The Kitchn Archive
2020
December

The Kitchn Archive: Dec 2020

10 Best Uses for Your Toaster Oven
We often get questions about cooking in small spaces. While recommending another appliance might not seem like the logical answer, a counter-top oven is actually a great solution for energy-conscious, small-space cooking. Let me count the ways… I’ve been playing with the Breville Smart Oven, which yes, makes toast, but is so much more than a toaster oven. It’s just big enough to bake a pie, even a 13″ round pizza.
Sara Kate Gillingham
Dec 31, 2020
Soy Alternatives: Substitutes for Tofu, Miso, Soy Sauce and More
If you’re allergic to soybeans or want to reduce your consumption of soy for other reasons, foods like tofu, miso, and soy sauce are out. A soy-free diet can be even harder if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. Check out this list of soy alternatives and leave your own suggestions in the comments. • Edamame Substitutes: Green peas and fresh fava and lima beans are good substitutes.
Emily Han
Dec 31, 2020
3 Ways You May Be Ruining Your Knives
Do you know the quickest way to dull a knife? Turns out there are three. I’m the first to admit I’ve done two out of three of these things at one time or another, but now I know better — and you can, too! 1. You store your knives unsheathed in the utensil drawer.There are a few reasons this is bad: first of all, it’s dangerous to have a knife loose in the drawer. Secondly, an unsheathed knife rubs against other things, which causes it to get dull very quickly.
Cambria Bold
Dec 31, 2020
What’s True (and Totally Not True) About Cheese and Pregnancy
Avoiding certain cheeses is a key part of pregnancy. That said, there's some misinformation out there.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 31, 2020
The Best Grocery Store Snacks You Can Find in Britain
Snack food options in British grocery stores extend past the traditional chips and candy.
Caitlin Huson
Dec 31, 2020
Can You Really Make Crystal-Clear Ice Cubes With Boiling Water?
Whether you have a built-in ice maker in the freezer or you make ice cubes the old fashioned way, you’ve probably noticed that your ice cubes appear cloudy and opaque. But, go to a restaurant or fancy cocktail bar and you’re likely to find crystal-clear cubes sitting on the bottom of the glass. Ever wonder how that happens? Well, there could be an easy way to get super crystal-clear ice at home. The ice that comes out of your freezer is usually milky-colored, not clear. Why?
Kelli Foster
Dec 31, 2020
5 Tips That Will Help You Make a Perfect Souffle Every Time
Many folks are scared of soufflé. And I get it. You hear stories all the time about a soufflé collapsing or simply not rising in the first place. If you’ve never seen anyone else make a soufflé, it can seem a little daunting to tackle the task from a simple recipe. But really, truly I am here to tell you that it’s absolutely do-able. Not only is it do-able, it’s something you can easily master on an average old weeknight.
Megan Gordon
Dec 31, 2020
How To Make a French Baguette at Home
The perfect baguette requires just four ingredients and a weekend at home. This is the most delicious DIY to try this fall.
Meghan Splawn
Dec 31, 2020
7 Tips for Easy Turkey That I Learned from the Ladies of the Butterball Hotline
Every holiday season the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line receives over 3 million questions by phone, email, and chat from turkey-anxious cooks. (You can call and ask about any turkey — not just a Butterball.) I visited their headquarters in Naperville, Illinois, and it was exactly how you’d picture it: There was an aroma of turkey, and everyone was on the phone or computer talking with callers or researching questions.
Ariel Knutson
Dec 31, 2020
Cocktail Conundrums: How Much Is Actually In a Dash?
Like any cocktail enthusiast worth her margarita’s salt, I know the difference bitters make in drinks. In fact, my home bar is stocked with 14 different varieties, including a citrus trio I made myself. Despite my ardor for the botanical-laced infusions, I’ve often wondered if I’m measuring them correctly into my cocktails, because, what the heck is a dash, anyway? To figure this out, I set up a very scientific experiment in my kitchen.
