Find out some alternative uses for transglutaminase on this week's episode of Cooking Issues. Dave Arnold and Nastassia Lopez are answering listener questions on topics from first aid to Salamander broilers. Listen in to hear how hard water affects the cooking of vegetables, and learn how you can simulate hard water with calcium hydroxide. Can transglutaminase be used to seal wounds in humans? Learn how to use pectin to preserve the shape of berries in pancakes and waffles, and find out more about trichinosis and pork in the United States. Dave suggests some ways to preserve foods on short camping trips, and explains some ways to carbonate at home! Thanks to today's sponsor, Fairway Market.

"If you have a giant ice block, you should have no problem keeping that for three days in your cooler- and put your food next to that. And you can make great drinks with that, too!" [46:10] -- Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues

Dave's bike broke down, so this week's holiday episode of Cooking Issues is hosted remotely by phone. Hear Dave answer questions and so concerns about granita, thermometers, pressures cookers, fast cook method eggs, and flying with food. Hear some tips for getting through customs with food and find out why butternut squash is problematic for some people. This episode was sponsored by Modernist Pantry.

"I've never owned a thermometer that made me super happy."

"If you're going to do hydro colloid work you'll want a scale that goes to a tenth of a gram."

"Spouts, as we all know, taste like poison."

--Dave Arnold on Cooking Issues

This week on Cooking Issues Dave Arnold is joined by Chris Young, one of the authors of Modernist Cuisine. But first he takes on your questions on blue fish and ike jime, enzymatic peeling, and how to avoid Botulism when you are doing your own canning. Later Chris and Dave get nerdy on evaporative reduction and the Gastrovac. Also don't miss Chris talking about his ventures with Nathan Myrhvold and the Gates Foundations in sub-Saharan Africa in trying to create a reliable fresh milk supply chain that they call East African Dairy Development. This episode is sponsored by The Modernist Pantry that is giving away a free sample of Pectinex when you listen for the code in this episode!