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Test Kitchen Tips & Tricks

The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been testing recipes on our readers’ behalf since 1970, earning the title of “the most trusted kitchen in the South.” Our Test Kitchen team comprises expert professionals in recipe development—from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians—who all come together to make sure that Southern home cooks are equipped to succeed. Follow along for recipe secrets, shortcuts, traditions, cooking tips, and kitchen advice straight from the pros.
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In most recipes topped or finished with whipped cream, we’ll typically note to add it to the dessert just before serving. That’s because on its own, whipped cream isn’t the most stable, and it can start to deflate if it isn't stabilized. Powdered sugar added for sweetness can help stiffen the cream thanks to the cornstarch in it, but you’ll need more than just the sugar to create a lasting product and instant pudding mix is our pick. #buttercream #frosting #icing #recipeideas #whippedcream
The Secret Ingredient In This Whipped Cream Frosting Might Already Be In Your Pantry
In most recipes topped or finished with whipped cream, we’ll typically note to add it to the dessert just before serving. That’s because on its own, whipped cream isn’t the most stable, and it can start to deflate if it isn't stabilized. Powdered sugar added for sweetness can help stiffen the cream thanks to the cornstarch in it, but you’ll need more than just the sugar to create a lasting product and instant pudding mix is our pick. #buttercream #frosting #icing #recipeideas #whippedcream
Making homemade pie pastry can feel daunting, but it's worth it: It's much tastier and butterier than the store-bought pie crusts, and it feels great to have mastered your own beautiful crimped crust. Plus, it's typically only a few ingredients: all-purpose flour, salt, butter, water (and sometimes shortening and sugar, depending on the recipe and baker's preference). But did you know that the temperature of your butter is the key to perfect flaky pie crust? At the link, we've got the secret. #recipes #piecrust #piecrustrecipe #bestpiecrust #homemadepiecrust
The Secret To Perfect Pie Crust Every Time Isn't An Ingredient
Making homemade pie pastry can feel daunting, but it's worth it: It's much tastier and butterier than the store-bought pie crusts, and it feels great to have mastered your own beautiful crimped crust. Plus, it's typically only a few ingredients: all-purpose flour, salt, butter, water (and sometimes shortening and sugar, depending on the recipe and baker's preference). But did you know that the temperature of your butter is the key to perfect flaky pie crust? At the link, we've got the secret. #recipes #piecrust #piecrustrecipe #bestpiecrust #homemadepiecrust
If you're anything like us, you always keep a jar of vegetable shortening in your pantry. Our grandmas taught us that shortening is a stand-by in quite a few Southern recipes, particularly our baked goods. It's the secret ingredient that makes our pie crust extra flaky and our dinner rolls ultra-tender. Shortening has been a pantry staple for decades for a reason. But let's imagine a world in which, by some series of unfortunate events, you find yourself without a trusty jar of shortening. What are the best substitutes for shortening? We're here to help you troubleshoot—and keep your weekend baking project on track. #shortening #baking #substitutions #bakingtips #substituteingredients
These Are The 8 Best Shortening Substitutes For Your Next Baking Spree
If you're anything like us, you always keep a jar of vegetable shortening in your pantry. Our grandmas taught us that shortening is a stand-by in quite a few Southern recipes, particularly our baked goods. It's the secret ingredient that makes our pie crust extra flaky and our dinner rolls ultra-tender. Shortening has been a pantry staple for decades for a reason. But let's imagine a world in which, by some series of unfortunate events, you find yourself without a trusty jar of shortening. What are the best substitutes for shortening? We're here to help you troubleshoot—and keep your weekend baking project on track. #shortening #baking #substitutions #bakingtips #substituteingredients
Macaroni and cheese is a thing of beauty when executed correctly. Gooey, cheesy, saucy, and perfectly salty, it's the ultimate side dish for holidays or weekend dinners. Keep it classic or elevate the pasta with a wide range of mix-ins, from andouille sausage to broccoli—it's just as decadent either way. Well... Unless your mac and cheese takes a turn for the worse and comes out of the oven dry. At the link, learn how to keep mac and cheese from drying out on your watch. #recipes #macaroni #macaroniandcheese #pasta #testkitchen #drymacaroni
