Made bitter carbonara? I’ve been there. Here are the most likely causes of bitterness in this traditional Roman pasta dish.
Everything You Need to Know About Avocado Oil
From nutritional facts to smoke point and uses, here’s what you should know about avocado oil (and how to use it as a cooking oil at home).
The Home Cook’s Guide to Butter
From the types of butter sold in grocery stores to how to pan-fry, bake with, and store butter. Come on over to learn more.
Antonio Carluccio’s Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
Learn how to make Spaghetti alla Carbonara from the late Antonio Carluccio, the Godfather of Italian gastronomy. Here’s a breakdown of his recipe.
What Skillet Size Is Right for You (8, 10, or 12 Inches)?
Wondering what size skillet to buy for your home kitchen? Here’s my illustrated guide with all you need to know to make the right choice.
How to Clean Your Knife After Cutting Raw Chicken
Soapy water won’t kill most bacteria, but it helps to degrease your knife and wash away the poultry. Here’s how to REALLY sanitize your knife.
When and How to Clean Your Knives (Food Safety)
Food safety isn’t just about keeping your home kitchen clean. It’s also about avoiding cross-contamination. Here’s what to watch out for.
How to Keep Water in Your Pot From Boiling Over
This trick is so simple and works so well, it’s almost hard to believe. Here’s how it works—and what’s the science behind it.
5 Ways to Make Bland Pasta Sauce Taste Better
Here’s what to do when the taste of the sauce you bought in the grocery store didn’t really live up to what was said on the label.
Why Your Pasta Water Is White
As you cook pasta noodles in boiling water, some of the starches in the pasta get released and dissolve in the water. Here’s why this matters.
Should You Stop Buying Shredded Cheese?
Shredded cheese contains additives and preservatives that most cheese blocks don’t. Here’s what they are, so that you can decide for yourself.
How to Sauté Garlic in Olive Oil (Illustrated Guide)
The Best Pecorino Substitutes for Pasta Carbonara
My favorites are Parmigino-Reggiano, Grana Padano, and aged Asiago. Come over to check out why (and see my top three cheese picks).
Why Your Carbonara Came Out Goopy (And How to Fix It)
Your carbonara came out goopy? Come over and see how to make the perfect Pasta alla Carbonara every single time.
What Is Bronze-Cut Pasta? (And Why It Matters)
Bronze-cut pasta is, by all criteria, higher quality than regular pasta. It has a golden color and a rougher, more porous texture. Here’s why.
Is Basso Extra Virgin Olive Oil Good? (Review)
Basso’s classic extra virgin olive oil is a balanced blend of high-quality oils from Italy, Spain, and Greece. My score is 7.5/10. Here’s why.
Does Salt Kill the Yeast in Dough?
Salt can kill living yeast in a high enough concentration. Here’s the science, the facts, and how to get it right ever time you bake at home.
The 10 Italian Pasta Terms You Need to Know
From naming pasta water in Italian to knowing how to cook pasta al dente, here are 10 words in Italian that every home cook needs to know.
Are Tomatoes With Black Spots Safe to Eat?
The black spots on your tomato are a plant disease called anthracnose. Cut the infected areas out—and the rest of the tomato is safe to eat.
How to Sauté Garlic in Butter (With Photos)
There’s nothing like the smell of garlic cooking in hot butter in your frying pan. Here’s how to pan-fry it to perfection every single time.
Why Does Ravioli Float When Cooked?
The answer is all about density. But it’s more complicated and intriguing than some of you may think. Come over and see why.
What Are Those White Spots on Frozen Chicken?
Those dried and tough white spots on the chicken in your freezer are called freezer burn. They’re safe to eat, but will come out dry and tasteless, no matter how you cook them.
When Should You Cook on High Heat?
Don’t cook all of your food on high heat. Here’s what high-heat cooking is good for—and what you shouldn’t really use it for.
How to Clean Eggs Off a Stainless Steel Pan (With Photos)
Cleaning burnt eggs off of your stainless steel frying pan is easier than you think. Use this trick to do it in less than 10 minutes.