Jeanette Hurt
Dec 31, 2020
How To Clean a Chemex
The super cool design is great to look at, but it can be hard to get it truly clean. Here are our best tips and tricks for getting a Chemex absolutely sparkling.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 31, 2020
This Is What a Dishwasher Actually Does to Your Knife
Never put your knife in the dishwasher again.
Rachel Cericola
Dec 31, 2020
Essential Bar Ingredient: Rosemary Simple Syrup
Many cocktail recipes for the spring and summer call for the addition of simple syrup. Even better is when the recipe calls for a flavored simple syrup, such as rosemary. This recipe is very easy to make, and your kitchen will smell so good while you’re making it. This is taken from the May 2007 issue of Southern Living magazine. Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 4 fresh rosemary sprigs Preparation Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Kathryn Hill
Dec 31, 2020
Cooking By Feel: Does It Matter if You Use Red or White Wine for Cooking?
Some recipes get pretty specific about the kind of wine they want you to use: an oaky chardonnay in this reduction sauce, a hearty Italian red for that braise. But does it really matter?We say, go for it. Switch it up! Experiment with flavors! Try something new! All wines will chemically behave in the same way, so there’s no danger that a recipe won’t work if you use a white instead of a red or vice versa.
Emma Christensen
Dec 31, 2020
How To Paint a KitchenAid Stand Mixer
You used to love pink and now you do not. Paint it any color you want! We've got all the steps you'll need.
Caylin Harris
Dec 31, 2020
What Makes Espresso Different from Brewed Coffee?
Up until the last few years — when pour-over coffee started garnering cult status in the specialty coffee world, making filter coffee cool again — espresso had often been deemed by many as the “best” way to drink coffee. When it was introduced in the United States, a country where we had become used to drinking drip coffee, it was an entirely new way to experience coffee.
Anna Brones
Dec 31, 2020
8 Questions I Ask Myself Before I Buy Anything — *Especially* If It’s on Sale
Shopping
Just some things to keep in mind during this post-holiday sale season.
Ella Cerón
Dec 28, 2020
8 Little Luxuries We’re Loving from Urban Outfitters’ Winter Clearance Sale
Shopping
Ring in the New Year with some great kitchen finds.
Tim Minerd
Dec 31, 2020
Macy’s Massive Year-End Sale Has Everything You Need To Upgrade Your Kitchen for the New Year
Shopping
Get the kitchen of your dreams in 2021.
Vanessa Spilios
Dec 31, 2020
I’m the Grocery Editor at Kitchn — These Are the 10 Best Snacks I Tried in 2020
Groceries
Including Lesser Evil Veggie Sticks, KIND Bark, Banza Frozen Pizza, and more.
Lauren Masur
Dec 31, 2020
Our 10 Most Popular New Recipes This Month
Yes, there were a lot of cookies.
Sheela Prakash
Dec 28, 2020
25 Game-Changing Amazon Products We Loved in 2020 — Starting at Just $9!
Shopping
They're all equally awesome, but number one is a true icon!
Tim Minerd
Dec 31, 2020
Cooking Osechi for New Year’s Helped Me Overcome My Fear of Not Being “Japanese Enough”
Cooking, to the shame of my birth city, was my cultural Achilles heel.
Julia Shiota
Dec 31, 2020
The Best Vacuum Deals to Help You Tidy Up in 2021 (Hello, Dyson!)
Shopping
Upgrade your cleaning sitch ASAP.
Celia Shatzman
Dec 30, 2020
10 Easy Keto-Friendly Dinners to Make in the Slow Cooker
Bonus: They make tons, and are great for meal prep!
Meghan Splawn
Dec 10, 2020
8 Habits That Are Helping Me Reclaim My Lunch Break from Unhealthy WFH Boundaries
Tips from The Kitchn
"Even just a 30-minute break from your computer screen can be an investment for your future self."
Yasmin Gulec
Dec 28, 2020
The Most Popular Pot Lid Organizer on Amazon Costs Less than $10
Shopping
One reviewer legit said this organizer makes them a happier person!
