Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

1. Master Essential Cooking Techniques for Culinary Confidence

Our seal assures you that every recipe in Better Homes & Gardens® New Cook Book has been tested in the Better Homes & Gardens® Test Kitchen.

Foundation of Cooking. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book emphasizes mastering fundamental cooking techniques as the cornerstone of culinary confidence. These techniques, such as sautéing, roasting, stir-frying, broiling, steaming, and pan-frying, provide a solid base for exploring more complex recipes. Understanding these methods allows cooks to adapt and improvise, fostering creativity in the kitchen.

Technique and Terminology. The book provides clear explanations of cooking terminology and techniques, ensuring that even novice cooks can follow recipes with ease. Visual aids and step-by-step instructions demystify the cooking process, making it accessible to all.

• Sauté: Cook and stir food in a small amount of oil over medium to medium-high heat.
• Roast: A dry-heat cooking method that browns the outside of foods.
• Stir-fry: A fast, high-heat method for quick-cooking uniform-size ingredients.

Cookware. Investing in good-quality cookware is essential for successful cooking. The book offers guidance on selecting the right skillets, saucepans, and other tools, emphasizing the importance of oven-safe options for versatility.

2. Embrace Global Flavors and Diverse Dishes

To satisfy our ever-expanding global palate, it has more flavorfully diverse dishes (Tandoori Chicken, Butternut Squash Shakshuka, and Tahini Dressing, for example) and on-trend recipes (grain bowls, vegetarian meals, and one-pan dinners).

Expanding Culinary Horizons. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book encourages cooks to explore a wide range of global flavors and diverse dishes. From Tandoori Chicken to Butternut Squash Shakshuka, the book offers recipes that cater to an ever-expanding palate. This exploration of international cuisine adds excitement and variety to home cooking.

On-Trend Recipes. The cookbook includes recipes that reflect current culinary trends, such as grain bowls, vegetarian meals, and one-pan dinners. These recipes are designed to be both flavorful and convenient, appealing to busy home cooks.

• Grain bowls: Customizable and nutritious meals featuring a variety of grains, vegetables, and proteins.
• Vegetarian meals: Plant-based dishes that are both satisfying and flavorful.
• One-pan dinners: Easy and efficient meals that minimize cleanup.

Classics and Updated Recipes. While embracing new flavors, the cookbook also revisits classic recipes, ensuring they are the best they can be. Iconic dishes like Mac and Cheese are scrutinized and perfected, providing cooks with reliable and delicious versions of familiar favorites.

3. Prioritize Food Safety and Proper Storage

Cooked food should stand at room temperature no longer than 2 hours (1 hour if outside temp is 80°F or higher). Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

Food Handling Safety. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book emphasizes the importance of safe food handling practices to prevent foodborne illnesses. This includes keeping raw meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and shellfish separate from other foods, as well as washing hands and utensils after working with raw ingredients.

Temperature Control. Maintaining proper temperatures is crucial for food safety. Cold foods should be stored at 40°F or below, while hot foods should be served immediately or held at 140°F or above. These temperatures inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.

• Fridge temperature: 38°F to 40°F
• Freezer temperature: 0°F

Storage Guidelines. The cookbook provides detailed guidelines for storing various types of food in the refrigerator and freezer. These guidelines help ensure that food remains fresh and safe to eat for as long as possible.

4. Measure Accurately for Baking Success

Take the time to measure each ingredient correctly and you’ll see (and taste) the results.

Importance of Precision. Accurate measuring is particularly crucial in baking, where chemical reactions depend on precise ratios of ingredients. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book provides detailed instructions on how to measure various ingredients, from flour to brown sugar.

Measuring Techniques. The cookbook outlines specific techniques for measuring different types of ingredients:

• Flour: Stir to fluff, lightly spoon into a dry measuring cup, and level with a table knife.
• Brown sugar: Scoop or spoon into a dry measuring cup and pack firmly.
• Sticky liquids: Coat the liquid measure with nonstick cooking spray first.