How To Keep Mac And Cheese From Drying Out
Macaroni and cheese is a thing of beauty when executed correctly. Gooey, cheesy, saucy, and perfectly salty, it's the ultimate side dish for holidays or weekend dinners. Keep it classic or elevate the pasta with a wide range of mix-ins, from andouille sausage to broccoli—it's just as decadent either way. Well... Unless your mac and cheese takes a turn for the worse and comes out of the oven dry. At the link, learn how to keep mac and cheese from drying out on your watch. #recipes #macaroni #macaroniandcheese #pasta #testkitchen #drymacaroni
When it comes to celebratory treats, layer cakes, well, “take the cake.” They stand tall on a cake stand, have the perfect combination of tender cake and smooth frosting, and are a good indicator that whoever baked the cake put in some extra love, time, and elbow grease. As any baker knows, making a layer cake requires a certain level of precision. One of the keys to a beautiful, show-stopping, perfectly baked layer cake is getting even layers. While pouring equal amounts of batter into multiple cake pans is often something we “eyeball” (that’s how Grandma did it after all!), we have a little trick that will take the guesswork out of getting even cake layers. And great news, it’s pretty simple. #recipeideas #recipes #baking #cakes #cakelayers #evencakelayers
The Secret To Getting Even Cake Layers Every Time You Bake
When it comes to celebratory treats, layer cakes, well, “take the cake.” They stand tall on a cake stand, have the perfect combination of tender cake and smooth frosting, and are a good indicator that whoever baked the cake put in some extra love, time, and elbow grease. As any baker knows, making a layer cake requires a certain level of precision. One of the keys to a beautiful, show-stopping, perfectly baked layer cake is getting even layers. While pouring equal amounts of batter into multiple cake pans is often something we “eyeball” (that’s how Grandma did it after all!), we have a little trick that will take the guesswork out of getting even cake layers. And great news, it’s pretty simple. #recipeideas #recipes #baking #cakes #cakelayers #evencakelayers
Butternut squash is a fall staple, but prepping and cooking it isn’t exactly intuitive. The firm fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit) is famously difficult to slice into (you’ll need a sharp knife, and we mean sharp). Peeling is a little bit laborious too, and then you have to figure out how to actually cook it. Fear not, we’ll explain all the dos and don'ts when it comes to how to cook butternut squash at the link. #butternutsquash #squash #veggies #sides #testkitchen #howtocooksquash
Everything You Need To Know About How To Cook Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a fall staple, but prepping and cooking it isn’t exactly intuitive. The firm fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit) is famously difficult to slice into (you’ll need a sharp knife, and we mean sharp). Peeling is a little bit laborious too, and then you have to figure out how to actually cook it. Fear not, we’ll explain all the dos and don'ts when it comes to how to cook butternut squash at the link. #butternutsquash #squash #veggies #sides #testkitchen #howtocooksquash
You might not know it by name, but chances are you are familiar with the Holy Trinity of cooking if you've ever made a pot of gumbo. This backbone of Cajun and Creole cooking is essential for nailing the flavors and cuisine of Louisiana. It also has a rich history, connected to the different groups of people who settled in the region. #recipes #cajuncooking #cajunrecipes #creolecooking #holytrinity #gumbo
What Is The Holy Trinity Of Cajun And Creole Cooking?
You might not know it by name, but chances are you are familiar with the Holy Trinity of cooking if you've ever made a pot of gumbo. This backbone of Cajun and Creole cooking is essential for nailing the flavors and cuisine of Louisiana. It also has a rich history, connected to the different groups of people who settled in the region. #recipes #cajuncooking #cajunrecipes #creolecooking #holytrinity #gumbo
While it might not look quite as appealing, you can absolutely eat crystalized honey. There is nothing as sweet and delicious as fresh, gooey honey, but it’s a safe bet we’ve all gone to grab a bear-shaped bottle of our favorite honey and noticed it’s gotten hard or just doesn’t come out like it should. This process is called crystallization and before you panic—it’s normal. #honey #crystalizedhoney #kitchentips #testkitchen
Can You Eat Crystalized Honey?
