Fruit Prep, Start to Finish: Washing, Cutting, and Keeping It Fresh
Preparing fresh fruit without the brown, watery mess: how to wash it, the cuts worth learning, and how far ahead you can safely prep for the week.
Vegetables & Fruit
Choosing, storing, prepping and cooking produce, with seasonal guides and the differences between varieties explained.
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Two Knives, Five Cuts, and the Uniform-Size Rule for Vegetable Prep
Vegetable prep basics without the culinary-school overwhelm: the five cuts a weeknight actually calls for, the two knives that cover them, and why size rules.
Hot Oven, Small Cubes: Cooking the Odd Roots in Your CSA Box
Unusual and root vegetables aren’t fussy: peel, cube, roast hot at 425°F. Plus the special-case fixes for salsify, sunchokes, and taro that change everything.
Greens and Cabbage, Cooked by Texture Instead of by Timer
Cooking greens and cabbage by texture, not clock: braise collards low, wilt spinach fast, and sear cabbage hot so it never smells sulfurous.
Asparagus, From the Store Shelf to the Plate
How to cook asparagus without guessing: what to look for at the store, where the woody end really breaks, and which method fits tonight’s dinner.
Winter Squash or Summer Squash? Your Cooking Method Depends on the Answer
How to cook squash comes down to one question: winter or summer? Roasting temps, sauté timing, doneness cues, and the swaps that go wrong.
Cooking With Tomatoes: Which Variety for Sauce, Roasting, Stewing, and Frying
Cooking with tomatoes goes wrong when the variety is wrong. Which one for sauce, roasting, stewing, or frying, plus when canned beats fresh.
How to Cook Potatoes: The Variety Decides the Method
How to cook potatoes starts at the produce bin: waxy, starchy, or all-purpose decides whether you boil, bake, roast, or fry. Here’s the match-up.
How to Cook Vegetables: Matching Heat to What’s in the Produce Drawer
How to cook vegetables so they taste like something: which method suits which vegetable, oven and pan heat, when to salt, and how to tell they’re done.
History and Recipe of Watergate Salad
Watergate salad is not at all a salad. It’s a popular American dish that could be had as a side dish or a dessert. Read this Tastessence article to know all about it.
5 Ways to Core a Pineapple
Pineapples are best consumed when fresh, so all that remains is mastering the art of slicing it the right way. Tastessence tells you how to core a pineapple in 5 simple ways.
How to Properly Thicken Tomato Sauce to Make a Variety of Dishes
Italian food is a rich storehouse of many sauce types, like red, white, or clear sauce. Many a time, we are tempted to make that delicious red sauce at home itself. But it turns out to be disastrous quite often, when we end up having a pot full of thin, runny, and watery red tomato juice in the pot, instead of sauce. Tastessence tells you of ways to thicken homemade tomato sauce.
Know How to Eat a Passion Fruit and Use it Creatively in Recipes
Passion fruit has a characteristic flavor and aroma which makes it different from other fruits. Some of you may not know how this fruit tastes, what parts of it can be eaten, and how to eat it.
Culinary Uses and Other Benefits of Currants
A rich source of phytonutrients, currants belong to the gooseberry family. They are often used in drinks and desserts due to their wonderful flavor. This Tastessence article enumerates the culinary uses and health benefits of currants.
How to Eat a Korean Melon
It is actually very easy to eat a Korean melon, because you can eat this fruit along with its seeds and skin. This Tastessence article provides information on the different ways of enjoying this sweet and delicious melon.
4 Remarkably Brilliant Ways to Thicken Runny Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes make a delicious side dish. While preparing this dish at home, you should be very careful about the preferred consistency. However, if by any chance, it becomes too runny, you can still mend it using simple methods. This Tastessence article provides you with a guide to fix soupy mashed potatoes.
8 Simple Steps to Make Tapioca Pearls from Scratch
Cassava starch is called tapioca, which is processed into several forms, one of them being in the pearl or spherical form known as tapioca pearls. These pearls are opaque in their raw form and appear translucent when cooked. Tastessence gives you step-by-step instructions to make this gelatinous food at home.
How to Zest a Lime: 5 Best Ways You’ve Always Wanted to Know
Lime zest is the peel of limes that comes with several uses, and is mostly utilized in cooking. But how is zesting done? Tastessence explains 5 easy ways to zest a lime and also some information on how you can use it.
