Cooking guides
Practical answers to the measuring, mixing and baking questions that come up mid-recipe.
How to measure flour without a scale
A spoon, a straight edge and a lighter hand can make the next batch of biscuits more consistent.
Get more flavor from a lemon’s zest
Use the fragrant yellow peel, keep the pith behind and catch the oils where you want them.
How to substitute a different cake pan size
Compare the base and depth before moving a favorite cake recipe into another tin.
Cold, softened or melted butter for baking
Cold pieces, pliable butter and melted butter each do a different job in the mixing bowl.
How to convert oven temperatures from Fahrenheit to Celsius
Find the matching number on your dial and check which heating mode the recipe assumes.
A better way to chop fresh herbs
Choose a cut that fits the leaf and the dish, from torn basil to finely sliced chives.
How to halve a recipe with one egg
Divide the egg by weight and keep the rest of a small-batch bake in proportion.
What does a US cup mean in a recipe?
Decode cups and spoons before switching between an American recipe and a metric kitchen.