The Best Cookbook
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Our Picks For The Top Cookbooks
- The Best Cookbook
- 1. Snoop Dogg From Crook to Cook
- 2. Samin Nosrat Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
- 3. Tieghan Gerard Half Baked Harvest Cookbook
- 4. America’s Test Kitchen The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
- 5. Hawa Hassan & Julia Turshen IN Bibi’s Kitchen
- 6. Maangchi Big Book Of Korean Cooking
- 7. Toni Tipton-Martin Jubilee
- 8. Gina Homolka Skinnytaste Meal Prep
- 9. Betty Crocker Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book
- 10. Joanna Gaines Magnolia Table
- 11. Ina Garten Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
- 12. Jenson William Air Fryer Cookbook
Fun Celebrity PickEach of the recipes in this cookbook come with a unique story.
Best for BeginnersWith this cookbook, you'll be able to make everything from tender braised meats to balanced vinaigrettes.
Striking PhotosInside this cookbook, you'll find a mix of sweet and savory recipes.
Meatless and FlavorfulBoldly flavorful vegetarian recipes for mains, sides, appetizers and snacks.
For many people, cooking at home is a relaxing activity. It helps calm your nerves after a stressful day and creates excitement for the delicious meal you’re about to eat. For others, cooking is a group activity you do with your loved ones, working closely together in the kitchen to make culinary magic. Whether you’re a novice home cook or a master of the trade, using a cookbook to help guide you is a great way to try out new flavors, techniques and styles of cooking.
When looking for a great cookbook, first consider the kinds of food you’d like to try. Are you interested in going out of your comfort zone and making a dish from a different country, or do you want to stay within the kinds of meals you are familiar with? Are you going on a new diet where you omit certain foods like gluten or meat from your meals, or are you looking to expand your palate and add in new ingredients you’re not familiar with?
Be sure to also consider your level of culinary expertise. If you’re a new cook, you may want to choose a cookbook geared towards beginners with simple recipes that don’t require complex techniques. On the other hand, if you’re looking to challenge yourself, then opt for a cookbook geared towards experts with multi-step recipes and unique modes of cooking.
The Best Cookbooks
Snoop Dogg From Crook to Cook
This cookbook allows you to enter the kitchen of the famous rapper Snoop Dogg. You can cook 50 of Snoop's favorite recipes, including fried bologna sandwiches and orange chicken. The recipes are easy to re-create, even if you're consider yourself a beginner in the kitchen.
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Samin Nosrat Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
This cookbook addresses how it feels to cook a delicious meal, as well as shows you how to do it in a step-by-step manner. Recipes within the book are broken up into four categories: salt, fat, acid and heat. There are a total of 100 recipes to browse through, as well as 150 mouth-watering photos.
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Tieghan Gerard Half Baked Harvest Cookbook
If you're looking for a fresh take on comfort foods, go with this cookbook. The author brings you into her mountain kitchen, not only taking you through unique recipes, but also advising on how to best serve those dishes in a way that will excite your guests.
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America’s Test Kitchen The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
This cookbook brings more than 700 vegetarian recipes that are packed with flavor. It includes gluten-free and vegan options as well. Plus, over 500 photos are used to illustrate tricky techniques.
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Hawa Hassan & Julia Turshen IN Bibi’s Kitchen
Stories of family, love and tradition are what you'll find inside this cookbook. The book follows eight grandmothers, who share recipes that include ingredients that are native to their country. The rich history is sure to inspire you to get back to homecooking and creating delicious meals for your family that are also nutritious.
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Gina Homolka Skinnytaste Meal Prep
Learn how to make healthy freezer meals and grab-and-go dishes with this cookbook. You also learn time-saving cooking strategies and flexible techniques so you can save more time in the kitchen while cooking good-for-you meals. This book is ideal for those with a busy lifestyle.
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Joanna Gaines Magnolia Table
This cookbook brings 125 classic recipes inspired by the Gaines’ restaurant Magnolia Table. In addition, it also features personal stories and stunning photography. Recipes include chicken pot pie, white cheddar bisque, lemon pie and much more.
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Ina Garten Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
This book is filled with recipes to satisfy your deepest comfort-food cravings. You’ll learn quick weeknight meals in addition to special-event recipes. Recipes include cheesy chicken enchiladas, smashed hamburgers and Boston cream pie.
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Jenson William Air Fryer Cookbook
This cookbook demystifies the air fryer with over 600 easy recipes. Meals include quick snacks, side dishes, meaty mains, breakfasts and desserts. The book shows you how to maximize your time and get delicious results.
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Our Cookbook Buying Guide
For many people, cooking at home is a relaxing activity. It helps calm your nerves after a stressful day and creates excitement for the delicious meal you’re about to eat. For others, cooking is a group activity you do with your loved ones, working closely together in the kitchen to make culinary magic. Whether you’re a novice home cook or a master of the trade, using a cookbook to help guide you is a great way to try out new flavors, techniques and styles of cooking.
When looking for a great cookbook, first consider the kinds of food you’d like to try. Are you interested in going out of your comfort zone and making a dish from a different country, or do you want to stay within the kinds of meals you are familiar with? Are you going on a new diet where you omit certain foods like gluten or meat from your meals, or are you looking to expand your palate and add in new ingredients you’re not familiar with?
Be sure to also consider your level of culinary expertise. If you’re a new cook, you may want to choose a cookbook geared towards beginners with simple recipes that don’t require complex techniques. On the other hand, if you’re looking to challenge yourself, then opt for a cookbook geared towards experts with multi-step recipes and unique modes of cooking.
DWYM Fun Fact
Keep in mind that a recipe in a cookbook is a guide. Many people follow the recipe exactly the first time when making the meal, and then change up elements on subsequent tries. You can swap out ingredients depending on what you have available in your fridge or pantry, or give it your own signature twist by adding in a new spice. Instead of being constricting, recipes in cookbooks help you explore your own culinary tastes and skills.
The Cookbook Tips and Advice
- Consider what kind of recipes you want to make. For example, are you interested in eating less meat and trying a plant-based diet? If so, grab a vegetarian cookbook. On the other hand, if you want more comfort food recipes, opt for one that gives you those options. If you’re looking to live a healthier lifestyle, then go with a cookbook that offers low-calorie but delicious meals.
- An important factor in a cookbook is whether it can lay flat while open on the kitchen counter. If you open it up and the pages flip around on their own or the book closes on its own, you’ll end up frustrated while cooking. If the cookbook cannot lay flat, be sure to get a cookbook stand. This way, you can see the recipe while cooking without having to constantly open the book to the right page.
- In addition to reading the recipes, many people decide what to cook with their eyes. Having stunning food photography in the cookbook shows you what the final meal will look like. Many cookbooks also include illustrations for step-by-step instructions, which are particularly helpful for new cooks.
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About The Author
Anam Ahmed is a professional copywriter and essayist based in Toronto. She has been writing on technology, travel, parenting, and business for over 10 years, and works with a number of high-profile organizations. As an avid home cook who loves making magic in the kitchen, she values finding the best products to make people's lives easier. Anam earned a master's degree from the University of Toronto and a bachelor's degree from Queen's University.
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