These 5 Unique Ways Show How to Cook Pattypan Squash Perfectly
Cooking vegetables and making them a hit item is always quite a task. A pattypan squash is no exception to this. However, to ease your worries, Tastessence presents you with five unique ideas of cooking this vegetable in delicious ways.
10 Simple Tips to Reduce the Bitterness of Bitter Gourd
Well, they don’t call it the bitter gourd just for kicks! Unfortunately, they are as good for us as they are horrific to taste. But fear not! There are several simple solutions to mask that bitterness to get to that healthy body.
How to Cook a Prickly Pear Cactus and Give it an Interesting Edge
Have you given a shot at trying out prickly pear cactus recipes? It’s not really difficult; it can be cooked in a number of interesting ways.
How to Cook Asparagus in the Oven
One of the best spring produce is asparagus, with its long juicy spears and it subtle delicate flavor. There are many ways of cooking asparagus and preparing them in an oven is just one of them. In this article we are going to discuss how to cook asparagus in the oven. Read on, for more info...
Step-by-step Directions on How to Make Olive Juice at Home
If you want to know how to make olive juice for alcoholic drinks, like the dirty martini, well we have some great tips mentioned in the article. Take a look and make the perfect martini for your friends and family!
How to Cook Asparagus on the Stove in Easy and Tasty Ways
The common methods for cooking asparagus are boiling, steaming, grilling, and sauteing. Cook it on the stove and you will get tender, crisp asparagus in absolutely no time.
Passion Fruit Puree Recipe
Passion fruit is an exotic fruit. Making a puree of this fruit is an easy task if you know the right methodology. This article provides an easy recipe for making this puree at home.
Rutabaga Fries
A healthier alternative to French fries is to have rutabaga fries. In this article we are going to discuss how to make these fries at home.
How to Fire Roast Tomatoes and Make Wonderful Smoky Flavored Soup
If you want a wonderful smoky flavor for your soup or salsa, use fire-roasted tomatoes. Though canned versions are easily available, it is easy to fire roast these vegetables at home.
How to Chop an Onion
Chopping onions is one of those kitchen tasks that is detested by many. Here are some tips to make this task easier and less tearful.
Learn How to Make Your Own Flavor-packed Crushed Tomatoes
Making your own canned tomatoes is an activity worth giving a shot. It requires a little patience, where the results definitely pay off. It’s not just healthy, but packs a flavor punch like no other commercially-packed sauce.
How to Cook Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi can be steamed, boiled, or roasted. Here are some tips for cooking this vegetable, that can also be consumed in raw form.
Culinary Tips on How to Cook Rutabaga in 3 Flavorsome Ways
Rutabaga is a nutritious vegetable that can be used to make delicious dishes. Here are some tips for cooking rutabaga.
Maitake Mushroom Recipes So Easy You’ll Want to Start Cooking Now
Maitake mushrooms are a Japanese variety, also known in parts of Europe as Hen-of-the Woods, Sheep’s Head or Ram’s Head. Not only are they delicious additions to any meal, they offer a host of health benefits, and they’re also believed to have medicinal healing properties. Take a look at some interesting recipes to spice up your meals.
Dragon Fruit Recipes
Recipes with the exotic dragon fruit are easy to make, and a sure delight to the palate. This article provides you with a few options to try out at home.
Remarkably Brilliant Ways to Wash Fruits and Vegetables
How important is it to wash fruits and vegetables? Moreover, what are the effective way to do so? In this article, we tell you more.
How to Cook Butternut Squash in Microwave
One of the easiest and simplest methods to cook a butternut squash is to use a microwave. However, you must know how to cook it with proper temperature and ingredients, in order to savor it to the optimum.
Try These Marvelous Recipes to Make Appetizing Puffball Mushrooms
There are many puffball mushroom recipes, which can be used to make some delectable options to dish out. This article provides you with a few recipes to try at home.
Stewed Prunes
Stewed prunes are an excellent source of vitamin, minerals and fiber. It is also very beneficial in treating constipation problems. There are many ways to prepare stewed prunes. Read on to know more.
Ever Wondered How Long it Takes to Boil Potatoes? Find Out Now
Have you ever wondered how long to boil potatoes while using them in recipes? Take a look at some information about the duration of boiling potatoes before consuming them.