Pancakes have likely been around since Ancient Greece and Rome, when people ate fried cakes made with flour, oil, salt and honey. In the modern era, pancakes have gotten more complex, with variations ranging from super-thin basic crepes, to elegant interpretations such as pecan-apple pancakes.

There are plenty of tricks for making exceptional pancakes—Martha Stewart has a super seltzer water hack to increase the fluff factor—but the pancakes at Golden Diner in New York City are so special that people stand in line for an average of two hours in the late morning, and for up to three hours during peak hours!

Why are Golden Diner’s pancakes so special?

Golden Diner itself has tons of chef cred. The year it opened, Chef Sam Yoo’s Asian-inspired take on classic American diner fare scored him a nomination for a “Best New Restaurant” James Beard Award (which is like the Best Picture Oscar of the cooking world). There, the grilled cheese and tomato soup includes kimchi, the cheeseburger buns are smeared with Korean gochujang sauce, and the coffeecake is spring green due to the inclusion of matcha.

What’s so great about the pancakes? First of all, they’re baked in a skillet, and they aren’t flipped. Because of this, the cakes stay super tender and light, but the pan side turns a rich golden brown. Secondly, they’re liberally slathered with honey butter, which is an easy and delicious topping.

The original Golden Diner pancakes are also leavened with yeast and include salt and soy sauce for a savory flavor that marries beautifully with the sweet honey butter.

With no time to head to New York and wait in line, I decided to test out a shortcut recipe from TikTok.

What was it like to make them?

In general, this recipe was easy to follow. However, since I only had one skillet in which to bake the batter, and each of the three rounds of baking took around 10 minutes, it took me a full half hour to cook the cakes. I couldn’t keep the earlier ones warm in the oven (like I usually do when I’m making batches of pancakes) because the oven was heated to 400°F. By the time the last one was done, the first two were cold.

Another gripe: The TikTok recipe didn’t say to bring the dairy products and eggs up to room temperature before stirring in the wet ingredients, and the melted butter started to harden the moment it hit the cold milk.

Even though the pan was pretty warm when it came out of the oven after the first bake, I needed to reheat the skillet on the stovetop before adding the next batch of batter in order to ensure the pancake had a toasty brown bottom. The one time I skipped this step, the resulting cake was pale and soft.

How do copycat Golden Diner pancakes taste?

The TikTok copycat recipe doesn’t include the soy sauce that’s in the real Golden Diner recipe, nor does it use any salt. Without salty ingredients, the cakes tasted flat. Since soy sauce is part of what’s intriguing about the famous ‘cakes and is also incorporated into the diner’s honey butter, I was disappointed that it wasn’t in the mix.

Using a good amount of buttermilk gave the pancakes a pleasantly sour flavor, which matched well with the honey butter topping. The chef who wrote the TikTok recipe got the amount of baking powder and baking soda just right, and the finished cakes were super light and airy, with attractive air pockets throughout. The actual Golden Diner pancakes are leavened with yeast, which makes the process take quite a bit longer, but contributes a more complex flavor.

These pancakes also had a rich golden color on the “down” side that had been touching the skillet, and looked pretty when they were flipped upside down to be served. Neither the cakes nor the honey butter were too sweet.

Are they worth waiting in line for?

My weekend breakfast go-to is a recipe for buttermilk pancakes studded with blueberries or banana. The cakes are cooked four at a time on a cast-iron griddle. I love the crispy outside bits best, and alternate between using maple syrup, honey and fruit sauces like strawberry compote as toppings.

This quick Golden Diner pancakes copycat didn’t live up to the hype. Adding the combo of maple and soy in the original recipe and using salt would help bring intrigue to what is otherwise a basic, but elegant-looking breakfast. Skipping the yeast rise saves time, but detracts from the flavor of the finished product. The high loft of the finished cakes was great, but the fact that the early ones were cold before the last one was done was less than desirable.

I might not wait for three hours for the real deal, but I think 45 minutes seems reasonable. I also think there’s a version of the Golden Diner pancake recipe that’s worth making at home, but it may not be this one.

Related:

• Our Best Pancake Recipes
• The Best Maple Syrup You Can Buy
• The Very Best Pancake Mix, According to Our Pro Pancake Flippers

The post I Made the Internet-Famous ‘Golden Diner Pancakes’—Do They Live Up to the Hype? appeared first on Taste Recipes.

When he’s not acting, Ryan is hanging out with his family. He’s been in a relationship with fellow actor Eva Mendes since 2011, and the couple has two daughters, Esmerelda and Amada. He keeps a lot of his personal life private, but there is one aspect that he will discuss: food! Which is lucky for me, since my job is to write about food.

And if you’re wondering, he does play favorites. There is one recipe that he just can’t seem to get “Kenough” of, and it’s one that his mother-in-law makes!

What is Ryan Gosling’s favorite dessert?

“If you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?” I think that is a pretty impossible question to answer, but it didn’t stump Ryan Gosling in this Netflix interview. Much to my surprise, he had an answer ready to go—and it’s a good one!

“It would be Eva’s mom’s arroz con leche,” he said. And then he even took it a step further by elaborating on exactly how it tastes. “It’s like an angel crying on your tongue,” he continued.

What is arroz con leche?

Arroz con leche is a sweet, cinnamon-spiced pudding. It’s a big part of Mexican and other Latin cuisines. Ryan Gosling’s mother-in-law, Eva Perez Suarez, is Cuban.

As with any dish, it will vary from culture to culture and family to family, but the basic ingredients are the same. It’s a mixture of rice, sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon and raisins. Angel tears must be that secret family ingredient!

Related:

• Our Best Recipes for Cuban Food
• Here’s What A-List Celebs Eat at the Oscars After-Party
• How to Make a Barbie Cocktail

The post Ryan Gosling’s Favorite Dessert Is One of His Mother-in-Law’s Recipes appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The mother of Beyoncé and grandmother of Blue Ivy, Rumi and Sir revealed in a recent interview that the gift she wants most for Mother’s Day is for Bey and her sister Solange to come and learn how to make gumbo. It’s significant for Tina because she first learned to make this labor-intensive dish from her mother, Agnes.

But with Beyoncé having just kicked off her cross-country Cowboy Carter tour, it’s not looking like that will happen soon. I suspect Tina will do the cooking this Mother’s Day.

What does Tina Knowles cook for Beyoncé?

The dish that Tina loves to cook is Louisiana Creole gumbo. It was the first dish she learned how to make and remains her favorite thing to prepare for family gatherings.

A recipe for the dish was featured in Tina’s 2002 book Destiny’s Style: Bootylicious Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Secrets from Destiny’s Child and recently resurfaced on TikTok.

The dish starts with a roux, 6 pounds of frozen okra, celery, bell pepper, onions and seasonings. Then she adds chicken, crabs, sausage and tomatoes. The gumbo simmers for three to four hours before the shrimp is added, and the end result is served over rice.

“There are no shortcuts, so you are going to have to baby-sit that pot until it’s ready,” Tina’s recipe reads.

It seems Beyoncé just doesn’t have the patience—or the cooking skills. Tina admitted in a 2019 interview that the superstar “can’t cook,” but Bey is no diva. She’s crazy in love with Tina’s cooking, once calling her mother “the best cook in the world.”

“She makes the best Creole food, all the gumbo and jambalaya and soul food,” Beyoncé said. “When I go home, I want to be babied. I want my mom to cook me food, I want to wear my socks and crawl up into bed, and I don’t want to cook!”

Related:

• Louisiana Gumbo Recipe
• What’s the Difference Between Cajun and Creole Food?
• I Made Dolly Parton’s Butterscotch Pie

The post This Is What Beyoncé’s Mom Makes for Mother’s Day appeared first on Taste Recipes.

That said, everybody does potato salad a little differently. From selecting the type of potatoes for potato salad, dressing ingredients and other mix-ins, no two potato salads are exactly the same.

One of our most beloved and top-rated potato salad recipes has to be this Southern potato salad. The reason? It boils down to one special ingredient that takes this classic dish to all-new levels of yum: sweet pickles.

Why You Should Add Chopped Pickles to Your Potato Salad

Yep, a generous amount of chopped sweet pickles is the secret to this five-star potato salad. Most potato salad recipes feature plenty of salty, spicy and/or acidic ingredients like mustard, bacon, vinegar or chopped onion. While each ingredient brings tons of flavor and texture to a potato salad recipe, the finished product still lacks something. That’s where the sweet pickles come into play.

Unlike dill pickles, sweet pickles bring a necessary sweetness that contrasts with the other dominant flavors in a potato salad. In fact, many people who grew up eating southern potato salad claim it must have a hint of sweetness to be the real deal. While some say a bit of regular sugar is the way to go (like in this Amish potato salad), others swear that sweet pickles are the secret to success.

How to Make Potato Salad with Pickles

Making potato salad with pickles starts like other potato salad recipes. You begin by boiling the potatoes. Once tender, drain the potatoes and cool them completely in the refrigerator.

While the potatoes cool, finely chop the other ingredients (including the sweet pickles) and make a simple dressing with mayonnaise, mustard and spices. Once the potatoes are cool, toss everything together and mix until thoroughly combined.

Once mixed, the potato salad can be served immediately, or it can be returned to the refrigerator for several hours. Like tuna salad, potato salad tastes best once the flavors have had a chance to hang out together in the fridge and marinate.

