Cook's Illustrated

At Cook's Illustrated, our test cooks are dedicated to testing and retesting recipes 20, 30, sometimes 50 times until we come up with a recipe that will come out right the first time -- and every time -- you make it. And each issue of Cook's Illustrated is 100% ADVERTISING FREE, so you get unbiased and objective information on every page. As we like to say at Cook's Illustrated, "We make the mistakes so you don't have to."

Cook’s Illustrated

A POT OF GOLD

QUICK TIPS

The Art of Rendang • West Sumatra’s tradition of slowly cooking and browning beef with coconut milk and vibrant aromatics delivers a braise unlike any other.

Bright, Rich Enchiladas Suizas • The tangy, silky sauce lavished on this Mexico City staple is a standout.

Chickpeas Do It All • Creamy, crunchy, whole, or chopped—any way you like them, these versatile legumes are your ticket to an array of satisfying meals.

The Power of Dau Si • China’s fermented black beans infuse a simple weeknight stir-fry with complex, salty savor.

Magic Butter Sauce • Whisk butter into a little simmering water and—poof!—you’ve got beurre monté: liquid silk that pairs with any seasoning and gilds everything it touches.

Cold-Start Chicken Breasts • They’re golden, succulent, and accompanied by luxurious pan sauces.

Britain’s Toad in the Hole • Juicy, crisped sausages meet plush Yorkshire pudding in this hearty supper.

The Superpowers of Salt • Seasoning is just the beginning of salt’s power (though there are nuances to that too). Knowing what else it can do—and why—will help you use the world’s most fundamental ingredient to its full potential.

Onion Soup, by Way of Tuscany • The buttery, sweet savoriness of carabaccia, Tuscany’s centuries-old red onion soup, introduced us to an entirely different side of allium complexity.

South Asia’s Everyday Bread • Learning to make soft, wholesome rotis traditionally requires a mentor’s guidance—but with our recipe, you can make them on your own.

Many Hands Shape Ma’amoul • Buttery semolina cookies perfumed with floral extracts and stuffed with dates, nuts, and warm spices are a testament to community and hospitality.

The Best Multipurpose Spray Cleaners • We spent weeks cleaning and disinfecting counters, appliances, cabinets, and more. Our mission? Find a spray we could count on.

All About Hoisin Sauce • Hoisin sauce is one of the most iconic ingredients in Cantonese cooking. We delved deep into the history and usage of this ingredient. Here’s what we found.

OUR HOISIN SAUCE LINEUP

INGREDIENT NOTES

KITCHEN NOTES

EQUIPMENT CORNER