Nice debunking of several popular cooking myths. I was familiar with some of these thru Harold McGee but others were new to me. In fact, I realized that I'd heard the hot pan/cold oil thing so many times that I'd internalized it into my kitchen habits without even realizing it. I'd heard the one about cold water boiling faster but I knew that was hooey. I can remember joking about it with my brother (Mr. Dr. Science Guy) years ago when I saw him putting an ice cube tray full of hot water into the freezer. That's how you know it was years and eons ago -- back in the days before automatic ice makers in yer freezers.