More Ways to Punch Up Potato Salad

• Add a splash of pickle juice: Why stop at chopped pickles? Go ahead and add a few tablespoons of the pickle juice to your dressing. The brine helps the pickle flavor permeate the salad for maximum flavor.
• Toss in green olives: If you prefer a potato salad with a salty bite, green olives are one of our favorite ingredients to add to just about any recipe (like this Italian potato salad).
• Consider a bit of crunch: Some people don’t enjoy potato salad because they find the texture too mushy or gloopy. Counter this by adding crisp and crunchy ingredients to the mix for a burst of texture. Finely chopped celery, radish or green peas are just a few options to consider.
• Spice it up: For extra heat, add a few tablespoons of fresh or pickled chopped jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce.
• Don’t forget about herbs: It’s summer, meaning fresh herbs are readily available to add flavor and color to any dish. For potato salad, add a few tablespoons of fresh parsley, dill or chives.

Related:

• The Best Store-Bought Potato Salads, Ranked
• The Best Mayonnaise Brands, According to Our Test Kitchen
• Can You Eat Green Potatoes and Are They Safe to Eat?

The post This Is My Secret for Making the Most Flavorful Potato Salad appeared first on Taste Recipes.

What is “dinosaur time?”

@talatonline54k I’ve been going strong on dinosaur time for about a week now as a supplement to my normal lunches and I feel pretty good. So maybe try it out #greens #healthy #healthyliving #healthyrecipes #healthylifestyle #fyp #dinosaur #dinosaurtime #Fitness #fitnesstips #nutrition #nutritiontips #macros ♬ original sound – Talat54K

The trend first arose with TikTok user @sahmthingsup (identified by NPR as Amy Garrett), who posted a video on February 27 demonstrating her method for getting the right nutrients into her daily diet. Calling it “the best life hack for me,” she takes a large fistful of raw spinach straight from the package, then quickly stuffs the whole bundle in her mouth, taking time to chew it all before stuffing even more spinach into her mouth and chewing, chewing, chewing.

“I’ve been going strong on dinosaur time for about a week now as a supplement to my normal lunches and I feel pretty good,” the caption reads in part. The video had nearly half a million likes and thousands of comments praising the method.

People are attracted to the notion of “dinosaur time” for a number of reasons. For one thing, not everyone has time to cook healthy, vegetable-forward meals, and simply downing fistfuls of raw leafy greens alleviates the need to do so. Some people who dislike the taste of vegetables but still want the health benefits consider “dino time” a way of getting it over with quickly.

One commenter also pointed out that the method creates no dishes that must be washed. And then, of course, some people just find it fun to act like a dinosaur. Understandable.

Is “dinosaur eating” healthy?

There’s nothing inherently wrong about this approach to eating one’s greens, but NPR does note that those prone to kidney stones and people who take blood thinners might want to steer clear of the practice, since a sudden influx of the vegetables’ oxalic acid could cause complications to underlying health issues.

It also shouldn’t be undertaken as some sort of weight loss hack, and it’s certainly not the be-all and end-all of nutritional wellness. Other than that, nutritionists seem to be more or less fine with the practice, though they also point out that it’s just one of many potential approaches to a healthy diet.

“As long as people are consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, they should be getting enough nutrients,” registered dietitian Alyssa Smolen told CBS News. Recommendations include blending greens into a green smoothie, cooking them into scrambled eggs, tossing them into a sandwich or wrap or even pairing them with sliced deli turkey for an easy snack. Eating greens doesn’t have to be a chore overcome by acting like an ancient predator.

Related:

• • Spinach Salad Recipes
  • Viral TikTok Recipes and Food Hacks
  • What Is Fridgescaping?

The post This Bizarre ‘Dinosaur Eating’ Trend Has the Internet Completely Divided appeared first on Taste Recipes.

That’s why, when we discovered a homemade baking spray recipe, we had to put it to the test.

What is homemade baking spray?

Full disclosure, this homemade baking “spray” is not a spray at all. Rather, it’s a simple paste (similar in consistency to pancake batter) that you can brush onto your glass, ceramic or metal bakeware using a pastry brush.

Like commercial baking sprays, this recipe includes a combination of oil, emulsifiers and starch to help prevent food from sticking to baking pans. Unlike store-bought products, though, this homemade baking spray is made using just three ingredients you likely already have. The result is an effective pan release free from harmful propellants and problematic additives (such as soy lecithin, dimethyl silicone and diacetyl).

Ingredients for Homemade Baking Spray

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

How to Make Homemade Baking Spray

Step 1: Beat the flour and shortening

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the flour and shortening at medium-low speed until they form a smooth paste, about two minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.

Editor’s Tip: If you don’t own a stand mixer, use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to beat the shortening and flour together by hand. Then, incorporate the oil in the next step using a wire whisk.

Step 2: Add the oil

With the mixer set to low speed, slowly pour in the oil and mix until the baking spray is smooth, about one minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure no lumps remain.

Step 3: Transfer and store

Once smooth, transfer the mixture to a lidded container, such as a Mason jar, and store it in the refrigerator or at room temperature until you’re ready to use it.

How to Use Homemade Baking Spray

When using a homemade baking spray, go ahead and be generous. We used roughly 1-1/2 tablespoons of “goop” to coat the inside of a 10-cup bundt pan. For a small 8- or 9-inch square baking pan, you’ll likely need a little less than 1 tablespoon to sufficiently coat the pan.

To apply, use a pastry brush with natural or silicone bristles to coat the bottom and sides of your pan. Brush it evenly into any corners and crevices on your pan to ensure a clean release.

Is homemade baking spray worth it?

Yes, homemade baking spray works like a charm! This truly might be one of the best kitchen hacks we’ve tried in a while. Homemade baking spray comes together in less than 10 minutes and is super effective as a pan release. We tested this DIY product on aluminum, nonstick, ceramic and glass bakeware, and all of them passed with flying colors.

Another benefit of this goop is its affordability. These days, a single, standard-size can of our Test Kitchen’s favorite cooking spray costs around $4 per can. We did the math, and a batch of this homemade baking spray costs a mere $1.73 and yields a little more than 1 cup of product. Now, that’s what we call a deal! Needless to say, this homemade baking spray will be a new fixture in our pantry for all of our favorite baking recipes.

How to Store Homemade Baking Spray

This homemade baking spray may be stored at room temperature in an airtight food storage container (e.g., a Mason jar) for up to three months. For longer storage, keep it refrigerated for up to six months.

Homemade Baking Spray Tips

Can you make homemade baking spray with gluten-free flour?

Yes! Another benefit of this homemade pan release is that you can make a gluten-free version using an equal amount of your favorite 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.

Why did this homemade baking spray turn my chocolate cake hazy?

You can use this homemade baking spray for just about any baked good. That said, it can leave a white cast or haze on darker-colored cakes or muffins. To prevent this, you can tint the pan release with cocoa powder. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cocoa powder per tablespoon of homemade baking spray, and then use it as directed.

Why did my pan release separate?

Separation is a natural occurrence with this homemade baking spray, especially if you don’t use it promptly. If you notice separation, simply whisk the ingredients back together.

Can I use homemade baking spray on nonstick pans?

Yes. Commercial baking sprays typically contain soy lecithin, an emulsifier that, while effective, can leave a sticky residue over time that requires more effort when cleaning nonstick pans. Since this homemade version doesn’t contain soy lecithin, you can use it without fear.

Related:

• Pantry Staples You Can Make at Home
• Here’s When You Should Use Cooking Spray (and When You Shouldn’t)
• The Ultimate Guide to Baking Substitutes

The post We Tested a Homemade Baking ‘Spray.’ Here’s How It Went appeared first on Taste Recipes.

She takes her food as seriously as her acting, much like her Lady Bird and Little Women co-star, Timothée Chalamet. In fact, she even signed up to take a cooking course!

What dessert did Saoirse Ronan learn to make?

According to this interview, she took a week-long cooking class with a friend in Edinburgh, Scotland. “It was just sort of beginner’s things, like different sorts of crumbles and pastries,” she told Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.

She also learned how to properly brown meat and prepare a proper Sunday roast, which is a classic meal throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. But her favorite part of the course was what they made on the last day of class.

“They [the instructors] said to us the whole week, ‘the thing that you’re cooking on Friday is like the best thing that you’re ever gonna have in your life’,” she said in the interview. The dessert? Sticky ginger cake!

What is sticky ginger cake?

Saoirse says that the sticky ginger cake is similar to a classic sticky toffee pudding, but it’s made in a loaf pan rather than an individual dish or cake pan. I think that makes sense for a beginner’s class—it’s probably less finicky to make it in a loaf pan for your first go at it. Regardless of the pan you use, I guarantee that it is delicious.

I would be happy to eat anything Saoirse makes for me, whether it’s a sticky ginger cake or a whole Sunday roast!

Related:

• Why Queen Camilla Doesn’t Cook for King Charles
• Traditional British Foods Explained to Americans
• Grandma’s Best Sunday Dinners

The post Saoirse Ronan Took a Cooking Class to Learn How to Make This Dessert appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Meet “Mom’s Slice,” a trend in which one slice-shaped section of a cake is decked out in maximalist glory and inscribed as belonging specifically to Mom.

What is ‘Mom’s Slice?’

The trend of icing one extra special slice of cake seems to have been popularized by a number of bakeries across the country. Edda’s Cake Designs in Florida first posted the idea on its Instagram last May. Other bakeries—like Clay’s Bakery in Pennsylvania and McArthur’s Bakery in Missouri—have also taken to the idea, adding “Mom’s Slice” options to their menus.

Not surprisingly, the idea has also shown up on TikTok, where user @tiffanys_cakes_ shared her take on the trend in a video viewed over 650,000 times.

