As most chefs will tell you, learning how to sharpen knives by hand using a whetstone is a skill that takes plenty of practice to perfect. That’s why too many people skip regular knife sharpeningwhich is a mistake the Tumbler rolling knife sharpener seeks to solve.

“It is important to keep your knife sharp as you will have more precision and accuracy in your work,” says Drew Curlett, a private chef and cooking instructor in Baltimore, Maryland. “Also, it is much safer to get cut with a sharp knife than a dull one.” While none of us want to have kitchen accidents, dull knives actually put you in far more danger of cutting yourselfespecially when cutting round ingredients, like onions or apples. A sharp knife ensures whatever you’re cutting stays put.

The Tumbler knife sharpener has caught the eyes of millions of users on TikTok and Instagram because of how seemingly simple it is to use. Could this be the future of at-home knife sharpening? We tested one to find out.

What is a Tumbler knife sharpener?

The Tumbler knife sharpener has a unique design that makes it an attractive alternative to traditional methods. For one, it’s nearly foolproof to use, requiring nothing more than the ability to roll a cylinder back and forth across the counter. Truly, anyone can use this to sharpen their knives! And, because the cylindrical design makes quick work of repetitive motion, it only takes a fraction of the time and effort to sharpen knives when compared to using a whetstone. In fact, if you use the Tumbler knife sharpener for a few seconds (yes, seconds) every week, your knives should stay in top-notch condition.

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Tumbler Knife Sharpener Features

So, how exactly does this thing work? The Tumbler knife sharpener is a two-piece device that lets anyone sharpen knifes to a precise, professional-grade edge. One piece is a hardwood block with magnetic sides with different slopes (20 degrees and 15 degrees), which hold your knife in place at the exact right angle.

The other piece is a hardwood cylinder with two textured discs on each side. One disc is made of an abrasive material with pulverized diamonds and the other consists of stainless steel with a helix pattern. Diamonds are the hardest stone on earth, which make them outstandingly effective for sharpening knives. Stainless steel is an ideal material for honing a freshly sharpened edge. Talk about a dynamic duo!

To keep the two pieces together, the Tumbler knife sharpener comes with a wooden storage stand you can keep on your counter or cabinet. You can also choose to stash it away in its original packaging; the set comes in a sturdy, rather attractive cardboard box, which makes it just as ideal for gifting as it does for storage.

How We Tested It

In advance of testing out the Tumbler knife sharpener, I pulled out two of my best kitchen knives that had gone dull to the point where they were unusable. They had been sitting in the back of a drawer ready to be sharpened…eventually. Considering how long I had been putting this tedious task offand how many times it got bumped to the bottom of the to-do list in favor of more pressing projectsthe Tumbler sharpener’s ease-of-use factor was already a major plus in my book.

Santoku Knife Test

I started off with the fully dull Santoku knife. It attached to the magnetic block at a 15 degree angle. I began rolling the tumbler’s diamond edge back and forth the entire length of the blade as instructed. The motion was almost effortless, and to be honest, enjoyable. There’s something wonderfully meditative about repetitive motion that doesn’t require any sort of thinking whatsoever. I didn’t have to worry about whether or not I was holding the knife correctly, grinding at just the right angle or getting full coverage across the blade.

I sharpened each side with the diamond disc for two minutes. Then, I ran the helix-printed end of the cylinder across each side of the blade four times to remove any tiny metal burrs, ensuring the edge was perfectly straight. Next, I used my newly-sharpened knife on some onions and carrots. It cut them to bits as if it was brand new.

Chef’s Knife Test

The Tumbler knife sharpener also did a great job of getting the chef’s knife to a razor’s edge, but it wasn’t as easy to sharpen as the Santoku. Santoku knives have a rectangular blade with a relatively straight edge, so rolling the cylinder along the full length of the knife’s edge was effortless. However, chef’s knives curve dramatically towards the tip, which required a bit of adjustment in motion. It took about three minutes per side to get the chef’s knife back to fighting shape.

Maintenance Test

After seeing what the Tumbler knife sharpener could do for dull knives, I then tested it on the knives I had been actively using in my kitchen. Once a week, I’d attach my knives to the side of the magnetic block with the 15 degree angle meant for routine maintenance. It took only about 20 seconds per side to get each knife into freshly-sharpened condition.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Highly effective
• Made of high-quality materials
• Diamond sharpening disc will last forever
• Attractive storage stand and packaging
• Use on just about any knife or cleaver with a straight blade

Cons

• Pricey
• Cannot be used on serrated blades, like those on bread and steak knives

FAQs

How long does it take to sharpen a knife with a Tumbler?

How long it takes will depend on how dull your knife is. According to the company’s website, the first sharpening of a stainless steel knife takes between 2 and 6 minutes, or up to 10 minutes for knives made of extra-hard Damascus steel. After the initial sharpening, regular maintenance takes only a few seconds a week.

What grit is the Tumbler sharpener?

The Tumbler knife sharpener’s diamond disc has a D35 grit size. Because diamonds are the hardest minerals on earth, they sharpen any material, and will never dull.

What Other Reviewers Have to Say

“We’ve been needing to sharpen many of our kitchen knives but I’ve been intimidated with where to start,” writes Amazon reviewer, Keith J. Turner. “First off this product is beautifully made! It could easily be a nice gift. The magnetic block offers two angles to precisely sharpen different knifes. The magnetic feature is strong and ensures your knife stays put while sharpening. The tumbler has two sides to best sharpen and careful refine your knife’s edge. It is easy to use and quickly improved our knives! Highly recommend!”

Five-star reviewer, William, writes that the Tumbler Knife Sharpener “has to be, hands down, the best knife sharpener I’ve ever used! With two different angles, and a great form factor, it makes the process of sharpening simple and effective! The box even looks great for gifting purposes!”

“I have purchased a variety of knife sharpeners and honing steels in the past and none really provided me with the type of sharpening quality I was looking for,” writes 5-star reviewer, Jennifer Sunder, an avid home cook who saw the Tumbler Knife Sharpener in her social media feeds. “It is so easy to use and provides me with the sharpening quality I have always been looking for. The precise angled sides take all of the guess work out of achieving the correct knife sharpening angle. Give it a tryyou won’t be disappointed!”

Product Comparison

While certainly easier to use than a whetstone, the Tumbler knife sharpener isn’t as easy to use as an electric knife sharpener. However, many professional chefs advise against using electric models. “I prefer using a hand sharpener because you have a little bit more control over the sharpening of it,” says Curtlett. “Electric knife sharpeners can grind off a too much metal, which will shorten the lifespan of your knife.” And when your knives are as expensive as our editor-favorite HexClad set, longevity is the name of the game!

Final Verdict

The Tumbler knife sharpener works exactly as advertised. It sharpens well, it does it quick and it makes the entire process foolproof. What’s not to love? While we recommend it for use in our own kitchens, we also think it really shines as a gift for anyone who cooks.

Where to Buy a Tumbler Knife Sharpener

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The Tumbler knife sharpener retails for $129, and is available through Amazon or the company’s website, which frequently runs sales with generous discounts. This way to safer, sharper cooking!

The post Tumbler Rolling Knife Sharpener Review: This Gadget Makes It Easy to Keep Blades Sharp appeared first on Taste of Home.

What is a bouquet garni?

Like the name implies, it’s a type of bouquet, but instead of being made of flowers, it’s made with herbs. Stalks of fresh or dried herbs are gathered together in a bundle and tied tightly with a piece of butcher’s twine, then dropped directly into a pot. You can also wrap the herbs in cheesecloth. Using cheesecloth is especially useful if the finished product will not be strained (like stock or broth is) and you’d like to make sure you don’t end up with flecks of fresh herbs in your finished soup.

Originating the Provence region of France, a traditional bouquet garni includes parsley, thyme and bay leaves. However, there are really no hard rules when it comes to making one; many recipes will call for additional herbs like rosemary, sage, tarragon or oregano. When left in a pot of simmering liquid, the bouquet garni adds delicious herbal notes, and can be easily removed with tongs or a slotted spoon.

How to Make a Bouquet Garni, Step by Step

There are two methods for making a bouquet garni: the string method and the cheesecloth method. The string method is the easiest, and is best if you’re only using fresh herbs. If you’d like to add additional aromatics to the mix (like crushed garlic or ginger), or if your herbs are small or especially delicate, use the cheesecloth method.

String Method

Step 1: Cut a piece of butcher’s twine at least six inches long. Lay it out on your counter or cutting board.

Step 2: Place your bundle of herbs in the center of the string and tie it up tightly with a double knot. Herbs shrink as they cook, so an extra-tight knot will ensure your bouquet garni doesn’t fall apart in the pot.

Cheesecloth Method

Step 1: Cut a square of cheesecloth big enough to bundle your herbs in.

Step 2: Place your herbs and aromatics in the center of the cheesecloth square, cutting them into smaller pieces if needed. Gather up the sides to make a satchel and tie tightly in a double knot with butcher’s twine.

Alternatives to a Bouquet Garni

• Fresh herbs: As long as you don’t mind flecks of green in your finished product, it’s fine to add fresh herbs that have been stripped from their stalks directly to the pot. Just don’t forget to fish out the bay leaves before serving!
• Dried herbs: Dried herbs will rehydrate while they simmer in hot liquid, making them ideal for soups, stocks and broths. However, they’re more potent than fresh herbs, so start with a slightly smaller quantity than your recipe calls for, then add more to taste after your dish has simmered for 10 minutes or so.
• Herb-infused oil: If you have a bottle of store-bought or homemade herb-infused oil, stir some into the pot when you’re sauteing your aromatics.

The post What Is a Bouquet Garni? appeared first on Taste of Home.

Ethically raised meat may be pricier than the stuff you can find in the supermarket, but there are so many good reasons to consider making the switch. Sustainably-sourced meat and seafood are better for the environment. Meat raised without hormones or antibiotics is healthier. And, most importantly, high-quality meat simply tastes better! So, do the Good Chop reviews live up to the sustainability hype?

Depending on where you live, it’s not always easy to find a wide variety of good meat, and that’s where Good Chop comes in. This online butchery lets you shop for meat online and ships it straight to your doorstep. But just because it’s sustainable doesn’t necessarily mean it’s flavorful, so I tried some of their bestsellers to see if the raving Good Chop reviews I’ve read are legit.

What is Good Chop?

Good Chop is an online subscription butchery that brings high-quality grass-fed beef, pork, chicken, bison, turkey and seafood from the farm to your front door. Everything they sell is raised responsibly without the use of hormones or antibiotics and is sourced from American family farms and fisheries that are committed to using sustainable agricultural practices.

Meat and seafood from Good Chop comes packaged in vacuum-sealed portions that are frozen rock-solid shortly after they’re butchered, and arrive packed with dry ice and eco-friendly insulation in a 100% recyclable box. The company offers two different sizes of fully customizable subscription boxes, which are shipped out every four weeks. And if you don’t need your regularly scheduled meat delivery, pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

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Good Chop Features

Good Chop offers two box options. The smaller box costs $149 and includes 14 pounds (approximately 36 portions) of meat and/or seafood. A large box is double the size, with 28 pounds (or 72 portions) of meat/seafood for $269. As for what your order will contain, Good Chop’s plans are fully customizable to build your own box with whatever cuts you like. You can either modify your selections every month or create a regular order that will restock your freezer without worry every four weeks.

In addition to quality meat and seafood, Good Chop offers an array of sides and delectable desserts as well. Here’s what you’ll choose from when ordering from Good Chop:

• Angus Beef: Ground beef; ribeye steaks; strip steaks; ranch steak; filet mignon; sirloin steaks; porterhouse steaks; flank steaks; T-bone steaks; tri-tips; burger patties; sirloin tips; diced beef; grass-fed hot dogs
• Free-Range Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs; wings; drumsticks; organic ground chicken; Italian chicken sausage, apple chicken sausage
• Humanely-Raised Pork: Boneless pork chops; thick-cut uncured bacon; tenderloin; whole loin roast; boneless butt; St. Louis ribs; mild Italian sausage (ground and links); Bratwurst; Chorizo links; pulled cooked pork; ground pork; charcuterie
• Seafood: Alaskan Sockeye salmon; sea scallops; Alaskan halibut; Pacific cod; Florida pink shrimp; Gulf shrimp; smoked Sockeye salmon; rockfish; sable fish; Maryland-style crab cakes
• Other meats: Ground bison; ground turkey
• Side Dishes: Macaroni and cheese; potatoes gratin; smashed red potatoes; Parker House rolls
• Desserts: Cheesecake; Key lime pie; chocolate lava cakes

How We Tested It

Good Chop reviews aren’t worth their salt without rigorous testing. My custom delivery from Good Chop included Alaskan Sockeye salmon, filet mignons, ribeye steaks, boneless, skinless chicken breasts and party-cut chicken wings. Here’s what happened when I cooked these items at home.

Filet Mignons

I’ve tested over eight mail-order meat services, and I can confidently say that Good Chop’s filet mignon was some of the finest I’ve ever tasted. This cut is prized for being the tenderest cut of beef, but it’s also the leanest, meaning that when it comes to flavor, fillets often pale in comparison to well-marbled cuts like ribeyes and New York strips. Not so when it comes to Good Chop’s filet, which is so flavorful that it puts steakhouses to shame.

I made my filet using the reverse-sear method, cooking it low-and-slow in a 225-degree oven for 40 minutes before searing each side in a red-hot cast iron skillet for 30-45 seconds to get a beautiful dark-brown sear on every inch of the steak. The filet practically melted in my mouth, and literally brought a tear to my eye. A fine steak like this one is a splurge, so when you get one, it better deliver on every front. Good Chop’s filet doesn’t just deliverit exceeds expectations in the most delicious of ways.

Ribeye Steak

Ribeyes are arguably the perfect steak, with just the right amount of marbling to make them tender and juicy, with an intense flavor that shows off beef at its very best. It’s not hard to make ribeye taste good, which is why to put these to the test, I committed the “sin” of cooking them til they were well done. (People who like well-done steaks deserve good meat, too!) I’m thrilled to report that even when cooked to 155 degrees, Good Chop’s ribeyes were insanely tender and juicya feat most inferior steaks are incapable of accomplishing. Not only that, but the flavor was off-the-charts delicious, causing me to reconsider my stance on well-done steaks.

Salmon Fillets

When it comes to salmon, sourcing is everything. Wild-caught salmon is exponentially more flavorful than pallid, flaccid farm-raised salmon, which often is treated with coloring agents to make it look pinker than it actually is. Meanwhile, wild-caught salmon is a vibrant shade of pink that borders on red, with a firmer, meatier texture. Good Chop’s salmon is spectacular and needs almost nothing to make it sing. And because it’s truly that good, it makes for just about the easiest dinner imaginable; salmon fillets can be air-fried directly from the freezer without the need to defrost. All it needs is a sprinkle of good salt, and it’s wonderful.

