Review: I'll be the naysayer here...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 9, 2014
While I enjoyed reading the Learn to Cook 101 cookbook by author John Choisser (aka the Cooking Dude) I did find some food safety errors that should have been corrected. His cookbook purports to teach novice cooks how to cook. Indeed Choisser does write a friendly and well-written cookbook that includes numerous color photos depicting the recipes. Unfortunately the book does not mention the following food safety information or uses external links for food safety information. He could have easily included that information inside his cookbook without external links or choosing to use a private cooking software site to give that information. The USDA offers food storage information, for example, that could have been directly quoted inside his cookbook.Two major food safety errors that should be corrected include:*Brining a turkey in a trash compactor bag. Both trash bag manufacturers and I suspect other food safety authorities do not recommend the use of trash bags for preparing or storing food. In fact the following statement is given in a Michigan State University news release:"A whole turkey is placed in a large trash bag and marinated in salt brine, herbs and spices for several hours at room temperature. It is never recommended to use non-food grade materials as holding containers for food. Chemicals and non-food colors may leach into the food. MSU Extension, along with the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service recommends marinating meat in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.Make it safe - Replace the trash bag with a large oven-cooking bag. Refrigerate the turkey during the marinating process and the results will be safe and delicious." Source: Downright unsafe ways to cook your turkey - Part 2"*The author should have included a food safety statement concerning the use and eat of raw or lightly cooked eggs. The USDA does not recommend eating raw eggs.See: "Who is "at risk" for eating raw or undercooked eggs?Infants, young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to SE infections. A chronic illness weakens the immune system, making the person vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.No one should eat foods containing raw eggs. This includes "health food" milk shakes made with raw eggs, Caesar salad, Hollandaise sauce, and any other foods like homemade mayonnaise, ice cream, or eggnog made from recipes in which the egg ingredients are not thoroughly cooked. However, in-shell pasteurized eggs may be used safely without cooking."I have included the links in the comments portion of this review so you can check out the sources I listed. I can not list those sources directly in this review as Amazon does not allow direct links inside reviews.The author included several recipes using raw or undercooked eggs. Some of those recipes include:Soft Boiled EggsCoddled EggsCaesar SaladPossibly the Microwave Hollandaise SauceSome of the other recipes you will find in his cookbook include:Making a RouxEasy Beef StewNachosYou will find plenty of information such as how to safely prepare a chicken or cut up stew beef. You will also find a chapter dealing with dinnertime manners.Best of all his cookbook is friendly and chock full of useful information that can help new cooks learn how to cook. His cookbook would be so much better if he included a better source to food storage information and how to safely prepare turkey and use raw or lightly cooked eggs.Recommend with caveats given.