While it might not look quite as appealing, you can absolutely eat crystalized honey. There is nothing as sweet and delicious as fresh, gooey honey, but it’s a safe bet we’ve all gone to grab a bear-shaped bottle of our favorite honey and noticed it’s gotten hard or just doesn’t come out like it should. This process is called crystallization and before you panic—it’s normal. #honey #crystalizedhoney #kitchentips #testkitchen
Cilantro is an herb we use often for adding a touch of freshness to salsa, guacamole, dips, salad dressings, and condiments. It's a beautiful garnish for soups and stews, and its vibrant, green shade can add color and flavor while not overpowering a dish. But when the cilantro has been sitting around for a few days and begins to wilt, what happens then? #cilantro #herbs #wiltedcilantro #testkitchen #kitchentips #kitchenstorage
Can You Eat Wilted Cilantro? Experts Weigh In
Cilantro is an herb we use often for adding a touch of freshness to salsa, guacamole, dips, salad dressings, and condiments. It's a beautiful garnish for soups and stews, and its vibrant, green shade can add color and flavor while not overpowering a dish. But when the cilantro has been sitting around for a few days and begins to wilt, what happens then? #cilantro #herbs #wiltedcilantro #testkitchen #kitchentips #kitchenstorage
When it comes to butter, although we never recommend a brand directly in our recipes, there is one brand we use across the board in all of our cakes, cookies, pies, and more. For our test kitchen, when it comes to baking, the go-to butter is Land O’ Lakes and we’ll explain why. #baking #landolakes #butter #bestbutter #testkitchen
The Southern Living Test Kitchen Always Uses This Butter For Baking
When it comes to butter, although we never recommend a brand directly in our recipes, there is one brand we use across the board in all of our cakes, cookies, pies, and more. For our test kitchen, when it comes to baking, the go-to butter is Land O’ Lakes and we’ll explain why. #baking #landolakes #butter #bestbutter #testkitchen
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This Common Measuring Mistake Could Be The Reason Your Cakes Are Always Dry
You might be surprised that the most common culprit of a dry cake is too much flour, which happens more often than you think. While baking for too long in the oven can also contribute to a dry, crumbly cake, an imbalance of flour and liquid in the cake—whether it's oil or butter, milk or buttermilk, and eggs—drastically impacts the outcome. This trick is the best way to make sure that your cake turns out just how it's supposed to. #cakes #baking #bakingmistakes #drycake #measuring
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The 1 Way To Make A Chewier Cookie, According To A Professional Baker
If you're a fan of chewier cookies rather than crunchy ones, you may wonder what the secret ingredient is to get chewy cookies every time you bake. We spoke to a professional pastry chef about how to create a chewier texture and richer cookies. And you don't have to buy any special products. It's already a staple item in the cookie recipe. You just need to add an extra ingredient. #baking #testkitchen #bakingtips #cookies #chewycookies
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The Best Way To Store Green Onions To Keep Them Fresh
Whether you stocked up on green onions for a specific recipe or you just like to have them on-hand, knowing the best way to store green onions to prolong their shelf-life is important. At the link, discover the best methods for storing green onions to keep them fresh longer. Learn tips for refrigerating, regrowing, and extending their shelf-life. #testkitchen #greenonions #foodstorage #storage #kitchentips
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Why You Really Need To Let Steak Rest
It doesn’t matter what cut of steak you're preparing—whether it’s a bone-in ribeye, porterhouse, or flank steak—letting the meat rest is a must. At the link, learn why letting your steak rest after cooking is essential for maximum flavor and juiciness. Discover how resting allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a tender, delicious bite every time. #recipeideas #steak #testkitchen #letsteakrest #dinner
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What Is Blackstrap Molasses?
Blackstrap molasses is a staple in a Southern kitchen, both during the holidays and all year round. But anyone who has considered using this syrupy sweetener understands that not all jars of molasses are created equal. While it may be simple to differentiate light molasses from dark molasses, you may wonder about another common label: blackstrap molasses. #recipeideas #recipes #molasses #blackstrap #baking