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

Straight out of the bag, the first thing you’ll notice is how much smaller Good Chop’s chicken breasts are in comparison to the conventional ones at the supermarket. And that’s a good thing! Chicken breasts that are colossally large aren’t natural, and without the use of hormones, antibiotics or inhumane farming practices, there’s no way for Good Chop’s chicken to be gargantuan. These breasts are a perfectly normal size, and perfect for making chicken cutlets as well.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts don’t have much in the way of flavor, which is why we do so much when cooking them. Hello, marinade! What’s important when cooking chicken is that it doesn’t dry out while cooking, which is something that’s outstandingly easy to do. That’s why I decided to test it by making a dish where the chicken gets cooked twice: Chicken Parmesan. After breading, frying, smothering in sauce and baking, Good Chop’s boneless skinless chicken breasts remained moist, succulent and tender.

Party Wings

Good Chop’s party wings are the exact size they should benot too big that they’re practically a drumstick, but not so small that you’re searching for meat. They cook up crisp and juicy when air-fried, and when tossed in Buffalo sauce, these wings have the perfect balance of spicy, tangy and meaty.

Pros

• Remarkable quality
• Good variety of meats to choose from
• Meat comes packaged in individual portions
• Delivered frozen solid
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Company has strict sustainability standards
• Only works with ethical, sustainably-focused family farms and fisheries in the U.S.A.
• Free shipping
• Scheduled orders can be skipped

Cons

• Pricey (though worth it)
• Requires a subscription

FAQ

Is Good Chop meat good quality?

Yes, Good Chop meat is good quality. In fact, it’s great quality! All of Good Chop’s meat and seafood are sourced from highly reputable farms and fisheries.

Is Good Chop fresh or frozen?

All of Good Chop’s meat and seafood is individually packaged and quickly frozen shortly after butchering for the freshest possible product. Once your Good Chop order arrives, simply put it straight in the freezer and defrost it as needed.

Product Comparison

Of all the best meat delivery services out there, Good Chop is most similar to ButcherBox, which also sells superlative, sustainable meat. According to Good Chop reviews and personal experience, what sets them apart is the fact that Good Chop’s boxes are customizable, whereas ButcherBox offers three specially curated “butcher’s choice” meat boxes in addition to a custom option. Good Chop also offers sides and desserts, which ButcherBox does not. In contrast to other well-known mail-order meat brands like Omaha Steaks, Good Chop is a subscription-based service, delivering a new package every four weeks.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a convenient way to buy environmentally friendly, ethically raised and high-quality meat, you should absolutely consider giving Good Chop a go. After reading all the Good Chop reviews and testing it myself, I can honestly say the quality is well worth the price, and I love the customizable options. There’s a good chance you’ll never need to step foot in a butcher shop again.

Where to Order Good Chop

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Enjoy quality meat and seafood from domestic family farms and fisheries with flexible deliveries and 100% customizable boxes.

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Visit the Good Chop website to set up a subscription, which can be paused or canceled at any time. You can customize a 14-pound box for $149 or a 28-pound box for $269. Delicious dinners await!

The post Good Chop Review: This Meat Subscription Brings Quality Cuts Directly to Your Door appeared first on Taste of Home.

What is ButcherBox?

ButcherBox is a mail-order subscription service that delivers high-quality, humanely raised meat and seafood. Offering 100% grass-fed beef and bison, heritage-breed pork and free-range, organic chicken, all of ButcherBox’s meat comes from farms committed to sustainable agriculture and fair labor practices. In other words, the meat is raised without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Seafood offerings are wild caught, sustainably harvested and are never treated with chemicals, preservatives or artificial colorings.

Meat is shipped frozen rock solid in individually vacuum-packed portions, and comes packed in a 100% recyclable insulated box with dry ice. Subscriptions can be set for delivery every two, four, six or eight weeks, and can be postponed or skipped over if needed. Choose from four different boxes: beef and pork, beef and chicken, mixed (with beef, chicken and pork) and a custom box that lets you mix and match from 25 different cuts.

Not looking for a commitment right away? ButcherBox also offers an assortment of one-time gift boxes to ship to loved onesor yourself!

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ButcherBox Features

There are three standard ButcherBoxes to choose frombeef and pork, beef and chicken, and mixed (with beef, chicken and pork). They are specially curated with different cuts of meat every month. Each shipment is a surprise! A box with eight to 11 pounds of meat is $146 while a 16 to 22 pound box is $269. According to ButcherBox reviews, here are possible meat options:

• 100% grass-fed beef: sirloin tips, ground beef (85/15), ground sirloin (90/10), hamburger patties, tri-tip steak, flat iron steak, top sirloin steak, flank steak, ribeye steak, NY strip steaks, filet mignon, steak tips, bottom round roast, sirloin cap (roast beef), pot roast, beef hot dogs
• Free-range, organic chicken: whole chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs, chicken tenders, drumsticks, bone-in thighs, wings, ground chicken, mild chicken sausage, apple chicken sausage
• Humanely raised pork: ground pork, St. Louis and baby back ribs, center-cut pork loin roast, tenderloin, Italian sausage links, ground Italian sausage, boneless pork chops, pork sirloin roast, bone-in pork butt, ButcherBox bacon, tender belly bacon, ground breakfast sausage, ground chorizo, pork hot dogs
• Seafood: wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon, wild-caught scallops, salmon burgers, cod, wild-caught gulf shrimp, cold smoked salmon

If you’re not much for surprises and don’t mind spending a little more, ButcherBox offers custom boxes as well. For $169, you’ll get 9 to 14 pounds of meat and/or seafood. Shipping on all boxes is always free.

How We Tested It

My custom ButcherBox included two filet mignons, four boneless pork chops, a flank steak, a whole chicken and a bag of individually frozen salmon filets.

Filet Mignons

Filet mignons are cut from the tenderloin, a muscle running down the back of a cow that sees almost no movement, so there’s no connective tissue or gristle to be found. However, this also means there’s not much in the way of fat marbling, which is what gives prized cuts, like ribeyes and porterhouses, so much flavor. Though it’s certainly a luxurious piece of meat, filets can run the risk of being flavorlesssomething you never want to encounter, especially if you’re paying a premium.

The good news is that ButcherBox’s grass-fed filet mignons deliver plenty of big, beefy flavor while also being impossibly tender. They’re cut on the thinner side, so they cook quickly and go from rare to well-done in a matter of seconds. Searing them for two minutes per side in a cast-iron skillet rendered steaks that were a bit more cooked than I personally prefer, but this didn’t diminish my enjoyment one bit.

Salmon Filets

Much like a good steak, a quality piece of salmon needs next to nothing to taste spectacular. In fact, it’s almost a sin to cover up superlative salmon with excessive amounts of sauce, spices or marinades. I tested ButcherBox’s salmon by air frying filets directly from the freezer without thawing, which helps prevent the insides from overcookingnot to mention making dinner far easier to slap together! Simply sprinkle kosher salt and lightly spritz cooking spray to prevent sticking.

The resulting salmon was stellar, rich and buttery. The second time I made it, I added a light glaze of Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce halfway through the cooking process, which complemented it wonderfully without being overwhelming, and giving me a fancy no-fuss dinner in minutes with almost no work whatsoever.

Boneless Pork Chops

It’s easy to make boneless pork chops that are dry and underwhelming, and that’s due to the quality of factory-farmed pork. ButcherBox’s humanely raised pork is (literally) an entirely different animalone that remains juicy and succulent during cooking. With so much flavor, it isn’t necessary to marinate or slather with strongly flavored sauce.

Flank Steak

Thanks to the filets, I already knew that ButcherBox’s beef is impressive when prepared simply. That’s why I chose to use its flank steak to make a rich rag to serve with pappardelle, and I’m pleased to announce it was a wise decision. The flank steak’s flavor was robust enough to not get lost in the sauce. When red wine, tomatoes and plenty of garlic are invited to the party, a lesser piece of meat could easily be overshadowed or rendered completely invisible. ButcherBox’s flank steak, on the other hand, remained firmly in the spotlight, shining like the star it is while playing nice with its fellow ingredients.

Whole Chicken

A simple roast chicken is wondrous, assuming the bird in question is of exceptional quality. A standard supermarket chicken often needs a good amount of assistance to be transcendent, whether it’s brining, basting or employing “hacks” to save it from becoming another dry, boring bird. ButcherBox’s chicken, on the other hand, roasts up wonderfully without much help. Simply seasoned and roasted atop a bed of vegetables in my Great Jones Dutch oven, it came out tender and juicy, with the sort of flavor that makes rotisserie chickens look downright depressing in comparison.

Pros

• Remarkable quality
• Meat comes packaged in individual portions
• Delivered frozen solid
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Company has strict sustainability standards
• Only works with humane, ethical farms
• Good selection
• Certified-B corporation
• Free shipping

Cons

• Pricey (though worth it)
• Seafood, bison and turkey are only available in custom boxes

FAQ

Is ButcherBox meat high quality?

Yes, ButcherBox has quality meat from highly reputable farms that humanely raise their livestock and use environmentally friendly practices.

Can you get ButcherBox without a subscription?

Generally, ButcherBox requires a subscription, but there are no fees or penalties to cancel. Subscriptions deliver every two, four, six or eight weeks. The brand also offers several curated gift boxes for one-time purchase.

Is ButcherBox meat organic?

Chicken is the only meat from ButcherBox that’s certified organic. While its beef, pork, bison and turkey don’t have organic certification, they’re all raised according to the highest agricultural standards without the use of hormones or antibiotics.

Product Comparison

There are many mail-order meat companies and meal delivery services out there, so what sets this meat subscription apart? According to ButcherBox reviews, the company wins with its high standards for quality, sustainability and business ethics. (Check out our Good Chop review for another stellar option for ethical, eco-friendly meat delivery!) In contrast to well-known brands like Omaha Steaks, ButcherBox requires a subscription and sells meat in assorted boxes instead of la carte by cut.

Final Verdict

If where your meat comes from matters, then ButcherBox makes ethical eating easier. It’s a company committed to making big changes in the meat industry, and it’s an eco-friendly alternative to environmentally disastrous factory farms, according to ButcherBox reviews. But most importantly, the meat and seafood are spectacular! ButcherBox may completely change your relationship with meat, and that’s a wonderful thing.

Where to Buy ButcherBox

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Sign up for a subscription at the ButcherBox website and feed your family a curated box of a high-quality selection of meats and seafood delivered to your door. A monthly subscription starts at $146. Your customized choices await!

The post ButcherBox Review: Is This Mail-Order Meat Service Worth the Hype? appeared first on Taste of Home.

What is The Dutchess, the Great Jones Dutch Oven?

Great Jones Dutch oven, The Dutchess (as well as its smaller counterpart, the Dutch Baby), is an oval-shaped, cast-iron pot with a slick, non-stick enamel-coated interior that not only makes cooking easier but makes cleanup easy, too. Food residue cleanly wipes off with a soapy sponge, so it truly takes only seconds to wash The Dutchess by hand. If you don’t feel like handwashing, though, this Dutch oven is also dishwasher-safejust be sure to dry it by hand once the cycle is finished to prevent the exposed cast-iron edges from possibly rusting.

Like almost everything Great Jones makes, The Dutchess is not only well-made but utterly gorgeous. It’s available in six vibrant colors: blueberry, broccoli, taffy, pepper, salt and, the color I chose, mustard. I’ve been ogling this Great Jones Dutch oven online for a long, long while, and upon unboxing it, it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. It’s as beautiful as it is in the pictures and has earned a permanent spot on my stovetop, even if I don’t cook with it every day. This Dutch oven is a work of art that I love staring at.

But as someone who has tested more than her fair share of Instagram-famous cookware, I know that looks aren’t everything. The Great Jones Dutch oven had enough heft to give me hope that it would excel when I put it to the test.

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The Dutchess

The Dutchess is a Dutch oven by Great Jones that moves gracefully from stove to oven to table centerpiece.

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Great Jones Dutch Oven Features

With its 6.75-quart capacity and oval shape, The Dutchess is a big pan that can do big things. You can use it to boil pasta water, simmer soups and stews, bake casseroles or roast a whole chicken. Its tight-fitting lid keeps heat and steam well-trapped, making it ideal for baking bread and braising meats low and slow without losing moisture.

Quality

Like many Dutch ovens, The Dutchess is made of enameled cast iron. In the kitchen, cast iron is unrivaled for conducting and retaining heat, and works on gas, electric and induction stovetops. It’s also oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. And thanks to the enamel coating, you won’t have to fret about caring for your pot! Not only does the enamel create a nonstick interior, but it also protects the iron underneath from rusting and oxidation.

The non-stick enamel coating is also non-toxic and free of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs). The inside of the pot is a soft gray, which helps make the Great Jones Dutch oven more resistant to staining while being light enough to let you notice color changes and other visual cues while cooking.

Aesthetics

Aside from the fact it’s a quality cooking vessel, The Dutchess’ biggest asset is its looks. It makes an incredible gift for home cooks, and to make it extra special, Great Jones can engrave a name or message on the lid.

The Dutchess retails for $160, which is cheaper than many other Dutch ovens on the market, but still on the pricier side of the cookware spectrum. But as they say, you get what you pay for, and the Great Jones Dutch oven is meant to last you for many years to come. Plus, it’s backed with a limited lifetimewarranty. The company also offers a 60-day “no-questions-asked” return or exchange policy, so if you don’t fall head-over-heels in love with The Dutchess, you can send it back for a full refund.

How We Tested It

Since I so regularly use a Dutch oven in my day-to-day cooking, I figured the best way to test The Dutchess was simply to put it into use in my own kitchen. Real-world use provides real-world results! And The Dutchess was more than up to the challenge.

Stocks and One-Pots

Since I have a small kitchen, my Dutch oven doubles as a stockpot for making things like stock and soup, but most often I use it for boiling pasta water. It’s a simple task, but The Dutchess excels at it by rapidly conducting heat and preserving it, especially when topped with the heavy-duty lid that prevents heat and steam from escaping. Its oval shape makes it easy to add long pastas like spaghetti or linguine without having to awkwardly push them underwater with a wooden spoon.

Dutch ovens are also great for cooking one-pot meals, which is another reason why they get so much use in my kitchen. With plenty of surface area on the bottom, you can easily saut enough vegetables and brown enough meat to feed a whole family. As a mom of two teenage boys who have ravenous appetites, I’m always able to make enough food to keep them satiated and occasionally have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Deep Frying

Another thing Dutch ovens are good for is deep frying, which is something I rarely do at home because of the hassle involved. However, The Dutchess made deep frying nearly painless, thanks to high sides to contain splatters and a smooth design that allows you to clip on a fry thermometer without worrying it will slip or slide. Because it conducts, retains and distributes heat so well, it was easy to adjust and maintain the temperature of the oil. When you’re making homemade doughnuts, you don’t want a single one of them to be disappointing. With The Dutchess, I was able to make a whole batch without burning or undercooking a single one.

