DimSum Restaurant's Secret Ingredient: Caustic Soda?

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A local DimSum restaurant was observed storing large quantities of caustic soda, raising questions about its purpose. Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, has several uses in food preparation, including washing or chemically peeling fruits and vegetables and making yellow Chinese noodles through lye-water. Additionally, it is commonly used for cleaning purposes, particularly for effectively removing grease from ovens. The significant amount stored suggests it may be utilized for multiple applications in the restaurant's operations.
DaveC426913
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'tother day I chanced to look in the back room of a local DimSum restaurant and saw bags and bags and bags of caustic soda - like a skid of it.

What use would a restaurant have for hundreds of pounds of caustic soda? I looked it up on Wiki and found only two uses that make sense:
- washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables
- most yellow coloured Chinese noodles are made with lye-water

Still, hundreds of pounds?
 
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Well, I know caustic soda is often used to clean ovens. It removes grease well.
 

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