Can you use unseasoned rice vinegar in a recipe that calls for seasoned rice vinegar?

Get to know your favorite zippy condiment.

The roots of Louisiana cuisine reach deep into the soil of a dazzling array of cultures. There’s Cajun cooking, a rustic, hearty, game-heavy cuisine that has …

Can brown and yellow mustard seeds be used interchangeably in recipes?

Umami, a quality of meaty savoriness that brings depth to many dishes, is widely considered the fifth taste. These 12 umami-enhancing ingredients boost the flav…

Not all salts and peppers are created equal. Here are 12 we like to cook with.

Supermarkets carry all kinds of honey (clover, buckwheat, tupelo, etc.). Some are quite expensive. What’s the difference? 

To make the most of your baking spices, follow our tips: Preground spices are convenient, but their flavors fade fast. 

We don’t have a cure for removing garlic odor from your hands, but these three options can help.

If you don't have any mace on hand, will nutmeg work instead?

When it comes to chopping basil, it pays to wait until the last minute.

Why do some recipes recommend tearing fresh herbs instead of chopping them?

What does it mean to “bloom” spices and what is the benefit?

What is Madras curry—and can you use it in place of regular curry powder?

Markets sell several types of dried sage. Are they interchangeable?

Do you really need to keep two types of oregano on hand?

When the flavor of fresh dill failed to assert itself, we headed to the spice aisle for extra dill flavor.

Here’s a tip for keeping freshly chopped rosemary on the cutting board—and not all over your kitchen.

A quick zap in the microwave guarantees quick garlic peeling.

Need to peel a lot of garlic? Here’s a test kitchen shortcut.

What's the difference between garlic powder, granulated garlic, dehydrated minced garlic, and garlic salt? Are any of these ever an acceptable substitute for fr…

We offer three options for keeping garlic fresher longer.

Some herbs can be chopped ahead of time—but not these.

Avoid basil sold in plastic boxes—it’s best to buy a loose bunch with the roots attached.

Here’s a method for quickly drying hearty herbs in the microwave. Caution—don’t try this with delicate herbs!

Here are the dried herbs we stock in the test kitchen, plus a few rules for using them in place of their fresh counterparts.

What is allspice, and is it possible to mix together spices from the cabinet to make a quick substitution?

We reach for this condiment when we want to add a sweet acidity to our Asian-inspired dishes.