Tips and Techniques Posts

Three freshly fed starters, at different ratios

Baking trials: Testing different sourdough feeding ratios

What difference does your feeding ratio make?

Mar 13, 2025
Nests of fresh pasta on a sheet pan

How to make homemade pasta without a machine

Homemade pasta doesn’t have to be complicated.

Mar 10, 2025
Bag of bread flour behind a sliced loaf of oatmeal sandwich bread

What is bread flour?

Higher protein unlocks great bread.

Mar 5, 2025
Round cake pans, lined with parchment, being sprayed with nonstick vegetable oil spray.

Wait, do you really have to grease parchment paper?

It’s not overkill, we promise.

Feb 27, 2025
Biscuits baked in surrounding dough

Things bakers know: Break this biscuit rule before baking

The secret to ultra-soft biscuits.

Feb 26, 2025
Four different types of fresh pasta noodles next to each other

A guide to different ribbon-cut pasta shapes

Everything from lasagna to linguine.

Feb 21, 2025
Coiling hand-rolled pasta into nests on baking sheet

The tools you need to start making homemade pasta

My pasta-making starter pack.

Feb 7, 2025
A baker adding seed chocolate to melted chocolate over a double boiler

Things bakers know: Yes, you can mix chocolate and water (!)

Myth-busting, one drop of water at a time.

Feb 6, 2025
Cranking a pasta maker to cut noodles

How to use a pasta machine

It's easier than a trip to Italy.

Jan 29, 2025
Measuring cups with light and dark brown sugar

Light vs. dark brown sugar: What's the difference?

And can I substitute one brown sugar for another?

Jan 22, 2025
assembling a grilled cheese

For the best focaccia sandwich, turn things inside out

Make the most of your leftovers.

Jan 17, 2025
Glass sourdough crock next to measuring cup full of flour

Why is my sourdough starter not rising?

Sluggish starter? Here's what might be causing it — and how to fix it.

Jan 10, 2025
Overnight Baguettes

Winter is here. Make these 5 changes to your bread baking.

Your bread baking evolves along with the seasons.

Dec 23, 2024
Chocolate Crinkles

How to get the crinkliest crinkle cookies

Top tips from the Test Kitchen.

Dec 17, 2024
Molasses dripping off a spoon against a black background

Light, dark, and blackstrap: Breaking down the different types of molasses

The secret star of holiday baking.

Dec 16, 2024
Meringues made with different stabilizers side by side

Baking trials: What’s the best way to make meringue?

One simple ingredient makes all the difference.

Dec 13, 2024
Scooping chocolate chip cookies dough into air fryer basket

How to bake cookies in an air fryer

Air fryer cookies are delicious, easy — and fast.

Dec 6, 2024
Earl Grey Cookies

Things bakers know: The #1 rule of cookie storage

Make sure all your cookie baking doesn’t go to waste.

Dec 3, 2024
Holiday cookies on red background

Your official holiday cookie timeline

There's a lot of cookie baking to do! Here's how to start planning.

Nov 29, 2024
Proofed dinner rolls in cherry red Dutch oven

My secret to great pull-apart rolls? A Dutch oven.

This stalwart bread tool makes for great rolls and streamlined baking.

Nov 21, 2024
Apple and Sausage Stuffing

Baking trials: What's the best bread for stuffing?

Flavor, texture, and preparation are key.

Nov 19, 2024
Sliced pecan pie

All your pie questions, answered

Crust got you confused? Fillings have you flummoxed? We’re here to help.

Nov 14, 2024
Sliced loaf of sourdough bread

How to store sourdough bread

Lock in freshness with these simple techniques.

Nov 6, 2024
Gluten-Free Teff Crêpes

Baking with ancient grains: a guide

A blast from the past can unlock new dimensions to your baking.

Nov 1, 2024