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Culinary Arts: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Make the Perfect Vinaigrette
Learn how to make the perfect oil & vinegar salad dressing, also called a vinaigrette. These simple tips will help you make a great vinaigrette dressing anytime.
How To Pan-Sear Sea Scallops
Seared sea scallops are always popular, and this illustrated tutorial will show you, step-by-step, exactly how to make them. It's simpler than you might think!
How to Make Perfect Bacon
Want to make perfect crispy bacon without all the mess? Baking in the oven is the simplest, most foolproof way to cook bacon. Find out how it's done!
How To Make Mayonnaise
This illustrated guide will show you how to make mayonnaise, with photos and instructions for each step along the way. You'll have your own homemade mayonnaise in a jiffy!
Basic Vinaigrette Recipe
This simple oil & vinegar salad dressing is also called a basic vinaigrette or basic French dressing. Variations include Italian dressing, mustard vinaigrette, herbed vinaigrette and more.
Culinary Arts Food Safety Quiz
Take this food safety quiz and test your knowledge about food safety and sanitation.
Basic Knife Cuts & Shapes
Want to work on your knife skills? Then you'll want to check out these descriptions and photos of all the basic culinary arts knife cuts and shapes.
Basic Waffles
This tried and true waffle recipe is perfect for brunch or other special occasions, even dessert!
Banana Bread Recipe
This moist banana bread recipe helps put overripe bananas, that would otherwise be destined for the garbage, to good use, making it a great recipe for anyone who likes to be frugal.
Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
Spaghetti Carbonara is one of the most popular Italian pasta dishes. It combines cream, eggs, cheese and bacon — and with ingredients like that, it's guaranteed to be delicious!
Italian Vinaigrette Recipe
This Italian vinaigrette is made with extra virgin olive oil instead of salad oil, and features minced garlic, dried oregano and chopped parsley.
The Food Danger Zone
Knowing about the Food Temperature Danger Zone can help prevent food-borne illness. Learn how to keep food safe by keeping dangerous bacteria from growing.
Sunday Brunch Menu
Sunday brunch recipes and brunch menu to help you make the best brunch. Choose scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, French toast, waffles, home fries and more.
Watermelon Salad Recipe
This watermelon salad recipe is cool and refreshing, combining fresh mint and crumbled feta in a simple balsamic vinaigrette.
How To Use A Sharpening Steel
A sharpening steel or knife steel helps keep the edge of your chef's knife aligned. Sharpening steels hone the blade of a chef's knife and keep it "true." This simple "how-to" shows you how to do it!
Ranch Dressing Recipe
One of the most popular of the mayonnaise-based salad dressings, Ranch Dressing is easy to make. And as anyone who's ever eaten a chicken wing knows, it makes a great dip, too!
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This chocolate chip banana bread is a delicious variation on the basic banana bread recipe. If you're looking for a slightly more decadent banana bread, this is the recipe for you.
Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe
This mustard vinaigrette recipe is one of the simplest variations on the basic vinaigrette formula and a delicious salad dressing in its own right.
How to Pasteurize Eggs
Need pasteurized eggs for making mayonnaise, hollandaise or Caesar salad dressing? You can safely make your own in the microwave by following these steps.
Cooking Conversion Chart
Use this handy cooking conversion chart to calculate equivalences between units of volume such as teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, quarts and so on.
Plain Muffins Recipe
The key to making great muffins is mixing the batter just enough to combine all the wet and dry ingredients, but without overmixing it.
How To Make Hollandaise Sauce
Hollandaise sauce is a wonderfully rich, lemony and buttery sauce. This illustrated tutorial guides you through making hollandaise sauce, one step at a time.
Perfect Scrambled Eggs
This simple recipe will make it easy to cook the perfect scrambled eggs every time. Light and fluffy, these scrambled eggs are sure to please.
Cooking Measurements Conversion Tool - Cooking Measurement Calculator
Online conversion tool and measurement calculator for cooking. Convert common culinary measurement units like ounces, tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, pints, quarts.
