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Apr 19, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Jeff Bogle |Jason Devaney
Material: What your frying pan is made of will determine how you cook, possibly what you cook as well, and definitely how intensive the cleaning process will be. We spoke to chef Ashish Alfred, owner of Alfred Restaurant Group, to find out how much material matters. He notes, “When it comes to frying pans, we're diving into a world of culinary possibilities. Each material brings its unique flavor to the kitchen table.
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Apr 19, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Irvin Lin |Jason Devaney
Cube Size and Shape: Cube shape and size may or may not be a priority for you, depending on your drink of choice. For smaller cubes, aesthetics are often what matters when it comes to shape and size. Perfectly square cubes and round pebble balls look whimsical, trendy, or just plain fun in a drink. But if looks aren't a priority, choose a more functional tray that doesn’t spill or that has a lid to prevent the ice from absorbing freezer odors.
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Apr 11, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Jeff Bogle |Jason Devaney
One of the most versatile appliances, flat-top grills can cook up just about any meal. They're often user-friendly too, with even heating, uncomplicated ignition, and easy-to-clean griddles that can be either smooth or rigid. Plus, unlike other grills, they don't require you to handle charcoal or scrub any messy grates. Whether you're new to grilling or upgrading from your old model, our guide to the best flat-top grills has you covered.
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Apr 5, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Tori Martinet |Jason Devaney
While they can be one of the most intimidating kitchen tools, mandolines can also be among the most useful. Powering through knife work tasks that would otherwise take significantly more time, arm strain, and skill, mandolines make use of an extremely sharp blade and an ergonomic design that allows the user to quickly and efficiently make perfectly uniform and often extremely thin cuts.
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Mar 29, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Tori Martinet |Jason Devaney
When it comes to purchasing a utilitarian knife for your kitchen, many might head straight for the chefs' knives, overlooking the humble paring knife. However, these small but mighty blades are one of the most useful across ingredients and tasks, often come in at a much lower price point, and are the only knife recommended for use in-air (not on a cutting board).
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Mar 29, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Jeff Bogle |Jason Devaney
Summertime is synonymous with backyard grilling, although the most committed grillmasters stand over their charcoal grills in all seasons and weather. While some charcoal grills are elaborate and expensive and others may appear to be nothing more than a simple metal bowl, the best charcoal grills provide the opportunity tobathe in the smoky aroma and bite into the intense flavor that’s inherent in cooking with charcoal.
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Mar 26, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Tori Martinet |Jason Devaney
Whether you’re looking to save on energy costs or just want your food done faster, a countertop oven may be the appliance to meet your needs. These small but mighty ovens are incredibly practical no matter your household size or cooking capabilities. Most offer simple functions like toasting, baking, and broiling while many blow right past the basics and include steam injection, super high temperatures, and even a Wi-Fi connection so you can manage your oven through an app.
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Mar 22, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Patty Lee |Jason Devaney
Opening cans is a standard part of cooking at home, whether it’s popping open canned tomatoes for pasta sauce or cracking into a tin of pumpkin for baking. A manual can opener can usually do the job, but if you have to open a lot of them – or if you suffer from arthritis or hand injuries – an electric can opener becomes an indispensable tool in the kitchen.
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Mar 20, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Tori Martinet |Jason Devaney
Nothing is worse than reaching for the right set of cooking tongs only to realize you don’t have quite what you need among your collection and spend the cooking process bumbling around. Tongs are one of the most-used tools in any kitchen, tackling everything from high heat handling like pastas and sauteeing to salads and tossing together cold foods. And they’ll naturally be in hand when heading outside to the grill.
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Mar 20, 2024 | 
usnews.com | Tori Martinet |Jason Devaney
Seasonings are an often-overlooked but centrally important part of your cooking arsenal and without proper storage, your flavors can be left falling flat. Storage containers need to be airtight, easy to organize in such a way that you can see what you have, and aesthetically pleasing options certainly wouldn’t hurt. Factors like how much you plan to store and the space you have to store them can also impact your choice of spice jars.