While the most popular examples of the trend usually show “Mom’s Slice” with a mound of buttercream flowers, you could make the trend with any type of topping that the cake’s recipient loves to eat. You could achieve a similar effect with a smattering of edible flowers, fruit, sprinkles or candy. Some social media comments suggest that “Mom’s Slice” should actually have less frosting than the rest of the cake, if that’s more your mom’s speed.

How do I add it to a homemade cake?

While bakeries have popularized this trend, it’s pretty straightforward to try at home. You just need to go about baking your cake as you ordinarily would, and when it comes time to decorate it, differentiate one slice-shaped section from the rest of the cake. Drive the message home by writing “Mom’s Slice” and adding a piped arrow pointing to this special section.

If I were to make this for my mom, I’d go the less-frosting route and keep it simple with delicately arranged fresh strawberry slices, because they’re her favorite fruit. Give it a go, and let us know how it turns out!

Related:

• Viral TikTok Recipes and Food Hacks
• Mother’s Day Recipes She’ll Love
• Mother’s Day Lunch Ideas Mom Will Love

The post What Is ‘Mom’s Slice’ and Why Do You Need One for Your Mother’s Day Cake? appeared first on Taste Recipes.

It seems Shake Shack adores nostalgic comfort food as much as I do, because the chain added a Banana Pudding Shake to its summer menu. Being the banana pudding connoisseur that I am, I absolutely had to have a taste.

What’s in the Banana Pudding Shake?

Like its namesake dessert, this shake consists of frozen banana pudding custard made with real bananas, hand-spun with vanilla wafer cookies. It’s topped with a cloud of whipped cream and a vanilla wafer crumble.

Shake Shack is known for having some of the best fast-food shakes, so my expectations were high as I walked in to order.

What does the Banana Pudding Shake taste like?

The Banana Pudding Shake delivers on the banana pudding taste. I was extremely impressed with the cookie-to-frozen custard ratio, and the consistency was absolutely dreamy. It was thick enough to make me work for it, but not so thick that I got annoyed.

My shake didn’t have any of the promised Nilla Wafer crumbles on top, probably because I went the day the menu dropped. Honestly, though? I didn’t miss that final touch.

The banana flavor itself was subtle but real. Sometimes milkshakes have a heavy, inauthentic taste that makes me want to gag. (Sorry, Shamrock Shake, I’m looking at you.) This shake, however, left the artificial banana taste at home and relied on the power of fresh bananas. I was absolutely floored with the overall combination and found myself sucking it down to nothing almost instantly.

As I climbed into my car to leave Shake Shack, I stared longingly at the menu from outside, wishing I had purchased another. I imagine I’ll be taking a trip again tomorrow. Darn you, Shake Shack!

How long will it be on the menu?

The Banana Pudding Shake will likely be gone by the end of summer. Shake Shack is also dropping two other nostalgia-heavy flavors: Oreo Cookie Funnel Cake and Campfire S’mores. While I am a banana pudding lover at heart, the Campfire S’mores shake was a close second for me.

Now don’t go puddin’ it off—grab these shakes before they’re gone!

Related:

• We Made the Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding Recipe
• How to Make Milkshakes
• Ripe Banana Recipes to Use Up Your Bunch

The post This Iconic Fast-Food Chain Has Banana Pudding Shakes on the Menu for Summer appeared first on Taste Recipes.

First, a caveat: We’re talking specifically about American buttercream frosting here. It’s the most common type of homemade frosting, usually made from butter, powdered sugar and milk or cream. Other types of buttercream like Swiss buttercream (made with whipped egg whites) or French buttercream (enriched with egg yolks) must be refrigerated.

Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?

You don’t have to refrigerate buttercream frosting. It will keep at room temperature for up to two days. Normally, that’s long enough; if you’re hosting a birthday party, for example, the birthday cake might get gobbled up before then.

The main benefit to leaving buttercream at room temperature is to preserve its smooth, spreadable texture. We like to leave buttercream frosting out if we made it in the morning and intend to frost a cake in the afternoon, or if we’ve already frosted the cake and intend to serve it right away.

If you’ve made a variation on buttercream that contains eggs, whipped cream or cream cheese, you should refrigerate the frosting within two hours.

How to Store Buttercream Frosting

How to store buttercream at room temperature

To safely store buttercream at room temperature, keep it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat. Cover it well with storage wrap. (Psst: If don’t want to smear a frosted cake, insert toothpicks into the top and drape the storage wrap over the top.)

How to store buttercream frosting in the refrigerator

If you don’t think you’ll eat the frosting within two days, it’s best to keep it in the refrigerator. Store plain frosting in an airtight container or tightly covered bowl. Plain frosting will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

If the frosting is on a cake, cover the cake with storage wrap. A frosted cake will keep for up to one week in the fridge, although the cake itself may dry out a bit.

The main challenge in refrigerating buttercream is that the texture of the frosting stiffens as the butter hardens. That makes it difficult to spread and ever-so-slightly less appealing to eat. This is easy to fix, however. One key cake frosting tip is to take the frosting (or frosted cake) out of the refrigerator two hours before you plan to use it. The butter will soften as it comes to room temperature, restoring the buttercream’s smooth, creamy texture.

How to Freeze Buttercream Frosting

Freezing buttercream is a good option if your recipe yielded more than you needed. Buttercream freezes well. Transfer it to an airtight container, leaving as little extra air space as possible. Press a piece of storage wrap to the surface of the frosting to further protect it from freezer burn. Cover it tightly with a lid or aluminum foil. Freeze it for up to three months. Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight before using it.

Tips for Storing Buttercream Frosting

Do you have to refrigerate a cake frosted with buttercream?

No, you don’t have to refrigerate a buttercream frosted cake, provided that you plan to eat the cake within two days. Just cover it with storage wrap or a cake dome, and keep in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Refrigerating cake can dry out the crumb a bit, so if you plan to eat the cake quickly, it will taste best at room temperature.

How do you store buttercream frosting overnight?

You can store buttercream frosting at room temperature overnight, but we suggest refrigerating it. Then you can still keep your frosted cake at room temperature for two days, rather than worrying about a shortened shelf life. Buttercream will harden in the fridge, so remember to move it to the counter about two hours before you’re ready to use it.

How can you use leftover buttercream frosting?

There’s no rule that says homemade frosting has to go on a cake! If you have leftover frosting, there are tons of ways to use it up. Slather frosting on toast, peanut butter-style, for a dessert-like breakfast. Frosting also tastes amazing on a stack of pancakes. Spread frosting between two cookies to make instant sandwich cookies. Dollop frosting onto ice cream for a decadent treat. Or, serve frosting as a dip for pretzel rods or fruit. (If it’s a bit too thick for dipping, thin it out with a spoonful of milk or cream.)

The post Does Buttercream Frosting Need to Be Refrigerated? appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Does it come as any surprise, then, that Anna is known for ordering the same thing to eat for lunch every single day? In a now-viral TikTok video, restaurateur and celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian revealed exactly what Anna ordered when she came to his restaurant. Gird your loins!

What does Anna Wintour eat for lunch?

According to Geoffrey, Anna’s go-to lunch order was an off-menu, nearly rare hamburger patty served with a large side of Robuchon mashed potatoes, a particularly butter-intensive variation on the traditional recipe. To begin her meal, she’d reportedly have a cappuccino.

“She had sunglasses on, never took them off, even when she ate,” Geoffrey said. “She would obliterate the entire thing in less than 15 minutes.”

After Vogue’s offices relocated to 1 World Trade Center, it appears that Anna started a new lunch regimen. In Amy Odell’s biography Anna, the author reveals that Anna’s new go-to lunch order was steak paired with a Caprese salad (hold the tomatoes) from nearby steakhouse The Palm. We’re unsure what a Caprese salad without tomatoes entails—isn’t that just mozzarella and basil? But it’s hard to argue with genius.

If you’re curious, yes, this lunch order does align with what Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway) was forced to fetch for Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) in The Devil Wears Prada. In the 2006 blockbuster, Miranda’s lunch order was a steak. In the novel this movie was based on, the Runway editor required a raw ribeye paired with baked potatoes, smashed potatoes and “eight perfect stalks” of asparagus. Sounds familiar!

Related:

• Meryl Streep Uses This Julia Child Recipe to Make a Week’s Worth of Meals
• Stanley Tucci Served This at His Wedding Instead of Cake
• Secrets a Steakhouse Chef Will Never Tell You

The post This Is What Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour Eats for Lunch Every Day appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The goal of phishing emails is to lure you into clicking on a link, leading you to a site containing malware, or trick you into entering personal information. Here’s what to do if you get a Costco scam email—and how to know it’s definitely spam.

What to Do If You Get a Costco Scam Email

First, and most important: Do not click on any links in a spam email! Don’t open or download any attachments. And don’t reply to the email, either, even if you’re tempted to scold the person who sent it. Replying to phishing emails only lets the scammers know that your email is active and ensures that you stay on their mailing list.

Next, report the spam to Costco. The store keeps a list of currently known scams, and if you alert them to a new one, you can help warn other consumers.

Finally, mark the email as spam. This helps your email filter junk emails more effectively. Last but not least, delete the email so you don’t accidentally click the link later.

What do Costco email scams look like?

Like many email scams, the fake Costco emails just feel off. The email might look sloppy, with unpolished graphics or no logos. Look for typos and grammatical errors, which are red flags that the email didn’t pass through the careful editors or a marketing department. Scams often include odd salutations, such as using excessive honorifics (such as Mr. and Ms.) in subject lines.

Always read the “From:” field. Scammers often misspell company names (even by a single letter) or add extra words to the brand name. You may see that a third party sent the email, such as “Costco via BigBuckSavers.” Those are clear signs that the email isn’t authentic.

