In the traditional hierarchy of spirits, even the best whiskey was always “substitute standard,” as the Army used to deem things that weren’t what you really wanted but would work if you had to make them work. The spirit you really wanted, presumably, was brandy — French brandy, to be precise, and cognac, to …
When I boil lobster, I keep the focus on the fish. You make what’s called a court bouillon — just seasoned cooking water — creating a saltwater base brightened by the acidity of wine and lemon, then enhanced with softer spices. But what really makes the difference is fresh bay leaves, because their piney …
Around the new millennium, if you went looking for a bottle of American straight rye whiskey, your chances were lousy. By the end of the 20th century, this foundational style of American whiskey was hanging from the ropes, seeing birdies, and waiting for the towel to hit the canvas. Out of the dozens of …
We all want a top liquor shelf that wows. But without a strong middle shelf of $40-and-under bottles that you can pour without a second thought, you just have a trophy case instead of something you actually live with. Recently, in an effort to get price-conscious younger drinkers away from their White Claw, distillers …
Even the most experienced home cooks can use a little inspiration now and then. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to find. The wide variety of cooking apps and websites available today make it easy to plan meals and even eat healthier. Whether you’re looking to ditch the stacks of faded recipes, make something new …
FOR THE TABLE Morton Salt ($1.30) – Made for a shaker, the tiny, cube-shaped crystals dissolve quickly over food and won’t clump in the bottle. FOR COOKING Diamond Crystal Kosher ($4) – Preferred by chefs, the light, flat crystals have a neutral salty flavor. FOR BAKING LaBaleine Fine Sea Salts ($7) – Accuracy is …
These four super-trendy kitchen gadgets really stand up to the heat. BEST BUDGET Dash Compact 2 Qt. Air Fryer Oven Cooker, $50 (bydash.com) With its small footprint and fun colors, this air fryer is perfect for dorm rooms and kitchens with crowded countertops. Fries cook up crispy and evenly browned, and a nonstick interior …
We rated 10 popular models on versatility, brew quality and ease of cleanup. These three started hot and finished strong. BEST FOR ESPRESSO Espressione Combination Stainless Steel Espresso + Coffee Machine $248; amazon.com These machines we tested all do double duty, but this one stood out for consistently longer espresso shots with gentler extractions, …
From sauteing to searing, these four skillets are seasoned pros. BEST BUDGET OPTION From sauteing to searing, these four skillets are seasoned pros. BEST BUDGET OPTION Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet, $36 amazon.com Our testers deemed this model “great for the price point” and ideal for budget-minded cooks. It conducts plenty of heat for searing steaks …
We ranked popular models on performance, versatility and ease of cleaning. These four are worth the dough. BEST FEATURES Breville Custom Loaf Bread Maker, $300 crateandbarrel.com From crust-color to gluten-free options, nearly everything is customizable on this model. A dispenser also makes adding fruit or nuts a snap. No wonder our testers said it …