The Best Way to Dry Out Bread of Stuffing (Plus More Tips)Skills
Perfect stuffing is within your reach.
How to Cut Eggplant for Any RecipeSkills
It’s the first step to your best-ever eggplant Parm!
Everything You Should Know About Cherry PeppersSkills
The peculiar yet delicious pepper you need in your life.
The Only Way to Cut a CantaloupeSkills
Go on, get confident.
How to Freeze Green Beans (Step-by-Step)Skills
Preserve green beans at their peak of freshness for up to three months!
My Dad Taught Me the Secret to the Best Potato Salad of Your LifeSkills
It’s the only potato salad I’ll eat.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Potato SaladSkills
No more mushy potatoes.
Jun 3, 2024
11 Best Breads for Thanksgiving Stuffing, According to ChefsSkills
Pro tip: Never toss those leftover bagels.
Nov 13, 2023
8 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Mashed PotatoesSkills
For your best mashed potatoes yet.
Oct 19, 2023
How to Freeze and Reheat Mashed PotatoesSkills
Yes, you can freeze mashed potatoes. Here's how.
Oct 18, 2023
What’s the Real Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing?Skills
Get it right before the big feast.
Oct 18, 2023
How to Cut a Bell Pepper for Any RecipeSkills
Here’s how to dice, chop, mince, and everything between!
Sep 21, 2023
How to Properly Freeze Eggplant Skills
The methods are super simple!
Aug 26, 2023
Kardea Brown’s Top 6 Tips for the Perfect Pot of Gullah Red RiceSkills
This is the best way to get a perfect pot of red rice every time!
Feb 7, 2023
What’s the Difference Between Curly, Tuscan, and Russian Red Kale?Skills
The leafy green doesn't just come in one shape or size.
Sep 20, 2022
How To Make Mashed Potatoes for Just Two PeopleSkills
If you're cooking Thanksgiving dinner for just two, you can easily whip up mashed potatoes without making a Thanksgiving-sized pot-full.
Aug 11, 2022
Pickling Primer: How To Get Started!Skills
Pickling involves little more than marinating vegetables over time. How much time depends on the method. And for new picklers, the best way to try it out is through refrigerator pickling. You don’t need a garden’s worth of vegetables or canning equipment – just pick a vegetable (or several), add spices and brine, and into the fridge it goes. Best eaten within a week or two, this method is your answer for quick and fresh pickled fare. 1.
May 12, 2022
Frozen Grapes Are Kid- and Adult-ApprovedSkills
The easiest snack that's also totally feel-good.
Apr 30, 2022
We Tried 6 Methods for Mashed Potatoes and Found a Clear Winner
Skills Battle
We looked at texture, taste, ease, and time to find the method mostly likely to lead to success.
Jun 21, 2021
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Roasting Brussels SproutsSkills
Some of these are more common than you think.
Sep 11, 2020
10 Grilled Veggies to Pair with Anything You’re CookingSkills
Exactly what to eat next to your burgers, dogs, and more all grilling season long.
Jul 16, 2020
You're Probably Missing Out on the Best Part of BroccoliSkills
If you're throwing away the stems, you're doing it wrong.
Feb 27, 2020
A Former Line Cook’s Advice for Avoiding Gummy Mashed PotatoesSkills
They should be stick-to-your-ribs tasty, not stick-to-your-mouth gluey.
Jan 9, 2020
Which Thanksgiving Side Are You, Based on Your Zodiac Sign?Skills
You are what you eat.
Dec 3, 2019
I Never Worry About Leftover Cranberry Sauce, Thanks to This Freezer TrickSkills
Try it after you're all done making leftover sandwiches.
Nov 28, 2019
A Simple and Surprising Addition to Roasted Brussels Sprouts? Grapes.
One-Ingredient Upgrade
It didn't take much to turn me into a convert.