Lisa Freedman
Dec 30, 2020
If Our Wine Expert Couldn’t Drink Wine, Here’s What She’d Reach For
Groceries
This is worth a read whether you're planning to do Dry January or not!
Diane McMartin
Dec 16, 2020
The 5 Best Decluttering Tips We Heard All Year
Organizing Tips from The Kitchn
For starters, use a CLEAR garbage bag.
Dana McMahan
Dec 28, 2020
Our 10 Most Saved Recipes of 2020
Cookies and chicken dinners were clear favorites.
Kelli Foster
Dec 30, 2020
10 Things to Get Rid of Before the New Year
Mustard packets, old ice, and Thanksgiving leftovers? You definitely don't need those in 2021.
Ayn-Monique Klahre
Dec 29, 2020
7 Old-School (and Beloved!) Cleaners This Neighborhood Grocery Store Always Keeps in Stock
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
We're very excited to try the copper scrubbers!
Ashley Abramson
Dec 28, 2020
Kitchn’s 10 Most Wanted Recipes of 2020
These are the recipes we were absolutely most excited about this year.
Sheela Prakash
Dec 29, 2020
The 10 Most Surprising Cleaning Tips We Learned This Year
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
Put these five things in the dishwasher! Never do these things with hydrogen peroxide! Etc!
Dana McMahan
Dec 29, 2020
The $9 Amazon Find That Instantly Lowered My Stress Level in the Kitchen
Shopping
It used to be "screech" and "draaaaagggg" all day long ...
Shifrah Combiths
Dec 29, 2020
This Was, Hands-Down, the Most Popular Article We Posted on Kitchn This Year
It has nothing to do with sourdough or banana bread.
Lauren Kodiak
Dec 29, 2020
The 30 All-Time Best Grocery Store Snacks for Kids
Groceries
Kids (and adults) love these.
Lauren Masur
Dec 28, 2020
10 Wildly Delicious Recipes We Couldn’t Get Enough of in 2020
As we prepare to leave the worst of 2020 in the rearview mirror, these are the things we plan to keep: the most helpful, delightful, and delicious recipes we made this year.
Naomi Tomky
Dec 29, 2020
The One (Very) Forgotten Thing Everyone Should Definitely Clean Before the End of the Year
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
It'll only take a minute or two!
Ashley Abramson
Dec 28, 2020
Our 10 Most Popular Plant-Based Recipes of 2020
They were our most colorful, too.
Sheela Prakash
Dec 28, 2020
The (Very) Hidden Part of Your Kitchen You’re Forgetting to Clean
Cleaning Tips from The Kitchn
You see these spots a few times a day, but probably don't clean them all that often.
Ashley Abramson
Dec 22, 2020
Everything We’re Buying from Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale
Shopping
Snag deals on top brands like Staub, All-Clad, Le Creuset, Zwilling, and many more!
AnnMarie Mattila
Dec 28, 2020
The Pillowy Bread Recipe That I’ve Baked More than a Dozen Times
I've got it on repeat in my kitchen, with freezer bags full of squares to grab from constantly.
Sheela Prakash
Dec 28, 2020
The Best Year-End Kitchen Deals You Can’t Afford to Miss
Shopping
Snag super deals on everything you'll need to start the new year on a bright note.
Sholeen Damarwala
Dec 28, 2020
5 Life-Changing Egg Tips We Learned in 2020
Who can forget the "tornado" omelette technique?
Naomi Tomky
Dec 28, 2020
The 6 Best Organizers We Bought in 2020
Organizing Tips from The Kitchn
We finally found solutions (that work!) for spices and pot lids!
Lisa Freedman
Dec 22, 2020
The Most Flavorful Braised Lamb Shanks for a New Year's Eve at Home
A whipped parsnip puree pairs perfectly with rich and meaty lamb shanks in this luxurious dinner for two.
Brittany Conerly
Dec 28, 2020
The 10 Best Things We Bought from Trader Joe’s in 2020
Groceries
Frozen Cacio e Pepe, Cauliflower Thins, Bloody Mary Salsa ... and more!
Lauren Masur
Dec 22, 2020