‘Quality can make a big difference when it comes to basic spices and pantry staples.’Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian Food is more than just nutrition: it can be joyful, social and exciting.

Bringing dried beans to a boil before letting them stand in the hot water for just an hour means you can skip the lengthy overnight soak usually required.

If you’ve ever slurped a perfect bowl of pho and thought, I wish I could make this at home, you’re not alone. Vietnamese food is bright, bold, and a venerated takeout classic. But how do you get ...

From frying to grilling and baking, we put bacon cooking methods to the test. Here's what came out on top. Baking bacon on a foil-lined sheet pan at 400°F for about 22 minutes yields evenly crisp, ...