Nov 21, 2019
How To Make Stir-Fry Freezer MealsSkills
I lived off packaged stir-fry dinners from the freezer section for the better part of my 20s. As easy as it is to throw together a spur of the moment stir-fry dinner, there were many nights when all I wanted to do was open a package, dump it in a pan, and have dinner ready — and let’s be honest, there are still plenty of nights like these.
Jun 8, 2019
10 Ingredients to Pair with Roasted Brussels SproutsSkills
A side of roasted Brussels sprouts is one of the vegetables I look forward to the most in the cold-weather months — and its versatility is nearly endless. Sure, a simple sprinkle of salt and pepper does the job well, but there are a handful of ingredients that really pair so well with Brussels sprouts that it’s fun to play around a bit. Here are 10 we love to inspire you. The tang of a good mustard is a great match for earthy Brussels sprouts.
Jun 8, 2019
4 Greens That Are Better Creamed than SpinachSkills
When eating at a steakhouse, I never have to think about which cut of beef I’m going to order (always a ribeye), but I always agonize over the side dishes. Do I go healthy with steamed vegetables, load up a baked potato, or maybe throw caution to the wind and indulge in a pile of onion rings? But there is one thing I will always choose if it’s on the menu, and that is creamed spinach. It has nothing to do with the fact that it is spinach, though.
Jun 8, 2019
Successful Side Dishes: 6 Elements to Consider When Matching a Main DishSkills
Building a great meal can sometimes feel like casting a big Hollywood movie: it’s easy to pick a starring main dish — it’s finding the supporting cast that can be tough. What is the best way to choose side dishes that will complement the main course without distracting from it, will look great on the plate, and won’t require more time and energy than you can spare? Consider these six elements the next time you are looking for a good match for your show-stopping main dish.
Jun 5, 2019
5 Tips to Help You Pack a Dish for a Trip in the CarSkills
Here are five tips to ensure your dish makes it to your Thanksgiving destination unharmed.
Jun 3, 2019
How to Peel Celery RootSkills
We’re always interested in learning How To Peel Things, and when Kitchn reader Niamh recently asked about celery root, we were inspired to try a few different techniques. Knobby and often hairy, celery root (also known as celeriac) may seem daunting to peel but it’s actually quite simple. Here’s the best technique we found.Celery root’s skin is too tough and bumpy to peel with a vegetable peeler.
May 3, 2019
How Canned Cranberry Jelly Became a Thanksgiving IconSkills
The turkey, the mashed potatoes, and the stuffing often get starring roles on the Thanksgiving table, leaving cranberries off to the side as a obligatory “relish.” But the enduring place of the cranberry at Thanksgiving is anything but happenstance — and canned cranberry jelly, that ever-polarizing ridged and wiggly Thanksgiving dish we know today, has a very specific story born out American agriculture. Do you know why we eat canned cranberry jelly? Let me explain.
May 1, 2019
Your Guide to the Most Amazing Thanksgiving Mashed PotatoesSkills
Mashed potatoes should be so good they don’t even need a drizzle of gravy. That means they need to be light and fluffy, creamy and rich, and decadently buttery. For so many of us, Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without them. So how do you master the mash? Here’s everything you need to know to achieve mashed potato greatness. The best mashed potatoes start from the source: the potatoes themselves.
May 1, 2019
What’s the Best Time to Make Fresh Tortellini for a Dinner Party?Skills
Q: I’m going to make fresh tortellini for a dinner party. Can I prepare it in the morning and cook later that evening? If so, what is the best way to do it? I’ve had a trial run and it came out very chewy — what did I do wrong? And finally, what would you serve on the side of spinach-and-ricotta tortellini Alfredo with prosciutto and peas? Many thanks and kind regards.
May 1, 2019
8 Ways to Make Hasselback Potatoes the Star of Tonight’s DinnerSkills
Hasselback potatoes are the new baked potato. They are no mere side dish! I say we load these babies up with everything from melty cheese to crispy bacon to creamy avocado sauce. And then put an egg on top, because why not? Those accordion slices are just begging for a slice of cheese. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Cheddar, mozzarella, smoked gouda — if it melts, it’s in.
