Ingredients Guide

It's time to learn about the ingredients in your food! Which ones will add the greatest health boost to your meal, and which need special care to bring out their flavors? We'll highlight popular ingredients and give you recipes and menu ideas to use them. And if you've got too much of an ingredient on hand—what are you going to do with all those ripe bananas?—we've got suggestions for that, too.

leeks and green onion comparision graph on pink background
Leek vs. Green Onion: Here’s How to Tell the Difference (and When to Use Each)
tequila-vs-mezcal-GettyImages-1149680532
Tequila vs. Mezcal: How to Know the Difference Next Time You Order a Cocktail
pattern of peaches on a pastel background. Flat lay, top view.
Peaches vs. Nectarines: What Really Sets Them Apart (Beyond the Skin)
Fresh aromatic green matcha latte tea on a wooden table. Natural antioxidant and dietary product.
How Much Caffeine Is in Matcha? Here’s What to Know Before Your Next Cup
Two toasts with pistachio butter on the white plate
Why Pistachio Cream Is Suddenly Everywhere—and How to Use It
group of baby carrots on an orange background
Are Baby Carrots Healthy? And What Are They, Anyway?
Butter on a tray
Margarine vs. Butter: What's the Actual Difference?
Ultra-filtered milk in a glass
Is Ultra-Filtered Milk Healthier? We Asked Nutrition Experts
prime rib and ribeye steaks
Prime Rib vs Ribeye: A Cattle Expert Shares Which Steak Cut Is Better—and Why
Chicken eggs white and brown on a beige background
8 Egg Alternatives That Are Just as Healthy—or Even Healthier
tomato paste and tomato puree
Can You Swap Tomato Paste for Puree? Here's the Difference Between the 2 Ingredients
Top view of various bakery ingredients and items such as eggs, butter, flour, sugar, rolling pin, measure cups, hand whisk and serving scoop disposed all around the image on a bakery concept background
Short on Eggs? Try These Pro Tips for Using Fewer Eggs in Your Cooking and Baking
oats in a bowl
Is There a Difference Between Rolled Outs and Quick Oats? Here's What Experts Say
coriander-vs-cilantro
Are Coriander and Cilantro the Same Thing? Here's What You Should Know
white-pepper-vs-black-pepper-GettyImages-2150062358
White Pepper vs. Black Pepper—Is There Really a Difference?
Bottle and jug with olive oil and olives against brown background, space for text
Can You Cook With Olive Oil Instead of Vegetable Oil? Here's What the Pros Say
fresh and dried basil
Fresh Herbs vs. Dried Herbs: When to Use Each So Your Food Has Maximum Flavor
coffee with cream
5 Dairy-Free Substitutes for Heavy Cream (That Taste and Whip Just as Good)
Dry cardamom pods in a wooden spoon, background.
What Is Cardamom—and How Do You Cook With It?
steel cut and rolled oats
Steel Cut vs. Rolled Oats: Is One Healthier Than the Other?
yukon-gold-mashed-potatoes-GettyImages-1333188327
Choose This Type of Potato for the Creamiest Mashed Potatoes Every Time
Human hand pouring balsamic vinegar into salad
Does Balsamic Vinegar Go Bad? Here’s the Proper Way to Store It So You Can Use It for Years
white and dark meat turkey
White Meat vs. Dark Meat: Is One Really Healthier Than the Other?
canola oil
Canola Oil vs. Vegetable Oil: How to Choose the Right Cooking Oil
pile of potatoes
Yes, You Can Freeze Potatoes—Here's How to Do It Right
pantry items
6 Ingredients That Make Any Meal More Delicious
pumpkin seeds in a bowl
How to Eat Pumpkin Seeds—Plus Tips on How to Store and Cook With Them
Garlic powder in wooden bowl and bulb of garlic isolated on wooden table background
Granulated Garlic vs. Garlic Powder—and the Best Uses for Each
pink mochi
Mochi Flour Is Suddenly Everywhere—Here's How to Use It in Desserts, Rice Cakes, and More
Almond flour with almonds,
Should You Use Almond Meal or Almond Flour? Here’s How These Ingredients Differ
Coriander or Cilantro is an annual herb. All parts of the plant are edible but the fresh leaves and dried seeds (spice) are parts often used for cooking.