Blueberry Muffins Recipe
Blueberry muffins can be mixed up and baked in just a few minutes. Here's an easy blueberry muffin recipe you'll want to make again and again.
Home Fries Recipe
Home-fried potatoes, or "home fries," are a popular breakfast accompaniment. This recipe features red potatoes, onions, and red and green bell peppers.
Cooking Methods
Cooking methods are divided into dry-heat cooking methods, such as roasting, sauteing and broiling, and moist-heat cooking methods, like braising, poaching or steaming.
How To Use A Whetstone
A whetstone is the best way to sharpen your chef's knife. It takes some practice, but you'll save time and money doing it yourself. This simple "how-to" will get you started!
How to Use A Chef's Knife
See how to hold a chef's knife and how to grip the food with your guiding hand to prevent cuts. Learn the correct way to hold a kitchen knife for safety and comfort.
Herbed Vinaigrette Recipe
This herbed vinaigrette recipe is another easy variation on the basic vinaigrette formula. It can be prepared with any one of a number of dried herbs including thyme, marjoram, basil, chives or tarragon.
Ground Beef Safety Tips
Learn the basics of hamburger and ground beef safety including how to handle and prepare ground beef, as well as freezing and thawing techniques.
Thousand Island Dressing
These days, Thousand Island dressing is probably more popular as a sandwich spread than a salad dressing. For a real treat, try it on your next burger!
Arborio Rice
Arborio rice is a high-starch, short-grained type of rice that is the traditional choice for making classic Italian risotto. Learn all about arborio rice.
Beurre Blanc Recipe
Beurre blanc is a simple butter-based emulsified sauce that is delicious with practically any fish or seafood.
Roast Turkey Breast
Roasted turkey breast is a great alternative to roasting a whole turkey. A turkey breast cooks much faster and is far more moist and juicy, too.
How To Make Scones
If you're looking for a guide on how to make scones, this illustrated tutorial will show you how, step-by-step!
Knife Skills 101
Knife skills are one of the most important parts of the culinary arts. These articles, tutorials and how-tos will help you practice your knife skills.
Basic Risotto Recipe
Here's a basic risotto recipe made with butter and parmesan cheese. It's prepared by adding hot stock to arborio rice and cooking slowly as the stock is absorbed.
Scaling Recipes
Scaling a recipe means adjusting it to prepare more portions, or fewer, than the recipe was originally written for. Here are the simple steps for how to do it.
Cuts of Beef
Curious about cuts of beef like the chuck, rib, loin, tenderloin, round, flank or brisket? Here's a diagram of the various beef cuts with a description of each one.
Buying Fresh Scallops
Shopping for fresh scallops can be confusing. Learn about the different scallop sizes and why it's important to buy chemical-free or "dry-packed" scallops.
Roasted Beet Salad with Feta
This simple but elegant salad features red and golden beets, mild feta cheese and baby greens tossed in a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.
The Anatomy of a Chef's Knife
A chef's knife is more than just a blade and a handle. Learn about the different parts of a chef's knife, including the tang, bolster, heel, rivets and more.
How To Roast A Chicken
Roasted chicken is one of the tastiest dishes you can make. This easy guide to roasting chicken will show you how it's done. Learn how to roast a chicken.
How to Chop an Onion
Learn how to chop an onion the fast, easy and safe way. This illustrated tutorial shows photos of every step so you can improve your chef's knife skills.
Puree of Carrot Soup
Also known as Potage Crecy, this classic purée of carrot soup is vibrantly colorful and aromatic.
How To Cook Anything
Cooking methods in the culinary arts include dry heat and moist heat methods. Read all about cooking methods are learn the best ones for every kind of food.
How To Make Creme Brulee
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make crème brûlée, one of the most elegant desserts around and also one of the simplest — nothing but egg yolks, sugar and cream with just a dash of vanilla.
Slow Roasted Pork
For the spice rub, we're creating a blend of sweet, salty and spicy. This illustrated demo shows how to prepare this delicious slow-roasted pork, step-by-step.
