Our how-tos & guides provide you with all the necessary information to step into your kitchen and start cooking, covering everything from essential techniques to the underlying reasoning behind our recipes.
You can host a summer BBQ for 6 people under $50 in 2026, but only if you plan your protein choices ahead of time. The classic all-burger cookout now runs closer to $60. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you already know something feels off in the meat aisle. Ground beef prices have
The best Wingstop secret menu items include Lemon Pepper Wet wings, the ranch and parmesan dip combination, flavored ranch using any wing sauce, Lemon Pepper Cheese Fries, Volcano Fries, the Atomic Bomb combo, and Cajun Corn done elote-style with mango habanero ranch. Most Wingstop secret menu lists are junk. They include chocolate brownies, mango habanero
The best Cinco de Mayo deals in 2026 include free chips and queso at Chipotle with a promo code, free tacos at El Pollo Loco through the app, $1 margaritas at Applebee’s, $5 margaritas at Chili’s, and free burritos at Del Taco for Rewards members. Cinco de Mayo 2026 falls on a Tuesday, which makes
The best Taco Bell secret menu items in 2026 include the Cheesarito, the Enchirito, the Superman Burrito, the Double-Grilled Quesadilla, and the Nacho Fries Crunchwrap, all of which are buildable through standard ingredients or app customization even though none appear on the official menu. Taco Bell does not have an official secret menu. What it
Carrot cake pancakes are warm-spiced buttermilk pancakes loaded with finely grated fresh carrots, topped with a whipped cream cheese butter that melts into the stack and mimics the cream cheese frosting that makes carrot cake worth eating. This is my go-to Mother’s Day brunch recipe. It looks impressive, takes about 30 minutes, and tastes like
The best Trader Joe’s hacks include always grabbing the heaviest produce since items are priced per unit not by weight, asking any employee to open any shelf-stable product before you buy it, and returning anything you do not like with no receipt and no time limit. I have been shopping at Trader Joe’s long enough
The best Chick-fil-A hacks include The Bowl (32 million TikTok views), ordering nuggets with buns instead of sandwiches to save up to $23 on a family meal, always completing the receipt survey for a free sandwich, and redeeming app points at the 200-point level instead of the 2,500-point level for more than double the value.
The Chipotle secret menu includes the Quesarito, Nachos, the Burritodilla, Dragon Sauce, and the Bowl-to-Burrito Split hack, all of which are buildable from existing Chipotle ingredients even though none appear on the official menu. Chipotle has never officially admitted to having a secret menu. Their own spokespeople have denied it. But the company also trains
I often don’t have a lot of time to meal plan and prepare. That’s why I love using my microwave to defrost chicken. It’s a quick and easy way to ensure that I have a healthy and delicious meal on the table in no time. Thanks to modern technology, defrosting chicken has never been easier.
The best Taco Bell hacks in 2026 include asking to have your burrito grilled for free, ordering a Luxe Cravings Box to save up to 54%, and using the app every Tuesday for $1 items that most people don’t know exist. Most people order at Taco Bell the same way every time and leave a
Chipotle prices have gone up. The portions have not always kept pace. But there is a consistent set of ordering strategies that loyal customers and former employees confirm can get you 40 to 60 percent more food for essentially the same price. Most people walk past the line without using any of them. I have
The easiest way to meal prep for a busy week is to batch one carb, one protein, and one veggie for just 2-3 days at a time, then mix and match with easy helpers like canned beans or pre-washed salad instead of portioning full meals in advance. I used to dread the idea of meal
Yes, you can microwave almond milk, and I’ve found it’s a convenient way to warm it up for a cozy cup of almond milk latte or to incorporate it into hot cereals. Just be sure to use a microwave-safe container and heat it in short intervals while stirring to avoid any unwanted surprises. In my
Yes, you can microwave chia pudding to speed up the thickening process from hours down to a few minutes. It won’t taste quite like the overnight version, but it works in a pinch. Chia pudding gets its texture from soaking chia seeds, a nutrient-rich superfood high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein, until they
Yes, you can microwave cooked salmon. Use 30% to 50% power, heat in 30-second intervals, add moisture, and cover it to avoid dryness and smell. I do it regularly when I need lunch on the table in under five minutes. The key is low power and short bursts, not blasting it on high until it