In the Oven

The Dutchess dominated on the stovetop, but a Dutch oven isn’t worth a damn unless it performs just as well in the oven. Unsurprisingly, this Great Jones Dutch oven yielded dynamite results in there as well. It braises like a champ, but more impressively, it can roast a chicken that comes out tender and juicy with minimal effort. And you barely need a recipe to do it! Just cover the bottom of the pan with cut-up vegetables like potatoes and carrots, add your chicken, season everything liberally, pop on the lid and slide it into a 375-degree oven. In about an hour, you’ll have a chicken so succulent that it practically falls off the bone. One-pot cooking at its finest!

For its final trial, I used the Great Jones Dutchess to make no-knead bread. It yielded a loaf with a shatteringly crisp crust and fluffy interior that could rival any bakery and ran circles around the bread from the supermarket. The pictures truly say it all.

Pros

• Outstanding quality
• Aesthetically gorgeous
• Truly non-stick interior
• Available in six vibrant colors
• Oven safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit
• Works on gas, electric and induction cooktops
• Dishwasher safe; easy to handwash
• 60-day “no-questions-asked” return policy
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Pricey

FAQ

Is Great Jones cookware non-toxic?

Yes! All Great Jones cookware is non-toxic and free of “forever chemicals,” including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These pots and pans have also passed industry standard lead tests, and are 100% cadmium-free.

Where is Great Jones Dutch oven made?

Great Jones is a female-founded small business that’s based in New York City, but its cookware is produced in factories in Guangdong and Tianjin in China, as well as some in the United States.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

There’s something to be said about a Dutch oven that gets people this excited. Here’s what real-life home cooks have to say about The Dutchess:

“I have been a chef for over 25 years and have always used the big French named Dutch ovens and always loved them,” writes verified Great Jones customer, Jennifer M. Hopkins. “I decided to give GJ a try and YES!! One-third of the price and superb quality. I am sold and even told a few others all about it! Can’t wait to use it more and more.”

Five-star reviewer, Christine P. calls this Dutch oven the “best gift,” and says, “I love mineand my friend, when I brought it to her house on Thanksgiving, filled with an amazing butternut squash and wild rice side dishthreatened to refuse to return it. So I got this one for her for Christmas!”

“A work of art,” writes verified buyer, Elizabeth R. “I found Great Jones on the hunt for a good Dutch oven and ideally not spending $400 to $500. I was intrigued by their story and the rich green of The Dutchess in broccoli. It works great and cleans up so easily. The quality is more than five stars!”

Product Comparison

Here at Taste of Home, we’ve reviewed many Dutch ovens from top cookware brands, like HexClad and the famous Le Creuset. In comparison to other heavyweights, the Great Jones Dutch oven performs just as well while being relatively wallet-friendly. (A high-quality Dutch oven isn’t cheap!) With its outstanding performance, generous return policy and limited lifetime warranty, you may want to check out the Great Jones Dutch oven before you consider any of its competitors.

Final Verdict

The Dutchess is far more than a pretty faceit’s the real deal. Though I’ve only been cooking with it for a few months, based on its steady performance and easy cleanup, I fully expect it to last a lifetime just like Great Jones promises. Not only that, it looks damn good sitting on my stovetop, which is a very nice bonus. If you’re looking for your first Dutch oven or are unhappy with your old one, I highly recommend adding The Dutchess to your cookware collection.

Where to Buy the Great Jones Dutch Oven

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The Dutchess

This cast-iron oval pot delivers exceptional heat distribution and retention for slow cooking to braising or roasting.

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The Dutchess, the Great Jones Dutch oven, is available on the brand’s website for $160. You can also shop it on Sur La Table, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Choose your color and get to cooking!

The post I Tested the Gorgeous Great Jones Dutch Oven, and Fully Expect It to Last a Lifetime appeared first on Taste of Home.

Thrive Market is one such company, offering nothing but clean, all-natural groceries at discounted prices. I spent hours combing their website to see if their advertised savings are as significant as the company claims. Then, I placed an order to see if they could change how I buy groceries.

What is Thrive Market?

Think of Thrive Market as a mix of Whole Foods, Costco and your favorite online grocery store. For a $12 monthly subscription fee (or $59.99 if billed annually), you can shop thousands of grocery, cleaning and personal care items that are natural, non-GMO and sustainable. They also carry many products that accommodate dietary preferences like gluten-free, vegan and paleo.

Thrive Market has an extensive list of over 500 “never ingredients” you won’t find in a single product they sell, including high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and bleached flours. Though not every product they sell is organic, Thrive Market carries over 2,000 certified organic items, which isn’t too shabby. In addition to dry goods, Thrive Market also sells frozen foods, including flash-frozen meat and seafood. They don’t offer refrigerated goods like eggs, produce or dairy. (For produce, we’re big fans of Misfits Market.)

Their Mission

Besides giving everyone in the lower 48 states ready and easy access to healthy foods, Thrive Market’s greater mission includes ending food inequality. The company regularly partners with small food equity organizations like Foodcorps and FoodCycle LA. It has set a goal of providing at least $20 million of healthy groceries to people in need by 2030. Additionally, every annual membership sponsors a free membership for families that could use some help.

Thrive Market prides itself on sustainability, boasting they’re the only climate-positive grocery store. The company is already carbon-neutral, with goals to become carbon-negative by 2025. Thrive Market’s warehouses recycle or repurpose at least 90% of the materials used. Plus, all packaging is 100% recyclable or compostable. Whew!

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Thrive Market

Thrive Market is an online grocery store where everything is organic or sustainably sourced and curated by experts.

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Thrive Market Features

Shopping Thrive Market requires a membership. But if you regularly purchase specialty groceries, the fee will pay for itself in no time. In fact, the company guarantees that if you don’t recoup your annual membership fee in savings each year, they’ll pay you the difference in store credit. Monthly memberships cost $12 and don’t come with the benefit of a free trial period. Thrive Market reviews will tell you that it’s a better decision to spring for the $59.99 annual subscription, which allows you to cancel within 30 days for a full refund.

Shipping

Thrive Market ships anywhere within the lower 48 states. Orders are usually processed within 12 hours once they’re placed and shipped within 24 hours. Pantry items and dry goods usually arrive within 2-4 days after an order is placed, while frozen goods take between 2-3 business days to arrive once shipped. Thrive Market only ships out frozen orders on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays to prevent any shipping delays over the weekend.

Thrive offers an auto-ship program for goods you buy regularly that can save you an additional 5-10% off their already discounted prices. Autoship orders can be set for every 4, 8 or 12 weeks, and can be canceled, postponed, or rescheduled as needed.

Product Specialist

Every paid membership includes a free 15-minute phone consultation with a Thrive Market Product Specialist. This feature is especially helpful for people who are starting restrictive diets like keto, or those with specific nutritional/medical needs. During the consultation, the Product Specialist will help you sift through Thrive Market’s inventory to find the best products for your particular needs, and provide tips to help you maximize your membership.

Thrive Cash

In addition to their regularly discounted prices, some items allow you to earn Thrive Cash, which is essentially a cash-back store credit program. Thrive Cash is automatically applied to your next order, as long as it’s within 30 days. The company also offers Thrive Cash as a part of its price-matching program. If you find a product you want at a lower price, you can submit a screenshot or photo of the item and its advertised discounted price. Once Thrive reviews your photos, you will be sent the cost difference in Thrive Cash.

Another benefit to a Thrive Market membership is the frequent freebies, usually offered daily. Provided you purchase at least $49 worth of groceries, that day’s featured freebie will be automatically added to your cart. Buying at least $49 worth of packaged groceries will also net you free shipping; anything less is subject to a $5.95 shipping fee. There’s a $120 minimum to qualify for free shipping on frozen items; under that, the delivery fee is $19.95

How We Tested It

Even though I’m a professional food writer and recipe developer, I have a huge soft spot for ready-to-eat foods and meal delivery services. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! Sometimes I’m way too tired to cook (or really do anything at all), and I have no issue boiling up some ramen noodles, tossing frozen snacks into the air fryer or microwaving a vacuum-sealed pouch of saag paneer. Not only that, as a single mom of two teenage boys, I like stocking the house with healthy(ish) foods my kids can eat on nights I’m too busy to cook dinnerparticularly foods they can prepare for themselves without making a mess of the kitchen. Thrive Market reviews will say they’re a great option for ready-to-eat foods.

Ready-to-Eat Foods

But as with most things, you get what you pay for, and the cost of filling a few cabinets with the best ready-to-eat foods adds up quickly. Even when the savings seem slight, they quickly add up to something significant when buying in bulk. Through Thrive Market, I could buy several weeks’ worth of all-natural (and delicious!) instant ramen cups, tinned fish, boxed tofu, jarred simmer sauces and more for about $200. Had I bought the same items retail, not only would it have cost me at least 30% more, but I would likely have needed to visit multiple stores to get everything I wanted. Another great thing about Thrive Market is they can store massive amounts of inventory in their warehouses, so items rarely go out of stock.

That said, I wasn’t overly impressed with the savings for items I use in my home pantry. While the company has a price-matching program, searching for lower prices elsewhere is a tedious process that renders the convenience of online grocery shopping nearly irrelevant.

If I lived in a place where the nearest specialty supermarket was hours away, I wouldn’t care much about the overall savingsthe fact that Thrive Market could get healthy, all-natural groceries to my doorstep would be well worth the prices, even if they’re not much different than retail prices. However, I’m a city mouse and can easily pick up natural/organic pantry items, grass-fed meat and sustainable seafood. Ready-to-eat foods, on the other hand, are a different story.

As for my haul, I couldn’t be happier. If I’m too tired to cook anything substantial, there’s something delicious in my pantry that can be ready in minutes. Thrive Market is a fantastic supplement to regular grocery shopping if you stick to sales and shop intelligently.

Pros

• Makes healthy foods accessible
• Offers significant savings if you’re a smart shopper
• Daily freebie offers
• Flash sales that offer deep discounts
• Not too difficult to meet the free shipping threshold on non-frozen items
• Price matching program
• Thrive Cash rewards program

Cons

• Not all foods are offered at significant discounts
• Frozen foods require a $60 minimum; free shipping offered with $120 purchase
• Price-matching program is tedious to take advantage of

FAQ

Can I browse Thrive Market without a membership?

To browse Thrive Market, you need to sign up for a membership. According to the company’s website, this is meant to protect the brands they carry, as many do not want their products publicly advertised at deeply discounted prices. Once you sign up, you’ll have full access to Thrive Market’s catalog of over 6,000 products. If you decide the prices aren’t low enough for you, you can cancel your subscription within 30 days for a full refund.

How much does a Thrive Market membership cost?

A Thrive Market membership costs $59.95 annually, or you can subscribe on a monthly basis for $12. Annual memberships come with a 30-day cancellation window, while monthly memberships do not.

Final Verdict

After conducting my own and reading many Thrive Market reviews, I can guarantee that this online grocery store is a godsend to anyone in the lower 48 states who doesn’t have easy access to natural groceries. It’s also excellent for people who are on restrictive diets like paleo or keto and who need to shop for a wide variety of specialty products. As for savings, as long as you shop smart, they can be significant, making Thrive Market well worth the membership cost.

Where to Buy Thrive Market

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The Thrive Market reviews are in! Get groceries without artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives.

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You can sign up for your own membership exclusively on the Thrive Market website. Savings await!

The post Thrive Market Review: Can This Online Grocery Store Really Save You Money? appeared first on Taste of Home.

Imagine my surprise when I was called upon to test and review the Drew Barrymore Hero Pan and ended up falling in love! That single pan not only impressed me but continues to get regular use in my home kitchen. I was curious to see whether or not a cheaper Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware Set would also pass the test.

What is Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware?

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is a collaboration between Drew Barrymore and kitchenware manufacturer Made by Gather. In addition to cookware, the Beautiful line also includes small appliances like stand mixers and frozen drink makers, furniture and home goods. All Drew Barrymore products are exclusively sold at Walmart.

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Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware

This cookware set is made with non-toxic, healthy ceramic non-stick coating that is impeccably crafted with a sleek design that's compatible with all stovetops.

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There are many different types of Beautiful by Drew Barrymore cookware like cast iron Dutch ovens and stock pots. This set includes five essential pieces for day-to-day cooking: two frying pans, a saute pan, a saucepan and a small Dutch oven. It also comes with four foam cookware protectors to prevent scratches when stacking pans for storage. These pans are lightweight and come in four different colors, making them ideal for beginner or novice cooks.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware Features

The first thing you’ll notice when taking your Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware Set out of the box is that it’s, well, beautiful. This 12-piece cookware set values looks just as much as it values performance. It is available in four colorways: White Icing, Sage Green, Black Sesame and Ceramic Gray.

There are two frying pans (8-inches and 10-inches), and three pans with die-cast metal lids: a 3-quart high-sided saute pan, a 2-quart saucepan and a 5-quart Dutch oven. The handles on both the pans and lids are made of gold die-cast metal, so this cookware is oven-safe up to 500 degrees. Then pans are made from light-cast aluminum, which is highly durable and excellent at both conducting and retaining heat. The aluminum construction also makes these pans suitable for use on gas, electric and induction cooktops.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is fully nonstick while also being nontoxic. All five pans are coated with nonstick ceramic, which is 100% free of “forever chemicals” like PTFE, PFOA and PFOS. Though that coating is durable enough not to chip and relatively scratch-resistant, this cookware set also includes four cookware protectors so you can stack the pans for storage.

The nonstick coating doesn’t only make it easier to cookit makes it easier to do dishes as well! Though it’s safe to put these pans in the dishwasher, hand-washing is recommended, and honestly? It’s easier. It rarely takes more than a soapy sponge and a quick rinse to get these pans perfectly clean.

How We Tested It

To test this set of Beautiful by Drew Barrymore cookware, I used them as my family’s everyday pans for two months. This meant that in addition to me, a former professional chef and current professional food writer, they were also being used (and abused) by my two teenage sons who are just learning to cook for themselves.

Testing the Skillets

Of all five pieces, it was the nonstick skillets that got the most use. We eat a lot of eggs in our house, as they’re something that goes from the pan to the plate in almost no time at allperfect for those weekdays when I’m overworked, overtired and in no mood to cook dinner. (Yes, even we professionals get sick of cooking sometimes!) Also, eggs are easy, meaning my boys can whip up an omelet or a fried egg sandwich whenever they’re hungry without relying on my assistance.