Dry-Heat Cooking
Dry-heat cooking requires temperatures of 300°F or hotter, and it is the only way to achieve the browning of meats, vegetables and baked goods that in turn develops complex flavors and aromas.
Mushroom Risotto Recipe
Mushroom risotto is one of the most delicious variations on the basic risotto recipe. It's prepared by adding hot stock to arborio rice and cooking slowly as the stock is absorbed.
Basic Vegetable Stock Recipe
Vegetable stock only needs to simmer for 30 to 45 minutes to extract the maximum flavor from vegetables. Here's a simple vegetable stock recipe.
Gravy Recipe
Making chicken or turkey gravy starts with broth or stock which is then reduced and thickened. Learn how to make a simple chicken or turkey gravy.
Basic Scones Recipe
These simple scones are light, flaky and buttery, and there are endless variations on this basic recipe.
Basic Corn Bread
This basic corn bread recipe is sweetened with honey and is a perfect accompaniment for soup or chili, and it makes a great breakfast, too. This basic recipe can be modified to include fresh or canned corn (or creamed corn), green chiles, sour cream, buttermilk, bacon, and even dried blueberries!
Basic Mayonnaise Recipe
This basic mayonnaise makes a great sandwich spread, and can form the base for salad dressings like Blue Cheese, Thousand Island and Ranch.
What is Food Spoilage?
Preventing food poisoning comes down to keeping cold foods cold and keeping hot foods hot. Find out how to stop bacteria from contaminating your food.
Perfect Bacon: Step By Step
This illustrated tutorial will show you how easy it is to make perfectly crispy bacon in the oven. And wait till you see Step #2 — you might not believe your eyes!
Puree of Celery Soup Recipe
This classic purée of celery soup is beautifully aromatic. You can make it either with celery or celery root (also sometimes called "celeriac.").
Basic Folded Omelet
This simple recipe will make it easy to make the perfect omelet every time. The technique is easy to follow and simple to learn.
Grilling & Broiling
Grilling and broiling are dry-heat cooking methods where the food is cooked by heat that is conducted through the air from an open flame or coals.
Compound Butter Recipe
Maître d'Hôtel Butter is the most common form of "compound butter," or butter that has some sort of flavoring or seasoning ingredient added to it.
Flaky Pie Dough Recipe
This basic flaky pie dough recipe is perfect for making all kinds of baked pies. Slightly modified, it can also be used for making mealy pie doughs.
Fluffy Waffles Recipe
This waffles recipe is a bit more involved than the basic recipe, but the fluffier result is worth it.
How To Grind Your Own Burgers
The best way to know for sure what's in your burgers, ground beef or other ground meats is to grind it yourself. This illustrated tutorial shows you how!
Batonnet: Knife Cut Examples
Batonnet is a basic knife cut measuring ½ inch × ½ inch × 2½-3 inches.
How To Clarify Butter
Clarified butter is made removing the milk solids from butter, leaving only the golden-yellow butterfat. This tutorial shows how to clarify butter.
How To Cut In Shortening
What does it mean when a recipe says to "cut in shortening" or "cut in butter?" See exactly how to cut shortening or butter into flour in this illustrated tutorial.
Baked Cod with Beurre Blanc
This elegant combination of a basic white fish like cod with a simple butter-based sauce like beurre blanc is a starting point for any number of variations.
Basic French Toast
This basic French toast recipe can be modified and enhanced by adding cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest -- even rum or brandy!
Chicken Piccata
Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian recipe that really takes all the difficulty out of cooking chicken. And the simple, tangy sauce is pretty heavenly.
Cuts of Pork
Consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm, the Boston butt is a moderately tough cut of meat with a good deal of connective tissue.
Pan-Seared Sea Scallops #1
Seared sea scallops are always popular, and this step-by-step tutorial will show you exactly how to make them -- it's simpler than you might think!
