The science of the gravy-maker. Though a roux is often considered a product of French haute cuisine, its uses are varied and …

How the object of food-snob ridicule became a cult hero. “Has anyone ever told you that your high-wattage passion for no-collar American …

How our genetics impact our taste buds. Most of the world loves cilantro, a refreshing herb with a bright verdant character, but …

And how it got its name, a slang term for whiskey. Mountain Dew may be a competitor to Coke and Sprite today, …

What happens between microscopically thin layers of butter and dough. The anatomy of a croissant is an architectural marvel. Thanks to the …

And is that $75 single malt really worth it? The Japanese craft of distilling single malt whisky is less than 100 years …

How to avoid piña colada peril at the supermarket. In 1949, the Puerto Rican scientist Ramón López Irizarry discovered a method that …

How to not poison yourself and your loved ones. How did people chill their butter before the age of refrigeration? For the …

The perfect dish for everyone who loves their food extra crispy. If you’re the kind of person who loves unexploded popcorn kernels, …

How the “cockroach of the ocean” became a delicacy. If you ask 10 people to name a food that rich people eat, …

Here’s how tapioca pearls are made. These days, boba tea is a worldwide phenomenon, but even its most ardent fans may not …

How our genetics impact our taste buds. Most of the world loves cilantro, a refreshing herb with a bright, verdant character. But …

Your parents had this a little off, but they had the right idea. “If you swallow chewing gum, it’ll stay in your …

Say hello to Maryland’s deep fried crab cake. Also called the crab *puff*, the fluff is one of those deeply regional foods …

Not necessarily—there’s complicated environmental math involved. Along with rising temperatures and sea levels, our oceans’ plastic content continues to skyrocket. Beached whale …

Here’s how to make the perfect pie.  Making pie crust isn’t the hardest baking project in the world, but it does come …

The smoked fish you’ve been calling lox is actually something else entirely. Making lox is easy, right? You cure a side of …

How to make coffee under pressure. To vastly over-simply things, espresso is coffee made under pressure. Specifically, it’s the result of forcing …

These essential ingredients aren’t just good eating—they’re ingenious agriculture. North America’s three sisters aren’t people; they’re crops. Corn, beans, and squash, to …

Cool down your dough for a tastier, chewier cookie. If you’ve ever been puzzled by a chocolate chip cookie recipe that calls …

And what a “waxy” potato really means. The conventional kitchen wisdom is that “starchy” potatoes like russets and Yukon Golds are best …