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 freeze dry lettuce, but I wouldn’t bother if you’re hoping for salad-ready greens later. Lettuce is around 95% water with almost no structure to hold it together, so it comes out of the freeze dryer brittle and never really regains that crisp texture once rehydrated. I tried this with a head of romaine
Croaker fish tastes mild and slightly sweet, with tender, flaky white meat that’s close to tilapia or cod. It’s not a strong or “fishy” fish at all. I’ve cooked it more times than I can count, and it’s become one of my go-to picks when I want something light and easy. Here’s what to expect
It depends on which Tervis you own. Classic double-wall plastic tumblers are microwave-safe for short bursts as long as there’s no warning stamped on the bottom, but stainless steel Tervis tumblers should never go in the microwave. I used to assume every Tervis tumbler was fair game for the microwave since they all look so
To reheat fufu in the microwave, cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap to lock in moisture, then heat at 50% power in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each one, until it hits 165°F. Fufu, the popular West African dish made from pounded yam, plantains, or cassava, almost always leaves me with leftovers. Luckily,
Yes, you can microwave protein powder mixed into a liquid or batter. Heat denatures protein, meaning it unfolds the protein’s structure, but that’s normal cooking chemistry, not damage. It doesn’t destroy the nutrition or make it unsafe. I used to avoid microwaving my protein oatmeal because I’d read that heat “destroys” protein powder. That’s not
Yes, it’s safe to run a microwave without its turntable. Your food just won’t cook as evenly, since nothing is rotating it through the machine’s hot and cold spots, but the microwave itself isn’t damaged by running without one. I’ve had a turntable crack on me before, and I panicked for a second thinking I’d
To microwave a bagel, slice it in half, cover it with a damp paper towel on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave on high for 15-20 seconds until warm. I reach for this trick on mornings when I’m too rushed to wait on the toaster, and it gets me a warm, soft bagel without any real
Plan for 2-3 chicken skewers per person for a lunch event or as part of a bigger spread, and 4-5 skewers per person when they’re the main dish at dinner. Several variables, including skewer size, your guests’ appetites, and what else is on the menu, can shift that number up or down. This article breaks
Yes, you can reheat a bagel with cream cheese in the microwave. Slice the bagel in half, spread the cream cheese, cover it loosely with a damp paper towel, and microwave in 10-15 second bursts until it’s warm. Few things beat a freshly baked bagel with a generous spread of cream cheese, but reheating leftovers
A kiridashi knife is a small, single-bevel Japanese cutting tool built for precise woodworking, marking, and carving, not for food prep. Despite what you might read elsewhere, it’s not a good substitute for a paring knife or peeler. I picked one up for a woodworking project and got curious about its other uses, since it’s
A Spanish onion is actually a type of yellow onion, just a larger, milder variety with lower sulfur content. Every Spanish onion is a yellow onion, but not every yellow onion is a Spanish onion. I used to think Spanish and yellow onions were two totally separate categories on the produce shelf. They’re not, and
Yes, coconut flour can go bad. Moisture exposure is the main cause, leading to clumping, discoloration, or a rancid smell, but stored airtight in a cool, dry spot, an unopened bag typically lasts about 6 to 12 months. Going bad is a different question than whether it has expired. Expiring is about the date printed
Kimchi smells sour, garlicky, and a little funky, with a sharp tang from fermentation and a kick of chili and ginger underneath. It’s a strong, pungent smell that takes some getting used to, but once you get past the first whiff, the flavor makes it worth it. I get asked about this a lot, so
No, Jack Daniel’s doesn’t expire in the same way that food or other perishable items do. As a distilled spirit, it has a long shelf life and can last for years, even decades, if stored properly. I keep a bottle of Jack Daniel’s in my cabinet because that smooth, smoky flavor and the history behind
Reheat scallops in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute on high, covered with a damp paper towel, checking every 15 seconds after the first 30 to avoid a rubbery texture. Scallops go from perfectly tender to rubbery fast in the microwave, so the technique matters more here than with most leftovers. This is