Is Chewy Pasta Undercooked or Overcooked?
When pasta is chewy and crunchy, it’s still undercooked. Keep on cooking it and taste it every 30 seconds until done. Here’s how to tell.
Why Is My Bacon Slimy?
Bacon gets slimy, smells sour, and turns grayish in color when it’s past its expiration date. Here’s what you need to know about bacon.
Can Store-Bought Pasta Sauce Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze store-bought pasta sauce. But it’s best to not do it in the glass jar it came with. Here’s what to do instead.
Is Greek Pita Bread Unleavened?
Pita bread is a yeast-leavened flatbread from Greece. It’s made with wheat flour, baker’s yeast, salt, and sugar.
Do You Have to Cook Store-Bought Pasta Sauce?
Jarred pasta sauce sold at most grocery store is already cooked, so you only have to reheat it. But you can also make it better.
Is Pita Bread Vegan?
Traditionally, pita bread is made from wheat flour, baker’s yeast, water, salt, and sugar, which makes it vegan friendly. But there’s a caveat.
How to Use a Pasta Insert (A Guide With Pictures)
Yes, you can make pasta at home without no. No, you won’t want to after you try it. Here’s how to use a pasta insert for best results.
How to Cook Dried Pasta Nests Perfectly
To cook dried pasta nests perfectly, use a large pot, a pasta insert, and follow the 4:1:1 pasta ratio. Here’s how.
Should You Boil Pasta in Milk?
If you like the recipe and taste, why shouldn’t you? Here’s what you need to know about cooking macaroni in milk instead of salted water.
Does Salt Keep Pasta Noodles From Sticking Together?
No, it doesn’t. But it makes the noodles a lot tastier. Here’s how to keep pasta noodles from sticking together in the first place.
How to Tell If Sausages Have Gone Bad
To tell if sausages have spoiled, use your senses. If you see any discoloration, smell and unpleasant odor, or feel stickiness, discard them.
Can a Stainless Steel Pan Go in the Oven?
The answer is not as simple as it seems. Before you put your stainless steel frying pan in the oven, here’s what you need to know.
Can You Leave Pasta in the Water After Cooking?
You can, but you shouldn’t. The pasta noodles will soak up too much moisture and turn soggy. Here’s what to do with leftover noodles instead.
Are You Supposed to Wash Pasta Before Cooking?
Don’t rinse pasta noodles before cooking them. Your pasta dish will come out less tasty as a result. Here’s the reason why.
Can You Charge Your Phone on an Induction Cooktop?
On theory, you could. And you could just as easily destroy your phone by trying to do so. Here’s why this is not necessarily the best idea.
Are Stainless Steel Pans Non-Stick?
No, stainless steel pans don’t have a non-stick cooking surface. But if you know how to use them, you can keep food from sticking to them.
Greek Pita Fish Sandwich (Recipe)
Tagliatelle, Tomato, and Anchovy Pasta Recipe
Taste the Mediterranean Sea with this simple and delicious pasta recipe with canned tomatoes and anchovies.
Are Induction Cooktops Worth It?
Are induction cooktops worth the higher price? I cooked on an induction cooktop for a week to find out. Here’s the rundown.
How to Clean White Spots on a Stainless Steel Pan or Pot
Does Pasta Float When Cooked? (Know When Pasta Is Done)
Can Frozen Chicken Go Bad? (Read This Before Cooking)
How to Thicken Sauce in a Slow Cooker (5 Best Ways)
Added too much liquid to your recipe? Here are 5 ways to thicken sauces, soups, and stews in the slow cooker, even when they’re really runny.
Can You Eat Canned Tomatoes After the Expiration Date?
Stored in a cool and dry place, canned tomatoes will remain safe to eat indefinitely. But they will lose their freshness and nutritional value over time.
What’s the Difference Between Searing and Sautéing?
You sear food at high heat to form an aromatic and flavourful crust. You sauté food at moderate heat to cook it all the way through. Here’s why.
