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 Should Blue Cheese Be Stored Differently from Other Cheeses?
The cultures used to make cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Brie, and Camembert differ from spoilage mold that develops later. Do not judge every surface g...
How Should Pot and Pan Size Be Matched to Your Stove?
The first thing to check when choosing a pot or pan is whether its base is close to the diameter of the burner it will sit on. A base noticeably smaller than th...
How Many Calories Are in a Matchbox-Sized Piece of Tulum Cheese?
A matchbox-sized piece (about 30 grams) of tulum cheese contains an average of 95-100 calories. This is because tulum cheese generally has a higher fat content...
How Many Calories Are in a Slice of Baklava?
The calories in a slice of baklava depend on its size and filling. A standard slice of pistachio or walnut baklava (about 50–60 grams) is generally estimated to...
What Goes with a Green Salad?
A green salad adds freshness alongside heavier, oilier main dishes. Lettuce, arugula, and watercress pair well with a simple dressing of two parts olive oil to...
How Long Can Soaked Legumes Stay in the Refrigerator?
Plan to soak chickpeas or dried beans overnight in the refrigerator and cook them the next day. A universal recommendation of 2–3 days, plus several more days b...
How Many Minutes Does It Take to Steam Spinach Until Wilted?
Fresh spinach wilts and turns dark green, and its volume shrinks noticeably, when steamed in a covered pot over medium heat with its own moisture or a few drops...
What Can You Use Instead of a Stainless Steel Pot?
If you do not have a stainless steel pot, the closest alternatives are an enameled cast-iron pot or a heavy-bottomed nonstick pot. Both offer fairly even heat d...
How to Tell If Fermented Drinks (Kombucha, Şalgam (fermented turnip drink), Boza) Have Spoiled
Cloudiness, sediment, or mild sourness can be normal characteristics of a fermented drink; they alone establish neither spoilage nor safety. When should kombuch...
How to Store Bread So It Doesn't Go Stale?
If you plan to eat bread soon, keep it at room temperature in a paper or cloth bag. For longer storage, slice it and freeze it. Refrigeration is not recommended...
How Long Can Ground Meat Be Stored in the Refrigerator and Freezer?
Keep raw ground meat in the refrigerator for 1-2 days after purchase. Freeze it if you need to store it longer. Storage time can vary depending on when the meat...
How to Choose Fresh Herbs and Spot the Wilted Ones
The freshness of parsley, dill, mint and arugula comes down mainly to leaf color and how the stem behaves: vivid, dark green leaves signal a recent harvest, whi...