The biggest red flag of all? Any request for personal information or financial information. Scammers are out to get something from you, so their emails often ask for passwords, identifying information, credit card numbers and more.

They’ll frequently try to alarm you, implying that there’s an urgent issue with your account. Or, they’ll take the opposite approach and hold out a carrot—a free item, or a prize—if you just click on the link. That’s not a good way to save money at the store! Take your time reading emails, and you’ll sharpen your sniff test for spam.

Related:

• Is a Costco Membership Worth It?
• Costco Member Benefits You Might Not Know About (But Should)
• Every Costco Food Court Item, Ranked

The post If You Get a Costco Scam Email, You Need to Do This Immediately appeared first on Taste Recipes.

We all know Colonel Sanders is the grandfather of fast-food fried chicken. But can he make a respectable waffle? I doubted it would live up to the hype. However, as a longtime lover of KFC, I had to place an order.

What’s the deal with chicken and waffles?

This southern staple is a sweet-and-salty indulgence. You can pair KFC’s waffles with the chain’s fried, bone-in chicken or its Original Recipe Tenders. For my first taste, I ordered waffles with three pieces of KFC’s extra crispy signature fried chicken plus an order of Ed Sheeran’s go-to fries on the side.

My order arrived with the chicken and waffles in a box, along with two containers of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup.

Are KFC’s chicken and waffles good?

I knew what I was getting into with KFC’s chicken, so I first sampled the waffle on its own. This is a Liège-style waffle, meaning that it’s smaller and denser than a typical waffle. It also has a subtle glaze of pearl sugar that caramelizes, forming a thin crust when cooked. The result couldn’t be further from the soggy mush I feared I’d be tasting.

The waffle, even when doused with syrup, had a sweet, crispy texture and was so flavorful I could hardly stop eating it. I had to remind myself there was also the chicken to consider.

But let’s get to the chicken and waffles of it all. It was logistically challenging to arrange a bite of both chicken and waffle, and, admittedly, these bites weren’t my favorite. The two flavors cancelled each other out a bit. I recommend alternating bites of chicken and waffles and embracing the messiness of it all. Just be sure to grab extra napkins before you dive in!

The whole thing is wonderfully decadent and perfect for Saturday brunch. Fortunately, the KFC near me opens at 10:30 a.m.

How long are the chicken and waffles at KFC?

KFC hasn’t said how long its chicken and waffles will be on the menu. This item first appeared in 2020 and then quickly disappeared for a five-year hiatus, so if you want chicken and waffles, order sooner rather than later. While you’re there, check out KFC’s new Strawberry & Crème Pie Poppers, which just joined Apple Pie Poppers and Cherry Pie Poppers on the dessert menu.

Related:

• • Homemade Chicken and Waffles
  • Copycat KFC Fried Chicken
  • Is Raising Cane’s the Next Chick-fil-A?

The post KFC’s Chicken and Waffles Are Back—Here’s Our Honest Review appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Wellness-minded Kourtney Kardashian has a company called Lemme that includes a line of vitamins and supplements. Kim Kardashian is behind the popular shapewear and leisure brand Skims.

Now, Khloé Kardashian is getting into the food space. Her denim company, Good American, is quite possibly my favorite place to buy jeans, so I was excited to check out a new product from her. I’ll admit, this one sounds a little far-fetched.

It’s called Khloud Protein Popcorn.

What is Khloud Protein Popcorn?

My mantra is “don’t knock it til you try it,” and it’s served me well so far. I love popcorn and protein, so why not try a product that combines them?

The popcorn comes in three different flavors: Olive Oil & Sea Salt, White Cheddar and Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn. The packaging has a soft, almost cartoon-y quality to the branding. The bags are pastel pink, yellow and purple, and the “Khloud” name is noticeably in all lowercase, which is very on trend at the moment. My first thought was that this popcorn is really trying hard to look good on your Instagram feed.

How does the Khloud Protein Popcorn taste?

I bought a bag of each flavor to try. I started with the Olive Oil & Sea Salt, since it had the mildest flavor profile. At first, it didn’t really taste like anything, but I kept eating it. The correct way to eat popcorn is by shoving a handful into your mouth, so that’s exactly what I did.

After eating about one cup’s worth, my fingers were coated by the proprietary “Khloud dust” that makes this regular popcorn full of protein. There is still almost no flavor. It’s…weird. It’s not bad popcorn, but it feels off. And maybe I’m biased because the Trader Joe’s Olive Oil and Sea Salt Popcorn is literally my favorite popcorn of all time. This Khloud variety is a pass from me.

After that weird start, I moved on to the White Cheddar option. I immediately got a hit of cheddar flavor from the very first kernel. This flavor was really pleasant, and I was happily surprised at how cheesy it tasted. This is also smothered in “Khloud dust,” but I found it less off-putting on this variety. If you’re used to the Skinny Pop White Cheddar popcorn, this will taste almost identical. In fact, I would purchase this again as a snack. I would also eat it with chopsticks, my favorite Reddit hack for eating snacks with “dust” on them.

Finally, I opened the Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn (how mad do you think Khloé is that “Korn” is already taken?) and gave it a go. I really love kettle corn, so going into this, I had high expectations. The popcorn delivers on the “sweet and salty” moniker, but the sweet kernels are like 10 times better than the salty ones. If I had to put money on it, I’d bet that the “salty” kernels are just my (new) nemesis: the Olive Oil and Sea Salt flavor. It’s such a bummer! I might buy this again, but only if it’s on sale.

Where can I get Khloud Protein Popcorn?

Khloud Protein Popcorn retails for $4.99 a bag and is available exclusively at Target and khloudfoods.com. Since the website uses a more generic “Khloud Foods” term, I anticipate that this is not the last time we’ll see “Khloud dust” on grocery shelves. I only hope that future products turn out more like the White Cheddar popcorn!

Related:

• The Best Bagged Popcorn for Quick Fix Snacking
• How to Make the Best Popcorn
• The Surprising Difference Between Yellow and White Popcorn Kernels

The post I Tried Khloud Protein Popcorn, Khloe Kardashian’s Latest Creation appeared first on Taste Recipes.

There are even rules about where to store specific ingredients. It turns out that many of us have been keeping our cooking oil in the wrong spot.

What shouldn’t be stored by the stove?

You shouldn’t store olive oil next to the stove, which is bad news for many (if not most) of us. Keeping your olive oil on the countertop next to the stove makes sense, right? You want it handy to drizzle over preheated pans, and the tall bottles can be difficult to fit in cabinets.

However, olive oil and virtually every other cooking oil can degrade in quality when exposed to heat.

The North American Olive Oil Association says there are “four enemies of olive oil:” heat, oxygen, light and age. While many conventional olive oils have airtight caps to prevent oxidation, and their dark-green tinted bottles (or opaque tins) prevent too much light exposure, heat can penetrate virtually any packaging and cause the oil to go bad.

Rancid olive oil might be cloudy, greasy, and/or smelly—nothing you want to add to your next meal.

Where should you store olive oil?

The same place you store a lot of other staples: in a cool, dark place. In your kitchen, this might mean a cabinet, cupboard or pantry, or simply a shady, recessed area of the countertop, well away from heat sources. (That includes the warm motor of your refrigerator.) It might be slightly inconvenient to transfer olive oil to the stove while cooking, but the reward will be a tastier, longer-lasting product.

In addition to olive oil, there are all kinds of things you shouldn’t store on the countertop. Lack of kitchen counter space is a common complaint, so clear those items off the surface to free up some valuable real estate.

Related:

• How to Find Real Olive Oil
• What’s the Best Olive Oil You Can Buy?
• The Best Oils for Frying, According to a Chef

The post You Should Never Store This Kitchen Item Next to the Stove appeared first on Taste Recipes.

The only trouble? Oftentimes these tall or irregularly-shaped cakes are difficult to transport. It’s not like they fit in a standard cake carrier, after all! Enter: the Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set, which comes with both a bundt pan and a bundt-shaped cake keeper for easy travel.

EMILY WAY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set

This stylish bundt pan comes with a clever cake keeper that keeps it intact during travel.

$30 at Amazon

Shop on Sams Club

Shop on Walmart

What is the Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set?

A bundt cake is my go-to for potlucks and parties. No frosting means little travel risk, and it’s so darn easy to portion out perfect slices. When it comes to bundt pans, Nordic Ware takes the cake. This USA-based kitchenware company has produced gorgeous bundt pans and other high-quality bakeware since 1946.

Using the Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set is just as simple (and satisfying) as using Nordic Ware’s Brownie Buddy. Simply fill the bundt with your favorite batter and pop it in the oven. Then, once it’s cooled, flip it onto the keeper plate. Easy peasy!

How We Tested It

The Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set immediately blew me away with its beauty. The elegant swirls and blue hue give it a fun, dreamy quality. Additionally, the cake pan and keeper felt very sturdy and secure. In terms of looks alone, I give the set a 10/10. Next step: baking a cake.

Baking

My husband’s birthday was fast approaching, so I took this as my opportunity to test the bundt pan set. Following a simple confetti cake recipe, I whipped up my batter and spooned it into the upside-down bundt after greasing it with a bit of butter.

According to Taste Recipes’s bundt cake tips, denser cakes tend to work better than light, fluffy cakes—something I didn’t know until I was in the midst of baking my first (very fluffy) cake in the pan. Despite displaying a perfectly browned bottom out of the oven, I fully expected it to fall apart once I flipped it over.

Flipping

When the cake mostly cooled, I popped the plate part of the keeper onto the pan, braced myself and flipped it onto the keeper plate. My expectation was a mess of partially-stuck pieces and a pile of crumbs. However, its clean release left me pleasantly surprised! While a few sprinkles stuck to the pan, the cake itself came out nearly perfect with zero assistance.