As egg pans, both skillets worked great! The 8-inch skillet is ideal when cooking for one, and is the perfect size for making omelets and crepes. But the most important attribute an egg pan can have is a nonstick surface that never fails, and these Drew Barrymore frying pans did not let me down. Our eggs continued to come out perfectly and slide out of the pan easily, as long as we remember to grease them with butter or cooking spray first. When we’ve forgotten to grease the pan (hey, it happensespecially when we’re groggy first thing in the morning!), any bits of egg that have clung to the pan comes right off with soap, water and a gentle sponge.

Testing the Saucepan

The saucepan has done a fine job in the two months we’ve been using it. My boys regularly use it for making themselves boxed mac and cheese and instant ramen, and then throw it in the dishwasher as they refuse to hand-wash pans. So far, the saucepan still looks brand new and does its job well.

Testing the Saute Pan and Dutch Oven

The saute pan and Dutch oven are both serviceable, but neither impressed me, especially when compared to some of the other pans I cook with, including the Drew Barrymore Hero Pan. Both pots are made from thin aluminum which conducts heat like a dream but does a terrible job of letting you control that heat. Food cooked in the saute pan frequently burned; to prevent this, I had to continually remove the pan from the heat for a minute to let it cool down before putting it back on the stove. I should note that I have an electric stove, so those who cook with gas might have a slightly different experience, but likely not by much.

A good Dutch oven should be made of a heavy metal that can conduct and retain heat, like cast iron. The version in the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware Set is made of the same aluminum as the rest of the set, so while it’s fine at heat conduction, it’s not as good at heat retention. For recipes that call for a Dutch oven, like breads and braises, I prefer my Great Jones Dutch oven. As for this pan, I would consider it more of a large saucepan or small stockpot. In the context of a complete cookware set, this is the pan you need for boiling pasta water or making brothy soups. I wouldn’t recommend it for typical Dutch oven dishes like stews or braises, as it suffers from the same heat-regulation issues as the saute pan.

Size and Cleanup

Another important thing to consider is the size of the pans. The skillets and small saucepan are good everyday pans for easy solo cooking (like grilled cheese sandwiches) and making side dishes. The skillet and Dutch oven can make enough food for singles, couples or families with young children who don’t eat that much. However, if you have a large family, older kids or like to end up with leftovers after you cook, these pans are too small to be of much use.

Cleaning my pans right after cooking is very easy with Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware. The nonstick ceramic coating is truly nonstick; once I’m done dishing up dinner, a rinse under hot running water clears almost everything out of the pan. Next, I give it a light rum with a soapy sponge, rinse again, and that’s all! Clean pans in under 30 seconds, no dishwasher required!

Pros

• True to the name, this cookware is beautiful
• Free from PFOAs/Forever Chemicals
• Lightweight
• Die-cast lids and handles
• Oven safe up to 500 degrees
• Easy to clean
• Great for beginners
• Would make a great gift for recent grads, newlyweds or anyone setting up their first kitchen

Cons

• Size of the pans makes this set best for couples or solo cooks
• Thin aluminum construction makes it difficult to regulate heat
• Not flimsy but not built to last more than a few years

FAQ

Are Drew Barrymore pots and pans safe?

Yes! All Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is free from PFAs, or “Forever Chemicals.” The nonstick coating on these pans features nontoxic ceramic that’s PFOA-, PTFE- and PFOS-free.

Can Drew Barrymore cookware go in the oven?

With the exception of the cookware protectors, every single piece is oven-safe up to 500 degrees, including the pot lids.

How do you clean Drew Barrymore pans?

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore pans are as easy to clean as they are to cook with. They are dishwasher-safe, though we recommend hand-washing. Fortunately, hand-washing these pans might actually be easier than putting them in the dishwasher! Thanks to their nonstick ceramic interiors, these pans nearly always come clean with a quick wipe of a soapy sponge. For anything that doesn’t come off right away, a short soak in soapy water should finish the job.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

Satisfied Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware Walmart customer Cat says this set is a great investment for the everyday cook. “These pots/pans are wonderful!” she writes. “They completely met my expectations for nonstick cookware. I am so happy I took my time to do research and to compare against other popular pans (like the really overpriced ones). Very sleek and durable. Highly recommend.”

“Obsessed with these pans and this brand!” raves five-star reviewer Laura. “Not only do the pans live up to their name and look amazingcooking with them is a dream (nonstick and lightweight), and cleaning is simple! This pan’s materials are healthier and don’t contain forever chemicals, so I feel better using this pan for my family.”

Five-star reviewer Jassie says her set of Beautiful by Drew Barrymore cookware is “a keeper,” writing, “She named these perfectly. They cook really well. I’ve fried in them, sauteed with them and even made rice crispy treats so far and I’m going to do plenty more. When cleaning these pots/pans you should be using a cloth towel to wash and dry to avoid scratching the pans and don’t air dry at all with nonstick pans. I’ve had the set for about two months, I’m a culinary student so I’m always cooking I have no problems with paint chipping, and none of my pans have burnt marks or stains.”

Final Verdict

While these pretty pans have held up decently for the past two months, they won’t last forever, and at their value price point, I don’t expect them to. This set of Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is best for beginners who are setting up their first kitchen. The cookware is also great for singles and couples who prefer to whip up simple, easy meals. More serious home cooks or families with older children should consider Caraway cookware.

Where to Buy Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware

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Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware

The cookware heats up fast, cooks evenly and is oven-safe to 500 degrees, including the die-cast lids.

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Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is available exclusively at Walmart. This complete set of cookware currently retails for $149 but is frequently on sale, so keep your eyes peeled!

The post Look no further, The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore is the Frozen Drink Machine You Need appeared first on Taste of Home.

The name “Garbage Plate” is now a registered trademark of Nick Tahou Hots, but the essence of the Garbage Plate can be found all over Rochester, from humble burger joints to upscale dining establishments. Each place has its own interpretation, listed on the menu as a “Rochester Plate,” “Trash Plate,” “Hot Plate” or “Junkyard Plate.” What sets the Garbage Plate apart is the twist that each eatery brings to the iconic dish.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Rochester Garbage Plate!

What is a Garbage Plate?

@visitrochester For us, we really like Garbage Plates Nick Tahous Hots #VisitROC #thisisroc #rochesterny #upstateny #newyork #garbageplates It’s Corn – Tariq & The Gregory Brothers & Recess Therapy

The Garbage Plate features your choice of cheeseburger, hamburger, Italian sausage, steak, chicken or white hots (a regional hot dog found in Rochester) served on a heap of home fries, french fries, baked beans and macaroni salad. What truly sets it apart, however, is the signature Rochester hot sauce, which is a spicy meat-based sauce that’s reminiscent of Cincinnati chili. If you’d like to tempt fate, opt to add mustard and onions as a heartburn-inducing garnish. You mix everything together and wolf it down with a side of bread and butter.

Who has the best Garbage Plate in Rochester?

It’s important to note there’s no such thing as the “best” Garbage Plate. Every interpretation is different and each is beautiful in its own way. To experience the original that started it all, visit Nick Tahou’s Hots. Some other popular spots include Bill Gray’s Dog Town Hots, Jeremiah’s Tavern, Genesee Brew House, the Gate House, Marshall Street Bar & Grill and the concession stand at Innovative Field, home of the minor league Rochester Reds.

For a unique take on the Garbage Plate, order the sushi version at Stingray Fusion or Red Fern’s vegan “Compost Plate.” Keep your eyes open for “hots” in small towns near Rochester, too. I recommend Henrietta Hots, Jimmy Z’s Plates and Shakes, Mark’s Texas Hots, Fairport Hots, and Westridge Hots, among many other options.

The post The Rochester ‘Garbage Plate’ Has Been a New York Secret for Far Too Long appeared first on Taste of Home.

Best Overall Great Jones Cookware

The Dutchess Dutch Oven

Great Jones’ enameled cast-iron Dutch oven is an absolute stunner, and testament to high-quality craftsmanship. The Dutchess boasts a generous 6.75-quart capacity, making it ideal for everything from braising meat to simmering soups to roasting chicken. (And if you need some Dutch oven cooking tips, we’ve got you covered). Designed for durability, this piece of Great Jones cookware is built to last for years to come. The tight-fitting lid locks in moisture and flavors, and includes a sturdy, ergonomic stainless steel knob for easy lifting and secure handling.

The Dutchess’ smooth, easy-to-clean interior resists staining, and though the enameled surface makes it easy to wash by hand, it’s dishwasher-safe, too. And speaking of enamel, the stunning matte enamel finishavailable in your choice of six colorspractically turns this pretty pan into a work of art.

Pros

• Made of premium high-quality enameled cast iron
• Available in six gorgeous colors
• Highly durable
• Even heat distribution
• Oven safe to 500 F
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Heavy (roughly 15 pounds with lid)
• Pricey

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The post 5 Best Great Jones Cookware Items appeared first on Taste of Home.

What I could do just like reptilian heroes, though, was eat pizza like nobody’s business. Even though I’ve since grown up into a semi-respectable adult, that hasn’t changed. When I learned of the existence of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza, I needed to get my hands on it immediately.

Since When Can You Buy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza should have been a thing since the late 1980s, but it’s a recent invention tied to the release of a new TMNT movie. (Better late than never, I suppose.) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated action-comedy produced by Seth Rogen, featuring an all-star celebrity cast that includes Jackie Chan as Splinter, John Cena as Rocksteady and Rogen himself in the role of Bebop.

To celebrate the seventh Ninja Turtles movie to hit the big screen, Walmart released an exclusive line of TMNT merch, including clothes, toys, school supplies and, of course, food. In addition to snacks, cereal and mac and cheese, there are five varieties of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles frozen pizza:

• Cheese: Made with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce
• Pepperoni
• Sausage & Pepperoni
• Supreme: Topped with sausage, pepperoni and bell peppers
• Mac Attack: Topped with elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese sauce and mozzarella cheese

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Review

Let me preface this review by stating that I honestly believe all pizzas are beautiful in their own special way. Is it fair to compare a gas station pizza eaten at 3 a.m. to a wood-fired pie made in the heart of Napoli? A toaster-oven English muffin pizza to an authentic New York slice? The only rule one should accept in regard to pizza is that there are no rules. There is no correct time or place. Pizza needs to be whatever you need, whenever you need it.

That being said, by most culinary standards, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza is not good. I, however, am no snob, and have it within me to see these mass-manufactured frozen pizzas for what they are truly meant to be.

The first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book made its debut in 1984, and while Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael have never once become culturally irrelevant, they were at the height of their powers in the late ’80s and early ’90s. This was the era of action figures, live-action movies, funky-fresh Vanilla Ice anthems and, above all, the TMNT animated series. For my generation of latchkey children, this half-hour cartoon was one of our most beloved babysitters, keeping us safely glued to our television sets and out of trouble while we waited for our parents to come home from work.

With no adults at home to prepare after-school snacks, we latchkey kids had to fend for ourselves. Kid Cuisine frozen dinners. Micro Magic fries. Single-serve chicken pot pies. And then there were frozen pizzas; a category which, within itself, contained multitudes. There were pizza rolls and pizza bagels, French bread pizzas and pizza-stuffed Hot Pockets. Every frozen pizza product was wildly different, but they were all objectively terrible and we loved them.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza from Walmart is, too, objectively terrible, and because of that, it’s amazing. The crust is solid and crumbly like lightly salted drywall, much like the store-brand pizzas of 1989. The tomato sauce was pasty, sweet and seasoned with generic Italian seasoning. The cheese was chalky. While the box advertises that each crust is printed with a turtle shell pattern, not a single one of the pizzas I tried looked like a turtle shell, unless you count the fact they were round.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for quality pizza, this is not it. But if you’re looking the sort of nostalgia that cannot be called to mind by classic cartoons or silver-screen reboots alone, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza will, quite literally, feed that craving. It’ll transport you to another time and place and fill your heart with joy. And isn’t that what pizza is truly about?

The post Cowabunga! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Is Bringing Back ’90s Nostalgia appeared first on Taste of Home.

While Costco membership certainly has its benefits, for someone like me that might only shop there once or twice a year, the Costco gift card hack promised to be a game changer. Would it allow me to refill my freezer with cheeseburgers and taquitos? Or would I leave Costco in disappointment?

What Is the Costco Gift Card Hack?

According to this TikTok creator, the key to shopping at Costco without a membership is the Costco Shop Card, a reloadable gift card that can be purchased by Costco members in any amount.

@vetted.ai

Costco hack they dont want you to know! Yes while you need a card to get these gift cards, you should be able to find someone in your friend/family circle and get a bunch of giftcards in one trip! I found out about this when our corporate gift included a Costco giftcard from our CEO #vettedai #vetted #savingshack #budgethacks #savingstips #savingshacks #costcohacks

Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

In order to make the Costco gift card hack work, you’ll need the assistance of a friend that has a Costco membership. One option is to have them purchase a gift card for you online, which can be mailed to your door or sent via email. Another option is for them to purchase a physical gift card in-store, which can be picked up at any cash register when checking out.

Does the Costco Gift Card Hack Work?

I tried to circumnavigate Costco’s membership policy in two different ways: online and in-store. For my first attempt, I asked my best friend/Costco member to provide me with her Costco.com login info so I could purchase the gift card myself, thus hopefully saving us from the awkward step of transferring cash. Hours after I placed my order, I received an email notification that my order had been cancelled due to incorrect payment and billing information.

In order to purchase a Costco Shop Card online, it needs to be paid for with a card belonging to a Costco member. If you have a friend who doesn’t mind the extra step, they can purchase a digital gift card on your behalf.

Since my initial plan didn’t work as well as I’d hoped, my bestie and I went to Costco together. After we both loaded up our carts, she checked out first and tacked a $25 gift card onto her order. Then she handed it to me so I could (hopefully) check out while she went to grab us hot dogs and churros.

Even though my gift card was only for $25, I still loaded up my cart with nearly $200 of products, because that’s just the sort of thing that happens at Costco. When the cashier asked to see my membership card I showed her my gift card, bracing for possible rejection. Without a beat she waved her manager over, who cheerfully put a key into the register to help me complete my transaction. When I asked if I had made everyone’s lives needlessly complicated (I don’t want to be a menace!), they assured me there was nothing wrong or “illegal” about what I was doing. Costco’s computer system simply requires a manager’s login info to process gift cards, and they don’t mind helping one bit!

After running my gift card through the register, I had a balance of close to $140 to pay. And it was no problem! The only caveat is that when using gift cards, non-members must pay with either cash or debit cards, not credit. Once I was all paid up, I was good to go and free to enjoy my hot dog in peace.

What to Know Before Testing It Yourself

If you’re going to try the Costco gift card hack yourself, here’s what you need to know:

• Gift cards purchased online must be paid for by members.
• The value of your gift card does not matteras long as there’s some money on it, you’re good to shop!
• You can purchase as much stuff as you like at Costco regardless of your gift card balance.
• Any balance owed after you use your gift card must be paid with cash or debit card.
• Non-members are not allowed to reload their gift card.
• If you anticipate needing to make multiple trips to Costco, have your partner in crime purchase several gift cards for small amounts in one fell swoop. This way you only need to bother them once!

