Cooking Tips — little secrets from the pros
Why does rice turn out fluffy, why won’t dough rise, why does meat get tough? 2163 tips tested by chefs and the community — sorted into categories and explained one by one.
All Tips
2,163 tips listed
How to Fix a Measuring Mistake in a Recipe
The most common measuring mistake in a recipe is confusing a 5 ml measure with a 15 ml measure; the two measures differ by exactly a factor of 3. This is especi...
Sugar Syrup Stages: Temperatures and Consistency
As sugar syrup heats and loses water, it passes through different stages. Around 110°C / 230°F it forms a thread; above 160°C / 320°F it becomes dark caramel. T...
How Salty Should Pasta Water Be? What Is the Right Ratio?
A general rule for salting pasta water is to add 10 grams (about 1 tablespoon) of salt for every 1 liter of water. This ratio makes the water as salty as seawat...
What Goes Well with Bread?
The best accompaniment to bread is a hot bowl of soup at the table; bread is used to mop up the soup and make a filling meal. Nearly every soup, from lentil sou...
How to Choose Chickpeas and How Long to Soak Them?
Good dried chickpeas have evenly sized grains with a bright, pale yellow skin; a bag full of wrinkled, dull or very unevenly sized chickpeas is likely old stock...
How to Cook Couscous So It Turns Out Fluffy
Couscous is not boiled like rice: pour boiling water or stock directly over the couscous, cover tightly, and let it steam for 5–10 minutes. During this time, th...
How Long Does It Take to Cook Mushrooms in a Pan?
Sliced button mushrooms release and evaporate their moisture over high heat, with no oil or only a small amount, in about 5 to 7 minutes. Add butter or olive oi...
Why Do Spices Burn in Oil and Leave a Bitter Taste?
The main reason spices burn in oil and leave a bitter taste is that they are toasted over very high heat or for too long. The volatile oils and sugars in ground...
How Long Does It Take to Roast Hazelnuts and Walnuts in the Oven?
Roast nuts such as hazelnuts and walnuts in an oven preheated to 160–170°C / 320–340°F for about 8–10 minutes. Almonds have a denser texture, so they may take 1...
Why Does Tea Brewed in a Teapot Taste Astringent, and How Can You Prevent It?
The most common reason tea brewed in a teapot tastes astringent is that the leaves remain in contact with the water for too long. Tannins in the tea leaves ente...
What Can You Use If You Do Not Have an Air Fryer?
The closest alternative to an air fryer is a convection oven. The rapidly circulating hot air in an air fryer's small chamber creates a similar browning effect...
How Do You Poach an Egg Without It Falling Apart in the Water?
The key to poaching an egg without it falling apart is using a fresh egg and adding a splash of vinegar to the water. A fresh egg's white is thicker and holds t...