How-Tos

Our how-tos bring you everything you need to know to get in the kitchen and cook, from fundamental techniques to the whys and hows behind our recipes.
collage of Thai soups on a green background collage of Thai soups on a green background
A Guide to Thai Noodle Soups
Sauteeing garlic, anchovy fillets, capers and fennel, and tomato sauce on a wooden spoon pieced together in a five-part collage. Sauteeing garlic, anchovy fillets, capers and fennel, and tomato sauce on a wooden spoon pieced together in a five-part collage.
How to Make Jarred Tomato Sauce Better…And If You Even Should
Overhead view of carved chicken Overhead view of carved chicken
How to Carve a Roast Chicken (Whole and Spatchcocked)
Side view of a glass of pomegranate juice Side view of a glass of pomegranate juice
How to Turn Any Pomegranate Into a Plastic-Free "Bottle" of Pomegranate Juice
Side view of pomegranate on a cutting board Side view of pomegranate on a cutting board
How to Cut a Pomegranate (With Much Less Mess)
Overhead view of cauliflower cut in half Overhead view of cauliflower cut in half
How to Cut Cauliflower
Side view of peaches on a cutting board Side view of peaches on a cutting board
How to Cut a Peach
Overhead view of coconut pieces on a black plate Overhead view of coconut pieces on a black plate
How to Open a Coconut
Overhead view of deboning Overhead view of deboning
How to Debone a Chicken Thigh
A piece of medium-rare steak sliced into thin pieces on a wooden cutting board. A piece of medium-rare steak sliced into thin pieces on a wooden cutting board.
How to Most Effectively Tenderize Steak
Side view of dicing carrots Side view of dicing carrots
How to Cut Carrots
Basket of fruit and vegetables Basket of fruit and vegetables
You Hauled the Whole Farmers Market—Now What?
Overhead view of cherries in a basket Overhead view of cherries in a basket
How to Store Cherries
How to Store Green Beans
Multiple pitchers and glasses filled with infused water Multiple pitchers and glasses filled with infused water
How to Make Cucumber Water and Other Fruit Infused Waters
Overhead view of various tests of cakes Overhead view of various tests of cakes
How to Elevate Boxed Cake Mix
Overhead view of a cut avocado Overhead view of a cut avocado
How to Ripen and Store Avocados
person cracking eggs into bowl person cracking eggs into bowl
How to Crack Eggs Like a Badass
Overhead view of a batch of brownies Overhead view of a batch of brownies
How to Make Boxed Brownies Even Better
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How to Make Ice Cream for a Wedding, Graduation, or Other Large Event
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For Smoother Ice Cream and Sorbet, Use Corn Syrup
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How To Brown Butter
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How to Back-Slice Chives
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How to Cut an Airline Chicken Breast
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How to Batch Cocktails for a Crowd
Side angle view of Tahdig arrange on a mound of rice on a blue platter Side angle view of Tahdig arrange on a mound of rice on a blue platter
How to Make Tahdig (Persian Crunchy Rice)
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Getting Perfect Grill Marks | Grilling
The levain used for sourdough bread rises in a glass jar, about triple its starting volume. The levain used for sourdough bread rises in a glass jar, about triple its starting volume.
How to Ferment Sourdough Properly
A collage of coffee blooms at various stages A collage of coffee blooms at various stages
Bloom Phase: How to Read the Bubbles In Your Coffee
Three jars of fermenting hot sauces with airlocks in the top. Three jars of fermenting hot sauces with airlocks in the top.
How to Make Fermented Hot Sauce
Dry-charred asparagus, served on an earthenware plate with a ramekin of miso bearnaise. Dry-charred asparagus, served on an earthenware plate with a ramekin of miso bearnaise.
Dry-Charring Is the Best and Fastest Way to Cook a Side of Asparagus
Blowtorching vegetables in a wok Blowtorching vegetables in a wok
Torch Hei Is the Best Way to Get Wok Hei at Home
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Dry-Brining Is the Best Way to Brine Meat, Poultry, and More
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For Better Grilled Vegetables, Use Your Chimney Starter
A container of bacon fat, labeled with a date. A container of bacon fat, labeled with a date.
How to Dispose of Cooking Oil and Fat Without Making a Big Mess
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Homebrewing: How to Dry Hop Your Beer
Overhead view of a wok station Overhead view of a wok station
How to Set Up a Wok Cooking Station
Overhead view of tamales on a table spread Overhead view of tamales on a table spread
How to Make Tamales (A Comprehensive Guide)
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How to Wrap Your Sandwiches for Better Eating on the Go
Ovehead view of steak test Ovehead view of steak test
The Science of Marinades
Lemon collage Lemon collage
How Fresh Lemon Juice Can Make Meal Prep Easier
A bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes sits on a table. It's topped with a pat of melting butter and a grinding of fresh black pepper. A bowl of fluffy mashed potatoes sits on a table. It's topped with a pat of melting butter and a grinding of fresh black pepper.
The Best Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes
A bowl of ramen noodle soup; you can transform regular pasta into ramen noodles with baking soda. A bowl of ramen noodle soup; you can transform regular pasta into ramen noodles with baking soda.
Turn Your Pasta Into Ramen With Baking Soda
ice cream in glass bowls ice cream in glass bowls
Level Up Your Ice Cream by Leveling Your Cake
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How to Set Up Your Grill for Better Skewers, Kebabs, and Yakitori
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How to Grill Whole Fish
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Save Your Vegetable Scraps, Make Stock
Overhead of spaghetti in a skillet with sauce mixed in. Overhead of spaghetti in a skillet with sauce mixed in.
The Right Way to Sauce Pasta
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How to Butcher a Chicken
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How to Build a Better Rice Bowl
Two dry-aged steaks cooking in a cast iron skillet. Two dry-aged steaks cooking in a cast iron skillet.
How to Dry Age Beef
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All Praise the St. Louis Bagel and Its Infinite Potential
Shrimp, Oyster, and Fish Po' Boy sandwiches on sandwich paper Shrimp, Oyster, and Fish Po' Boy sandwiches on sandwich paper
How to Make the Best Seafood Po' Boys
A dollop of butternut squash puree on a plate. A dollop of butternut squash puree on a plate.
How to Make a Vegetable Purée
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Should You Really Only Cook With Wine You'd Drink? The Truth About Cooking With Wine
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The Many Tastes of Coffee Ice Cream: How to Make Just the Right Scoop for You
Stretching mozzarella curds over a bowl. Stretching mozzarella curds over a bowl.
How to Make Mozzarella Recipe
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Toasting Nuts? The Microwave is Your Best Friend