Techniques

From cooking fundamentals to primers on advanced culinary techniques, these how-to guides will help inform every dish you make no matter your skill level.
Side view of grilled cheese resting
This 2-Minute Trick Ensures Perfectly Crispy Grilled Cheeses Every Time
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How to Make Classic Duck Confit
Overhead view of All American Stew
How to Make a Parchment Paper Lid That’ll Transform All Your Winter Stews
Irish soda bread in a parchment-lined cast iron skillet in the oven.
I’m a Chef—I Always Check These 5 Things In a Kitchen Before Making Any Recipe
Closeup of parsley and basil sprigs on a cutting board.
Stop Tossing the One Ingredient That'll Make Your Cooking Even More Delicious
One round cake pan lined with a circle of parchment, hands pressing a circle of parchment into a second cake pan.
The Simple Restaurant Trick for Lining Cake Pans Perfectly Each Time
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How to Make Christmas Cookies Look Like They Came From a Bakery, According to a Pastry Chef
Two cookies side-by-side on a marble surface.
The Easily Forgotten Step That Can Make or Break Your Cookies
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I'm a Pro Chef—This Is The Knife Skill Most Home Cooks Don't Have, But Should
Side view of two eggs
Should You Pasteurize Eggs at Home? A Serious Eats Investigation.
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Winter Weather Could Be Ruining Your Baking—Here's How to Fix It
A plate of shrimp cocktail.
For Plump and Snappy Shrimp, Reach for Baking Soda and Salt
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The Best Ways to Keep Gravy Warm, According to a Food Editor
Overhead view of chickpeas
The Quick Trick for Softening Canned Chickpeas for Silky-Smooth Hummus, Stews, and More
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10 Essential Rules for the Best Sheet-Pan Dinners, According to a Professional Recipe Developer
Frozen roasted sweet potato with whipped creme fraiche and granola on a plate.
5 Ways to Use Your Freezer Beyond Preservation
Hot pan drippings are poured on seared and rested steaks to "fat flash" them.
The Easy Restaurant Trick for Juicy, Crispy Steaks
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
salted cucumbers
Why You Should Salt Your Cucumbers
Side view of a glass of pomegranate juice
How to Turn Any Pomegranate Into a Plastic-Free "Bottle" of Pomegranate Juice
A line up of sausages grilled with different methods.
Should You Spiralize Your Hot Dogs and Sausages? We Tested to Find Out
Ovehead view of steak test
The Science of Marinades
Multiple pitchers and glasses filled with infused water
How to Make Cucumber Water and Other Fruit-Infused Waters
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.
Turn Your Pasta Into Ramen With Baking Soda
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How to Cut an Airline Chicken Breast
ice cream in glass bowls
Level Up Your Ice Cream by Leveling Your Cake
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How To Brown Butter
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For Smoother Ice Cream and Sorbet, Use Corn Syrup
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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.
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.
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
How to Make the Best Seafood Po' Boys
A dollop of butternut squash puree on a plate.
How to Make a Vegetable Purée
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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.
How to Make Mozzarella Recipe
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Toasting Nuts? The Microwave is Your Best Friend
Cocktail 101: Decorative Garnishes
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How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally, Without a Store-Bought Kit
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How to Cryo-Blanch Vegetables | The Food Lab
Six fresh, silvery sardines laid neatly next to one another.
How to Clean and Fillet Fresh Sardines
Vegan Pizza
The Pizza Lab: How To Make Vegan Pizzas That Really Work
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Leftover Pizza + Waffle Iron = Delicious Crispy, Gooey, Cheese-Stuffed Snack
Barista Tips: The Espresso Tamper
Hand-whisking mayonnaise
Whisking Versus Blending Mayonnaise: The Best Tools for the Job
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Homebrewing: Introduction to Mashing and All-Grain Brewing
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How to Make Asparagus alla Milanese With Tips and Variations
Coffee Techniques: Finding the Right Grind
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How to Make Granita
Wok Skills 101: Passing-Through
Overhead view of a cutting board showcasing multiple types of cuts of carrots, radishes, onions, meat, and cucumbers
Essential Chinese Knife Skills and Techniques
stand mixer creaming butter and sugar
The Real Reason You Should Use a Stand Mixer Isn't Convenience