How To Make Risotto
Risotto is a traditional Italian rice dish made by adding hot stock to a short-grained, starchy rice called "arborio" and cooking slowly while the liquid is absorbed.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes have a creamy, almost sweet flavor that goes well with meat, poultry and fish. They're a nice alternative to white or red potatoes.
Brunoise: Knife Cut Examples
Brunoise is a basic knife cut measuring 1/8 inch × 1/8 inch × 1/8 inch.
Large Dice: Knife Cut Photos
Large dice is a basic knife cut measuring ¾ inch × ¾ inch × ¾ inch.
French Toast Recipe #1
This photo gallery features recipes for chicken marengo, grilled sesame chicken, rice pilaf, herbed asparagus, scrambled eggs, waffles, French toast and more.
Cutting Board Basics
Cutting boards are made of every type of material from wood and glass to plastic and acrylic. Find out which is better: wooden cutting boards or plastic.
Cooking With Steam
Steaming is a very gentle cooking method, making it ideal for delicate items like seafood. Steam also cooks the food quickly while retaining its nutrients.
Ratatouille Recipe
Ratatouille is a traditional French dish made of eggplants, tomatoes and zucchini. This version uses zucchini, yellow squash and toasted pine nuts.
Basic Corn Bread Recipe
This photo gallery features recipes for chicken marengo, grilled sesame chicken, rice pilaf, herbed asparagus, scrambled eggs, waffles, French toast and more.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Oatmeal raisin cookies are everything a cookie should be. This classic oatmeal raisin cookie recipe shows why it's one of the most popular cookies ever.
Allumette
Allumette is a basic knife cut measuring ¼ inch × ¼ inch × 2½ inches.
Chicken & Poultry Safety Tips
These safety and food handling guidelines for preparing and storing chicken and poultry will help you avoid salmonella and other food-related bacteria.
Grilled Strip Steak
This recipe for broiled or grilled strip steak topped with Maître d'Hôtel butter is one of the classic steak preparations, and one of the simplest.
All About Flour
Wheat flour is the most common flour used in baking. Learn about the difference between bread flour, cake flour and all-purpose flour.
Crispy Hash Browns
This simple recipe for hashed brown potatoes (or hash browns) is made from shredded potatoes that are cooked in hot butter and oil until crispy.
Davidson's Safest Choice
Davidson's Safest Choice sells pasteurized eggs in markets nationwide. You can use their store locator to see if their products are available at a grocer in your area.
Deep-Fat Frying
Deep-frying, or deep-fat frying, is a cooking method that involves submerging the food in hot, liquid fat and is considered a form of dry-heat cooking.
Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe
One of the most popular of the mayonnaise-based salad dressings, Blue Cheese dressing is easy to make. It's fantastic on a chilled wedge of iceberg lettuce, and it makes a great dip, too!
Facts About Sodium Nitrate
Nitrates and nitrites are widely used in preserving meats. And while nitrates are commonly thought to be bad for you, that's not the case at all. In fact, it's the exact opposite.
5 Ways to Improve Your Cooking
Are you looking for ways to bring a little extra pizazz to your cooking? Here are five simple tips to help you become a better cook instantly!
Keeping Your Knife Sharp
Sharpening your chef's knife — and keeping it sharp — will make cooking easier and safer. Learn the right way to take care of your knives.
Cooking Classes for Kids
A number of organizations offer culinary classes for kids. Find children's cooking classes that are available near you.
The White Chef's Jacket
The traditional white chef's jacket is among the most recognizable pieces of clothing in the world. But there's more to that unique design than you might think.
Table of Fats: Good and Bad
Which fats are highest in saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans fats? This reference table helps you compare "good" and "bad" fats.
What is Cooking?
What is cooking? At its most basic, cooking is about the ways in which food is transformed by applying heat to it.
Beef Pot Roast Recipe
Traditional pot roast is actually cooked by braising, not roasting. This recipe uses moist-heat and long, slow cooking to prepare the beef, leaving it moist, tender and succulent.