May 1, 2019
Flavor Corn on the Cob with Hot Pepper JellySkills
You’re probably most familiar with hot pepper jelly as that sweet and spicy flavor booster that’s so often paired with cream cheese and crackers, but it does some of its best work when spread over a hot ear of corn on the cob. Leave the butter in the fridge — all you need is a little hot pepper jelly. Hot pepper jelly is one of those condiments we have a habit of buying, then tucking away in the pantry, and promptly forgetting about it. But not this summer.
May 1, 2019
Flavor Corn on the Cob with ChimichurriSkills
Traditionally used as a topping for grilled meats and fish, this zesty, herbaceous sauce is just the thing to give your corn on the cob an extra punch of flavor. Loaded with parsley, cilantro, jalapeño pepper, and lemon juice, chimichurri is bright and fresh, and livens up everything it touches — including that ear of corn. If there was ever a way to make your corn taste more like summer, this herb-filled sauce takes the prize.
May 1, 2019
Flavor Corn on the Cob with Chili-Garlic SauceSkills
If spicy is your thing, grab that jar of chili-garlic sauce from the fridge — you know, the stuff you use to give your favorite Asian recipes a kick. The best way to use it this summer is spread over corn on the cob for a fiery tang. A cousin of Sriracha, this flavorful condiment has a thicker consistency, filled with rough-chopped chilis and a big dose of garlic.
May 1, 2019
Flavor Corn on the Cob with Hot HoneySkills
If you’re a fan of all things sweet and spicy, hot honey is the condiment that belongs in your pantry. And right now, there’s no better way to put it to work than drizzled over an ear of corn. Drizzle hot honey over the kernels, but give it a minute or two before digging in so the honey has time to seep down and work its way between the kernels. This one-ingredient upgrade makes for an unforgettable way to enjoy your corn on the cob.
May 1, 2019
Flavor Corn on the Cob with FurikakeSkills
If you’ve never tried furikake, you’ve been missing out. The Japanese seasoning is crunchy, salty, sweet, and savory all at the same time, thanks to a mix of seaweed, sesame seeds, sugar, dried fish, and salt. Your corn on the cob won’t know what hit it. Furikake can be found at Asian grocery stores. It’s such a unique topping for corn — it’s rich in umami, but also salty, sweet, and crunchy.
May 1, 2019
How To Freeze Your Own French FriesSkills
Anytime fries for true french fry fanatics.
May 1, 2019
9 Reasons I’ll Never Stop Buying Stuffing in a BoxSkills
Stuffing out of a box, like its cohorts canned cranberry jelly and frozen pumpkin pie, has been deemed uncool. Unrefined. Passé. You might even regard it like an acquaintance from high school you’ve unfollowed on Facebook — an entity you probably wouldn’t interact with unless you were in a serious bind. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
May 1, 2019
7 Fresh Ideas for Even Better Thanksgiving StuffingSkills
Some may say Thanksgiving isn’t complete without the turkey or mashed potatoes. I say it’s the stuffing that makes the meal complete. Whether it’s the bready classic or gluten-free, stovetop or oven-baked, these are the seven tips that will help you bring an even better batch of stuffing to the dinner table. This is the move that will have you wondering why you haven’t been making stuffing like this all along.
May 1, 2019
3 Tiny Steps to Make Store-Bought Dinner Rolls Taste AmazingSkills
For anyone cooking Thanksgiving dinner, remember that you’re allowed to take some shortcuts here and there — in fact, we encourage it! It is worth your own well-being to lean a little on store-bought saviors; the meal will still be just as delicious and memorable. Case in point? Dinner rolls. Yes, from-scratch rolls are pretty fantastic, but store-bought rolls can be too — they just need to be jazzed up a bit. Here are three ways to do just that.
