Food + Tools

What is your favorite go-to ingredient?

What food is your guilty pleasure?

Do you prefer stainless steel or nonstick cookware?

I waste so much food after buying specific ingredients for a recipe, but don’t use everything. Any tips on how to make a meal come together with random ingredients?

Which kitchen gadgets can you not live without?

What is your favorite brand of kitchen knives and why?

Some recipes say to bake squash facing up, others say to bake squash facing down. Does it really make a difference in the end result?

How long does cooked rice last in the fridge?

Dear Tara, I love kitchen gadgets, but I’m skeptical to buy them because they often end up in my graveyard of unused kitchen tools. Should I buy an Instant Pot? What about one of those sous-vide cookers? I feel like they’re good tools, but maybe I’d use them once or twice and then set them aside only to collect dust. Are there any gadgets you consider must-haves?

Why is it suggested that mushrooms be cleaned off with a wet paper towel instead of rinsing them off under running water?