Dinner ideas
5 dinners for a box of mushrooms
A box of mushrooms can become a fast toast topping, a rice skillet, a pasta sauce, a bean dinner or a pan of eggs when the cut matches the clock.
Guides
Comparisons, buying guides and the answers to "which one is actually better".
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Storage and keeping
How to keep tinned tomatoes useful after opening
Move leftover tomatoes out of the tin, chill them promptly and freeze portions you will actually use. The best storage plan is one that has a next meal attached to it.
Buying guides
Firm vs extra-firm tofu: which crisps best?
Extra-firm tofu is the reliable choice for crisp edges and turning. Firm tofu can still work when you press it gently, use larger pieces and avoid overhandling.
Buying guides
Green cabbage vs pointed cabbage: which one should you buy?
Green cabbage is the sturdier all-rounder. Pointed cabbage is sweeter, quicker to soften and better when dinner needs tender leaves without a long braise.
Storage and keeping
How to keep fresh peas sweet after buying
Fresh peas are at their best soon after buying. Keep the pods cold and dry, do not wash them early, and cook them before they lose their sweetness.
Dinner ideas
5 dinners for too many courgettes
A pile of courgettes needs different textures, not five versions of the same saute. These dinners use roasting, grating, blending, ribbons and stewing.
Buying guides
Leeks vs onions: when does the softer flavour matter?
Use onions when you want a strong savoury base; use leeks when you want a tender, sweet allium that can remain visible in the finished dish.
Buying guides
English cucumber vs salad cucumber: which stays crisp?
English cucumbers tend to have smaller seeds and a steadier crunch, while salad cucumbers vary more by age. Freshness and firmness still matter most.
Buying guides
Corn on the cob vs frozen sweetcorn: which tastes better?
A freshly picked ear is hard to beat. For supermarket corn that has travelled or waited, frozen sweetcorn often has more sweetness and a cleaner bite.
Dinner ideas
5 dinners that use one spoonful of tomato paste
Use the last spoonful of tomato paste in beans, eggs, lentils, pasta or roasted vegetables. Each idea gives it a clear job instead of leaving it in the fridge.
Dinner ideas
5 dinners that make aubergine the main event
Aubergine can carry dinner when it gets enough heat, a sharp finish and something with substance beside it. These five meals give it the main role.
Buying guides
Tinned tomatoes vs passata: which belongs in your sauce?
Use tinned tomatoes when the tomato should stay visible. Use passata when you want a smooth sauce with less work. The middle ground is where most pans go wrong.