Measuring Tools. Using the right measuring tools is essential for accuracy. The cookbook distinguishes between liquid measuring cups (for liquids) and dry measuring cups (for dry ingredients), as well as measuring spoons for smaller quantities.

5. Grilling: Master the Fire for Perfect Results

Controlling the fire is the key to perfect, flame-seared meats and veggies.

Direct vs. Indirect Grilling. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book explains the difference between direct and indirect grilling, as well as the types of food that are best suited for each method. Direct grilling involves placing food directly over the heat source, while indirect grilling positions food to the side of the heat source.

Gas vs. Charcoal Grills. The cookbook provides guidance on using both gas and charcoal grills, including tips on preheating, adjusting heat, and cleaning grates. Charcoal grills offer a smoky flavor, while gas grills are more convenient and easier to control.

• Gas grills: Clean, convenient, and easy to control.
• Charcoal grills: Require more effort but provide a smoky flavor.

Grilling Safety. Safety is paramount when grilling. The cookbook emphasizes the importance of positioning the grill in a well-ventilated area, keeping children and pets at a safe distance, and having a fire extinguisher handy.

6. Spice Up Your Life: A Guide to Garlic, Herbs, and Spices

Ground spices start to lose flavor after one year. For the most intense flavor, buy WHOLE spices and grind them at home.

Garlic and Spice Essentials. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book offers a comprehensive guide to using garlic, herbs, and spices to enhance the flavor of dishes. This includes information on storing garlic, roasting garlic, and creating spice blends.

Herb Varieties. The cookbook provides detailed descriptions of various herbs, both fresh and dried, as well as tips on how to substitute one for another. It also includes guidance on storing fresh herbs to prolong their shelf life.

• Fresh herbs: Store in a jar with water, loosely covered with a plastic bag, in the refrigerator.
• Dried herbs: Crush with a mortar and pestle to release aromatic oils.

Spice Blends. The cookbook includes recipes for creating your own spice blends, such as chili powder, taco seasoning, and pumpkin pie spice. These blends can be used to add complex flavors to meat, poultry, fish, sauces, and soups.

7. Poultry, Meat, and Fish: Cooking Charts for Perfect Doneness

Although all poultry is considered safe when it reaches 165°F, we prefer the texture of these cuts at these temperatures: 175°F for thighs and drumsticks, 170°F for bone-in breast meat, and 165°F for boneless breast meat.

Comprehensive Cooking Charts. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book provides detailed cooking charts for poultry, meat, and fish, including techniques, timings, and temperatures. These charts help cooks achieve perfect doneness every time.

Poultry Cooking. The cookbook offers guidance on broiling, direct-grilling, indirect-grilling, roasting, and skillet-cooking poultry. It also includes recommended internal temperatures for different cuts of chicken and turkey.

• Chicken: 165°F (boneless breast), 170°F (bone-in breast), 175°F (thighs and drumsticks)
• Turkey: 165°F (tenderloin), 170°F (breast), 175°F (whole bird)

Meat Cooking. The cookbook provides similar charts for beef, lamb, pork, and veal, including information on broiling, direct-grilling, indirect-grilling, skillet-cooking, and roasting. It also includes recommended internal temperatures for different cuts of meat.

Fish and Seafood Cooking. The cookbook offers guidance on direct-grilling, indirect-grilling, cooking fish, and preparing shellfish. It also includes a guide to different types of fish, as well as tips on selecting fresh seafood.

8. Beans, Grains, Fruits, and Vegetables: Cooking Essentials

1 tsp. dried herbs = 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh herbs = ½ tsp. ground herb

Cooking Dried Legumes. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book provides instructions on cooking dried legumes, including beans, lentils, and split peas. This includes information on presoaking, cooking times, and yields.

Cooking Grains. The cookbook offers guidance on cooking various grains, including barley, buckwheat, bulgur, farina, farro, hominy grits, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye berries, spelt, and wheat berries. This includes information on water ratios, cooking times, and yields.

