Ingredient Reviews
Rigorous comparisons and honest reviews of major supermarket brands, pantry essentials, and specialty products so that you’ll know which ingredients to buy and why.
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The Best Decaf Coffee
Decaf coffee was overlooked and mediocre at best. Not anymore.
The Best Flour Tortillas
Want a great flour tortilla? The supermarket isn’t the only place you should shop.
The Best Tahini
Tahini is a must-have ingredient in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. Does it matter which brand you buy?
All About Oyster Sauce
Discovered by accident, this iconic condiment is every Cantonese chef’s secret ingredient.
The Best Lemon Juice Substitutes
Bottled lemon juice and lemon juice powder offer promising alternatives to fresh lemons. Can they measure up to the real deal?
The Best Almond Butter
Almond butter can be creamy or crunchy, salted or unsalted, runny or thick. We found a top pick for everyone, depending on your preferences.
The Best Yellow Cake Mixes
Which boxed cake mix deserves a spot in your pantry—and at your next birthday party?
All About Masa Harina
We tasted big-name and artisanal brands of the staple ingredient used for tortillas, gorditas, sopes, and more.
All About Toasted Sesame Oil
Nutty and fragrant, toasted sesame oil enhances noodles, stir-fries, meats, and vegetables, finishing dishes with a burst of flavor
The Best Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is the top-selling condiment in the United States, and brands from Hellmann’s to Duke’s have amassed a fervent following. Which one is the best?
All About Miso
This traditional Japanese ingredient makes your dishes shine.
The Best Vegan Mayonnaise
We wanted to find a vegan mayonnaise that was just as tasty as the traditional stuff. Is it too good to be true?
Everything You Need to Know About Sugar
Granulated white sugar adds sweetness and structure to many of our favorite foods. Does it matter which type you buy?
All About Japanese Rice
From the ubiquitous American-grown classic Calrose to buttery, pearly Japanese-grown Koshihikari, we delve deep into this rich category of rice.
The Best Chicken Broth
Store-bought chicken broths vary drastically from one brand to another. Which is best?
All About Gochujang
Umami-packed gochujang, a fermented red chile paste, is a central ingredient in Korean food. We tasted supermarket and artisan brands to explore its flavors, textures and uses.
Salsa Macha
Spicy and smoky, this beloved and versatile Mexican condiment packs a plethora of flavors and textures.
All About Honey
We tasted a broad array of honey from all over the world: from Oregon’s meadowfoam and Florida’s tupelo to New Zealand’s mānuka and California’s orange blossom. Here are 15 honeys that offer far more than just sweetness.
The Best Supermarket Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
You’re standing at the grocery store in front of a million olive-oil choices. So what should you buy and why?
The Best Premium Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Should you spend a bit more and use premium extra-virgin olive oil in your kitchen? We tasted more than a dozen products to find out.
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.
The World of Fish Sauce
Fish sauce has deep flavor—and deep historical roots around the world.
The Best Cooking Sprays
This handy product can be the difference between a successful dish and a sticky disaster. Which one you use matters.
The Best Baking Sprays
Tired of greasing and flouring pans before baking? Baking sprays replace that fussy process with one simple step.
The Wide World of Vinegar
We want to help you better understand the vast array of vinegars from around the globe.
A Celebration of Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is essential in many culinary traditions—and no two styles are the same.
The Best Tortilla Chips
Crunchy, salty, and corn-forward, tortilla chips are beloved. But which brand is best?
Why We Love Kansas City–Style Barbecue Sauce
It’s a sticky-sweet American classic. But how did it become one of the country’s favorites?
Everything You Need to Know About Bread Crumbs
When using bread crumbs, a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work.
The Best Brownie Mixes
Packaged mixes are convenient, but are any worth making?
Whole-Grain Mustard
For extra texture and a pleasant crunch, reach for one of these mustards instead of your go-to Dijon or yellow mustard.
Honey Mustard
The sweet heat of this popular condiment adds zip to sandwiches and snacks. We also love it as a dip.
Must-Have Mustards
A single style simply won’t cut it. From sweet and spicy to bright and tangy, these are the five mustards we always have on hand.
Louisiana-Style Hot Sauce
Louisiana-style hot sauce is a staple for soul food and Southern cuisine. But this simple condiment has a deeper history and more variation in flavor than you might know.
The Best Vanilla Extract
Cyclones, theft, petrochemicals, market swings—vanilla is anything but boring. We delve into this fascinating world and find the best products for your kitchen.
The Best Chocolate Cake Mixes
Boxed cake mixes are convenient and reliable. But do any of them yield cakes with the intense chocolate flavor and moist, delicate texture of homemade versions?
