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21 Baking Tools Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Handy Extras)
Beginning bakers and seasoned pros gather around. This baking tool list will help pros organize your baking equipment once and for all. Or, if you’re a new baker, you can start setting up your kitchen with must-have equipment and pastry tools to get you through any sweet recipe. And if you have a cake recipe…
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Sheet-Pan Meals Are the Easiest Way to Cook—Follow These Pro Tips to Ace the Technique
They may not be sleek or cutting-edge, but never mind that: When it comes to usefulness, no other cookware in your kitchen holds a candle to the sheet pan (also known as a rimmed baking sheet). Perfect for time-saving one-pan dinners, they allow you to cook all the elements of an entire meal on a…
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This Is the Best Way to Freeze Green Beans So They Stay Fresh All Year
Can you freeze fresh green beans? You bet you can. Green beans are quite easy to freeze, and they last several months in the freezer so you can enjoy the taste of garden-fresh goodness—even when it’s colder outside than it is in your freezer. Plus, frozen green beans are a convenient and flavorful addition to…
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How to Cook Okra—5 Methods That Show How Delicious It Is
Okra lovers adore the veggie for its eggplant-like flavor and meaty texture. For vegetarians, this summery vegetable makes a hearty anchor to meat-free main dishes and beyond; for omnivores, okra is a versatile veggie side dish to just about any meat, especially one hot off the grill. Even if you’ve never tried or enjoyed okra…
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Meat and General Food Temperature Chart and Safe Cooking Tips
The proper temperature to cook a medium-rare steak is 130 F to 135 F. However, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, beef, lamb, and pork should be cooked to at least 145 F (or above if desired). Keep in mind that the lower temperatures in the chart for rare and medium-rare meat are not recommended by the USDA. The following chart…
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How to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly for Smoother Cooking
We get it: It seems fussy and like a tiny detail to worry about things like room-temperature eggs or how to soften cream cheese when they’re called for in a recipe. But trust our Test Kitchen pros; these small details make a big difference in the result of your recipes. In the latter case, softened…
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The Best Cooking Tips We’ve Learned From The Pioneer Woman
From dishing about the essential Southern potluck recipes on our Biscuits & Jam podcast to filling us in about her three must-have kitchen tools to sharing her treasured potato chip-topped Funeral Potatoes casserole, we like to think we’re basically BFFs with Ree Drummond. OK, that might be a stretch, but we’ve been lucky enough to…
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The Food Safety Tips Every Home Cook Should Memorize
A quick refresher on cooking safety tips never hurts! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned cook, these safety tips in the kitchen should always be followed to guarantee a great meal. Remember: keep it clean, don’t cross-contaminate, and be sure to follow these other tips for food safety. Avoid Cross-Contamination iStock. Close up Woman…
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How To Peel Tomatoes: A Step-By-Step Guide
One of the most anticipated highlights of summertime is perfectly ripe, fantastically juicy, wonderfully sweet fresh tomatoes. You’ll no doubt enjoy thick slabs on BLTs and tomato sandwiches, or as is on a seasonal veggie plate. You’ll also probably enjoy them cut into wedges and tossed into a light, refreshing salad. For all of these…
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55 Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes From Dinner To Dessert
A cast-iron skillet is a prized possession among Southern cooks. Seasoned with years of cooking and loving care, heirloom cast-iron skillets are as valued (and fought over) as Grandma’s china and sterling silver. A new pre-seasoned skillet also makes the perfect gift for a young cook. Browse our collection of delicious recipes that make the…