil, while deep-frying cooks food by completely submerging it in hot oil. For the best final product, use the right oil, maintain the proper temperature, and avoid overcrowding the pan.

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Similarly to grilling, broiling cooks food by transferring extremely high heat onto food items, usually directed from a radiant above the food that cooks on one side at a time. Browning can occur quickly in this process, sealing juices and flavor inside and leaving a crisp exterior.

Because this cooking method is fast, use a timer and check food frequently so it doesn't become burnt or overcooked. In commercial kitchens, you can broil items using a salamander or broiler oven.

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Stewing completely submerges food in hot liquid. Use small cuts of meat in a stew, which are slow-cooked at low heat. As the stew cooks, fibrous vegetables break down while the meat's fat and collagen melt away. This leads to a thick, flavorful gravy filled with tender meat and soft vegetables.

Meats that are rich in collagen and fat do well in a stew pot. Vegetables add depth to stews. Onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery are commonly used ingredients.

The "Ancient Astronaut Theory"

Truth or hoax? 12 human creations attributed to aliens

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The world harbors some impressive relics of past eras, artifacts that seem anachronistically advanced for the times in which they were created. For this reason, some theorists have suggested that the achievements of the Egyptian Empire, prehistoric Japan, and ancient Mesoamerican civilizations were influenced by extraterrestrial forces. While it's entertaining to wonder if aliens have visited Earth, in this article, we will debunk some theories that claim these 12 huge human achievements were not of terrestrial origin.

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Over the centuries, certain artworks depicting enigmatic figures have contributed to the rise of the "Ancient Astronaut Theory." This hypothesis suggests that in ancient times, extraterrestrial beings visited prehistoric humans, possibly interacting with them and sharing knowledge.

Examples like the Wandjina rock art in Australia's Kimberley region, and an image of two figures in the Val Camonica site in Italy that resemble present-day astronauts, fueled the alien landing theory. However, academics and archaeologists characterize these claims as pseudoarchaeological or unscientific. Some authors also argue that these theories are used to diminish the achievements and abilities of indigenous cultures.

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It is common knowledge that with its enormous stones dating past 2400 BC, the purpose and construction methods of Stonehenge have long been contested. While it is widely accepted that ancient humans built the monument, proponents of the Ancient Astronaut Theory argue that the precise alignment of the stones suggests an advanced understanding of astronomical events, specifically, the ability to predict eclipses.

According to these theorists, this ability wouldn't have been possible without extraterrestrial influence. Mainstream archaeologists and astronomers, however, believe this knowledge existed among the early inhabitants of this area and was passed down from generation to generation.

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Teotihuacan, whose name means "the place where the gods were created," is a vast ancient city in Mexico built more than 2,000 years ago, centuries before the rise of the Aztec Empire. The site is renowned for its architecturally significant pyramids, such as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.

With its well-preserved murals, fine obsidian tools, transportation system, and evidence of advanced agricultural practices, Teotihuacan is often viewed as more technologically developed than it was considered to be possible during its epoch. Although the city’s size and complexity make it seem somewhat otherworldly, it is undoubtedly a human creation.

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This mechanism is a clocklike instrument from around 85 BC, discovered in 1900 near the Greek island of Antikythera. Believed to have been used aboard ships as a navigation tool to accurately predict eclipses and the location of the sun and other celestial bodies. Although comparable technology did not reappear until the 14th century, this device is widely considered the oldest known example of an analog computer.

Because of the precision involved in its construction, UFO enthusiasts have regarded the Antikythera Mechanism as evidence of alien contact. However, ancient Greek literature mentions artifacts like this with no references to otherworldly visitors.

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Like many other megalithic sites around the world, the enigmas surrounding the moai, a set of huge stone figures on Easter Island, have long sparked curiosity and speculation. How is it possible that the Rapa Nui people were able to carve and transport these 13-foot-tall statues, each weighing up to 14 tons, more than 1,000 years ago?

The reasons why the moai were created are mysterious. Many may think they are the result of an alien encounter, but it is more likely that they were built for religious or ritual reasons. What remains uncertain is the fate of the artisans responsible for these statues. The main theory suggests the Rapa Nui civilization suffered a severe ecological collapse, likely caused by deforestation and overuse of natural resources.