The post Can You Really Shop at Costco with a Gift Card But No Membership? appeared first on Taste of Home.

When “hero pans” began blowing up on Instagram a few years back, I viewed them with extreme skepticism. There are plenty of pans that serve many functions, but can a single trendy pan really replace most of the cookware in my kitchen? When I got the chance to try the new Hero Pan from the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore kitchen collection, I jumped at the chance to see if this wonder pan truly lives up to the hype.

What is the Beautiful Hero Pan?

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Beautiful Hero Pan

This 4-quart pan from Drew Barrymore's Beautiful collction does it all.

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The Beautiful Hero Pan is designed to be a hero in your kitchen, a go-to pan to reach for no matter what you’re cooking. With a flat bottom and high sides, this 4-quart ceramic non-stick pan looks like the lovechild of a saucepan and a skillet. Its depth lets you boil, braise, poach andthanks to the included steamer basketsteam foods to perfection. With its ample surface area, you can sear, saut, pan fry, stir fry and simmer pan sauces. It’s also fully (and practically miraculously) non-stick, making it ideal for cooking eggs, crpes and fish.

A snug-fitting lid traps heat inside, and two pour spouts help remove excess grease, strain liquids or service saucy foods directly from the pan. And speaking of serving, this pan is absolutely gorgeous! Bring this pan straight from the stove to the serving table with its lightweight construction and long stay-cool handle. Best of all, it’s easy to clean! With its extra-slippery non-stick coating, it takes little more than a quick sponging with soapy water to clean up. And if you’re feeling extra lazy after cooking (we’ve all been there!), it’s dishwasher-safe too.

Hero Pan Features

My pan has a glossy White Icing finish, but it’s also available in equally beautiful shades of Cornflower Blue, Black Sesame and Sage Green. The lightweight lid has an easy-to-lift stainless steel knob with a golden finish. After unboxing, this pan immediately became the best-looking piece of equipment in my kitchen. In addition to the pan and lid, the set also includes a large steamer basket made from stainless steel.

This pan is meant to be a workhorse, yet is so lightweight that I had serious doubts that it could compete with my trusty cast iron pan. Its extra-long handle is ergonomically designed and stays cool to the touch. It’s made from light-cast aluminum, which is outstandingly durable and excellent at both conducting and retaining heat. Therefore, it’s suitable for use on gas, electric and induction cooktops.

How We Tested It

In addition to being a professional food writer, cookbook author and recipe developer, I’m also the mother of two teenage boys whose cooking skills are, shall we say, not as good as mine. We all spent a month putting this pan through the wringer.

Making Eggs

The first thing I cooked (as I do with all pans that claim to be non-stick) was a simple fried egg. After preheating the pan over high heat, I gave it a quick spritz of cooking spray, which is not so much about preventing the egg from sticking as it is about crisping up the bottom. I cracked in an egg, stepped away and let the pan do all the work. Once the whites were set, I tried to gently slide a spatula underneath them to check for stickiness, and lo and behold it lifted the egg without a single bit of resistance! Once my egg was cooked, I quickly wiped the skillet clean with a damp paper towel and enjoyed my breakfast without having to worry about doing dishes afterward.

I continued to make eggs through the month in every which wayscrambled, sunny side up, over easy and beyond. (We eat a lot of eggs in this house.) After a month of heavy use, the Beautiful Hero Pan is working as well as it did straight out of the box.

One-Pot Meals

Making a good egg is enough for me to call a pan a “hero,” but the true test of a hero pan is its ability to make one-pot meals easily andmost of allcleanly. (I truly hate scrubbing pots and pans with every fiber of my being.) I’m pleased to say that every dish I made was a smashing success, with plenty of room to fit and cook ingredients well. I was even able to get a beautiful color on an entire cabbage for a Korean rice cakes dish in a spicy gochujang broth.

Where the pan impressed me most, though, was pan frying. I tend to avoid this because of the mess, but the high sides of the hero pan are suitable for frying oil without too much splatter. The two pour spouts on each side of the pan remove extra oil, so when making Sichuan chicken, I easily went from frying chicken to sauting aromatics without a ton of hoopla.

As for durability, my sons used this pan to cook noodles, pancakes and pasta, and not once did the pan spend the night soaking in the sink to remove burnt-on food. Though hand washing is recommended, they frequently threw it on the top rack of the dishwasher and it came out spotless every time. In fact, after a month of regular use, the Beautiful Hero Pan looks almost as good as it did when I first took it out of the box!

Pros

• Truly non-stick
• Gorgeous!
• Plenty of surface area
• High sides
• Heats quickly and evenly
• Easy to clean
• Stands up to daily use

Cons

• Not oven safe

FAQ

Who manufactures Drew Barrymore cookware?

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Cookware is a collaboration between Drew Barrymore and Made by Gather, a company that designs and manufactures kitchenware brands like Bella, Brim and Crux. The line is exclusively sold at Walmart.

Are Beautiful pans oven safe?

The Beautiful Hero Pan is not oven-safe. However, many other pieces of cookware from the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore collection are oven-safe up to 500 F.

Are Beautiful pans non-toxic?

Pans from the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore cookware collection, including the Hero Pan, are non-toxic. They have a ceramic, nonstick coating made without PTFE, PFOA and PFOS.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

“Absolutely beautiful! The name is right!” writes five-star reviewer, cKen. “This pan is so pretty you almost want to have it on display! It is a very sturdy/heavy pan and lid, it makes it feel luxurious and like it will last a long time. I have used mine about seven to 10 times so far and still having great results with this pan. It is definitely non-stick and haven’t noticed any scratches in it so far!”

“My new favorite pan,” raves reviewer, jelleMason. “It definitely lives up to its name because it’s truly beautiful. The pan is a great pan for all-in-one cooking. I can cook some food and then steam some veggies on the steam rack right after, which is great for those times when you don’t want to use multiple pans for a meal. The pan is very high quality and non-stick, making cleanup very easy.”

Final Verdict

I’m normally wary of celebrity-backed cookware, but I am truly in love with the Beautiful Hero Pan. It might not replace every pan in your kitchen, but you will find yourself reaching for it almost every time you step behind the stove. If you have a small kitchen like I do, you’ll likely fall in love with it too.

Where to Buy the Beautiful Hero Pan

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We Tried It

Beautiful Hero Pan

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The Beautiful Hero Pan retails for $69 and is exclusively available at Walmart. Choose among the four colors and display it on your stovetopit’s really that beautiful.

Why You Should Trust Us

Allison T.S. Robicelli, the author of this piece, is a James Beard-nominated cookbook author, recipe developer and food writer with 12 years of experience as a professional chef. She’s contributed to publications including Taste of Home, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Eater, The Takeout andThe Washington Post. She has researched and reviewed various cookware and cooking tools, sharing which ones are worth adding to your home kitchen.

The post The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Hero Pan Is a One-Pot Cooking Solution appeared first on Taste of Home.

Recently, stalwart brand Anolon introduced a new line called Anolon X, with technology that the company claims is the next great evolution in nonstick cookware. I knew I had to see for myself.

What is Anolon X cookware?

Nonstick pans, such as ceramic marvels from Caraway, Our Place and Green Pan, are ultra slippery. This, for the most part, is a good thing. However, they’re so slippery that cooking oil tends to slide to the sides of the pan, which isn’t ideal for browning, searing and frying.

Anolon X cookware attempts to solve this problem with its exclusive SearTech technology, which embeds a stainless-steel mesh into the pan’s base to prevent oil from drifting to its edges. By keeping hot oil directly underneath the food, the pan distributes heat more evenly. Therefore, you end up with the sort of browning and caramelization of which dreams are made.

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Anolon X Cookware

This nonstick pan is perfect for searing meat, frying and sauteing.

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Anolon X Features

The most notable feature of Anolon X cookware is the signature SearTech technology, which creates a shiny diamond pattern etched across the pan’s matte black nonstick surface. The stainless-steel grooves keep cooking oil from sliding toward the pan’s edge. Between the grooves is a triple-layer of ultra-durable, PFOA-free nonstick coating, which ensures that food will cleanly release when it’s time to flip it over.

One of the most impressive parts of this pan, in my opinion, is the handle, which makes it easy to lift and balance. Typically, I sear things in my cast-iron pan, which does a dynamite job but is too heavy and bulky to lift with a single hand. The Anolon X frying pan delivers the same searing abilities but at a fraction of the weight. Its easy maneuverability is ideal for making pancakes or omelets.

Anolon X cookware has thick rims for extra strength and durability, as well as flat rivets that make them easier to stack and store. It’s suitable for gas, electric and induction cooktops, and is oven safe up to 500 degrees. And if you’re not in the mood to scrub out your pan by hand, you’ll be happy to learn it’s dishwasher-safe, too.

In addition to the 10-inch skillet that I tested, Anolon X is available in many cookware configurations, including a 10-piece set. The collection includes two saucepans, a large stockpot, a saute pan, two frying pans and the corresponding lids.

How We Tested It

I’ve been testing the 10-inch Anolon X skillet since June 2023. In that time I’ve used it extensively for a variety of cooking tasks.

Oiling

Before I cooked anything in my new 10-inch Anolon pan, I made sure it did, in fact, prevent oil from awkwardly pooling or drifting from the middle to the sides of the pan. I drizzled a few tablespoons of olive oil into a cold pan, and it worked as advertised!

Oil sits as naturally at the bottom of this pan as it does a cast-iron skillet, saute pan or any other piece of cookware without a nonstick coating.

Searing

The Anolon X frying pan’s main selling point is its ability to sear, so what better way to test it than with a big hunk of red meat? Without a deep brown crust, beef can’t live up to its full flavor potential. And without searing, beef tastes boring.

To put the new Anolon pan to the test, I grabbed a large slab of chuck roast to make braised shredded beef nachos. We stick to a mostly vegetarian diet at home, so on the odd occasion I do cook meat, I don’t mess around. Before my beef braises, I want it to be as brown as possible.

I coated the bottom of my Anolon pan with a thin layer of cooking oil and let it sit over high heat. I patted both sides of the beef dry because any excess moisture trapped between the meat and pan will turn into steam and prevent browning. After sprinkling the meat with a generous amount of kosher salt,I gently laid it in the pan. Then I turned down the heat to prevent burning and left it untouched for five minutes.

When I flipped the meat, there was excellent caramelization with large swaths of charring. The scent that filled my kitchen was so powerful that it drove my cats toward the edge of madness.

The only issue I had with the pan was that it was a bit too small for my cut of meat; it would be a tight fit for any significant cuts of steak. To get the most out of this pan, I’d recommend investing in the 12-inch skillet.

As for the final result, the braised beef was spectacularly delicious, full of the sort of big beefy flavor you should demand from all red meat. The sear was intense enough that you could still taste its notes of caramel and char after an hour in the Instant Pot with other ingredients.

Cleaning

The downside, however, is cleanup. The nonstick portions of this pan easily returned to like-new condition with a simple sponge, soap and water. But the etched grooves, despite their shallowness, held onto the mess my meat left behind. A gentle scrubbing helped some, but I found getting the pan back to pristine condition impossible.

Sharp metal utensils scraped away the nonstick in my attempt to loosen the debris, despite Anolon’s claims. Although I remain impressed by many of this pan’s attributes, I would suggest using nonstick utensils if possible.

Pros

• Excellent heat conductivity
• Oil distributes evenly over pan surface
• Incredible searing power
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver
• Truly nonstick
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons

• Requires some elbow grease to clean
• Limited warranty that only covers the construction of the pan, not the nonstick coating

FAQ

Is Anolon X cookware safe?

Yes, Anolon X cookware is safe. The PTFE nonstick material is non-toxic and free of PFOA chemicals.

What is Anolon X cookware made of?

Anolon X cookware has an aluminum body covered in PTFE nonstick coating. A stainless-steel mesh is inlaid in the nonstick coating, so oil disperses across the bottom of the pan without pooling.

Does Anolon X use Teflon?

Anolon X does not use Teflon, which is a brand-name nonstick coating that contains PFOA. Instead, Anolon X pans are covered in PTFE coating, which is both nonstick and non-toxic.

Product Comparison

The technology and design of the Anolon X pan are very similar to those of the HexClad pan, which impressed me during my previous review. There are a few key differences, though.

The Anolon X pan is slightly lighter than the HexClad pans, which makes it better for cooking foods that need to be flipped with a flick of the wrist. The biggest difference between the two, however, is the price. A 10-inch HexClad pan is about $180, whereas an Anolon X pan costs $99.99.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’m an acclaimed chef, author, humorist, podcaster and entrepreneur. A nominee for the prestigious James Beard Award, my writing has appeared on Eater, Food52, TASTE, Food & Wine, Epicurious and more. I’ve written numerous cookware pieces for Taste of Home, including reviews of brands such as HexClad, Great Jones and Beautiful by Drew.

Final Verdict

I can’t argue with the results! The Anolon X pan sears like it means it, and that’s always a good thing when cooking a nice piece of meat. It offers the same versatility as HexClad but at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking for a versatile everyday frying pan that’s attractive and built to last, you’ll want to check out this model.

Where to Buy Anolon X Cookware

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Anolon X Cookware

This nonstick pan is perfect for searing meat, frying and sauteing.

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The Anolon X 10-inch frying pan costs $99.99 and can be purchased at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart or directly from the Anolon website. The pan’s searing skills will have you flipping with excitement.

The post I Tried the New Anolon X Cookware and It’s Sear-iously Amazing appeared first on Taste of Home.

Walmart

Walmart carries select Banzai Sushi Rolls in its freezer department, so unlike the other best grocery store sushi candidates, I had to let these California rolls thaw in the fridge for 24 hours before digging in. This isn’t ideal for anyone who wants sushi now (like I did that day), nor anyone who enjoys sushi specifically because of its freshness.

If you’re buying frozen sushi, you know exactly what you’re getting into, and shouldn’t complain about things like the rice being dried out and pebbly, or the avocado tasting like absolutely nothing at all. Frozen sushi is an entirely different class of food that must be analyzed on its own merits, much like frozen pizza cannot possibly be compared to the fresh pies that come straight out of a pizza oven.

Bottom line: After a thorough analysis, I say “meh” to the freshness factor. However, if you live in an area where there is no sushi available, or if you’ve never tasted fresh sushi before, these could be a satisfying snack that you’d find enjoyable.

The post Here’s Where to Find the Best Grocery Store Sushi appeared first on Taste of Home.

Yeti Rambler Wine Tumbler

Yeti products are famous for keeping cold things cold, and their wine tumblers certainly don’t disappoint! Made with double-wall vacuum insulation, the Yeti wine tumbler keeps your wine chilled for up to 24 hours, which should be more than enough time to polish off your glass.

