Olivia Carter

Cooking for two shouldn’t mean compromising on crispy, delicious meals. After testing dozens of air fryers over the past year, our team found that the best air fryers for two people strike a perfect balance between compact size and enough capacity to cook a full meal without crowding. The sweet spot? A 4-6 quart capacity … Read more

Brown rice is one of the most frustrating grains to cook on the stove. The tough bran layer needs longer cooking, more water, and a very specific temperature curve — otherwise you end up with crunchy centers or mushy outsides. After testing more than 12 models over the past six weeks, our team can confirm … Read more

Last September I helped my neighbor process 40 quarts of tomatoes before a storm knocked out power for a week. That batch cemented something I already suspected: the best pressure cookers for canning are not the same as the best pressure cookers for weeknight stews. Canning requires sustained 240°F at 10 to 15 PSI for … Read more

A dull chef’s knife is more dangerous than a sharp one. It slips, it crushes tomatoes, and it makes every prep job feel like a chore. After spending six weeks testing 12 knife sharpeners on everything from Wusthof classics to hand-forged Japanese blades, our team landed on a clear set of winners across every style … Read more

Switching to an induction cooktop changed how I cook. Water boils faster, cleanup is easier, and the kitchen stays cooler. The catch? Your old pans may not even turn on. Induction cooking uses electromagnetic energy to heat the pan itself, not the cooktop surface. Only cookware with a ferromagnetic (magnetic) base will register at all. … Read more

Cooking over an open fire is one of camping’s great pleasures, but the wrong cookware can turn a relaxing evening into a frustrating struggle. After testing cast iron cookware on dozens of camping trips, I’ve learned that the right skillet makes all the difference between burnt offerings and perfectly seared steaks under the stars. Cast … Read more

Coffee fuels nearly every office. I have spent the last several months running a side-by-side test of eight commercial coffee makers, brewing over 600 cups across a 30-employee coworking space, to find which ones hold up in real workplace conditions. The best coffee makers for offices are the machines that brew fast, stay hot for … Read more

If you’ve ever sipped coffee from a glass pot that sat on a hot plate for two hours, you already know what “burnt coffee” tastes like. That’s the problem the best drip coffee makers with thermal carafes are built to solve. Instead of relying on a heating element to keep your coffee warm, they brew … Read more

Pulling a proper espresso shot at home is one of those kitchen hobbies that changes how you start every morning. The catch is that the grinder you choose will shape your espresso far more than the machine on your counter. We spent six weeks pulling shots with ten of the best espresso grinders for beginners … Read more

I’ve brewed more cups of tea than I can count, and I can tell you one thing: a reliable stovetop tea kettle changes everything. After six weeks of side-by-side testing with our team, comparing whistles, handle heat, and boiling speed across gas, electric coil, and induction burners, I pulled together my honest list of the … Read more