Bacon Wrapped Pork
The idea of bacon-wrapped pork is so audacious that a lot of people wouldn't dare try it. But they're missing out. See this recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Pork Medallions.
Lemon Blueberry Scones Recipe
Here's a recipe for lemon blueberry scones that are sweet, tangy and deliciously moist. See how easy it is to make these lemon blueberry scones.
Julienne: Knife Cut Examples
Julienne is a basic knife cut measuring 1/8 inch × 1/8 inch × 2½ inches.
Fine Brunoise: Knife Cuts
Fine brunoise is a basic knife cut measuring 1/16 inch × 1/16 inch × 1/16 inch.
Moist-Heat Cooking
Moist heat cooking refers to various methods for cooking food with, or in, any type of liquid — whether it's steam, water, stock, wine or something else.
Spinach & Bacon Frittata
A frittata is an Italian-style flat omelet that's baked in a skillet. This recipe features spinach, bacon and cheddar cheese.
Braised Lamb Shoulder Recipe
This braised lamb recipe uses moist-heat and long, slow cooking to prepare the lamb, leaving it moist, tender and succulent.
Rice Pilaf Recipe
In the "pilaf method," uncooked rice is sautéed, hot stock is added, then the rice is braised in the oven until all the liquid is absorbed.
Fine Julienne: Knife Cuts
Fine julienne is a basic knife cut measuring 1/16 inch × 1/16 inch × 2 inches.
Keeping Your Cooler Cool
Insulated coolers or ice chests keep food cold and help prevent food poisoning on summer picnics, cookouts, outdoor grilling and barbecuing.
Cooking Oil Smoke Points
The temperature at which any oil will start to smoke is called its smoke point. Here's a table that shows the smoke points for the most common cooking fats and oils.
Pan-Seared Sea Scallops #2
Seared sea scallops are always popular, and this illustrated tutorial will show you, step-by-step, exactly how to make them. It's simpler than you might think!
All About Sauteing
Sautéing is a form of dry-heat cooking that uses a very hot pan and a small amount of fat to quickly cook food while browning the surface.
Color-Coded Cutting Boards
Color-coded cutting boards for different ingredients can help prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen. Find out how to use color-coded cutting boards for food safety.
Caesar Salad Recipe
Legend has it that the Caesar salad was born at Caesar's Restaurant in Tijuana in 1924. This Caesar salad recipe uses a coddled egg instead of a raw egg yolk.
Hollandaise Sauce Recipe
Hollandaise is a wonderfully rich, lemony and buttery sauce that goes with eggs, vegetables and poached fish. Here's a basic hollandaise sauce recipe.
Cinnamon Sugar Recipe
Cinnamon sugar is used all the time in baking, and mixing up a batch is as easy as stirring. This recipe makes 2 cups of cinnamon sugar.
Does Searing Seal in Juices?
The culinary illuminati say the idea that you "seal in" a steak's natural juices when you sear it has been debunked by science. It turns out they're wrong.
Key Food Handling Temperatures
This table illustrates the Food Temperature Danger Zone and the other key temperatures for safe food handling.
Ratatouille: Step By Step
Ratatouille is a delicious, rustic vegetable stew made with eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini and peppers. This illustrated tutorial shows you, step by step, how to make it.
Risotto Cakes Recipe
Risotto cakes are a great way to use leftover risotto. These risotto cakes are so good, and so easy to make, you might make risotto just for the leftovers.
How To Caramelize Creme Brulee
Sprinkle the tops of the custards with granulated white sugar. In part two of this tutorial, you'll learn how to caramelize a crème brûlée.
What is a Chef?
Who or what is a chef? How about a sous-chef? Or an executive chef? Here's a summary of some of the most common culinary job titles and what each one means.
How to Make an Allumette Cut
This step-by-step illustrated guide to making an allumette cut will help you improve your culinary knife skills. Check out photos and tutorials on all the basic knife cuts.
Cinnamon Cookies
These basic cinnamon cookies are simple and delicious. We use a the bottom of a glass to flatten and shape the cookies.
