Cooking 101: Illustrated Recipes and Cooking Guides

Go back to basics with these illustrated guides to get you cooking with confidence. Whether you're wondering how to pan fry the perfect pork chop, what temperature to cook your steak for doneness, or how to tackle basic sides like steamed veggies or rice, these illustrated guides will teach you through the culinary basics or reinforce a technique you already know.

Cooking Proteins

Cooking bacon in the oven takes only 20 minutes at 400 F and saves you the mess.

Corned Beef

Three ways to prepare corned beef, whether boiling, baking, or tossing in a slow cooker.

Crab

Boil, steam, or grill—any of these techniques will get crabs cooked in under 20 minutes.

Ham

Reheating a fully cooked ham at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes per pound.

Pork Brine

Find a simple brine recipe for pork, along with a guide for how long each cut needs.

Pork Chops

How to cook perfect pork chops is as easy as following this guide: Let them rest, pat dry, season with plenty of salt, sear in a cast iron pan, and finish in a 400 F oven.

Ribeye Steak

Cooking a ribeye steak at home doesn't have to be intimidating with the help of a quick sear in a cast iron pan.

Roast Beef

Follow this guide for a roast beef that's cooked to whatever your desired temperature of doneness.

Steak

Here's a temperature guide for steak from rare to well done.

Tofu

Prepping tofu for the grill inludes pressing out excess liquid and allowing it to spend a little time floating in a marinade—this will help ensure a tasty end result.

Tuna

How long to cook tuna steak is a question of personal preference—a light sear will only take seconds per side, while a fully cooked tuna steak will take a little under 10 minutes.

Turkey

How long to roast a whole turkey is quickly answered with this chart based on turkey weight, oven temperature, and whether the bird is stuffed or unstuffed.

Cooking Grains, Beans, and Nuts

Toasting Almonds

Toasting almonds for a salad or dessert can be accomplished in a pan, oven, or even the microwave.

Black Beans

An overnight soak and a two-hour simmer will give you the perfect freshly cooked black beans.

Chickpeas

If you don't have time to overnight soak your chickpeas, follow this quick soaking guide which requires only a short boil and one hour rest before you can begin to cook the chickpeas. Bonus: this method works to quick soak any dried bean.

Israeli Couscous

Israeli couscous, or pearl couscous, can be quickly pan toasted and then given a 10-minute simmer in water or broth.

Pasta

The cooking time of pasta will vary based on if it is fresh or dried and on its respective shape.

Rice

Cooking rice in the oven frees up stovetop space and ensures perfectly fluffy grains. Use a ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1 2/3 cup of water and a bake in a 375 F oven for 25 minutes.

Toasting Walnuts

Toasting walnuts is as easy as a 5 to 10 minute bake in a 375 oven, or on the stove top in a dry pan over medium high heat for about 5 minutes.

Wild Rice

Wild rice can be cooked by steaming on the stovetop, with a bake in the oven, or even with the microwave.

Cooking Vegetables

Steaming Vegetables

Use this all-purpose guide to steaming any vegetable on the stove or microwave.

Acorn Squash

Cooking acorn squash in the oven for an hour or microwave if you have only 15 minutes to spare.

Broccoli

Steamed broccoli cooking guide on the stovetop, with or without a steamer basket, or quickly in the microwave.

Brussels Sprouts

Steamed Brussels sprouts cooking guide on the stovetop, with or without a steamer basket, or quickly in the microwave.

Carrots

Steamed carrots cooking guide on the stovetop, with or without a steamer basket, or quickly in the microwave.

Cauliflower

Steamed cauliflower cooking guide on the stovetop, with or without a steamer basket, or quickly in the microwave.

Green Beans

Steamed green beans cooking guide on the stovetop, with or without a steamer basket, or quickly in the microwave.

Other

Grilling Halloumi Cheese

Grilling halloumi cheese over medium-high heat for just three minutes per side, will give perfect results and is a fantastic summer BBQ starter or side.

Reheating Tortillas

Reheating tortillas can be done in a damp paper towel in the microwave for 30 seconds or a low oven for 20 minutes; or for a crisper result, griddle or directly reheat over an open flame.

Tomato Paste

Homemade tomato paste is as simple as blending 1 can of tomatoes, then simmering and reducing over medium heat for 10 minutes until reduced by two-thirds.

Melting Chocolate

Melting chocolate can be done effectively in the microwave in short bursts of 30 seconds, stirring between, or in a double boiler over the stove. The most important tip when melting chocolate: be sure to keep water from getting in the chocolate or it will seize.

Fixing Seized or Overheated Chocolate

Fix seized or overheated chocolate with these easy step-by-step solutions.

Milkshakes

Whip up a classic ice cream milkshake with 3 scoops of any flavor of ice cream, 1/4 cup of whole milk, and 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup (if desired) plus some vanilla extra for an added boost of flavor. Sip and enoy!