Honestly, I think you could even skip greasing the pan, which I plan to experiment with in the future. The nonstick material does a great job of keeping the cake from sticking, and without butter, I imagine it would come out a bit browner and less prone to leaving crumbs. That said, if you like your cakes a little more moist, butter away!

Taking

The next step was packing up the cake for travel. We planned to take it to my in-laws, meaning the cake had a three-hour drive ahead of it.

The cake keeper itself doesn’t have any clips or straps. Instead, the top has two nodules on either side. Simply pop the keeper over the plate and twist it until the nodules slide into place. While I would love a more secure closure, the absence of clips means there’s nothing that can snap off over time.

We packed up the cake and popped an ice pack on top of the keeper to ensure it stayed nice and cool. I was worried about it sliding around inside the keeper, but it didn’t budge an inch during the entire drive. By the end of the trip, it looked just as gorgeous as the moment I flipped it over!

Storing

One of my favorite aspects of this set is how easy it is to store. Because the pan nestles right inside the keeper, it takes up less room in my cupboard than a separate set. And if there’s any cake left after your shindig, just pop the whole keeper in the fridge. The airtight keeper helps the cake stay moist and delicious, even after it’s cut.

Pros

• Pretty and durable
• Cakes release easily
• Keeper offers an airtight covering
• No clips that can break

Cons

• No handle

Final Verdict

The Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set is a great purchase for any home cook, whether you’re practiced with bundt pans or a total newbie. Plus, the pretty colors and luxe, heirloom feel makes it a lovely gift for cake bakers, too!

Where To Buy the Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set

You can snag the Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set at several different stores, including Sam’s Club, Walmart and Amazon. The entire set retails for around $30, which is a total steal for a set that includes a high-quality Nordic Ware pan and a cake keeper. Considering most Nordic Ware pans ring up for around $40, we highly recommend snagging this pretty pan set if you’re on a budget.

EMILY WAY FOR TASTE OF HOME

Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set

Say goodbye to cakes sticking with this nonstick bundt pan and keeper set.

$30 at Amazon

Shop on Sams Club

Shop on Walmart

FAQs

Is Nordic Ware dishwasher safe?

Nordic Ware’s iconic bundt pans usually come with a nonstick coating. While it makes cake delightfully easy to release, it also means that you shouldn’t put them in the dishwasher. This can cause discoloration, though it won’t affect the performance of the pan.

Is Nordic Ware nonstick?

Nordic Ware offers several product lines, including a nonstick bakeware line. According to the brand, Nordic Ware’s nonstick bakeware, including their Northern Lights bakeware, is aluminum with a high-quality nonstick coating. They’re also PFAS-free.

Where is Nordic Ware made?

Nordic Ware is one of the only US-based kitchen tool companies. The family-owned company, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1946, produce many of their fancy bunts, sheet pans and even their microwave pasta cooker domestically.

What is a bundt pan?

A bundt pan is a donut-shaped pan. Bundt pans may or may not have intricate swirls or other designs molded into them, and they come in a variety of sizes, shapes and designs. The appeal of these pans is twofold: not only do they require little (or no) decoration, but they also promote even baking. As such, they make excellent gifts for bakers.

The post We Tried a Nordic Ware Bundt Pan Keeper Set—And It’s the Only Way To Bring Cake to a Potluck appeared first on Taste Recipes.

OK, maybe that last one is a bit of a stretch—but a girl can dream.

The most fascinating YouTube deep dive I’ve done recently was about the food served to the British royal family. More specifically, I stumbled upon videos from Darren McGrady, a former royal chef at Buckingham Palace who later became Princess Diana’s private chef.

In one specific video, Chef Darren walks through the dessert he used to make “all the time” for young Prince William. It’s something William requested frequently, even as he aged out of the royal nursery.

What is Prince William’s favorite dessert?

The Prince of Wales loves all things banana, and his favorite dessert is a banana flan. Yes, I also thought that was very niche!

Banana desserts are certainly a bold choice, and as a fellow banana-dessert lover, I applaud Prince William’s taste. But while I was watching this video, it struck me that what Chef Darren is making isn’t actually a flan—it’s a tart.

He starts the recipe by making a simple pastry crust with flour, butter, sugar and an egg yolk. While he rolls the pastry out, he acknowledges the differences between pies, tarts and flans, and says it doesn’t make much of a difference. I…think it does, but I’m not a royal chef.

In addition to this banana flan/tart, apparently, Prince William also loved banana ice cream, banana fritters and banana custard. If one thing is for certain, it’s that Prince William hits his daily potassium goals!

Related:

• Here’s the Dish Kate Middleton Loves to Cook
• The Surprising Snack Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Both Love
• Traditional British Foods Explained to Americans

The post Prince William’s Favorite Dessert Is Oddly Specific appeared first on Taste Recipes.

What’s next on the King’s agenda? I heard whispers of a new drink coming for the hot summer months; whispers of a fruity, frozen concoction that could be topped with tiny, colorful Nerds. It’s the Frozen Strawberry drink, and I sped straight to the drive-thru for a taste.

What does the Frozen Strawberry drink taste like?

To begin, the drink is maddeningly sweet. I’d expect no less from this kind of beverage, though, and I imagine it will be such a sugary relief on hot summer days. The consistency is similar to the Icee I used to slurp at movie theaters as a kid—not so frozen that it won’t suck up through your straw, but just enough to make it thick so you let it melt on your tongue.

Honestly, the frozen strawberry drink hit like nostalgia. The syrup was strawberry to the umpteenth degree, and it reminded me of the Fla-vor-Ice tubes I used to crunch on when I was younger. Add the overdose of crunchy Nerds on top, and you’ve got an intensely saccharine experience.

Overall, it was tasty. I can only take so much sugar at a time, so this won’t be something I’ll order daily. However, the product delivers. It’s full of flavor with a unique texture combo that will likely find a foothold in many people’s fast-food agendas (especially the under-12 age group).

And I will say, it complements a Texas Double Whopper beautifully.

How long will the drink be at BK?

We asked Burger King how long the Frozen Strawberry drink would be on the menu and were told: “for a limited time!”

Not a conclusive answer, but we imagine it will stick around through the better part of summer. Next time you’re at the King, give it a try! The strawberry lover in you will be ecstatic.

The post Burger King Just Released a New Strawberry Frozen Drink, and It Tastes Like Nostalgia appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Cash vs. Card Tipping

Let’s make it easy: When dining at a full-service restaurant, tip 20%. That’s the standard. That’s the rule. No need to overthink it. If the service was excellent, tip more, and if someone made your night, let your tip reflect that. Cash is still king, yes, but credit card tips are absolutely welcome. They’re typically paid out on your server’s paycheck, which means they’re taxed and tracked, while cash usually goes right into their pocket at the end of the shift.

A lot of folks don’t realize that hospitality workers aren’t always guaranteed full minimum wage. In many states, the tipped minimum wage is much lower, as low as $2.13 an hour in some places. Employers are supposed to make up the difference if tips don’t bring workers to the standard minimum wage, but enforcement can be spotty, and wages can still fall short. Your tip isn’t just a thank-you—it helps servers pay bills.

Tip Pooling

Every restaurant is different. Some use tip pooling, others don’t—but in almost every case, servers tip out a percentage to bussers, runners, bartenders and even hosts. That great service you experienced? It was a group effort. Tip pooling formalizes what most servers already do: Share the wealth with the team that helped deliver the experience.

If your meal isn’t up to snuff, don’t go quiet and stiff the tip—say something. Give your server a chance to make it right. Most of us would rather fix the problem than lose your trust. If it’s a more significant issue, ask to speak with a manager. Good communication benefits everyone, from you, the guest, to the team taking care of you.

Many rules of etiquette come and go, but tipping well is always in style.

Related:

• Mistakes People Make When Dining in a Large Group
• Here’s How Much You Should Tip for Pizza Delivery
• Lifelong Lessons We Learned from Waiting Tables

The post This Is the Only Way to Make Sure Restaurant Servers Actually Get Your Tips appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Of course, Julia was no stranger to fabulous food, and her enthusiasm for cooking is unparalleled. With nearly 20 books and cookbooks, over a dozen cooking shows, and movies, TV shows and countless blogs dedicated to her, she was instrumental in shaping how and what Americans cook and eat today. We still attempt her most iconic dishes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and love classics like sole meuniere and chocolate mousse. She taught us not to take ourselves too seriously in the kitchen. And the fact that her favorite cocktail is an upside-down gin martini is something I am personally 100% behind.

To make her cry with one bite of dessert? Chills.

What dessert brought Julia Child to tears?

@viewerslikeme.pbs Ultimate chef achievement unlocked. (Could also be the perfect Easter recipe, hint hint.) #viewerslikemepbs #pbs #ilovepbs #juliachild #chefs @PBS ♬ original sound – Viewerslikemepbs

For a woman who celebrated the best of everything, what recipe could make Julia Child cry? Nancy Silverton’s brioche tart with crème fraiche custard, poached fruit, whipped cream and sabayon—a dessert she served at her first Los Angeles restaurants, La Brea Bakery and Campanile. Nancy has always been known for using seasonal, locally grown ingredients and exacting techniques that make everything look effortless on the plate. (If you’ve seen her Chef’s Table episode, you know what I mean.) It’s the same today at her fantastic restaurants, Pizzeria Mozza, Osteria Mozza and Chi Spacca.