May 1, 2019
The Fastest Pasta Salad Comes from the FreezerSkills
Keep a bag of frozen tortellini tucked away in your freezer and you can rest easy knowing that a quick meal is always at the ready. This series on fast tortellini dinners will show you how to transform frozen tortellini into dinner using pantry staples and a few surprising techniques. Pasta sauce is just the beginning! Family get-together coming up this weekend and you need to bring something everyone will eat? Pasta salad. Need a fast, but fresh dinner between work and soccer practice?
May 1, 2019
The One Thing You Should Be Doing for Even Better Tater TotsSkills
After a (much-too-long) hiatus, I’ve reintroduced tater tots to my meal plan. And you know what? I think they taste even more amazing now than they did when I was a kid. All I had to do was change the way I cooked them. To cook a batch of irresistibly delicious tater tots, you’re going to need more time on the clock than what’s instructed on the bag.
May 1, 2019
10 Easy Ways to Upgrade Roasted Brussels SproutsSkills
It’s hard to beat a simple sheet pan of crispy roasted Brussels sprouts; it’s a fall and winter side dish that goes with basically everything. And while roasted Brussels sprouts are great served plain and simple — with just olive oil, salt, and pepper — sometimes it’s fun to play around. Start with a basic recipe like this one and add a little bit of this and that from your pantry to give this wholesome side dish an upgrade. Here’s how to do it.
May 1, 2019
6 Tips for Making Better Roasted Sweet PotatoesSkills
Many of us are eating sweet potatoes throughout the year — baked, turned into noodles, or just boiled and mashed — but I’m declaring November the official start of roasted sweet potato season. When you roast sweet potatoes, their flesh becomes sweeter, burnished by the hot oven, and the flesh tenderizes into the most delicious bites ever.
May 1, 2019
The Simple Trick for Making the Best Sweet Potato CasseroleSkills
Every year my family’s Thanksgiving spread absolutely needs to include a creamy, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole. It’s essential. I’ve made a lot of variations of this iconic dish, and over the years I’ve learned that what makes it so great isn’t the topping — it’s the way you treat the potatoes. This is the easy, but important trick you need to know.
May 1, 2019
The Secret to Even Better Tater Tots Is Already in Your PantrySkills
If we were giving out superlatives, tater tots would win Most Likely to Be in a Kitchn Editor’s Freezer. We’ve been a little obsessed lately, adding them to everything from frittatas to tacos. But for as much as we love getting creative, we also understand the appeal of eating a tot as it was intended: straight from the sheet tray as a hot and crispy finger food, with a bottle of ketchup nearby.
Apr 30, 2019
A Simple (Yet Ingenious) Trick for the Best-Ever CornbreadSkills
Cornbread is one of those versatile side dishes that can be made in pretty much any vessel you like. You can scoop the batter into muffin cups (or mini muffin cups!), spread it into a square brownie pan, dollop it into a cute cornstick pan (what we used when I was growing up), or, my personal favorite, pour it into a preheated cast iron skillet.
Apr 30, 2019
7 Sweet Potato Casserole Toppings That Aren’t MarshmallowsSkills
There are plenty of legitimate reasons you might want to skip the traditional sweet potato casserole topping of caramelized, gooey marshmallows. Maybe you’re welcoming a vegan or vegetarian to the table, or you want to eat less sugar during the holidays, or maybe you’re one of those folks who just doesn’t like marshmallows! Luckily, sweet potato casserole doesn’t hinge on a marshmallow topping.
Nov 20, 2018
The Only French Fries You Should Make at HomeSkills
Let’s talk about french fries at home. I haven’t ever experienced a french fry from my own kitchen that truly rivals a fast food fry. I’ve tried almost every brand of frozen fries and every oven-frying tip and trick. And as someone who is not afraid to fry in the name of good food, I’ve tried several fried recipes at home too. But only one method has delivered on a satisfying french fry time and time again in everything from my home kitchen to vacation rentals.