Are Copper Pans Worth It? The Truth About Copper Cookware
A copper frying pan will set you back $250-$300. Why is copper cookware so expensive? And is it worth the money? Here’s all you need to know.
Why Is My Homemade Pasta Chewy?
The most likely reasons are that you didn’t use the right type of flour, you overworked the dough, or you didn’t roll it out thin enough. Here’s why.
Are Pasture-Raised Eggs Worth It?
They can cost as much as $8.99 a dozen at the grocery store. Many say the price is 100% worth it. Here’s what makes pastured eggs better.
What It Means to Store Food In a Cool and Dry Place
You see this instruction on nearly every canned and packaged food. But what does it really mean? Here’s the best cool and dry storage spaces in most homes.
I Stopped Adding Oil to Pasta Water (And You Should Too)
Adding oil to pasta water does more harm than good. Here’s why—and what to do instead to keep the noodles from sticking together.
Why Your Lasagna Came Out Oily (And How to Prevent It)
My best tips and tricks to prevent greasy and soupy lasagna. Try them out and others will think you’ve been to a secret Italian cooking class.
Is Shortening the Same as Lard?
No, shortening is no the same as lard. One comes from vegetable oils, the other from pork fat. But you can still substitute one for the other. Here’s why.
Do Vegetables Lose Nutrients When Cooked In Soup?
Making soup can have a mixed effect on the nutritional value of vegetables. Water washes away some of the compounds while making others more digestible.
How to Cook Beans Without Soaking Them Overnight
I’ve been cooking dry beans without letting them soak overnight for years. And so have the most trustworthy authors I follow online. Here’s why and how this works.
How to Grease a Pan Without Cooking Spray: 4 Fail-Safe Ways
Looking for alternatives to cooking spray or simply ran out of it? Here’s four fail-safe ways to grease your baking pan instead.
The Best Ham for Jambon-Beurre Sandwich
Why Is My Carbonara Runny?
Your pasta carbonara came out runny and pooling in the plate? Here’s how to get this simple and delicious pasta dish right every single time.
Does Tomato Paste in a Tube Go Bad?
Once opened, tomato paste in a tube will last for 7-8 weeks in the fridge. Here’s how to best use it (and a neat trick to make it last even longer).
Why Is My Potato Soup Gluey?
Picked the best potatoes in the store? Did everything the recipe said? Yet your potato soup turned out thick and gluey… Here’s what to watch out for.
Why Your Pasta Came Out Bland (And How to Get It Right)
Follow these tips and tricks for making tasty pasta and you will never again end up with bland and flavorless pasta dishes at home.
The Difference Between a Croque Monsieur and Monte Cristo Sandwich
The Monte Cristo is actually a variation of the Croque Monsieur sandwich. Here’s the differences between them (and how to make each at home).
Make Mediterranean Tomato and Feta Salad
This simple and delicious salad will brighten up your palette for lunch or dinner. Check out my Mediterranean salad recipe.
Is Watery Yogurt Bad for You?
If you opened a carton of yogurt and there was a watery substance on top, don’t worry. The yogurt is safe to eat. Here’s why.
Can You Substitute Plain Yogurt for Mayo?
Check out how to substitute plain yogurt for mayo. And learn about the best recipes where this healthier alternative works deliciously well.
Can You Use Olive Oil in Ceramic Pans?
You can, as long as you cook on low to medium heat. Olive oil has a low smoke point and will otherwise burn. Here’s what you need to know about using olive oil in ceramic pans.
The Spuckie Sandwich: Where to Get It & How to Make One at Home
Here’s where in Boston to find the staple spuckie sandwich. And my tried-and-tested recipe to make a spuckie at home.
The Best Food & Drinks to Serve at a Fish Fry
This beer-battered fish recipe, three appetizers, and four drinks will awe friends and family at your fish fry.
How to Make Neapolitan-Style Pizza at Home
Neapolitan pizza is the most authentic, traditional, and delicious style of pizza. Here’s how to make it at home.
How to Pair Cheese with Italian Food the Right Way
Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Ricotta, Provolone, Gorgonzola… How to pair them well?