Cooking isn't just an art; it's a science. We'll help you understand the physical and chemical processes that make food look, smell, and taste the way it does.
Red apples arranged on a blue grid background some cut in half to reveal their interiors
The Real Reason Your Apples Keep Going Bad—and How to Fix It
Overhed view of turkey
The Safest, Easiest Way to Defrost a Turkey, According to Food Safety Pros
Two roasted sweet potatoes on foil one partially peeled to expose the orange flesh inside
Stop Settling for Bland Sweet Potatoes—This Simple Step Makes Them Taste Even Sweeter
A salt shaker next to a small pile of salt
The Hidden Plastics in Your Kitchen and Food
Roasted brussel sprouts and shallots with a balsamic glaze in a bowl, with glasses of sparkling water, some smaller plates and a colorfully printed table top
I Tested 3 Roasting Pans to Find the Secret to Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Cooked rice in a bowl
This Is the Only Kind of Microwavable Rice I’ll Ever Buy (Hint: It’s Not in the Rice Aisle)
Two pots filled with cooked rice one large and one smaller placed on a dark surface
Fluffy Rice Every Time—Here's the Step You're Missing
Hand holding a salted popcorn kernel with more popcorn in the background
Why Your Seasoning Never Sticks to Popcorn—and the Simple Fix That Actually Works
Several oysters served on ice with lemon wedges
Thinking of Ordering Raw Oysters? Here's What You Need to Know After Recent Deaths
Pattern of candy corn on a purple grid background
Think Candy Corn Tastes Like Candle Wax and Sadness? Science Says There’s a Reason
Baked vegetable slices on foillined trays arranged in sections
Want Better Roasted Vegetables? Stop Doing This One Thing
Four bowls with hummus labeled 10 25 50 and 100 on a tray
Want Creamier, Restaurant-Style Hummus? I Tested the 1 Ratio That Really Matters
Close up of ice cream
No Ice Cream Maker? Just 2 Magic Ingredients Do the Work
Side view of cake
Does Coffee in Desserts Actually Give You a Buzz? We Did the Math
Side view of caesar pasta
This Is the Most Overlooked Step in Every Recipe—and It Takes 5 Seconds
Your Cup of Coffee Loses Flavor Faster Than You Think—Here’s How to Save It
A bowl filled with diced watermelon pieces
Stop Serving Soggy Watermelon—This Genius Trick Will Save Your Cookout
A spoonful of pesto with a container underneath
We Tried Every Trick to Keep Pesto Green—This Is the Best Method
A person finely dicing an onion with a knife on a wooden cutting board
Never Cry While Cutting Onions Again—This Science-Backed Trick Actually Works
Slices of cooked steak arranged on a wooden surface
This Major Rule About Cooking Meat Turns out to Be Wrong
Tea going into a glass cup.
Why Tea Steeps and Coffee Drips: Unpacking the Science of Your Daily Brew
A hand holding a clear squareshaped ice cube over a reflective surface
There's a Reason Bar Ice Looks Better Than Yours (And You Can Fix It)
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Cooking Fats Demystified: A Guide to Understanding Saturated and Unsaturated Fats
Half an orange paired with a matching sugar-coated candy slice
Here's Why Natural and Artificial Flavors Aren't What They Seem
a pile of cake flour
The Flour You Must Have for Perfect Cakes, According to a Pastry Chef
Leeks and Green Beans cooked with different PH balances, labeled Low, Control, and High on parchment paper
Revolutionize Your Vegetable Cooking With This Simple Tweak
A cheese spread laid out across a long table.
Stop Serving Your Food Hot! The Scientific Argument for Room Temperature Food
Cacio E Pepe on a serving plate
Perfect Cacio e Pepe
Diping graphic
The Surprising Reason You Shouldn't Double Dip (It's Not Just Germs)
Graphic of food on heat map
Is It Better to Eat Hot Food in the Summer? Here's What the Science Says
Graphic for Sotolon
Meet the Molecule That Smells Like Pancakes and Set Off Emergency Investigations in NYC
Alka-Seltzer cheese sauce atop nachos.
The Genius Ingredient for Perfect Gooey Cheese Sauce
Collage of olive oil and coffe
Why On Earth Are People Putting Olive Oil in Their Coffee?
Graphic for measuring knuckle rice
Is This the Most Foolproof Method for Making Rice? We Tested to Find Out
Strawberry Freezer Jam
How to Make Perfect Strawberry Preserves: Our Tests on the Science of Making Jam
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The Best Way to Prevent Cut Apples From Browning
Overhead view of paneer
The Best Way to Soften Store-Bought Paneer
A white bowl filled with rigatoni alla vodka topped with parmesan.
Does Vodka Sauce Really Need Vodka?
A bowl of ramen noodle soup; you can transform regular pasta into ramen noodles with baking soda.
Turn Your Pasta Into Ramen With Baking Soda
Side view of brining vegetables
The Science of Brining Vegetables
Overhead photo of peeled garlic.
Why Does My Garlic Turn Green? | Ask The Food Lab
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For Smoother Ice Cream and Sorbet, Use Corn Syrup
Side view of layers of cincinnati chili
Can Food Set Off Metal Detectors? According to Jason Kelce's Vat of Skyline Chili, Yes
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Calculating the Ghostbusters Twinkie Size In Real Life
Cottage cheese in a spoon.
What's Going On With Cottage Cheese?
A single jar of vanilla extract
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Table salt being added to a porcelain teacup covered with flowers.
The British Are Uproarious About This Chemist's Suggestion of Adding Salt to Tea
Ovehead view of steak test
The Science of Marinades
Illustration of an imaginary desk in a lab at Harvard working on a bean study
Can You Stop Beans From Making You Fart? We Put 17 Methods to the Test
Close up view of Masa batter
From Birth to Bake: How Bubbles Form in Batters and Doughs
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Cookie Science: Why Cream Butter and Sugar?
A container of baking powder next to a spoon full of baking powder.
How Does Baking Powder Affect My Cookies?
A pile of cubed butter
The Best Way to Soften Butter
Overhead view of two ramekins filled with white and brown sugar, respectively.
Cookie Science: The Real Differences Between Brown and White Sugars
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Brining Beans With Baking Soda: An Investigation
Meringue on pink background
The Science Behind Vegan Meringues
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Cookie Science: How Do Eggs Affect My Cookies?
Mint-yogurt marinade being poured over boneless skinless chicken thighs
The Science of Yogurt Marinades