But watching vintage Julia and Nancy cook is a joy. Julia towers over Nancy at the counter and stove, genuinely interested in how the younger chef crimps the buttery brioche in a baking ring, makes a light-as-air custard and poaches fruit in a wine-infused syrup. They talk about making crème fraiche, a rich, cultured cream—about 1 tablespoon of buttermilk per cup of heavy cream—and how combining it with whipped cream simply “adds a little more character,” per Julia.

The dessert is a labor of love, and Julia loves it. After it’s plated, she takes one bite and there’s a pause. Nancy asks if it’s “a good combination,” and Julia is speechless. She pats Nancy on the back and declares with a quivering voice, “It’s a dessert to cry over,” adding that it’s a triumph (or did she say cry-umph?!) and the best dessert she’s ever eaten.

When Nancy looks back on that episode, she’s a bit nostalgic. But in the moment, she was terrified! “It’s a beloved clip now, but believe me, when it was happening, the first several seconds were frightening to me,” she told Taste Recipes. “I saw those tears and immediately thought, ‘Oh my god, I have burned Julia Child.’ I really thought those tears were from the brioche tart dessert being scalding hot! Whew, what a relief it was to realize those were Julia’s tears of joy.”

If you want to make the brioche with crème fraiche custard, you can find it in the series’ companion cookbook, Baking with Julia, written by Dorie Greenspan. (Nancy was a contributing baker for the book.) Set some time aside: The recipe is six pages long. But oh, is it worth it!

Related:

• I Made Julia Child’s Chocolate Mousse Recipe
• Meryl Streep Uses This Julia Child Recipe to Make a Week’s Worth of Meals
• This Is the Surprising Dish That Sparked Julia Child’s Career

The post This Dessert Is So Good, It Made Julia Child Shed a Tear appeared first on Taste Recipes.

7. Walmart

The original potato salad from Walmart is made with potatoes, mayonnaise, water, sugar, celery and sweet pickle relish, and without any artificial flavors or corn syrup. It retails for a budget-conscious $3.47 per pound.

While the price was right for this potato salad, the consistency was not. The potatoes were overcooked and mushy, with a dressing that was far too thin. We prefer potato salads that have nice chunks that can be picked up with a fork, but this could almost be mashed potatoes.

Bottom Line: The Walmart potato salad’s price-per-pound was attractive, but that’s about it.

6. Meijer

Meijer had plenty of potato salad options in its refrigerator case. There was a loaded smashed potato salad, red potato salad, Amish-style potato salad and a mustard potato salad. For this taste test, we sampled the store’s American potato salad made with celery, sweet pickle relish, onion and mustard. It’s sold in a 16-ounce container for $3.59.

We found this potato salad to be a bit too sour and in need of additional seasoning. However, we liked the crunch from the celery and the fact that it was made without high-fructose corn syrup.

Bottom Line: With a variety of choices all for a great price, Meijer is the way to go if you want to pick up several different options for a party.

5. Aldi

As a German grocery store chain, we had high expectations for the Aldi potato salad. The large, 32-ounce container sells for an incredible price, only $3.99, making this the best price-per-pound of any of the grocery stores we visited.

While Aldi’s potato salad stood out in terms of value, it was more middle-of-the-road in terms of flavor. The potatoes were cooked nicely, and we could taste the mustard flavor, but it was a bit on the sour side. Plus, we wanted more seasoning and color. The ingredients listed were potatoes, mayonnaise, celery, hard-boiled eggs, sugar, water, onion, sweet pickle relish, green onion and dehydrated parsley. More green onion and parsley would have helped this one.

Bottom Line: If saving money is a top priority, this incredible value from Aldi can’t be beat. Kick it up a notch by chopping fresh herbs and sprinkling them over the salad.

4. Target

The classic potato salad from Target had nice chunks of perfectly cooked potato as well as some flecks of color throughout. The consistency of the dressing was great, but there was almost too much of it. Made with potatoes, mayonnaise, celery, hard-boiled eggs, sugar, water, onion and sweet pickle relish, we appreciated that we could taste each of the individual elements here. At $3.69 for a 1-pound container, the Target potato salad was right on the money.

Bottom Line: While this wasn’t at the top of our list, the potato salad from Target is a convenient and price-conscious option for summer get-togethers.

3. Jewel/Albertson’s

The original potato salad from Jewel was one of several options from the deli case. They also sold one called Grandma’s potato salad and a buttermilk potato salad. At $4.99 per pound, this was more expensive than some of the other options, but with a higher quality, so we felt the price was fair.

The potatoes were perfectly cooked, and the salad was bright yellow. We liked the addition of celery seed to the ingredient list and felt it added flavor that was lacking in the other potato salads. The only thing that would have made this one better would have been more mix-ins.

Bottom Line: With nice chunks of potatoes and a beautiful yellow hue, the potato salad from Jewel was one of the most attractive of the bunch. It would fit perfectly with any summer potluck spread.

2. Mariano’s/Kroger

There were several potato salad options at Mariano’s. Customers can choose from German Potato salad, steakhouse potato salad, metro potato salad and, of course, the classic yellow potato salad. This is the one we sampled for $4.49 per pound. It was made with all the traditional ingredients: russet potatoes, mayonnaise, dressing, celery, bell peppers, onion, mustard, sugar, salt and white pepper.

There were lovely pieces of cooked potato, and we could taste the other elements in the salad, too. It was all coated in a creamy dressing with balanced flavor. White pepper isn’t as sharp as black pepper, and it made all the difference in this salad.

Bottom Line: Mariano’s is a top choice if you like a traditional potato salad made with russet potatoes.

1. Whole Foods

The red bliss potato salad from Whole Foods took the top slot in our potato salad taste test. Even before taking that first bite, this salad was the most appetizing. Made with unpeeled red potatoes, this potato salad had lovely flecks of color. Leaving the skin on the potatoes added a delightful texture, too.

Besides potatoes, the ingredients include mayonnaise, sour cream, celery, onion, green onion, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, brown sugar, parsley, water, cornstarch and white pepper. The combination of mayonnaise and sour cream created the perfect creamy binder for all the elements. Apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard added a lively zing, and the green onion added a burst of color.

At $5.99 a pound, this was the most expensive potato salad on the list, and it was worth every penny.

Bottom Line: If you are willing to spend an extra dollar per pound, the Whole Foods potato salad is made with fresh ingredients and tastes homemade.

Related:

• Can You Freeze Potato Salad?
• I Made Ina Garten’s Potato Salad and I Can’t Wait to Share It
• 7 Best Store-Bought Pasta Salads, Ranked

The post The Best Store-Bought Potato Salads, Ranked appeared first on Taste Recipes.

While the chain’s quick service has stayed the same, its menu has changed drastically since the ’50s. Plenty of past menu items have been discontinued, so clearly, McDonald’s doesn’t sit on its laurels. The chain is constantly looking for the next big thing, and McCrispy Strips are next up to bat.

What are the new McCrispy Strips?

McCrispy Strips are a brand-new upgrade to the McDonald’s chicken menu. I’ve been a fan of McNuggets since I can remember, so I’m a loyal proponent of expanding the chicken options. I was a diehard fan of the Snack Wrap and still remember the Buttermilk Crispy Tenders from years ago.

I’m not alone—the McDonald’s community loves crispy chicken. The Golden Arches heeded the call of its fans and decided to drop its juicy, dippable chicken strips!

McDonald’s McCrispy Strips are made with real chicken and coated with a crispy breading. The best part? To go with the strips, McDonald’s introduced a brand-new Creamy Chili Dip. This sauce will be spicy, sweet and tangy—perfect adjectives to bring out the best in the salty McCrispy Strips.

When can I get McCrispy Strips?

McDonald’s will officially roll out McCrispy Strips nationwide by May 5, 2025. You’ll be able to purchase them in 3- or 4-piece counts accompanied by one or two Creamy Chili Dip sauces. You can also switch out the Creamy Chili Dip for your regular McDonald’s sauces.

No rush, because McCrispy Strips are a permanent menu item—the first in over four years.

Related:

• Sabrina Carpenter Is Waiting to Eat McDonald’s Until This Happens
• This Is the Best McDonald’s Breakfast Sandwich Ever
• I Tried a McDonald’s Hash Brown McFlurry Sandwich, and It Did Not Go According to Plan

The post McDonald’s Just Dropped McCrispy Strips—Here’s Everything We Know appeared first on Taste Recipes.

But is copper cookware safe to use, or is it strictly decorative?

Copper pans are easily the most expensive type of cookware. As avid (and practical) home cooks, we hate to invest in something we can’t use to sear a steak or boil a soup. Here’s what to know about cooking with copper, including special advice for vintage and antique pieces.

Is copper cookware safe to use?

The short answer is yes. Copper is one of the oldest known cookware materials, dating back as far as 10,000 years. The metal is an excellent heat conductor and responds quickly to temperature adjustments.

That said, copper has a weakness: The metal reacts with acids, meaning that copper will leach into foods like tomatoes or vinegar. For some foods, such as jams and jellies, this doesn’t matter. The high sugar content will prevent the acidic fruit from reacting. But you definitely don’t want copper leaching into most foods.

Luckily, there’s an easy fix. Copper cookware is typically lined with another metal, keeping the food inside the pot safe while exposing the conductive copper to the heat.

Lined vs. unlined copper cookware

Virtually all new copper cookware will be lined, generally with stainless steel. Stainless steel is durable and safe for cooking all foods, including acids.

Most vintage copper was lined with tin. Malleable, extremely nonstick and nonreactive, tin is safe to use for cooking. But it has one major caveat—it’is not very durable. Over time, tin can be worn away by scrubbing or using metal utensils. (Just like the nonstick coating on modern pans!) Copper pots lined with tin need regular relining.