“I have bought hundreds of dollars of cups over the years and the only one that doesn’t seem to disappoint is the Yeti cup,” says five-star reviewer, Kasey Magnuson. “My drinks stay warm, they stay cold, they wash nicely, just love them. The colors are super fun, too!”

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The post 14 Best Wine Tumblers That Keep Drinks Cold for Hours on End appeared first on Taste of Home.

Best Overall French Press

Fellow Clara French Press

With fine details and upgraded features, the Clara French Press is the overall best French press you can add to your kitchen. Convenient line markers within the carafe make it easy to use, no matter how groggy you are in the morning. Its stainless steel design maintains a consistent temperature and is both sturdy and portable. But what sets the French press apart from the rest is Clara’s signature Enhanced Filtration Mesh, which brings out all of the clean and complex flavors in your coffee, without a trace of sludge or silt.

The all-directional lid lets you pour your coffee without needing to align the spout, and an agitation stick aids in extraction. When you’re finished, the nonstick interior makes cleanup a snap.

Pros

• Outstanding quality
• Has clear measurement lines
• Features vacuum-insulated walls
• Has a 24-ounce capacity
• Proprietary Enhanced Filtration Mesh eliminates “sludge”

Cons

• Pricey

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The post 6 Best French Press Picks for a Rich Cup of Coffee Every Morning appeared first on Taste of Home.

For the One Who Loves Their Nuggs

Dino Nugget Plushies

Your teen might be growing into a mature adult with grown-up tastes, but there’s a very good chance they still love dino nugget! This set of three dino nugget plushies will keep them snuggling in silliness, whether they’re watching cooking shows or dino documentaries while kicking it on the couch. And just like real dino nuggets, these plush pillows come in three different shapes: towering T. Rex, breaded brontosaurus and savory stegosaurus.

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The post 50 Best Easter Gifts for Teens (That They’ll Actually Love and Use) appeared first on Taste of Home.

Best Overall

Red Barrell Studio Slim Kitchen Pantry

One of the best storage solutions for small spaces is to think vertical instead of horizontal. That’s exactly what you’ll get with this tall, 68-inch slim cabinet. As one of the best kitchen storage cabinets, it boasts adjustable shelves, two drawers and four cupboard cabinets. The real kicker? It doubles as a microwave stand or bakers rack.

One five-star reviewer says this freestanding pantry is perfect for her small kitchen. “I wanted something to hold extra kitchen pantry items and this works great,” she writes. “Two small drawers, nice sized underneath cabinet with adjustable shelf and center can hold small electric appliances with access for cord in back… Instructions were easy to follow.”

Pros

• Two drawers
• Lower cabinet with solid doors
• Upper cabinet with transparent glass-paneled doors
• Adjustable shelves
• Available in five colors

Cons

• Glass cupboard not deep enough to hold dishes

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The post 7 Kitchen Storage Cabinets for Small Spaces appeared first on Taste of Home.

This upside-down cake caught my eye immediately, as the crisp autumn air gets me craving cranberries like nobody’s business. (Fun baking fact: Most of the cranberries we eat don’t actually come from New Englandthey’re from Wisconsin!)

New England Cranberry Upside-Down Cake Recipe

Even if you don’t consider yourself a pro baker, this is one of those easy cake recipes anyone can tackle. It starts with a cake mix and a can of cranberry sauce; it doesn’t get easier than that!

Ingredients

• 14-ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• White or yellow cake mix, plus whatever ingredients are called for on the box; the boxed cake mix I used called for water, eggs and vegetable oil

Directions

Step 1: Make the cranberry topping

In a bowl, mix the canned cranberry sauce and lemon juice together. Make sure you’re using whole-berry cranberry sauce here to get the right texture (the jellied stuff will fall apart).

Step 2: Prepare the pan

Grease a square cake panand line it with either parchment paper or aluminum foil. Pour the cranberry mixture into the pan and spread evenly across the bottom.

Step 3: Make the cake layer

Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. If you want to make box cake mix taste homemade (or homemade-ish), try adding a teaspoon of almond extract or vanilla extract.

Then, carefully spoon the batter evenly on top of the cranberry layer.

Step 4: Bake

Bake the cake for 35 to 45 minutes at 350F until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. (The exact baking time will depend on the cake mix used, as well as the size of the baking pan.)

Here’s What I Thought

New England upside-down cake is a quick and easy dream. It’s as good for breakfast as it is for dessert and for all times between the two. The cranberry duff goes delightfully well with a warm latte, a cup of tea or a cozy mug of hot apple cider.

Most of us are so used to eating boxed cake mix with slick, sugary frosting, so tasting it with nothing more than a tart layer of cranberries made me appreciate its flavors much more. The lemon juice helps cut the sweetness of canned cranberry sauce, but it doesn’t have a pronounced flavor; if you’d like a stronger taste of lemon, add lemon zest and the juice.

Cranberry duff is wonderful when fully cooled to room temperature, but I think it’s best when eaten warm. What you don’t eat right away can be cut into squares, wrapped in plastic, and stored at either room temperature, in the fridge, or for long-term storage, the freezer.

Then, before serving, pop it into the microwave and heat it in 20-second increments until it’s warmed to your liking. For a cool contrast, serve the warm cake with a dollop of cold vanilla yogurt.

The post How to Make Cranberry Duff, aka New England Cranberry Upside-Down Cake appeared first on Taste of Home.

Spend and receive a gift card up to $200 with Caraway through March 31. Gift codes are emailed after purchase. Spend $95 for $25, $195 for $50, $395 for $100 and $795 for $200.

I’ve seen plenty of gorgeous (yet expensive!) cookware on Instagram over the past few years. Whether it’s the timeless Made-In porcelain baking slab, the colorful Great Jones Holy Sheet or the do-it-all Our Place Always pan, it’s easy to wonder whether these vessels are as practical as they are pretty.

As a food writer, cookbook author and former professional baker, I’m always skeptical about cooking equipment that looks too good to be true. But I’m also intrigued if new technology can make my baking better. So when I got the opportunity to test out Caraway’s latest nonstick bakeware, I jumped at the chance. Here’s what happened when I put the Caraway 5-piece baking set through the paces in my home kitchen. (Psst! Check out the mini-yet-mighty launch of Caraway mini cookware, too.)

What is Caraway Bakeware?

Caraway launched in 2018 with a line of revolutionary eco-friendly pots and pans. They’re made from aluminum and coated in ultra-slippery ceramic. Unlike many nonstick pots and pans on the market, Caraway’s products are free of potentially toxic materials like heavy metals, PTFE, PFO (a.k.a. Teflon) and PFAs. We tested Caraway cookwareand loved it.

Three years after taking the cooking world by storm, Caraway introduced ceramic-coated bakeware in the fall of 2021. It’s available in bundled sets as well as individual pieces.

Caraway’s bakeware line includes eight kitchen essentials:

• 9-inch circle pan
• 9-inch square pan
• 13×9-inch rectangular baking pan
• 18×13-inch baking sheet
• 15×10-inch baking sheet
• 1-pound loaf pan
• 12-cup muffin pan
• Stainless steel cooling rack

You can also choose from a variety of bakeware bundles, including:

• 11-piece bakeware set
• 5-piece bakeware set (which is what I tested)
• Baking sheet duo
• Baking sheet and cooling rack set
• Circle pan duo

All Caraway bakeware comes in the brand’s stunning colors: cream, navy, slate, perracotta, sage and marigold. It’s also available in a traditional gray hue.

How We Tested the Caraway Bakeware

I tested Caraway’s 5-piece baking set, which contains two different sized baking sheets, a muffin pan, a rectangle pan and a cabinet organizer for storage.

Now, normally when I bake, I almost always line my pans with parchment paper or aluminum foil. In the rare event I don’t, I’ll still generously grease the pans with butter or cooking spray and a dusting of flour or sugar to ensure nothing sticks.

But to test whether or not Caraway’s ceramic bakeware is as nonstick as it claims, I skipped my usual prep process. I tested a number of different sweet and savory recipes without lining or greasing my pan. And I also made sure to test ooey gooey recipes that are notorious for sticking.

First up? The stickiest of all baked goods, which is, of course, the sticky bun. I made a big batch of honey and walnut-topped sticky buns, put them directly into Caraway’s rectangular 13×9-inch baking pan, and braced for failure.

When I unmolded the hot sticky buns, there were a few walnuts that stubbornly remained attached to the bottom. But for the most part, the buns, nuts and warm, sticky honey slid right out of the pan and onto my serving board. Later, when the pan was cool, I plucked out the walnuts that had chosen to stay behind with my fingertips. I wiped away whatever stickiness was left behind with a damp sponge. No scrubbing, no soaking, no chiseling off burnt caramel bits with the back of a spoon. Caraway bakeware literally takes seconds to clean. (If you ever are in a pinch, here’s how to clean a burnt pan.)

For my next test, I kept with the honey-glazed theme and made a pan of sweet corn muffins with honey butter. I deposited each spoonful of batter directly into Caraway’s muffin pan without cupcake liners. Once cool, the muffins slipped right out without any need for loosening them with a butter knife or giving the pan a few good thumps on the countertop.

To test the Caraway baking sheets, I whipped up a batch of my favorite quick and easy coconut macaroons, which are little more than coconut flakes and sticky sweetened condensed milk. Once cool, all it took to remove the cookies from the pan was a slight tilt. The coconut macaroons slid right off!

Caraway Bakeware Features

Now that we’ve established that the Caraway 5-piece baking set does a remarkable job of actually baking things (that’s most important!), it’s safe to gush about how beautiful it is. Available in seven gorgeous colors, the set looks and feels luxurious, making it well worth its price tag.

Caraway pans are made from sturdy, high-quality aluminum steel, which is renowned for its ability to heat up quickly and evenly, and for holding a steady temperature. The outside is glazed mineral-based ceramic, which is made from natural materials.

Caraway bakeware is oven-safe up to 550 degrees F. Though it may seem silly to mention that a line of bakeware is oven-safe, it’s important to note that when traditional nonstick pans heat to 500 degrees, they can potentially release toxic chemicals and noxious odors. With Caraway, there’s no need to worry.

Pros

• Truly nonstick
• Performed flawlessly in testing
• Hefty weight
• Easy to clean
• Even heating
• Gorgeous colors
• Baking sets are easy to store with included organizers
• Made with eco-conscious materials and fair labor practices

Cons

• Higher price point
• Not dishwasher-safe

Caraway Bakeware FAQs

What’s so special about Caraway cookware and bakeware?

Caraway makes some of the safest cookware and bakeware on the market. It offers nonstick cooking surfaces without the use of harsh, toxic chemicals. Compared to traditional nonstick coated pans, Caraway pans are eco-friendly, too. They release 60% less CO2 during the manufacturing process and ship in recycled cardboard packaging with low impact print dyes and zero plastic. Caraway cookware is also ethically made. The company works with manufacturing partners where employees work in safe conditions, and are paid fairly with health benefits.

Can you use metal utensils on Caraway?

Just as with other nonstick cookware, metal utensils can scratch and chip ceramic coating. Stick to wood, nylon or silicone utensils to keep Caraway in good condition.

Speaking of nonstick cookware, you might like the new Caraway steamers (they deliver perfect dumplings in minutes!).

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

5-star reviewer, Michael, says: “This is a very nice set. I found the cooking very evenly distributed. Cleanup was very easy with this ceramic finish. Very pretty pans too. They are definitely expensive, but seem worth the cost as they should last hopefully a lifetime.”

“The best bakeware set I’ve ever owned!” verified purchaser, darianne, writes. “I don’t think I have had nonstick trays that actually don’t have things stick. I’ve already made batches of muffins, and they slip out easily making for such an easy clean-up!”

Laurie agrees, explaining: “Got this after falling in love with Caraways cookware set, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful design, sturdy durable ceramic make and just amazing nonstick surfaces. Has everything you need for any baking recipe and organizes super well. Love it!”

Final Verdict

There’s no denying that Caraway bakeware is pricey, but there’s also no denying that it’s worth every single penny. This is a bakeware set that, if cared for correctly, may very well last you a lifetime. It’s a worthwhile investment that will likely save you money in the long run.

I’d recommend purchasing pans individually if you’re giving them as a gift, and these would be a truly spectacular gift for any person in your life who’s serious about baking. They fit right in with our other gift ideas for cake bakers, bread bakers and pie bakers!

But if you’re purchasing Caraway bakeware for yourself, it makes sense to splurge on our tested 5-piece bakeware set, which costs $50 less than if you purchased all the pieces individually. Or the 11-piece bakeware set, which will save you $150. We expect to see it added to many wedding registries, too!

Where to Buy Caraway Bakeware

You can pick up Caraway bakeware at a variety of retailers. Grab the 5-piece set on Caraway’s website, Amazon or Bed Bath & Beyond for around $250. While you wait for your brand-new bakeware to arrive, start daydreaming about all the delicious baking recipes you’re going to make!

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The post We Tried Caraway Bakeware: This Ceramic Baking Set is Totally Worth It appeared first on Taste of Home.

Being a lover of retro recipes and vintage cookbooks, I stumbled upon this recipe for cottage cheese biscuits in Carnation’s Easy-Does-It Cookbook from 1958. I firmly believe one can never have too many biscuit recipes in their arsenal, so I had to put this recipe to the test.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Biscuits

Like most biscuit recipes, the steps here are simple: mix dry ingredients, cut in butter, stir in liquid, cut into rounds and bake. In the original 1958 instructions, butter is cut into the flour using a handheld pastry cutter; if you don’t care to do things the old-fashioned way, make these cottage cheese biscuits in the food processor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/4 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 3/4 cup evaporated milk

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven

Preheat oven to 425F.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper and celery seed.

Step 3: Cut in butter

Cut butter into dry ingredients with a pastry blender until the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal.

Step 4: Stir in wet ingredients

Add the cottage cheese and milk. Mix with a fork or wooden spoon.

Step 5: Roll out dough and cut biscuits

Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently.

I recommend having at least 1/4 cup of flour in a small pile on the side of your board. The dough is rather sticky right after mixing, and you’ll need to add more flour while kneading and folding the dough. Add extra flour, as needed, a little bit at a time, until the dough just stops being sticky.

Roll dough about 1/2-inch thick and cut into biscuits.

Step 6: Bake

Bake for 12-15 minutes until brown. Cool for at least 5 minutes, then serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

You can brush them with melted butter right after they come out of the oven for a little extra richness!

Here’s What I Thought

These cottage cheese biscuits are a dream recipe: super simple and spectacularly delicious. They’re crispy on the outside, and soft, pillowy and perfectly moist on the inside. There is no strong, pronounced flavor from the cottage cheese, but they are richerthe cheese giving the biscuits a more buttery flavor, without adding extra butter.