Fruits and Vegetables. The cookbook includes tips on selecting fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as information on fruit and vegetable seasons. It also provides guidance on cooking fresh vegetables and direct-grilling vegetables.

9. Preserving the Harvest: Canning, Drying, and Fermenting

For the latest information on food safety regulations, recalls, and precautions, go to foodsafety.gov.

Canning. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book provides detailed instructions on canning fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, pickles, and relishes. This includes information on jar basics, sterilizing, processing, and testing seals.

Drying. The cookbook offers guidance on drying fruits, vegetables, herbs, and meats. This includes information on using a dehydrator, as well as tips on preparing and storing dried foods.

Fermenting. The cookbook includes recipes for fermenting condiments and vegetables, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and sriracha-style Asian chili sauce. This includes information on selecting produce, maintaining proper temperatures, and ensuring food safety.

10. Go-To Basic Recipes: Burgers, Chicken, Eggs, Fish, and Pork

At the top of the list of essential weeknight recipes—skinless, boneless chicken breasts.

Essential Recipes. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book includes a section on go-to basic recipes that every cook should master. These recipes provide a foundation for building culinary skills and creating delicious meals.

Burgers. The cookbook offers instructions on mixing, shaping, and flipping burgers, as well as tips on customizing with toppings, sauces, and seasonings. This includes information on using 85%-lean ground beef for the juiciest burgers.

Chicken Breasts. The cookbook provides three ways to prepare skinless, boneless chicken breasts: chicken with pan sauce, roasting, and poaching. It also includes flavor ideas for pan sauces, such as cilantro-chipotle, bacon-leek, tomato-parmesan, and lemon-thyme.

Eggs. The cookbook offers instructions on preparing eggs in various ways, including hard-boiled, fried, scrambled, poached, and omelet. This includes tips on easy peeling for hard-boiled eggs, as well as timings for soft and jammy yolks.

Fish. The cookbook provides four ways to prepare fish: roasted, poaching, broiling, and skillet cooking. It also includes information on fish cuts, shopping, and preparing fish.

Pork Chops. The cookbook offers instructions on baking pork chops, as well as tips on grilling and brush-ons. This includes information on bone-in and boneless chops, as well as savory strawberry salsa and corn and pepper relish toppers.

11. Breakfast Bliss: From Quick Bites to Leisurely Brunches

Yes, absolutely. Our culinary specialists are home cooks at heart—like you. So at the end of their day they often step right back into their kitchens at home!

Variety of Options. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book offers a wide range of breakfast recipes, from quick bites to leisurely brunches. This includes breads, pastries, cereals, eggs, meats, pancakes, waffles, and smoothies.

Quick and Easy Recipes. The cookbook includes recipes for busy mornings, such as quick eggs in a cup, breakfast burritos, and breakfast sandwiches. These recipes are designed to be both nutritious and convenient.

Brunch Recipes. The cookbook also includes recipes for more elaborate brunch spreads, such as frittatas, breakfast tarts, and stuffed French toast. These recipes are perfect for weekend gatherings and special occasions.

12. Casseroles: Comfort Food for Any Occasion

We fail in our kitchen so you have success in yours!

Versatile and Convenient. The Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book features a variety of casserole recipes, offering comfort food for any occasion. Casseroles are easy to prepare, can be made ahead of time, and are perfect for feeding a crowd.

Meat, Poultry, and Fish Casseroles. The cookbook includes recipes for beef bourguignonne casserole, chicken and wild rice casserole, tuna noodle casserole, and shrimp fondue casserole. These recipes are designed to be both flavorful and satisfying.

Meatless Casseroles. The cookbook also offers a selection of meatless casserole recipes, such as cheese fondue casserole and creamy baked ziti. These recipes are perfect for vegetarians or those looking to reduce their meat consumption.

Last updated: April 16, 2025