bookofjoe

Experts' Experts: Which are better, bagged carrots or those with green tops attached?

From Cook's Illustrated:

Carrots sold with their feathery green leaves still attached are typically less than three weeks old, the point at which the greens begin to wilt after harvest.

Bagged carrots, on the other hand, may sit in storage for up to six months before they reach the supermarket.

We sampled both types of carrots raw, steamed, and sautéed.

In each case, tasters thought the green-top carrots had a "deeper carrot flavor," but the bagged carrots, though one-dimensional in flavor, were "undeniably sweeter."

It seemed obvious why the fresh carrots tasted richer, but we wondered why the bagged carrots were sweeter.

Our science editor enlightened us, explaining that certain root vegetables, including carrots and potatoes, sweeten over time when refrigerated because the cool environment encourages the conversion of starch to glucose.

As the bagged carrots waited in refrigerated storage for delivery, their sweetness increased.

You'll typically pay more for carrots with their tops attached but we think it's worth a little extra for better carrot flavor.

Self-Balancing Brennan Monorail

YouTube description:

In this video we explore the fascinating story of the Brennan Monorail, an innovative train from the early 1900s designed by Louis Brennan.

This monorail defied conventional physics by balancing on a single rail, leaning into corners without external input, and remaining stable even when stationary.

Investors weren't comfortable with its radical design and it faded into oblivion.

Self-Adhesive Velcro Dots FTW!

I've long used self-adhesive colored paper dots for any number of things:

• Start (green) and Stop (red) buttons on my microwave

• Top (green) and Bottom (red) surfaces of containers, cases, and boxes

• Do not enter/open/use (red) doors/drawers/switches

The only problem with them is that over time or if you get them wet, the colors fade and they lose their adhesion.

I happened on the Velcro dots pictured above and below and took a flutter.

Verdict: excellent, big step up from paper.

• The adhesive on the back is thicker and far more adherent

• The fact they're plastic rather than paper means liquid won't loosen them

• The 3D texture on the finger interface surface makes them easy to locate even in the dark

Pro tip: use the ones with the hard hook surfaces,

which don't compress and degrade over time as do the soft-sided loops.

Highly recommended.

5 colors; 140 5/8"-diameter dots: $12.11.