Food Facts & Fun

They all taste good but they don't mean the same thing.

By Kathryn Whitbourne

Poutine is just fries, gravy and squeaky cheese curds - how did it get to be Canada's national dish?

By Jesslyn Shields

Grocery store tomatoes are all but flavorless anymore. A group of scientists is out to bring the ripe, red taste of summer back.

By Shaun Chavis

This banana has soft, sweet flesh and tastes a lot like vanilla custard or ice cream. One scoop or two?

By Tara Yarlagadda

HowStuffWorks heads to Atlanta's Varsity drive-in to learn about the historic restaurant's car hops, and chat with Frank Jones, a car hop that's worked there for nearly 65 years.

Espresso, latte, macchiato. The coffee bean didn't even originate in Italy, so why do so many coffee drinks have Italian names?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Female chickens lay eggs whether they've mated with a rooster or not.

By Jesslyn Shields

The differences go beyond the fact that one goes in a sippy cup and the other is a main ingredient in festive holiday punches.

By Jesslyn Shields

We throw out tons of perfectly good parts of vegetables and fruits often because we don't know what to do with them. But there's a lot of treasure in the trash.

By Alia Hoyt

Which do you prefer?

By Loraine Fick

It's a pie. Filled with squash. Who in the world decided that was a good idea?

By Shaun Chavis

As quinoa's popularity skyrocketed on the world stage, concern grew that it was becoming too expensive for the South Americans who originally depended on it. But what was really happening?

By Alia Hoyt

Craving some sugary sweet cotton candy? Then reach for these grapes instead. You'll be shocked at how much they taste just like the spun stuff.

By Shaun Chavis

Turmeric is having a moment right now as the spice du jour for promoting wellness and treating all kinds of conditions from arthritis to depression to indigestion. Does science back these claims up?

By Alia Hoyt

From as early as the 7th century, people have been eating this concoction of shaved ice, sweetened condensed milk and, yes, red beans.

By Laurie L. Dove

Nothing goes better with a cup of coffee than a sweet cupcake. But do you crave the two together or does that cup of joe actually make you hungry?

By Shaun Chavis

Lobster has long been associated with luxury and fine dining. But could newly imposed Chinese tariffs change that?

By Shaun Chavis

Michelin's iconic dining guide rates the best restaurants in 30 countries and four continents. But how did a tire company start rating restaurants?

By Cherise Threewitt

In 2017, bottled water surpassed soda as America's favorite drink and the trend continues. How did something we get for free become a multi-billion-dollar business?

By Shaun Chavis

Peppers are getting hotter these days. But which one is the hottest of them all? And why do we keep searching for ever-hotter peppers?

By Shaun Chavis

Lemonade has a long and storied history, from its beginnings in ancient Egypt all the way to current 21st-century pop culture.

By Carrie Tatro

More than 230 teams will compete at the 2018 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, also known as Memphis in May.

By Shaun Chavis

There are a lot of quirky eaters out there. Are you one of them?

By John Donovan

A study found that, on average, it takes 264 gallons (1,000 liters) of water to make a single chocolate bar. Now that's a hefty footprint.

By Jesslyn Shields

Little tiny vegetables seem to pop up everywhere these days, but where do they come from?

By Laurie L. Dove