About Kitchen Myths
Who is MythBuster
MythBuster is the online persona of Dr. Peter Aitken, a retired scientist, educator, technical writer, and … yes, foodie! If you are interested in my background and credentials to write this blog, please read on.
Who Am I and What Are My Credentials?
I hold a Ph.D. degree in physiology. After graduating I spent five years teaching and conducting research at an Ivy League university. I then joined the faculty at a major medical school on the East Coast and spent the next couple of decades teaching medical and graduate students and researching human diseases. I have over 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals. After leaving that position, I worked with pharmaceutical companies developing and testing new drugs for human use.
Why Did I Create the Kitchen Myths Blog?
I picked up an interest in food and cooking from my parents. I started developing my own cooking skills while I was in graduate school. I couldn’t help noticing that some things said by cookbook authors, and later by TV chefs, conflicted with the scientific and technical knowledge I had picked up during my education and work. I bought these facts to use in my own cooking, but at the time was not able to go beyond that.
Only after retiring a few years ago was I able to find the time to start putting my findings down on paper in the form of this blog. For me, a Kitchen Myth is a widely accepted belief about food or cooking that is factually, objectively incorrect. And believe me, there are plenty of them!
Why Believe Me?
How do I know that these claims I am busting are really myths? Why should you believe me over someone who says differently — particularly if that person is your Mom or a famous TV chef?
My scientific training taught me that factual claims must be backed by actual evidence. I do not claim that something is true just because I heard it somewhere or because it seems to “make sense.” I require that something be backed by a credible source and that it be in accord with accepted scientific knowledge. My own experiences are not themselves enough.
Before “busting” a myth I conduct in-depth research on the topic, using the web and AI research tools to find relevant information in peer-reviewed publications and other reliable sources. My own experience by itself is never enough for me. I have had a lot of my own notions destroyed by my research.
To contact me leave a comment below. I cannot promise a response but I read all comments (honest!).
Looks like a very useful site! I’ll be back