How to Tell If Your Copper Cookware Isn’t Safe

New cookware is safe to use. (Preserving pots may still be sold unlined, so use them for jams and fruit preserves only.)

If you have vintage cookware, look closely at the interior of the pot. Tin darkens over time, so it’s fine if the interior is quite dark. If patches of copper are showing, however, it’s not safe to cook with.

Here’s another thing to watch for. In magazines, copper always looks bright and shiny and, well, copper-colored. In real life, copper discolors when exposed to heat. It may turn a range of hues, from shimmery green to yellow to purple. That can make it difficult to see patches of exposed copper on the bottom of a vintage pot, so look carefully.

The good news is that it’s easy to restore the signature color, so don’t be put off by discolored copper if you find a good deal. To polish copper, mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste, then scrub the pot. Rinse well and admire the shine!

When should you replace your copper pots and pans?

If you nabbed a vintage pot that starts to look shiny inside, it’s time to decide whether you’ll reline the pot with tin or, if that’s too high-maintenance, try another type of cookware. After all, you can still hang that copper pot above the stove and enjoy a bit of French flair.

Related:

• How to Tell If Your Pyrex Is Real Vintage Pyrex
• Which Bakeware Is Right for You: Glass, Ceramic or Metal?
• How to Know If Your Vintage CorningWare Is Worth Thousands

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The pope was not interested in lavish banquets. He enjoyed simple meals, especially empanadas and warm bread. In his eyes, food and faith went hand in hand. He believed food was a basic human right and a way to foster community.

He frequently denounced food waste. “Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of the poor and the hungry,” he said in a 2022 speech from the Vatican. He was also known for hosting annual meals at the Vatican for unhoused people.

Pope Francis’s embrace of humility in all aspects of his life is striking. And while he loved pizza—his home base was in Italy, after all—there is a sweet item from his childhood in Argentina that always held a special place in his heart.

What was Pope Francis’s favorite Argentine dessert?

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He reminisced frequently about learning how to cook empanadas from his grandmother. Another dish he made as a child was a treat called alfajores. 

Alfajores are sweet sandwich cookies. They’re usually made with two biscuits and a layer of dulce de leche in between. Depending on the region of Latin America where they’re made, they can be dusted with powdered sugar, shredded coconut or chocolate.

The biscuits are made with either flour or cornstarch, butter, sugar and eggs. The Argentine version usually uses more cornstarch for a softer, more crumbly cookie texture that melts into the rich dulce de leche filling.

Pope Francis kept a love of this childhood treat alive throughout his life. In The Vatican Cookbook, Swiss chef David Geisser shared an anecdote about the pope’s love of alfajores: “He smiled as he handed me the sweet gift and said he hoped it would ‘make the day a little better.’”

Whether you want to buy some or try to make your own, alfajores are a perfect way to commemorate the life of Pope Francis. And if you want to honor his legacy, I suggest that you share them.

The post How Pope Francis’s Love for ‘Alfajores’ Reflects His Life and Legacy appeared first on Taste Recipes.

In 2012, Stanley married Felicity Blunt. Felicity is a literary agent, and you probably know her famous sister, Emily Blunt. Stanley and Emily actually starred in The Devil Wears Prada together, so I really hope they act out scenes from the movie when everyone is together at Christmastime, eating his six-ingredient pasta casserole (let a girl dream!).

Since Stanley is a verified foodie—having dined with King Charles, and all—I can only imagine that no detail was spared for the spread at his wedding. I’m sure that it was a veritable feast of simple but well-made Italian delicacies, perfectly paired with a selection of wines and cordials. But whatever he served, one thing is for sure: There was no cake.

What did Stanley Tucci serve at his wedding instead of cake?

Maybe you’re thinking that Stanley Tucci left cake off the menu and instead did something cool and fun like a DIY cannoli bar (which is a real thing I enjoyed at a wedding once!). Or perhaps he isn’t into cake, but loves a good pie, so he had an array of freshly baked pies available for guests.

I’m here to tell you that he did no such thing. This man served cheese for dessert.

“I’m not a big dessert person,” Tucci said during a Q&A on Instagram. “I think cheese and honey together is a really delicious dessert.”

Listen, I also think cheese and honey go well together … as an appetizer. Or maybe they can be dinner after a really stressful day. But I refuse to let that be the dessert anyone serves at a wedding. Apparently, he and Felicity served big wheels of cheese instead of cake. If I had a few too many Aperol spritzes at that wedding, I guarantee I would have tried to roll those wheels right off the table.

Related:

• You Can Order JFK’s Wedding Cake for Dessert—Here’s How
• Stanley Tucci Once Cooked This Iconic Fish Dish for Harry Styles
• This Is the 3-Ingredient Comfort Meal Stanley Tucci Loves Making

The post Stanley Tucci Served This at His Wedding Instead of Cake appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Recently, I learned that Ina Garten hates cilantro. This really threw me for a loop! I kept thinking back on all those shots of Ina chopping up fresh herbs on her cutting board with her trusty knife. And then I started wondering if Ina Garten has a favorite knife (welcome to my brain!). Turns out that she does have a preferred knife, and it’s from a German brand.

What is Ina Garten’s favorite type of Knife?

Ina swears by German brand Wüsthof Classic for her kitchen knives. And I’m going to call it out right now: Yes, they can be expensive. But according to Ina, knives are the most important tool for any home cook. If you’ve ever tried to chop a bunch of veggies with a bad knife, then you know this is true.

The great thing about knives is that you only really need one good one and you’re set. A versatile chef’s knife is a one-time investment that can really take your cooking to the next level—especially if you take care to maintain it. You can find a Wüsthof Classic 6-inch chef’s knife on Amazon for $135 (and for $145, you can have it custom engraved, which would make a really great gift!).

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If you want a more budget-friendly option that isn’t going to skimp on quality, I recommend the IKEA 365+ brand vegetable knife. It costs $19.99, and I’ve used mine everyday for years with no complaints.

But regardless of what knife you choose to buy, the most important thing is taking care of it. Don’t use the knife edge to scrape chopped veggies into a pot, as this can make it dull. Use a bench scraper or the spine of the knife if you must. Make sure you’re storing it correctly, too. Ina actually stores her knives sharp side up in a knife block so she isn’t constantly scraping the blade on the wood. Finally, learn to sharpen a knife so that yours can cut well for years to come.

Related:

• We Made Ina Garten’s Easy Risotto, and It’s Really As Simple As She Says
• This Is Why Ina Garten Only Uses Extra-Large Eggs
• This Is the One Side Dish That Ina Garten Makes on Repeat

The post This Is the Only Knife That Ina Garten Will Use in the Kitchen appeared first on Taste Recipes.

Jen’s go-to lunch was a Cobb salad variation that included turkey bacon and garbanzo beans. Apparently, the salad was so good that both Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow started ordering it as well!

While Monica may have been the chef in Friends, it turns out that Rachel secretly had an amazing pasta recipe in her back pocket the whole time.

What is Jennifer Aniston’s favorite pasta recipe?

According to People, she makes a version of carbonara that doesn’t use any oil, butter or cream. While this may sound different from your typical restaurant dish, it’s more in line with a traditional carbonara recipe, which doesn’t call for any cream. Personally, I love when peas are added to carbonara, but I know that is as divisive as pineapple on pizza or raisins in carrot cake, so let’s move on.

Jen’s recipe is simple and only calls for seven ingredients: spaghetti, turkey bacon, red onion, garlic, egg, milk and Parmesan cheese. She uses low-fat milk, but any milk you use will result in a lighter dish than using cream. You can also add as much or as little cheese as you’d like to really customize it to your taste.

I think what’s really nice about this dish is that you probably already have most of the ingredients on hand. Which is the case for a lot of basic Italian recipes, so no matter what life throws at you, you can still have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes!

Related:

• 12 Recipes Inspired by Friends
• Recipes for Old-World Italian Food
• Parmigiano-Reggiano vs. Parmesan: What’s the Difference?

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But I do have one bone to pick with DQ. My absolute favorite treat was taken off the menu years ago. And considering that a Change.org petition was started in 2018 to demand this item be brought back, I’m far from the only one who’s upset.

I’m talking, of course, about the S’mores Galore Parfait.

What is the S’mores Galore Parfait?

It’s incredibly hard to describe perfection, but I’ll give it a go. Fans of the decidedly inferior Peanut Buster Parfait will already know where to begin (I don’t know why they kept that parfait and got rid of my baby).

The S’mores Galore Parfait is layered with that signature DQ vanilla soft serve, hot fudge, marshmallow sauce and graham cracker crumbs. If you’re thinking, That’s it?, then I need you to think again. I’ll enumerate the perfection:

1. Vanilla soft serve: The perfect base for any treat. It’s cold, sweet and incredibly creamy.
2. Hot fudge: This is far superior to regular ol’ chocolate sauce. The contrast of warmth against the cool soft serve is a delight for the senses.
3. Marshmallow sauce: This is literally the secret sauce, and I don’t understand why it isn’t used in more desserts. Anyone who thinks it’s “too sweet” needs to grow up.
4. Graham cracker crumbs: The best way to add a little texture and flavor to each bite, graham cracker crumbs are far superior to nuts, which can be too hard. The delicate crumble of a graham cracker is the perfect accompaniment to the other ingredients.

These four ingredients work so beautifully together, and none of them outshines the others. It’s a symphony of a dessert. And it begs the question: Why did Dairy Queen ever take it off the menu? Well, they kind of … didn’t. Let me explain.

How can you order the S’mores Galore Parfait?