Never Confuse Parsley and Cilantro Again—Here's How to Tell the Herbs Apart (and When to Use Each)
buttermilk
What Is Buttermilk—and How to Use It for Fluffier Pancakes, Creamier Potatoes, and More
An overhead shot of fresh organic turnips on a wooden tray against a green surface
How to Tell a Rutabaga From a Turnip—Plus the Best Ways to Use These Root Vegetables
raspberry jam
What's the Difference Between Jam and Preserves—and Which Has More Sugar?
muskmelon-vs-cantaloupe-GettyImages-1722752641
Is That Cantaloupe You're Eating Actually a Muskmelon?
guava
How to Eat Guava 8 Different Ways, Plus Tips on How to Buy and Cut the Fruit
labneh-pink-peppercorns-coriander-fennel-seeds
Labneh Is the Healthy, Delicious Spread That Deserves a Spot in Your Fridge
Fresh cut kiwi on isolated yellow background with shadow and leaves
How to Eat a Kiwi 8 Different Ways, Plus Tips on How to Peel and Cut the Fruit
A sliced mango
How to Eat a Mango 8 Different Ways
a coconut cut in half and filled with raw panela sugar, on the right side a bowl and a spoon both filled with coconut butter
Coconut Sugar vs. Cane Sugar: What’s the Difference?
Zest of a lemon rubbing off
What Is Lemon Zest, and How Do You Cook With It?
aioli and may in two bowls
Aioli vs. Mayo: What’s the Difference Between These Two Condiments?
caster sugar
What Is Caster Sugar? Here’s What You Need to Know
shirataki-noodlies
What Are Shirataki Noodles, and How Do You Cook With Them?
sea salt vs table salt
Sea Salt vs. Table Salt: What’s the Difference?
Made Famous on Social Media- Air Fried Corn Ribs with Lime and Chipotle Crema, Cotija Cheese and Cilantro
What Are Corn Ribs, and How Do You Make Them At Home?
Yam and sweet potato on a red background
Sweet Potato vs. Yam: What’s the Difference?
italian poutine, Quebec, Canada
What Is Poutine? All About the Classic Canadian Dish
kohlrabi on a blue background
How to Cook With Kohlrabi—the Underrated Vegetable That Can Elevate Any Meal
Ube in a bowl
Ube vs. Taro: What’s the Difference Between These Colorful Root Veggies?
tapioca in pearl and root form
What Is Tapioca? It's the Versatile Ingredient You’re Probably Not Cooking With
salad with grilled halloumi and fried peaches
What Is Halloumi Cheese—and How Do You Grill It?
Brown sugar and white sugar
Brown Sugar vs. White Sugar: What's the Difference?
Schnitzel on a plate on multicolored background
What Are Chicken Cutlets, Exactly? Plus, How to Make Them From Chicken Breasts
Broccoli steak in ponzu sauce on a white plate with golden trim against a pink background.
What Is Ponzu Sauce—and How Do You Cook With It?
Traditional Indian food butter ghee in a glass jar closeup
What Is Ghee—and How Do You Cook With It?
green icing in a bag
What Is Icing Sugar—and How Do You Use It?
Spoonful of Bomba Calabrese
Bomba Calabrese Is My Secret to Better Pasta and Pizza—Here's How I Use It on Everything
grapes leaves on a plate
What Are Grape Leaves? Here’s How to Cook With the Versatile Ingredient
Whole Read sorghum, ancient grain. On wooden surface with rustic burlap cloth and a wooden scoop and copy space
Sorghum Might Be the Most Underrated Superfood—Here's Why Nutrition Experts Love It
pesto
What Is Pesto? It's the Cheesy, Healthy Condiment You Need to Use More Often
bowl of chia seeds and bowl of flax seeds
Chia Seeds vs. Flax Seeds: Which Superfood Is Healthier?
capers in a shell shaped dish on a blue background
What Are Capers, and How Do You Cook With Them?