Puree of Turnip Soup Recipe
The turnip can be overlooked and underrated. If you're not already a fan of this humble root vegetable, this classic purée of turnip soup may surprise you.
How To Caramelize Onions
Caramelized onions are a delicious accompaniment for burgers and other hot sandwiches. The trick to caramelizing onions is cooking them slowly over low heat.
How To Make Brown Stock
Brown stock is the basis for the rich, deeply flavorful classical sauces, like the Bordelaise and Robert. This tutorial shows you how to make brown stock.
Jicama and Corn Salad Recipe
This refreshing jicama and corn salad with toasted pine nuts and fresh mint is cool, crunchy and delicious. A simple vinaigrette pulls it all together.
Turkey Club Sandwich Recipe
You haven't had a turkey club sandwich till you've had one made with your own leftover turkey instead of the usual processed turkey breast.
Making Stock: The Basics
Making chicken stock, beef stock or other stocks requires understanding all the ingredients that go into a stock. Read all about the basics of making stock.
Pureed Vegetable Soup
This puréed vegetable soup is warm and satisfying, perfect for the colder months. It's thickened by the natural starch from the carrots, turnips and potatoes.
Cuts of Meat
Curious about the different primal cuts of beef, pork or lamb? These diagrams show the basic cuts of meat, as well as recipes and cooking methods for each one.
Fish Stock Recipe
Fish stock, or fumé, is great for making fish soups, chowders and sauces. Here's a simple fish stock recipe you can prepare in about 45 minutes.
Corn & Crab Chowder
This classic corn and crab chowder will warm you through and through, even on the bitterest of winter days.
FAQ: Food Temp Danger Zone
Millions of cases of foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, occur each year. Most cases are preventable through proper cooking and handling of food. Find out more about preventing food poisoning in your kitchen.
Roasting & Baking
Roasting and baking are dry-heat cooking methods that cook with hot, dry air while browning the food's exterior, thus developing complex flavors and aromas.
Cuts of Lamb
Curious about cuts of lamb like the leg, loin, rib or breast? Here's a diagram of the various lamb cuts with a description of each one.
Proper Sharpening/Honing Angle
These helpful graphics illustrate the correct 22½-degree angle for sharpening a chef's knife using a whetstone or a honing steel.
Make Your Own Baking Powder
You can make your own baking powder by combining baking soda with cream of tartar. Find out the exact formula for making your own baking powder.
Sachet d'Épices
A sachet d'épices is a small cheesecloth sack of herbs and spices used to add flavor to stocks.
Small Dice: Knife Cut Examples
Small dice is a basic knife cut measuring ¼ inch × ¼ inch × ¼ inch.
Cinnamon Streusel Topping
This simple streusel will really spruce up your homemade muffins and it can be mixed up in just a few seconds. Just sprinkle it over muffins before baking!
Carne Asada Recipe
This tasty grilled carne asada recipe features chipotle chiles, kiwi fruit and grilled spring onions.
Poaching & Simmering
Poaching, simmering and boiling are three different cooking methods where food is cooked in hot water or some other cooking liquid such as broth, stock or wine.
KitchenAid Food Grinder
The KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment will make your KitchenAid stand mixer even more versatile than it already is.
Potato & Leek Soup
Potato and Leek Soup is one of the most satisfying of the classic puréed soups and one that is sure to become a favorite.
Medium Dice: Knife Cut Example
Medium dice is a basic knife cut measuring ½ inch × ½ inch × ½ inch.
Zucchini Ribbon Noodles
This refreshing summertime dish features thin ribbons of zucchini served with a simple sauce made of puréed red bell peppers called a "coulis."
Chicken Velouté Sauce
Velouté is one of the "leading sauces" of classical cuisine. This version, the chicken velouté, is the basis for the traditional Suprême sauce and many others.
Braising & Stewing
Braising is a form of moist-heat cooking in which the item to be cooked is partially covered with liquid and then simmered slowly at a low temperature.

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