Person holding a cast-iron pan over a wooden surface surrounded by fresh vegetables ready for chopping

We show you how to prepare ingredients and kitchen tools for cooking the best meals. Learn how to cut an avocado, how to freeze blueberries, how to season a cast-iron skillet, and more prep-step tips and tricks to help you in the kitchen.

tik-tok-hard-boiled-egg-hack-GettyImages-1221548767
TikTok’s Hard-Boiled Egg Cutting Hack Will Save You Tons of Time
sourdough bread made with two-ingredient sourdough starter
Make Sourdough Starter From Scratch With Just Two Ingredients
defrost-steak
How to Safely Thaw Steak Fast
cheese-for-lactose-intolerant-GettyImages-506909702
9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose-Intolerant
traditional-new-years-day-food-01-realsimple
9 New Year's Food Traditions That Bring Good Luck
healthy-snacking: nuts and dried fruit
The 9 Smartest, Healthiest Snacking Tips to Follow Every Day, According to Nutritionists
bacon!
How to Cook Bacon in the Oven—Plus 4 More Bacon-Cooking Techniques
Baked spaghetti squash with vegan bolognese sauce made from lentils, leeks, and carrots
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash 7 Different Ways—Including Roasted, Sautéed, and More
how-long-to-bake-a-potato-GettyImages-1432807987
How Long to Bake a Potato So It Tastes Perfect Every Time
how-to-cook-oatmeal-realsimple-GettyImages-1129916084
How to Cook Oatmeal on the Stove, in the Instant Pot, and More
cooking-frozen-meat-01-realsimple
The Simple Secret to Safely Cooking Meat From Frozen—Whether It's Steak, Chicken, or Pork
dry-wet-brine
Dry Brine vs. Wet Brine: Which Should You Choose for Your Thanksgiving Turkey ?
daily-harvest
I Tried Daily Harvest for a Month—Here's What Happened
Fresh raw oyster mushrooms in a colander
How to Wash Mushrooms—Including Store-Bought, Cultivated, and Wild-Foraged Fungi
Fennel and courgette topped salmon
Mealtime Has Never Been Easier, Thanks to These 3-Ingredient Trader Joe's Recipes
Stuffed chicken breasts
How to Make Stuffed Chicken Breast—Plus 10 Recipes to Get You Started
A white sheet pan pizza topped with broccoli and basil on a blue surface
7 Simple Shortcuts for Better Homemade Pizza
Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley
20 Simple Summer Salad Recipes With the Season's Best Ingredients
Spicy Chicken and Eggplant Stir-Fry
26 of the Easiest-Ever Eggplant Recipes
Deviled eggs
How to Make Deviled Eggs—Including Instant Pot and Air Fryer Techniques
olive-oil-smoke-point
Yes, You Can Cook With Olive Oil Over High Heat—Here's Why
Morel mushrooms on a blue background
Everything You Need to Know About Morel Mushrooms—Including How to Find, Wash, and Cook Them
assortment of brown and white eggs
Do You Need to Wash Eggs? Here's When You Should—Plus, the Right Way to Do it
energy-through-food: smoothie bowl with fruit
3 Incredibly Easy Ways to Boost Your Energy With Food
vegan-chicken: How to Make 2-Ingredient Seitan, the Plant-Based Chicken Alternative Going Viral on TikTok
I Tried Making TikTok's Viral 2-Ingredient Vegan Chicken—Here's What Happened
one-pot-meals-beef-stew
21 Delicious One-Pot Dinners for Easy Entertaining
Best easy pasta recipes - rigatoni noodle tout
42 Perfect Pasta Recipes You'll Want to Make for Dinner Tonight (and Every Night)
beet-recipes
16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes
Real Simple.com :Slow cooker Chili with a twist, Chicken Mole Chili
12 Crowd-Pleasing Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Easy Mashed Potatoes: Creamy One-Pot Mashed Potatoes
10 Mashed Potato Mistakes Everyone Makes
aw turkey legs in white casserole
How to Cut Up a Raw Turkey
tiktok-potato-peeling-hack
I Tried That Viral TikTok Potato Peeling Hack—Here's What Happened
food-recipes-cooking-tips-techniques-microwave-tea-mistake-01-4x3
Why You Should Never Microwave Tea—Plus the Right Way to Brew It
how-to-soften-cream-cheese: cream cheese on toast
4 Smart Ways to Soften Cream Cheese Quickly—and Safely—in a Pinch
trader-joes-condiment
Italian Bomba Hot Pepper Sauce Is About to Be Your New Trader Joe's Favorite
easy, delicious rice recipes
17 Simply Delicious Rice Recipes You'll Want to Make Tonight
Pumpkin puree in different glass jars with spices and fresh pumpkins. Autumn or winter food. Light stone background. Top view.
Homemade Pumpkin Purée
Caramel Plum Galette
10 Soothing Baking Recipes That'll Quell Your Stress—and Your Sweet-Tooth
baked-potato-toppings: bacaon
This Is the Best Way to Bake Potatoes—Plus 9 Creative Ways to Top Them
Types of mustard - guide to different types of mustards
5 Common Types of Mustard—and Every Delicious Way You Should Be Using Them
best popcorn toppings recipes
4 Addictive Popcorn Toppings That Are Way Better Than Butter
panko-crusted-crispy-tofu
This Is the Secret to Cooking Perfectly Crispy Tofu Every Time
fermented-foods-jar
The 5 Best Fermented Foods for a Healthier Gut
homemade-chocolate-hazelnut-spread
Making Nutella at Home Is a Lot Easier Than You Think—Here's How to Do It Right
how to slice herbs
We Hate to Break It to You, but You're Probably Chopping Your Herbs Incorrectly
slow-cooker-summer-recipes
10 Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Summer Entertaining
grilling-mistakes
The 7 Mistakes You're Making When Grilling, According to a Pro
healthy road trip snacks: hard-boiled eggs
The Healthy Road Trip Snacks You'll Want to Tote Everywhere This Summer
picture-perfect-food
The Secret to Capturing Picture-Perfect Food Photos, According to an Industry Pro
best-store-bought-meal-shortcuts: hummus and vegetables
7 Ingredients You Never Need to Make From Scratch (It Will Be Our Secret)
How to peel garlic, how to chop garlic, how to cut garlic, and how to mince garlic
How to Peel and Chop Garlic Like a Pro
Top View of a Cast-Iron Skillet Being Seasoned With Oil
How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet
clean-grill
Not Prepping Your Grill Correctly Could Make You Sick—Here's How Do It
The best Trader Joe's nut butters, ranked
We Ranked All the Nut Butters Available at Trader Joe's
how-to-braise: Chinese homemade broth noodles with braise meat chops
How to Braise Anything Like a Chef in 9 Simple Steps
maple-syrup-costs
Did You Know Most Breakfast Syrups Contain No Maple At All?
Best Trader Joes Sauce: Mango Sauce
5 Trader Joe's Sauces That Will Transform Your Weekly Meal Prep
how-to-freeze-food
10 Genius Tricks for Freezing Food That'll Make Meal Prep a Snap
better-focaccia
7 Tips for Making Better Focaccia From Scratch
gochujang
Gochujang, the Spicy Korean Sauce You're Seeing Everywhere
How to Cook Lentils
How to Cook Lentils: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Thanksgiving turkey on a plate with vegetables
How to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey Without a Roasting Pan
Refrigerated Cookie Dough Ready for the Oven
I Made Chocolate Chip Cookies with Unrefrigerated and Refrigerated Dough—Here's What Makes the Best Cookie