Ingredient Guides

Take a deep dive into ingredients, from commonplace produce to lesser-known condiments, with tips on how to procure, use, and store each one.
Composite image of green food powders (matcha, spinach, pandan, and spirulina) in water and frosting
We Tested 4 Natural Green Food Dyes—This Is the Best One
various jars of marinara against white tiles and a black surface
We Taste-Tested 24 Marinara Sauces—Here Are Our Favorites
lifestyle image of Van Van-Bang Bang Onion herbs on counter
This Oniony, Garlicky Herb Packet Is So Delicious, I Sprinkle It on Everything
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What "Kosher for Passover" Really Means for Wine, According to Experts
5 of the 6 orange juices
We Taste-Tested 6 Orange Juices—Here Are Our Favorites
Yogurts on a kitchen counter
We Taste-Tested 10 Plain Yogurts—Here Are Our Favorites
Closeup of the Diletta Mio Espresso Machine brewing an espresso into a glass
The Unexpected Pantry Ingredient That Could Improve Your Morning Coffee
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The 30-Minute Banana Ripening Hack You Wish You Knew Sooner
Side view of graham crackeres
We Taste-Tested 7 Graham Crackers—Here Are Our Favorites
Overhead view of sour cream taste test
We Taste-Tasted 12 Sour Creams—Here Are Our Favorites
salt being sprinkled into a bowl with raw eggs before whisking
The Scrambled Egg Technique Gordon Ramsay Was Dead Wrong On
Closeup of parsley and basil sprigs on a cutting board.
Stop Tossing the One Ingredient That'll Make Your Cooking Even More Delicious
Whole and cut up oranges against a white marble countertop.
I Asked a USDA Scientist How to Keep Oranges Fresh—Here's What They Said
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I'm a Pro Chef—This Is The Knife Skill Most Home Cooks Don't Have, But Should
White eggs in an orange bowl.
How to Shop for Eggs
Overhead view of soft cheese
Brie, Fromager d'Affinois, and More of the Best Bloomy Rind Cheese to Try Right Now
Overhead view of chicken broth
We Taste-Tested 11 Chicken Broths—Here Are Our Favorites
A sheet tray packed with bars of unsalted butter.
When to Use Salted vs. Unsalted Butter, According to Our Highly Opinionated Culinary Team
Side view of pumpkin puree
We Taste-Tested Nine Canned Pumpkins—Here Are Our Favorites
Chicken stock being poured into a pan.
Chicken Stock vs Broth: A Pro Chef Explains the Most Important Differences
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How to Make Classic Duck Confit
Half and half being poured into a bowl.
The Surprising Truth About Common Half-and-Half Substitutes, According to Our Culinary Director (It's Not Half Milk and Half Heavy Cream)
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This Easy Trick for Homemade Brown Sugar Saves You a Trip to the Store
Graphic of pulling meat from the freeze
The Best Way to Defrost Ground Beef, According to Our Expert Tests
Graphic for measuring knuckle rice
Is This the Most Foolproof Method for Making Rice? We Tested to Find Out
A cup of ice and someone making a cocktail.
The One Ingredient Holding Back Everyone's Homemade Cocktails—and How to Fix it
a variety of non alcoholic beers on a table with napkins and cards
I Tried 30 Nonalcoholic Beers to Find the Best Ones I'd Happily Drink Any Day
A collage of fish sauce and different dishes.
The Umami-Rich Pantry Ingredient That Will Instantly Improve Your Cooking (It's Not MSG)
Blueberry experiments lined up on a counter.
How to Store Blueberries So They Last Longer
Salmon on a foil-lined sheet tray.
The Restaurant Trick for Cooking Salmon and Other Fish Fillets Perfectly Every Single Time
Hand swirling red wine in Josephinenhütte Josephine No. 2 Universal Wine Glass
What’s Natural Wine, Anyway? We Asked a Sommelier
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What's the Actual Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?
Murray's cheese box with four cheese on their wrapping on a blue surface
We Tried 5 Cheese Subscription Boxes to Find the Best for Date Night and Beyond
A collection of maple syrup bottles on a crate
What's the Best Maple Syrup? We Tested a Bunch—and Asked a Vermont Sugarmaker for Help
a white tile surface with three different boxed chocolates
Life Handed Us 28 Boxes of Chocolates—We Found the Best Ones for Gifting (or Keeping for Yourself)
Graphic of Orange Blossom bottles
Why I Always Keep This Sweet, Floral Ingredient in My Pantry
Small Business Saturday Collage
Small Business Saturday Is Here—Our Favorite Sales Include Tinned Fish and Olive Oil
Overhead view of frozen chicken
What's the Best Way to Defrost Chicken? I Tested More Than 55 Pounds of Chicken to Find Out
Best Places to Buy Spices Online
The Best Places to Buy (Whole, Ground, Blended) Spices Online
Snacks according to SE Editors
The Best Snacks, According to a Team of (Basically) Professional Snackers
four mail order hams wrapped and on a wooden surface
I Ate a Whole Lot of Ham (and Maxed Out My Freezer) to Find the 10 Best Hams You Can Order Online
Overhead view of all the essential ingredients needed in a pantry to cook a range of Nigerian dishes. Ingredients range from spices to roots to tinned food and fresh spices, organized in a neat grid
Everything You Need to Know About Stocking a Nigerian Pantry
Three cooked turkeys on a kitchen countertop. A person is placing a turkey in a roasting pan onto the countertop.
The Best Mail-Order Turkeys for an Iconic Thanksgiving Feast
Graphic of cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes on a grid
Cherry vs. Grape Tomatoes: What's the Difference?
a variety of jars of honey with their tops open
Everything You Need to Know About Buying Honey
a variety of sesame oils on a wooden surface with a blue tile background
Fragrant and Nutty: We Tasted 10 Sesame Oils to Find the Best for Cooking and Beyond
Numerous bottles of olive oil on a wooden countertop.
I Tasted 28 Olive Oils to Find the Best Ones to Buy for Cooking, Drizzling, and Dipping
Graphic of sweet corn and field corn
Field Corn vs. Sweet Corn: What's the Difference?
Cascade of ground coriander followed by whole coriander seeds.
What is Coriander?
A number of chili crisps on a wooden coutnertop.
Spicy! Crunchy! Crispy! The Best Chili Crisp You Can Buy Online
a variety of tinned fish on a pale, sea foam green background
The Best Tinned Fish (and Other Seafood) You Can Buy Online
Overhead view of ground ginger in a bowl
Everything You Need to Know About Ground Ginger
Basket of fruit and vegetables
You Hauled the Whole Farmers Market—Now What?
Sohla & Ham Blends Nothing Hidden Ranch
This Ranch Seasoning Is So Delicious, I Keep It in My Handbag
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What Is Baby Corn?
several images of food (cheese, fish, olive oil) with postage stamp frames around them
We Spent Months Testing Food Subscription Boxes to Find the Ones Worth Buying Over and Over Again
an illustration of a golden tin of caviar with caviar on oysters on plates, and glasses of wine.
Where to Buy Caviar Online
Curry leaves on a plate with Spice Cabinet badge
What Are Curry Leaves?