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dogū are small humanoid clay figurines created during Japan’s prehistoric Jōmon period. Their distinctive appearance—featuring large eyes, exaggerated limbs, and ornate detailing—has led some Ancient Astronaut theorists to speculate that they resemble beings in space suits, complete with goggles and armor.

However, archaeologists have long noted that the figures' eye shapes closely resemble Inuit snow goggles, a design meant to reduce glare from sunlight on snow. While the precise function of dogū remains uncertain, their pronounced hips, buttocks, and breasts suggest they were likely used in fertility-related rituals or symbolic practices.

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The Nazca Lines are a collection of hundreds of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert plains of southern Peru. Some span more than 600 feet and are best viewed from the air, depicting animals, birds, fish, human figures, and various geometric shapes.

Ancient Astronaut theorists speculate that ancient Peruvians were trying to communicate with creatures capable of interstellar travel. Scientists, for their part, have claimed the drawings indicate ceremonial or ritual sites related to water and fertility, key concerns in the arid Nazca region. Also, historians have since replicated similar geoglyphs using primitive techniques without aerial assistance.

Image: Dawoud Khalil Messiha, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The ancient Egyptian civilization was remarkably advanced for its time. In 1898, archaeologists discovered a small wooden artifact in a tomb at Saqqara, now known as the Saqqara Bird. Made of sycamore wood and shaped like a bird, it has been cited by Ancient Astronaut theorists as potential evidence of early knowledge of flight.

These enthusiasts claim that the figurine’s vertical tail resembles the tail of an aircraft. The lack of legs and the wings’ angle has even led them to conjecture that the artifact is evidence of the Egyptians' knowledge of aerodynamics. Far from being influenced by space creatures, modern scientific studies suggest the Saqqara Bird is either a religious relic or even just a simple children's toy.

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According to many UFO enthusiasts, the Temple of Seti I at Abydos, Egypt, contains what they claim is definitive proof of advanced ancient technology. Some of the hieroglyphs appear to resemble a helicopter, a jet plane, and even a flying saucer.

However, scholars explain that these glyphs are the result of a palimpsest—a layering of two inscriptions from different time periods. Over time, erosion and the gradual flaking of plaster have caused the superimposed carvings to create ambiguous shapes. What some interpret as a "helicopter" is a combination of the original hieroglyphs from Seti I’s reign and later modifications made during the rule of Ramesses II.

Image: Leonardo Ramos

The helicopter hieroglyphs and the Saqqara Bird are not the only Egyptian archaeological findings attributed to intelligent extraterrestrial beings. Throughout history, the Pyramids of Giza have been repeatedly ascribed to aliens, mostly because of the sheer magnitude of their construction.

According to Ancient astronaut proponents, the technology needed to build the pyramids was not available 4,500 years ago. The cuts and placement of the stones as well as their astronomical alignment are said to be so precise that we couldn't re-create them even in modern times. Although the Pyramids of Giza display a remarkable knowledge of engineering, there is plenty of evidence that these tombs are the work of thousands of human hands.

Image: Артем Дворецкий

In 1966, an Australian man reported seeing a saucer-shaped craft hovering over a field near Tully, Queensland. According to his account, the craft left behind a circular pattern in the crops where it had taken off. Years later, this story inspired two English pranksters to create their own crop circle designs using simple tools.

The phenomenon quickly grew in popularity, with crop circles becoming increasingly complex and intricate. While some believe these patterns are extraterrestrial messages or evidence of advanced alien technology, the vast majority have been proven to be human-made, products of hoaxes, artistic expression, marketing stunts, or tourist attractions.

Image: Jojo Tesini

In December 2009, a massive spiral of light appeared in the sky over northern Norway, sparking widespread speculation about extraterrestrial visitation. The unusual visual phenomenon lasted for two to three minutes, as evidenced by numerous amateur videos shared online.

UFO enthusiasts took it as evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, while the official explanation wasn't quite as spectacular. Apparently, a Russian military missile test went out of control. The spiral effect resulted either from a malfunctioning stabilizer engine or the missile spinning as it ran out of fuel before falling into the sea.