The biscuits are best eaten the day you make them, but if you have leftovers, they’ll stay moist and tender for at least a day. (For long-term storage, wrap individually and store in the freezer.)

The celery seed gives the cottage cheese biscuit a slightly sweet note, with the cayenne showing up on the back end of every bite. I, personally, would add a little more cayenne next time I made these, but the amount of spice is up to you. The texture of these biscuits is so great, I’d recommend playing around all sorts of different seasoningslike ranch powder or Old Bayto come up with your own special “secret” recipe.

Recipes From the '50s That Deserve a Comeback

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Molded Strawberry Salad

This refreshing salad has two layers - a pretty pink bottom that includes sour cream, and a ruby red top with strawberries and pineapple. For years, Mom has included this jello salad in meals she prepares for our family. -Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois

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Baked Ham with PineappleI first learned the technique for baked ham with pineapple for a themed dinner my husband and I hosted. Since it is widely known as the symbol of hospitality, pineapple was the star ingredient on our menu and on this lovely baked ham. JoAnn Fox, Johnson City, Tennessee

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Cherry Nut CakeMy grandmother made up this recipe for her children. Using Ozark-grown cherries and walnuts, she invented one they all liked. Granny always used cream from the dairy farm near her home, but the half-and half works well and is easier to find. Diana Jennings, Lebanon, Missouri

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Green Beans AmandineIt's hard to improve on the taste Mother Nature gives to fresh green beans, but Mom has done just that for years using this green beans amandine recipe. I have always thought the crunchy almonds were a super addition. Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan

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Grapefruit AlaskaEasily impress your guests with this quick dessert. You'll receive rave reviews! Peg Atzen, Hackensack, Minnesota

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The Best Chicken & DumplingsHomemade chicken and dumplings from scratch harken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Ambrosia SaladBecause its so simple to make, this tropical fruit medley is great as a last-minute menu addition. Plus, this ambrosia salad requires just five ingredients. Judi Bringegar, Liberty, North Carolina

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Mom's Meat LoafMom made the best meat loaf, and now I do too. When I first met my husband, he wasn't a meat loaf guy, but this recipe won him over. Michelle Beran, Claflin, Kansas

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Want more timeless dishes? Check out our 50 most-shared vintage recipes.

7-Layer Gelatin SaladHere's an eye-catching salad that my mother makes for Christmas dinner each year. You can choose different flavors to make other color combinations for specific holidays or other gatherings. Jan Hemness, Stockton, Missouri

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One-Skillet Pork Chop SupperMy husband, Clark, and I reserve this recipe for Sundays after the grandkids have gone home and we're too tired to prepare a big meal. It's comforting and quick. Kathy Thompson, Port Orange, Florida

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Spiced Pineapple Upside-Down CakeI often bake this beautiful cake in my large cast-iron skillet and turn it outonto a pizza pan. Jennifer Sergesketter, Newburgh, Indiana. Try this cranberry duff, a New England-style upside-down cake.

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You can't beat a classic.These old-school recipes DEFINITELY deserve a comeback.

Moms Roast BeefEveryone loves slices of this fork-tender roast beef with its savory gravy. The well-seasoned roast is Mom's specialty. People always ask about the secret ingredients. Now you have the delicious recipe for our favorite meat dish! Linda Gaido, New Brighton, Pennsylvania

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Pina Colada Molded SaladMy gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

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Mocha Baked AlaskasMake these baked Alaskas ahead of timeyou can torch the completed desserts and freeze them up to 24 hours before serving. Kerry Dingwall, Ponte Vedra, Florida

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Strawberry MilkshakeCool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Chocolate Cream PieOur teenage son, John, has done lots of 4-H baking. This old-fashioned chocolate cream pie recipe with a flaky crust was his favorite thing to make. Mary Anderson, De Valls Bluff, Arkansas

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MartiniMartinis recipes can be made with either vodka or gin. Our taste panel's preference was for the gin, but try them both and decide for yourself. Be warned, this is a strong and serious drink. Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Chicken AmandineWith colorful green beans and pimientos, this attractive casserole is terrific for the holidays. This is true comfort food at its finest. Kat Woolbright, Wichita Falls, Texas

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Grasshopper ShakesMinty, chocolaty and cool, this spiked dessert drink makes a wonderful way to toast family and friends at holiday gatherings. A little shaved chocolate on top adds an extra-festive touch. Marcia Whitney, Gainesville, Florida

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Bacon-Wrapped Spam BitesThese sweet and savory bites use Spama favorite ingredient in Hawaiiin a fun new way. Bet you can't stop at just one! Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Olive-Stuffed CeleryMy grandmother taught both me and my mom this appetizer recipe for stuffed celery. We always serve it at Christmas and Thanksgiving. The stuffing is so yummy that even if you don't normally care for the ingredients on their own, you'll love the end result. Stacy Powell, Santa Fe, Texas

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Chocolate Chiffon CakeIf you want to offer family and friends a dessert that really stands out from the rest, this is the cake to make. The beautiful high, rich sponge cake is drizzled with a succulent chocolate glaze. Erma Fox, Memphis, Missouri

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Sugar-Glazed HamThis old-fashioned ham glaze gives a pretty golden brown coatingjust like Grandma used to make. The mustard and vinegar complement the brown sugar which adds a tangy flavor to this glazed ham recipe. Be prepared to serve seconds! Carol Strong Battle, Heathville, Virginia

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Shrimp and Cucumber CanapesThese cute stacks really stand out in a holiday appetizer buffet. Tasty, cool and crunchy, they come together in a snap. Ashley Nochlin, Port St. Lucie, Florida

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Hawaiian PieCool summer pies are one of Mom's specialties. This version offers pineapple, maraschino cherries and walnuts that are folded into a fluffy filling. It's an easy yet tempting no-bake dessert. Jennifer Mcquillan, Jacksonville, Florida. Looking for more? Try malasadas, a popular Hawaiian treat.

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Three-Bean Baked BeansI got this recipe from my aunt and made a couple of changes to suit my taste. With ground beef and bacon mixed in, these satisfying beans are a big hit at backyard barbecues and church picnics. I'm always asked to bring my special beans. Julie Currington, Gahanna, Ohio

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Maine Potato CandyYears ago, folks in Maine ate potatoes every day and used leftovers in bread, doughnuts and even candy. This chocolate potato candy recipe captures the old-school flavors. Barbara Allen, Chelmsford, Massachusetts

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Country Chicken and GravyHere's a lightened-up take on the classic southern comfort-food dish: chicken and gravy. This recipe has been a hit at our house since the first time we tried it! Ruth Helmuth, Abbeville, South Carolina

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Cucumber CanapesI always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Celebration Cheese BallsA handful of simple ingredients that go together in minutes, three fun flavorful optionsthese creamy cheese balls from our Test Kitchen are a darling, do-ahead delight for busy holiday hostesses! Why not whip up several batches? Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Flavorful Pot RoastOn hectic days, this is so quick and easy to prep! Convenient packages of dressing and gravy combine to create a sauce worthy of a fall-apart roast. For a filling meal-in-one, serve with mashed potatoes and ladle the juices over top.Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah

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Slow-Cooker Country Captain ChickenLegend has it that the recipe for country captain chicken was brought to Georgia in the early 1800s by a British sea captain. Although it's traditional to serve this over rice, it's also delicious with noodles or mashed potatoes. Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

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Picnic Fried ChickenFor our family, it's not a picnic unless we have fried chicken! Chicken, deviled eggs and potato salad are all musts for a picnic as far as my husband is concerned. This is a golden oldie recipe for meI've used it any number of times. Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

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Creamy ColeslawFor me, this is the best coleslaw recipe because a package of shredded cabbage and carrots really cuts down on prep time. This coleslaw recipe is great for potlucks or to serve to your family on a busy weeknight. Renee Endress, Galva, Illinois

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Moist Chocolate CakeThis moist chocolate cake recipe with coffee reminds me of my grandmother because it was one of her specialties. I bake it often for family parties, and it always brings back fond memories. The cake is light and airy with a delicious chocolate taste. This recipe is a keeper! Patricia Kreitz, Richland, Pennsylvania

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Ham SaladI first made this ham salad recipe for a shower, and everyone raved about it. Now when I go to a potluck, I take italong with copies of the recipe. Patricia Reed, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

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Oysters RockefellerMy husband and I are oyster farmers, and this classic Oysters Rockefeller dish always delights our guests. It's deliciously simple! Beth Walton, Eastham, Massachusetts

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Kentucky Butter CakeI found this Kentucky butter cake recipe in an old cookbook I bought at a garage sale and couldnt wait to try it. I knew it had been someones favorite because of the well-worn page. Joan Gertz, Palmetto, Florida

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Pork Chops with Scalloped PotatoesMom always managed to put a delicious hearty meal on the table for us and for our farmhands. This all-in-one comforting pork chops recipe reminds me of home. Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri

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Buttery Onion SoupI developed this recipe when I once had an abundance of sweet onions. I like making it for guests, but sometimes I'll halve the recipe and make some just for me! Sharon Berthelote, Sunburst, Montana

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Salisbury Steak SupremeWhen I was running late one night, a go-to recipe of my mom's popped into my head. Now it's one of my husband's favorites. It also makes a fast and satisfying solution for what to serve unexpected company. Patricia Swart, Galloway, New Jersey

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Party Pesto PinwheelsI took a couple of my favorite recipes and combined them into these delicious hors d'oeuvres. The colorful and impressive snacks come together easily with refrigerated crescent roll dough, prepared pesto sauce and a jar of roasted red peppers. Kathleen Farrell, Rochester, New York

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Chicken-Fried Steak & GravyAs a child, I learned from my grandmother how to make these chicken-fried steaks. I taught my daughters, and when my granddaughters are older, Ill show them, too. Donna Cater, Fort Ann, New York

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Salmon Mousse CanapesIts so easy to top crunchy cucumber slices with a smooth and creamy salmon filling. Guests rave about the fun presentation, contrasting textures and refreshing flavor. Barb Templin, Norwood, Minnesota

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Potato SaladThis homemade potato salad recipe doesn't have many ingredients, so it isn't as colorful as many that you find nowadays. But Mama made it the way her mother did, and that's the way I still make it today. Try it and see if it isn't one of the best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten! Sandra Anderson, New York, New York

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Ham Balls with Brown Sugar GlazeThese smoky-sweet meatballs are a Pennsylvania Dutch specialty. I like setting them out when folks come to visit. Janet Zeger, Middletown, Pennsylvania

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Best Red Velvet CakeIt's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvet cake recipes Ive had; the icing is as light as snow. Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Slow-Cooked Chicken a la KingWhen I know I'll be having a busy day with little time for cooking, I prepare this tasty main dish. Brimming with tender chicken and colorful vegetables, it smells so good while cooking. Eleanor Mielke, Snohomish, Washington

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Oyster Cheese Appetizer LogWhen you say "holiday tradition" around our house, this appetizer comes to mind immediately. Every winter, I make lots of cheese logs and freeze them for when I'm expecting company or need to take food to someone's home. The blend of smoked oysters, chili powder, nuts and cream cheese tastes good-even people who don't like oysters may enjoy this interesting appetizer. William Tracy, Jerseyville, Illinois

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Sangria Gelatin RingThis gelatin is enjoyed by everyone because you just can't go wrong with fresh berries. Nicole Nemeth, Komoka, Ontario

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Banana Cake with Cream Cheese FrostingAs a mother of three sons, sweets are a staple in my kitchen! I buy ripe fruit on sale and freeze it to make this cake. My banana cake with cream cheese frosting is a favorite among loved ones at my family picnics and dinners. Bonnie Krause, Irvona, Pennsylvania

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Mom's Chicken TetrazziniRotisserie chicken turns this baked spaghetti into a warm, cozy meal our family craves. If we have leftover turkey, we use that, too. Jennifer Petrino, Newnan, Georgia

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Artichoke Mushroom CapsThese crumb-topped appetizers never last long at parties. The rich filling of cream cheese, artichoke hearts, Parmesan cheese and green onion is terrific. You can broil them in your oven to enjoy any time of year. Ruth Lewis, West Newton, Pennsylvania

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Chicken and Andouille GumboGumbo goes back to 1700s Louisiana; today's version is just as hearty using andouille sausage. Serve with cornbread or crusty French bread. Billy Hensley, Mount Carmel, Tennessee

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Lemon-Herb Salmon ToastsQuick, light and tasty, my salmon toasts make irresistible finger food. Christie Wells, Lake Villa, Illinois

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Favorite Coconut CakeWhen I need an impressive dessert for a special occasion, this is the recipe I turn to. My guests are glad I do! Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

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Chicken DivanThis tasty chicken divan recipe was given to me by a friend years ago, and it's been a family favorite ever since. My daughters enjoy making this dish in their own homes and get the same enthusiastic compliments I always do! Mary Pat Lucia, North East, Pennsylvania

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Party Time Mini CheeseburgersKids and adults alike will love the taste of these moist and mouthwatering mini burgers. Juiced up with pickle relish and topped with cheese slices, these "sliders" will disappear in no time flat! Be sure to make plenty. Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Party Crab PuffsI received this recipe years ago from my grandmother. She also told me to have fun being creative and experimenting in the kitchen. My friends request these little puffs at every gathering. Jean Bevilacqua, Rhododendron, Oregon

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Roasted ChickenThis tender chicken is a real time-saver on a busy weekend. A simple blend of seasonings makes it a snap to prepare, and it smells heavenly as it roasts. Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington

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Onion Yorkshire PuddingsThis easy recipe is a cross between traditional Yorkshire pudding and popovers. It makes a perfect complement to prime rib. We also like it with beef stew and steak. Make more than you need, because everyone loves it. Emily Chaney, Blue Hill, Maine

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Vanilla Bean Angel Food CakeAngel food cake is everyones favorite blank slate for making awesome desserts. Serve it with a simple glaze or pile on fresh fruit, chocolate sauce or nutty sprinkles. Leah Rekau, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Easy Orange and Red Onion SaladHere's an unusual salad thats easy to prepare when holiday obligations have you short on time. The combination of red onions and oranges may seem unusual, but it's surprisingly delightful. Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

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Cranberry-Orange Roast DucklingsI came up with this recipe few years ago. The first time I served it, there wasn't a speck of food left on the platter and I knew I had a winning recipe.Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin

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Cucumber Salad with Sour CreamIts been a tradition at our house to serve this dish with the other Hungarian specialties my mom learned to make from the women at church. Its especially good during the summer when the cucumbers are fresh-picked from the garden. Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio

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Best Chicken KievFrom holiday dinners to potluck suppers, this is one of my favorite meals. Folks love the mildly seasoned chicken roll-ups. Karin Erickson, Burney, California

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Slow-Cooker Crab & Green Onion DipThis creamy dip reminds me of my dad, who took us crabbing as kids. Our fingers were always tired after those excursions, but eating the fresh crab was worth it. Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey

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Mushroom-Stuffed TomatoesThis side dish is inexpensive, quick to prepare and always a favorite. With plenty of mushrooms, the cheesy mixture stuffed into tomatoes is really decadent. Florence Palmer, Marshall, Illinois

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Rumaki AppetizersThese are a holiday-season "must" in our family. The bacon-wrapped bites are served with a sweet barbecue sauce which is also good with little smoked sausages. Janice Thomas, Milford, Nebraska

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Blue Cheese SouffleLightened up to fewer than 100 calories per serving and packed with protein, this rich and flavorful souffl is a great side for beef. Sarah Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire

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Moscow MuleHere's an old-time cocktail that was popular in the 1940s and '50s. A Moscow Mule is traditionally served in a copper mug with plenty of ice. Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Baked Oysters with Tasso CreamI love nothing more than a cold beer and a shucked oyster, so when my partners and I opened Saws Juke Joint in Birmingham, Alabama, we wanted to add them to the menu. We love making them, we love serving them and our guests love eating them. Taylor Hicks, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Creamy Fresh Asparagus SoupTangy lemon and sweet tarragon give this creamy asparagus soup a springtime flavor youll savor and share. Stacy Mullens, Gresham, Oregon

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Slow-Cooked Chicken a la KingWhen I know I'll be having a busy day with little time for cooking, I prepare this tasty main dish. Brimming with tender chicken and colorful vegetables, it smells so good while cooking. Eleanor Mielke, Snohomish, Washington

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Marinated Three Bean SaladFresh herbs and cayenne pepper provide the fantastic flavor in this marinated salad featuring fresh veggies and canned beans. Carol Tucker, Wooster, Ohio

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Peach Gelatin SaladMy mother always asked our family what we wanted to eat for holiday dinners. Without exception, our requests included this refreshing gelatin. Toasted walnuts give it a little crunch. Dennis King, Navarre, Florida

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The post I Made Cottage Cheese Biscuits with a Recipe from 1958 (and I’ll Make Them Again with One Change) appeared first on Taste of Home.

