Test Kitchen Techniques Archives

Rectangular baking dish of Asian dumpling casserole with layered wonton wrappers, savory meat and vegetables, and soy-ginger sauce, photographed beside fresh ginger and garlic.

How to Make Asian Dumpling Casserole – A One-Pan Twist on a Classic Favorite

You can make Asian dumpling casserole in about 45 minutes by layering wonton wrappers with savory ground meat, vegetables, and a soy-ginger sauce, then baking everything together until golden and bubbling. This one-pan approach gives you all the satisfying flavors of easy Asian dumplings without the time-consuming task of hand-folding dozens of individual parcels.
Perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re feeding a crowd, this casserole transforms familiar dumpling ingredients into a family-friendly format that bakes hands-…

Homemade dim sum in a bamboo steamer with har gow and siu mai, with wonton wrappers covered by a damp cloth and cornstarch nearby.

on July 13, 2026July 13, 2026Expert Advice Test Kitchen Techniques Tips and Tricks

12 Dim Sum Making Tips by Experts to Master Authentic Dumplings at Home

Making restaurant-quality dim sum at home is absolutely achievable once you master three fundamentals: keeping dough moist and pliable, sealing dumplings with proper technique, and steaming at the right temperature. Most home cooks struggle with wrappers that tear, fillings that taste flat, or dumplings that stick to the steamer, but these problems come down to knowing a handful of professional tricks that experienced dim sum makers use every day.
The secret to dim sum success isn’t complicated equipment or hard-to-find ingredients. It’s understanding small but critical details: how much water belongs in your dough, why …

A modern kitchen countertop display of unique cooking equipment, including a mortar and pestle, fish spatula, knife, bamboo steamer, cast-iron skillet, and instant-read probe.

updated on August 12, 2026June 28, 2026Expert Advice Test Kitchen Techniques Tips and Tricks

15 Unique Cooking Equipment Pieces That Will Transform Your Kitchen in 2026

Your kitchen likely holds the usual suspects: chef’s knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls, and a good skillet. But beyond these essentials lies a world of specialized tools that can transform the way you cook, from authentic international cookware tested over centuries to clever modern gadgets that solve problems you didn’t know had solutions.
Unique cooking equipment falls into three categories worth exploring. First, traditional tools from global cuisines that bring authenticity and technique to dishes you can’t quite replicate with standard gear. Second, specialized devices designed for single tasks they perform…

Hands weighing flour on a digital kitchen scale beside two bowls of batter and a finished cake on a cooling rack, with measuring tools and a home oven softly blurred in the background.

updated on September 13, 2026May 23, 2026Expert Advice Test Kitchen Techniques Tips and Tricks

Why Every Recipe You Make Should Be Tested (And How We Do It)

You’ve found a recipe that looks perfect, bookmarked it with excitement, and gathered your ingredients—only to end up with a dish that doesn’t match the photo or description. We’ve all been there, and it’s frustrating enough to make anyone want to give up on trying new recipes altogether.
Recipe testing exists to prevent exactly this disappointment. It’s the difference between a recipe that sounds good on paper and one that actually delivers consistent, delicious results in your kitchen. When a recipe has been properly tested, it means real people have made it multiple times, measured every ingredient…