And are they really from Brussels?

I grew up thinking that mashed potatoes came from the dehydrated flakes in a box. When I finally made my own from scratch, the result was such a revelation that I haven’t looked back since. But transforming a potato into the delicious, comforting magic of mashed potatoes really starts at the grocery store. You need to pick the right potato so you end up with light, fluffy mashed potatoes. There are three basic categories of potatoes: starchy, waxy, and in-between.

Are you team baby back or St. Louis Style?!

Half-and-half sits quietly next to regular milk and cream in the dairy section, a constant presence that doesn’t seem to be as widely used as its neighbors. Is there something special about it, and how do you use it besides in morning coffee? Half-and-half, also known as half cream in the United Kingdom, is a simple blend of equal parts whole milk and light cream. It averages 10 to 12% fat, which is more than milk but less than light cream.

Apple cider and apple juice look quite similar but can be made, packaged, and labeled in different ways. Learn the differences between apple juice and apple cider here.

Is there really a difference between ice cream and gelato? Or is gelato just a fancier name for regular ol' ice cream?

A versatile ingredient, kabocha squash has dark green skin and a sweet, orange-hued interior. Learn how to buy, store, and the best recipes to cook this winter squash in this guide.

Here are the four most popular cuts of steak. We'll cover where they're cut from, what they taste like, and how best to cook them.

Yes, we all know that lettuce is the foundation of most salads, but c’mon — lettuce has so much more to give! I love that you don’t have to use up a whole head at once — one head in the crisper drawer can be used in so many different ways over the course of days, so you won’t ever feel like you’re eating the same thing over and over again.

Cornmeal has long been used for baked goods and giving fried foods crunch and texture. Polenta may feel like a less-familiar newcomer, not surprisingly causing some confusion. What’s the difference between these two cornmeal products? The difference between cornmeal and polenta is in the consistency of the grain. Polenta is also made from corn, but is it really just cornmeal labeled differently and sold at a higher price? Can the two be used interchangeably? Read on to find out!

This tiny step will make your wings so much better.

Buying the right kind of fish can be a bit challenging. Your recipe might call for a specific type of fish or it may just have the very generic term: “white fish.” Fish can be very regional and sometimes the seafood counter has only a few options to choose from, so how do you shop for the correct type of fish? White fish is often referred to tilapia, cod, bass, grouper, haddock, catfish, and snapper. They are great for frying, searing, using in soups and chowders.

The options in the yogurt aisle at the grocery store have increased greatly over the years, with Greek yogurt taking up just as much space on the shelves as the regular stuff. What’s the difference between Greek and regular yogurt? It comes down to straining: Greek yogurt is regular yogurt with the bulk of its the liquid components removed, a process that make Greek yogurt thicker and gives Greek yogurt more protein and fat per serving than regular yogurt. So which one should you buy?

This Korean red pepper paste will add serious kick and depth of flavor to anything you stir it into.

When it’s time for fall and winter baking, dark, sticky molasses gets pulled out from the back of my cabinet. There’s no replacement for the sweet, almost smoky flavors it adds to cookies and cakes, like chewy molasses cookies and dark molasses gingerbread cake, plus it plays oh-so-nicely with winter spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Molasses comes in different forms and each has its taste, use, and way of making it.

I don’t bake with yeast all that often, but I always reach for the packets of dry yeast when I do. But what about those little cakes of fresh yeast, the ones professional bakers are always talking about? It was time to find out more about fresh (or cake) yeast, and see what the fuss was all about. How is it different from dried yeast, is it easy to use, and would breads made from fresh yeast taste better?

The rice cooker has always been one of my favorite appliances. We eat steamed rice at least once a week and usually make enough to have leftovers for fried rice. I’m perfectly capable of cooking rice on the stove, but my rice cooker has an easy-to-clean nonstick lining and can keep the rice warm for hours, making it something I can turn on right before I leave the house in the morning. But to be honest, this appliance takes up a lot of space.

Our step-by-step photo guide will show you the way.