Test Kitchen Tips
Our Test Kitchen is full of culinary experts who have picked up plenty of handy tricks and techniques over the years. Check out our favorite cooking tips that’ll make cooking and baking at home easier than ever.
The Ultimate Guide to Baking Substitutes
Baking can seem like an impossibly precise science, but there's a little wiggle room when you're missing a key ingredient. Use these easy baking substitutes to save your batter—and the day.
8 Easy Ways to Make a Cream Cheese Substitute
Out of cream cheese? No need to make a grocery run. Get cooking with these easy cream cheese substitutions.
8 Substitutes for Butter in Cookies and Other Baked Goods
Got a craving but out of butter? Try a substitute for butter in cookies and beyond!
The Best Sweetened Condensed Milk Substitutes to Use in a Pinch
Ever been in the middle of a baking project and realized you're flat out of sweetened condensed milk? Here are...
3 Yogurt Substitutes to Use—and 3 You Should Skip
Running low on yogurt? Don't rush to the store to grab another container! You may have a yogurt substitute hanging...
9 Simple Ways to Make a Heavy Cream Substitute
Heavy cream lends a velvety texture to anything it touches. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make a heavy...
5 No-Fail Sour Cream Substitutes
Skip the grocery run and get on to the good stuff—whatever it is you're cooking!
5 Ways to Make a Buttermilk Substitute
No buttermilk? No problem! Get cooking with these buttermilk substitutions.
What is Fond and Why You Should Use It
Fond is one of the key ingredients to a delicious gravy or pan sauce. So never, ever wash away those...
What Is Cultured Butter and When Should You Use It?
Have you seen cultured butter in the dairy case? Find out exactly what it is and why you just might...
6 Essential Baking Ratios That You Should Know
Make your favorite baked goodies with this handy baking ratios chart—no recipe needed!
Here’s the Difference Between East Coast vs West Coast Butter
We had no idea about the difference between East Coast vs West Coast butter!
This Is Why Grandma Baked with Hard Boiled Egg Yolks
Just when we thought Grandma had shared all her baking secrets, this hidden gem left us floored.
Your Guide to Cooking with CBD Oil
Curious about trying CBD? We've compiled the ultimate guide to cooking with CBD oil.
How to Proof Bread Dough (Even When It’s Cold Outside)
Follow along as we break down how to proof bread from scratch—along with answering your burning bread proofing questions.
Bakeable: Your Guide to Everything Baking
Cakes, pies, cookies, bread—we love creating homemade treats. And we’re putting a new twist on baking with Bakeable from Taste...
Bread Not Rising? Here’s Why (and How to Fix It)
Yeast can be a fickle ingredient, but it's essential for homemade bread recipes. Learn why your bread isn't rising (and...
10 Sourdough Discard Recipes to Make with Your Extra Starter
Try these sourdough discard recipes the next time you feed your starter—so you don't have to waste the excess!
The Ultimate Guide to Baking Cookies
Go grab your apron—you're going to need it. This all-inclusive guide contains everything you need to know about baking cookies...
8 Ways to Keep Brown Sugar Soft (And Soften If It Hardens)
Learn how to keep brown sugar soft and how to soften brown sugar after it has hardened.
We’re Here to Answer Your Tough Instant Pot Questions
The Taste of Home Test Kitchen has the answers to your most pressing questions.
What Is Al Dente?
You've probably heard the phrase dozens of times, but what is al dente? And how do you know when your...
What Is Cooking Wine?
Cooking wine has a bad reputation, but is it deserved? Skipping it in a recipe might mean losing a valuable...
8 Casserole Tips Grandma Would Want You to Know
Grandmas know how to make the best casseroles. They just taste better with her secret ingredients and expert casserole tips....
Here’s the REAL Difference Between Chowder and Soup
What is chowder? Is it really all that different from soup?
12 Cookie Decorating Tips That Everyone Needs to Know
Use our simple cookie decorating tips to make homemade treats look almost like a pro baker's best.
8 Common Fudge Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Homemade fudge can be a little fussy, but it's easy to make if you avoid these common fudge mistakes.
What Is Sticky Rice?
What is sticky rice, and can you make it with any variety of white rice?
How to Make Brownies Better, with Secrets from Our Test Kitchen
We all want to know how to make better brownies—you know the kind with the crinkly top and the fudgy...
9 Common Chocolate Truffle Mistakes—and How to Fix Them
Having trouble making homemade truffles? We can help you avoid these common chocolate truffle mistakes.