How to Throw an Oyster Roast

The practice of cooking oysters over open fire belongs to a far greater, ancient tradition. Shell rings, archaeological sites scattered with mollusk shells, remain across the Southeast, suggesting that people have gathered to share meals like this for centuries. These days, folks convene beside a propane stove and steam bivalves by the pot. At festivals […]

Have a gas stove? How to cook with electricity without an upgrade

Moving away from gas in the kitchen can have benefits for your health and budget. But switching to from a gas stove to an induction cooktop can take time and money. If you rent, it may not be possible at all.  Luckily, it’s possible to go “‘gas-lite” by getting your existing kitchen appliances to do […]

How to avoid ‘Avocado hand’ — a common and serious injury

You’ll want to cut this part from the guacamole recipe. Cutting avocados accounts for about 1 in every 50 knife injuries in America, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Health Behavior. “It’s shocking how many ER department visits are related to avocado hand-cutting injuries,” Matthew E. Rossheim, the lead author […]

Here’s How To Cook Mince Without Getting Weird Grey Water

Ah, mince ― the trusty workhorse (2013 equestrian meat scandal reference unintentional) of the kitchen. It belongs in Bolognese. It’s perfect in burgers. And I love it in lasagne, too ― even if Mary Berry sometimes puts chicken in hers. But its beefy benefits aren’t without a cost. I refer, of course, to the Grey […]

How to Season Your Food Like the French

I thought I knew what pepper was. It obviously pairs with salt. It tastes better if you grind it yourself. And it introduces a certain quality to a dish, usually a modestly spicy heat. But how important is it, really? You would notice if your food had no salt, but would you notice if it […]

How to Make Oat Flour

If I was forced to choose just one gluten-free flour to bake with, it would, without a moment’s hesitation, be oat flour. Oat flour is the Phoebe Waller-Bridge of gluten-free flours: easy to love, endlessly adaptable, and subverting old ideas of what feels possible. Commercial oat flour is made by milling oat groats, which are […]

How to Avoid Avocado Hand, a Surprisingly Common Injury

In Too Afraid to Ask, we’re answering food-related questions that may or may not give you goosebumps. Today: What is avocado hand? Alanna Clarke was making breakfast at a friend’s apartment when it happened. It was fall 2022, and the 32-year-old, Paris-based business advisor was cutting a plump avocado. Clarke was chatting with her friend […]