While Dairy Queen will always have their soft serve, hot fudge and marshmallow sauce on the menu, the graham cracker crumbs are more of a seasonal or specialty item. In order to get the S’mores Galore Parfait, you need to go to a DQ when the S’mores Blizzard is available. You guessed it: Graham cracker crumbs are one of the ingredients in the S’mores Blizzard.

I went to my local Dairy Queen on a quiet, rainy afternoon to see if they could make the treat. First, I just tried asking for the S’mores Galore Parfait by name. The cashier said he wasn’t familiar with it, and asked me if I had a photo.

I showed him the photo and said that it was similar to a Peanut Buster Parfait, and started naming off the ingredients. At this point, another employee came around the corner, saw the photo and immediately said, “Oh yeah, I can make that!” I was so pleasantly surprised that it was that easy! Not only did the second employee spring into action, but she showed the first employee how to make it.

When I took the first bite of my S’mores Galore Parfait, I felt instant bliss. It was so nice to enjoy a treat from my childhood again! A bonus was that the DQ employee actually added a new ingredient to the bottom layer: the marshmallow-filled chocolate bars from the S’mores Blizzard!

I have to say, this 2025 upgraded version might be the best Dairy Queen treat I’ve ever had. Don’t believe me? Go try one for yourself!

Related:

• Dairy Queen Quietly Dropped a New Dipped Cone, and We Need It Now
• Dairy Queen Is Bringing Back Its Popular S’Mores Blizzard This Summer
• How to Order a Dairy Queen Pup Cup

The post This Cult-Fave Dairy Queen Treat Is Discontinued, But You Can Still Order It With This Menu Hack appeared first on Taste Recipes.

In a recent interview for a popular podcast, English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran told host Alex Cooper that when he’s in the U.S. to tour or promote his music, he turns to one particular fast-food chain above any other.

What is Ed Sheeran’s favorite fast food chain?

“When I’m in America, Whataburger in Texas,” Ed said. “I think that burger bangs the most in terms of all the burgers that I’ve had. Whataburger bangs.”

We can’t argue with Ed here, even if we wish the regional burger chain would go ahead and open more locations. Currently, Whataburger has about 1,000 restaurants in 18 states, mostly in the South. The chain is best-known for its made-to-order burgers and its Dr Pepper milkshake, a seasonal fan favorite.

What does Ed Sheeran eat while on tour?

Whataburger isn’t the only fast food Ed takes into his loving arms while on the road. In the podcast interview, he said he also enjoys Five Guys and KFC, particularly the Colonel’s chicken wings and fries.

“KFC actually does the best fries. KFC’s fries bang,” Ed said.

When it comes to KFC, it’s a family affair for Ed. He added that he recently ordered a family bucket of chicken to enjoy with his two children in tow while staying at his manager’s house. He paired the fried chicken feast with a bottle of Dominus wine, a pricey Napa Valley red in what he called an “initiation” to being back in the U.S. Sounds like a perfect duet to us.

Ed’s fast-food picks surprisingly excluded In-N-Out, a perennial celebrity favorite that is a regular stop for Zendaya and other stars during awards season. The chain even has a hard-won seal of approval from Gordon Ramsay. According to Ed, however, the fries at In-N-Out have room for improvement.

No matter where Ed is getting his fast-food fix in the U.S., one thing is for sure: He’ll always dip his fries in plenty of ketchup. The heavily-inked singer loves the condiment so much that he has a tattoo of a Heinz ketchup bottle on his arm. Now that’s commitment.

Related:

• This Is All Willie Nelson Eats for Breakfast in the Morning
• Trader Joe’s Sells Timothée Chalamet’s Go-To Snack—and We’re Obsessed
• 91-Year-Old Carol Burnett’s Favorite Comfort Food Is So Nostalgic

The post Ed Sheeran Just Revealed His Favorite Fast Food Spot—and It’s Not What You’d Expect appeared first on Taste Recipes.

7. Meijer

This 16-ounce container of creamy macaroni salad sells for a budget-friendly $3.59. A larger 3-pound tub is also available for big parties. The package says the salad is made without high-fructose corn syrup or any artificial flavors or colors. But it is sweetened with sugar. We found the salad to be far too sweet—the addition of sugar was unnecessary. In fact, what it needed was more seasoning. We also wished there were more bits of carrots, celery and onion to punch up the salad.

This was the most traditional pasta salad in the Fresh from Meijer line. However, there were several other options of pre-packaged pasta salads from the house brand. We spotted Greek pasta salad, seashell macaroni salad, Buffalo chicken pasta salad, sesame noodle salad, Mediterranean pasta salad, green goddess pasta salad and a zesty bow tie pasta salad. It’s worth noting that all of these options came in significantly smaller containers and with higher price points.

Bottom Line: While Meijer’s traditional creamy macaroni salad was lackluster, we’d be willing to give the other options a try next time.

6. Mariano’s/Kroger

The pasta salad from Mariano’s (part of the Kroger group) appears to be prepared in house because it’s scooped to order from behind the deli counter. The classic elbow macaroni salad sells for a midrange price of $4.49 per pound.

Unfortunately, this pasta salad didn’t impress us. The small noodles were overcooked and mushy, there were only a few flecks of red and green in the salad, there weren’t enough mix-ins, and it was made with high-fructose corn syrup. Mariano’s offers several other pasta salads, including bang bang shrimp pasta salad, seafood pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, Greek pasta salad and sun garden salad.

Bottom Line: We loved that this pasta salad is made in house, so we hope our taste test was just an off day and that the preparation might improve on subsequent tastings.

5. Walmart

Walmart might offer only a few prepared pasta salads, but they come in a variety of sizes. We taste tested the original macaroni salad in the smallest 1-pound tub selling for $3.47. Of all the pasta salads we sampled, this one was the most budget-friendly. Overall, we thought the pasta salad was on the dry side, and it needed more dressing to bind it together. Like others, we hoped for bolder seasoning and more mix-ins. In addition to the original macaroni salad, Walmart sells one called Amish macaroni salad and a deviled egg macaroni salad.

Bottom Line: Walmart sells the least expensive pasta salad in a variety of sizes, making this pasta salad the best option for feeding a large crowd.

4. Jewel/Albertson’s

The macaroni pasta salad from Jewel sells for $4.89 per pound, which is on the higher side compared to others on this list. It appears to be prepared in house, since it’s sold from behind the deli counter. However, the quality didn’t match the price.

The al dente noodles were great, but the flavor profile was lacking. Celery, red pepper and sweet pickles dotted the sweet-tart mayonnaise dressing. We had hoped for more celery and red pepper pieces throughout. A good crunch in creamy pasta salads is part of the appeal!

The deli counter also offers a pasta Italiano salad, Parmesan bow tie salad, Caprese pasta salad and creamy broccoli and rotini pasta salad.

Bottom Line: Jewel’s pasta salad could be kicked up a notch by adding additional mix-ins. Next time, we’ll grab a few veggies in the produce section to enhance the dish ourselves before serving.

3. Target

The classic macaroni salad from Target surprised us. In a sea of options that weren’t overly impressive, this one sold us when it came to the noodles. Perfectly cooked large macaroni elbows were slightly overdressed in the best way—no mushy salad here. Prepared with sweet pickle relish, diced celery and bell peppers, this pasta salad sells for a great value at $3.69 per pound. We also spotted a garlic pasta salad, tomato basil pasta salad and a lemon basil pesto tortellini salad in the refrigerator case at Target.

Bottom Line: The pasta salad from Target contained the best noodles of the bunch. We would buy this again!

2. Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s sells two pasta salad options in 12-ounce containers. A Mediterranean-style orzo pasta salad with spinach and sun dried tomatoes for $4.99 and a lemon basil pasta salad also for $4.99. These were quite different flavor profiles from the more traditional pasta salads on this list, but we definitely wanted to include an option from Trader Joe’s. We opted for the lemon basil pasta salad, and we noticed two things right away—all of the ingredients were incredibly fresh and colorful, but we couldn’t even see the pasta in this pasta salad!

Fresh basil, shredded Parmesan cheese and even a lemon wedge made this dish as close to homemade as you can get. The only downside to this option is the fact that the noodles were slightly overcooked and everything was packed too densely into the container. It was hard to stir to coat each bite. The Trader Joe’s pasta salads are ideal for a grab-and-go lunch for one, but not necessarily ready to serve at a party.

Bottom Line: Overflowing with vegetables and other fresh ingredients, the pasta salad from Trader Joe’s appeared to be the healthiest option of all the ones we sampled.

1. Whole Foods

The Whole Foods deli pasta salad was our favorite pasta salad of the bunch! The popular grocery chain offers two pasta salads: smoked mozzarella pasta salad and Greek tortellini salad. We asked the deli attendant which one was most popular and always available. They suggested the smoked mozzarella pasta salad, so that’s the one we selected for the ranking.

As one would expect from Whole Foods, this pasta salad was made in house with fresh ingredients. We loved the fresh spinach throughout the salad and appreciated that it was plentiful. There were cubes of smoked mozzarella distributed in every bite. This added a creaminess and a delightful smoky flavor to the salad. The only downside is the price. At $8.99 per pound it was certainly more expensive than others on this list, but we felt the quality of the salad warranted the higher price tag.

Bottom Line: The pasta salad from Whole Foods was the highest quality and most delicious of all the options we sampled. Because of the higher price per pound, this pasta salad is probably best suited to smaller gatherings rather than feeding large crowds.

Related:

• Barbecue Recipes That’ll Make You Feel Like a Pitmaster
• The Best Guacamole at the Grocery Store
• Summer Salad Recipes to Enjoy All Season

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