Feb 16, 2018
Stove Top Stuffing Just Created the Ultimate Thanksgiving Dinner PantsSkills
With Thanksgiving only a week away, you should already be prepping for the year’s biggest meal. Yes, that means picking up your broiler bird and making some side dishes ahead, but it’s also a prime time to start formulating your dinner-eating game plan. Will you opt for extra mashed potatoes and skip out on green bean casserole? Or take half servings of everything to pace yourself for the next round?
Nov 15, 2017
These Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes Will Win FriendsgivingSkills
If you’re celebrating Friendsgiving this weekend and were tasked with bringing a side dish, I’ve got just the thing for you: hot honey sweet potatoes. Roasted with butter and brown sugar and then drizzled with a spicy jalapeño-infused honey, these are not your Aunt Rita’s sweet potatoes — and that’s exactly the point. Friendsgiving is a more relaxed version of Thanksgiving.
Nov 15, 2017
This 5-Minute Parmesan Zucchini Is the Easy Side Dish You NeedSkills
It might just steal the spotlight from your main dish.
Aug 14, 2017
Why I Make a Million Side Dishes for My Tiny ThanksgivingSkills
If you saw my family’s Thanksgiving grocery haul, you’d be within reason to guess that we were having some 15 or 20 people over to feast — but the reality? More like five. I don’t have much in the way of extended family members, so our Turkey Day is usually just my brother, my parents, myself, and my husband (who graciously agrees to ditch his large family so that my family doesn’t have to eat alone).
Nov 4, 2016
10 Ways to Dress Up Green BeansSkills
Mild-mannered green beans are fine on their own, but just wait and taste what happens when you dress them up with a couple pantry staples. You know them as green beans, string beans, or snap beans, terms used interchangeably to refer to the long, green-hued beans that flood the markets every year in early fall. Once you’ve had your fill of plain beans, let us help you give this side dish the upgrade it deserves.
Sep 2, 2016
11 (3-Ingredient) Tomato SaladsSkills
Slice up a peak-season tomato, eat it plain, and it will be a glorious thing. But tomatoes play extra well with others. Toss two more ingredients in the ring and you’ve got the kind of salad that only summer can bring. Take, for example, the caprese: Pair fresh mozzarella and basil with those tomatoes and everyone is happy. Here are 11 ways to mix up your tomato salad routine.
Aug 19, 2016
The 3-Ingredient Sauce You Should Know by Heart This SummerSkills
Arguably the best part of cooking in the summer is that you can toss just about anything on the grill and call it dinner. Grilled meat, fish, and veggies don’t need much to make them taste great, thanks to the smoky flavor the grill imparts. But a ridiculously quick and easy sauce that works with just about anything — from eggplant to chicken thighs — wouldn’t hurt to have in your back pocket. Luckily, you came to the right place.
Jul 22, 2016
5 Ways to Make Green Beans More ExcitingSkills
Stuck in a green bean rut? This versatile vegetable can do so much more than the classic green bean casserole. When fresh green beans are in season, you can find them on my plate almost every day of the week. Their quick cooking time and mild flavor make them the perfect blank canvas for all types of cuisines. While I could eat them every day sautéed with garlic and finished with a squeeze of lemon juice, here are five other ways to mix up your routine.
Jul 1, 2016
10 Simple Ways to Upgrade Roasted BroccoliSkills
For weeknight dinners I’m all about super-simple sides. That usually translates to roasted veggies, with broccoli leading the pack. On its own, even the crowd-pleaser roasted broccoli can get a little boring and repetitive, but it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. The easiest way to switch things up? Change the seasoning. When I say seasoning, I’m not just talking about salt and pepper — this is deeper and way more flavorful.
Jun 2, 2016
The Fastest Way to Cook ArtichokesSkills
I’ve long had a love-hate relationship with steamed artichokes. I love the taste, but given the tedious preparation they require, I really hate cooking them at home … or at least I did, until I learned this speedy method. To be fair, there’s nothing particularly difficult or fussy about steaming artichokes on the stovetop. Although, if it’s your first time tackling these green globes, it might feel that way. Really, it just takes time and patience.
Apr 18, 2016