MADI KOETTING/TASTE OF HOME

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Practical gifts for bakers are always welcome, and keeping baked goods fresh is the most important aspect of bakingespecially if you don’t plan on eating everything in one day. Enter: the cookie saver, which keeps baked goods fresh for days longer than traditional storage bags.

“Its basically a brown sugar bearbut for baked goodies,” says Editor Madi Koetting in her cookie saver review. All you have to do is wet the terracotta stone, lock it in place and cookies stay as chewy and moist as the day they were baked.”

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As someone with 20 years of experience as a chef, cookbook author and recipe developer, I know how useful a salad spinner can be. However, as someone with a tiny kitchen, I don’t have the storage space for a bulky contraption with limited functionality. When I learned about the DreamFarm Spina, a compact colander/salad spinner and winner of a prestigious Good Design Award, I knew I needed to check it out.

Don’t miss our must-have list of multi-purpose kitchen gadgets.

What Is Spina?

The DreamFarm Spina is an award-winning colander thatwith a twist, pull and rotation of its handletransforms into an in-sink salad spinner. Genius! When in salad spinner mode, one side of the handle acts as a non-slip foot that keeps the Spina firmly in place, while the other is a pump mechanism that spins the colander basket like a top.

Once the Spina has been washed and dried (it’s dishwasher safe, FYI) the handle can be pushed inside the colander basket and it can be easily stacked with bowls or pots.

How We Tested Spina

The first thing I did after unboxing my Spina was make a green salad. To put it in colander mode, I pulled the collapsible handle out of the basket, twisted it to lock into place, filled the colander with about 3 ounces of fresh spinach, and gave them a quick rinse under cold running water.

Next, I unlocked the handle and rotated it 90 degrees so that it stood upright, gave it another twist to lock it into salad spinner mode, and began pressing down on the handle to set the basket spinning. In about 10 seconds I had perfectly dry spinach, and not a single leaf flew out of the basket.

After successfully testing greens, I decided to see how the Spina would handle heavier salad ingredientsnamely canned beans, which really do need a thorough wash and dry before they’re tossed into a salad.

The Spina’s convertible handle was more than sturdy enough to support the basket when rinsing the beans in colander mode, and remained steady and locked into place when I would vigorously shake the colander to move the beans around. It only took about 20 seconds for the beans to dry in salad spinner mode, and despite their heaviness, the Spina stayed steady and slip-free.

Use our guide to learn how to make salad that’s perfectly balanced.

Spina Product Features

The Spina is made of BPA-free plastic with stainless steel parts, and feels sturdier than the average plastic colander. It’s dishwasher safe, but if you’re using it to wash and dry fruits and vegetables, it doesn’t need much more than a light rinsing between uses.

Even though it’s an innovative product, it’s not a mechanically complicated contraption, so there are no small moving parts that could easily be broken.

Pros

What we liked about the DreamFarm Spina:

• Simple to use
• Sturdy construction and material
• Stores compactly
• Easy to clean
• Set up is a breeze

Cons

What to consider about the DreamFarm Spina:

• Compact size means you’ll likely need to wash and dry produce in batches

Product Comparison

Unlike most other salad spinners, which contain their spinning basket in a large bowl, the Spina has no bowl to collect water and is meant to be used in the sink. This can be inconvenient if you have a sink full of dirty dishes, but if you stand the Spina in a large kitchen bowl or stockpot, it will work just fine.

Final Verdict on Spina

The DreamFarm Spina is one of those products that makes you wonder, why did it take so long for someone to invent this? If you’re a big salad person with a small kitchen, I’d consider the Spina essential.

Where to Buy Spina

The DreamFarm Spina retails for $34.95, and can be purchased from Amazon, Williams Sonoma or directly from the company’s website.

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The post I Tried the DreamFarm ‘Spina’ and This Salad Spinner Made Me Want to Eat More Greens appeared first on Taste of Home.

Just as pots and pans are made for the stove, and roasters and casserole dishes are made for the oven, Anyday is cookware made specifically for the microwave. A representative from Anyway says the company has two goals: to prove that the microwave is capable of much more than reheating, and to help people save time. As a working mother of two who occasionally (OK, often) doesn’t feel like cooking at the end of a long day, anything that promises less time in the kitchen and more time on my couch has my full attention.

In addition to cutting cooking time, Anyday’s microwaveable cookware cuts cleaning times as well. Made from materials selected for their durability, Anyday cookware is safe to use in the dishwasher, oven, freezer, microwave (of course), and doubles as a storage container for leftovers. When I was offered the chance to put this supposed “microwavable miracle” to the test, I couldn’t resist.

Don’t miss these microwave tricks every cook needs to know!

What Is Anyday Cookware?

Upon first glance, Anyday cookware looks like a simple set of glass bowls with fitted lids, but far nicer than most large bowls or sealed containers on the market. Anyday cookware is made from frosted borosilicate glass, which is non-toxic, heat-resistant, exceptionally durable and, unlike many other types of glass cookware, will not crack or shatter under extreme temperature changes. If you’ve ever lost a glass baking dish by putting it on a cold surface while it was still hot, you’ll appreciate knowing that this won’t happen with Anyday.

The lids of Anyday cookware are just as sturdy, and equally attractive. Made of the same heat-resistant borosilicate glass, these lids have a silicone knob that remains cool-to-the touch, no matter how long it’s been in the microwave. The knob doubles as a venting mechanism, letting out just enough steam to prevent explosions, but not so much that food will dry out. A firmly-attached silicone gasket runs around the perimeter of the rim, which locks in moisture while food is cooking, and creates an airtight seal that protects leftovers when refrigerated.

The rim is 100% stainless steel, which is surprising, as we’ve all been taught not to put metal in the microwave. However, it’s perfectly safe to use stainless steel in the microwave as long as it’s specifically designed for microwave use. Thanks to their unique curved shapes, the stainless steel rims of Anyday cookware are microwave-safe, provide extra level of durability and are pretty darn good-looking to boot.

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Anyday Everyday Set

The set includes eight pieces with large and medium dishes.

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Anyday Product Features

For people like me with kids at home, the Anyday has been a godsend. Kids can use it to cook for themselves quickly, cleanly and, most importantly, safely. My teenage boys have made themselves a lot of ramen and macaroni and cheese in those bowls, and have left the most minimal of messes in their wake.

Anyday also excels at making quick and easy soups, which may be my favorite way to use it. It’s so simple, you barely need a recipe! I’ll chop up a head of cauliflower or broccoli, throw it in the Anyday Deep Dish Pan with stock, different herbs and spices (it’s easy to change it up!), and a can of coconut or evaporated milk, and cook it for 12-15 minutes. After a quick buzz with an immersion blender and a quick taste for seasoning, it’s ready to go. It could not be simpler, or more delicious.

Another problem Anyday solves: when you’re done with dinner, find yourself craving dessert, and realizing you have none. When an emergency like that strikes, you can whip up a microwave-friendly cake batter directly in an Anyday, pop it in the microwave, and have hot, delicious cake in less than 10 minutes.

And because Anyday cookware is also oven-safe, you can throw things under the broiler if you’d like to crisp the top, as I did with a microwave apple crisp. It took less than one minute under the broiler to make the topping crunchy, and the crisp tasted amazing. It wasn’t exactly like a dessert I made in the oven, but why compare apples and oranges? Microwave cooking is its own thing, and should be treated as such. Fortunately for us all, its own thing has very delicious results.

How We Tested Anyday

As someone who has been writing and developing recipes for 20 years, I understand the limitations of microwave cooking. Microwaves can’t make foods brown and crispy, but they do a wonderful job of cooking foods that are normally cooked with water or steam. This is because of the way they work in the first place: they cook by shooting electromagnetic microwaves (surprise!) through food, which causes the food’s water molecules to vibrate. These vibrations produce heat, which turns some of that water into steam, and cooks the food from the inside out.

Just like I wouldn’t try to boil pasta in the oven, I wouldn’t cook anything in my Anyday dishes that is better made in the oven, the air fryer or in a hot skillet. When cooking meat or fish, it will come beautifully moist, but it won’t have an iota of crispiness, because it’s being cooked with hot water; essentially, all your proteins are being poached or steamed.

Poaching and steaming are both excellent ways to cook fish and chicken, but other meats don’t fare quite as well. Because microwaves cook food from the inside out, they will cook all the way throughnot ideal for cuts that are best served medium-rare. Ground beef and pork work well in Anyday cookware; though they don’t brown like in a skillet, they stay soft, moist, and easy to drain off excess fat and liquid. Once cooked, the crumbled meat can be stirred with a flavorful sauce or marinade and served over salad or riceperfect for making bowls at home.

Speaking of riceAnyday has replaced the Instant Pot as my go-to rice cooker, not only because it results in perfectly cooked rice, but because I don’t need a separate container to store leftovers. I used it to make rice, couscous and quinoa, and made double what I needed. After dinner, I stirred what was left with dressing, leftover veggies, and other odds and ends from around the kitchen. I popped on the lid, refrigerated overnight and had a delicious lunch the next day. Anyday helped me save time twice!

Pros

• Minimizes active cooking time
• Extremely durable
• Cooks food quickly
• Keeps food moist
• Doubles as a storage container
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Doesn’t brown food

FAQs

How to clean Anyday cookware?

Cleaning Anyday cookware is about as easy as it comes. Put it in the dishwasher. Take it out of the dishwasher. Be amazed at how much time you’ve saved! Its glass surfaces are resistant to sticking and staining; I have not had to scrub my Anyday dishes once in one month of use.

What is special about Anyday cookware?

According to the brand, Anyday cookware offers microwave-safe dishes thanks to its unique steam-trapping lid and durable glass bowl.

Can Anyday cookware go in the oven?

Even though Anyday cookware is perfect for cooking in the microwave, it’s also oven-safe! The glass dishes can handle up to 500 degrees, and the lid is safe for temperatures upratures up to 400 degrees.

Is Anyday lid dishwasher safe?

Anyday’s dishes are made from borosilicate glass, which makes them durable and thermal-shock resistant to high temperatures. The lid is also durable enough to withstand heat, even in your dishwasher. So yes, it’s dishware safe!

Final Verdict

After using Anyday microwavable cookware in my kitchen for almost a month, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing at least one, if not a set, of Anyday bowls. As long as you remember its limitations and plan your meals accordingly, it will save you time, and may save your sanity at the end of a long, crazy day.

Where to Buy Anyday Cookware

Anyday cookware is available on the company’s website. The $140 Everyday Set includes all four Anyday bowls which can all be purchased separately: the Large Deep Dish, which has a 2-quart capacity, and the slightly smaller 1.75-quart Large Shallow Dish, retail for $40 each. The Medium Deep Dish and Medium Shallow Dish both have a 1-quart capacity, and sell for $30.

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Anyday Everyday Set

Shop the Anyday Everyday Set on the brand's website, Amazon and Williams Sonoma.

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The post I Tried Anyday and the Cookware Set Made Me Fall in Love with My Microwave appeared first on Taste of Home.

Creamy Caramel Flan

The vanilla custard comes together in a flash, and it’s baked in a water bath on top of a quick-and-easy caramel sauce. In fact, the hardest part about making this flan is waiting for it to be ready to eat.

A small slice of this impressively rich, creamy, caramel flan dessert goes a long way. What a delightful finish for a special meal or holiday celebration. Recipe contributor Pat Forete, Miami, Florida

The post 26 Mexican Desserts to Make at Home appeared first on Taste of Home.

Strawberry Balsamic

Salt & Straw, Multiple Locations, Ships Nationwide

Salt & Straw twisted the tart flavor of balsamic vinegar into a top-selling strawberry ice cream. This unusual ice cream has gone from a cult favorite in Portland, Oregon to a national obsession. Salt & Straw has opened scoop shops in L.A. and Miami and at Disney World!

The post 18 Weird Ice Cream Flavors Worth Road Tripping For appeared first on Taste of Home.

Quick Tater Tot Bake

Tater Tot casseroleaka hotdish to Minnesotanshas its roots in the Midwest, but this six-ingredient casserole’s popularity has spread all over the country.

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The post 65 Easy Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Love appeared first on Taste of Home.

Lemony Snack Mix

A portable snack mix that tastes like lemon bars? Yes, please! This sunshiny snack pairs crunchy Chex cereal with creamy white chocolate and lots of bright, fragrant lemon zest. Plus, it’s one of our favorite gluten-free road trip snacks.

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The post The 38 Best Road Trip Snacks You Can Pack appeared first on Taste of Home.

Alabama: Southern Potato Salad

Even if you’re not from the deep South, you most certainly find comfort in their comfort foods, like this classic Southern-style potato salad. The recipe is simple, tossing cooked potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green onions and sweet pickles with an easy three-ingredient dressing that comes together in seconds.

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The post The Best Picnic Salad from Every State appeared first on Taste of Home.