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The best cookbooks
You might enjoy the art of cooking, but sadly, do not know how to. That is the essential reason for developing cookbooks. Cookbooks are a collection of recipes, guidelines and instructions, and information concerning the preparation and serving of foods.
Cookbooks are basically designed to help preserve recipes so they are not lost over time. With a cookbook, one gets to try out different recipes and new preparation methods for various kinds of foods. If it is the case that you do not know so much about cooking, with the help of a cookbook, your confidence is boosted, and your morale is high to go in there and make magic. A classic cookbook features top-notch recipes and methods of preparation with tips and tricks and expert advice on how to make certain dishes or build on your existing cooking knowledge and skills. However, not all cookbooks are standard or worth buying at all. Therefore, you must know all about cookbooks; what they should contain, what structure they should have, and how descriptive they are, etc.
Have you been in search of a comprehensive cookbook that answers all your cooking questions? Or have you bought one or two in the past that were worthless? Well, search no more; we have compiled a list of the best cookbooks with the highest ratings so you can choose and buy the ideal cookbook for you.
Best of all time
Magnolia Table cookbook
If you are looking to host a small gathering for either your friends or family soon, get inspiration from this book, it would be the best decision you’ve made in a while.
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The Magnolia Table is a #1 New York Times Bestseller cookbook that has crept into the hearts of many and has successfully swept them off their feet with its warmth, and its overall quality. All the recipes found in this cookbook were inspired by tons of the reputable Gaines’ favorites. This cookbook is our overall best pick because of its top-notch quality in terms of the beautifully constructed recipes, the author’s experience, logical arrangement, and every other factor that makes a solid cookbook.
The book is also beautifully photographed and filled with various dishes that you would want to cook in your home. It is also described as the essential cookbook because of the number of recipes it contains. With this cookbook, the author puts tries to ensure friendship and love are expressed through sharing a whole meal.
Best for chefs
Modern Comfort Food cookbook
If you are trying to improve your comfort food skills, this cookbook is perfect for you. With a wide array of delicious recipes and straightforward instructions, you can expect to be cooking like a professional pretty soon.
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This is indeed one of the best cookbooks for modern recipes as it features 85 of them that will leave you wanting for more. Ina Garten is one of America’s most beloved chefs, and she is known to write legendary cookbooks, and this new one, the 12th, isn’t excluded. It is full of helpful cooking tips and sumptuous dishes that can be used in these recent times. Given the latest pandemic issue, Ina has drafted different recipes that can fit into the world’s current state. Tips for freezing food, home cocktail recipes that will efficiently work for everyone, all feature in this cookbook.
Best for vegetarians
The Complete Vegetarian cookbook
This cookbook was released to cater to vegetarians’ needs worldwide who might want to have more fun with their diet. If you are one, be sure to grab a copy.
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This is a complete vegetarian cookbook in every sense. It has over 700 recipes that are very easy to prepare and enjoy. You do not have to be a strict vegetarian to enjoy the recipes in this book, as they are attractive, mouth-watering, and not in any way bland. It also comes with techniques with illustrated guides to take you through each step of the way. The recipes are of various kinds, ranging from classic to familiar, and exotic meatless dishes for every vegetarian.
Best home cooking
Matty Matheson Home Style Cookery cookbook
If you are looking to have a few friends over soon enough, you might want to consider picking up this cookbook. It saves you from the stress of thinking about what to cook for your guests.
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This cookbook from Matty Matherson is the best for home meals as it is very definitive and covers a complete mastery of the kitchen. It covers all sorts from special show-stoppers to pantry staples, party favorites, weeknight get-togethers, and other recipes like them. It is a very organized cookbook that begins from the basics to the technical recipes. It also combines the best ingredients to produce the best of dishes for every home.
Best for cheap meals
The Complete Cooking for Two cookbook
If you recently got wedded or plan to spend some alone time with your spouse, the complete cooking for two cookbooks is a perfect way for you to bond. Everything you need, you’ll get from the book.
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This is a cookbook that’s perfect if you are on a budget. It features about 700 recipes that can be easily made for just two people, and you would not have to spend so much preparing them. It comes with a neat and organized layout that makes locating recipes relatively easy. It also features a variety of cuisines with so little. Their recipes are also healthy and can also be used for weight loss.
Best for beginners
Gordon Ramsay Quick and Delicious cookbook
If you enjoy foods rich in flavor and taste but would rather not spend hours in the kitchen, this cookbook is your best shot to learning as many fast food recipes as you want. Most importantly, you are learning from the reputable Gordon Ramsay, how better can it get!
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Have you been searching for a cookbook that comes with quality recipes that would not take more than 30mins to prepare? Then Gordon Quick and Delicious cookbook is for you! The author is a Michelin 3-star chef that has designed it to serve fast food cooking. All the recipes come out as delicious dishes, though finding some of the ingredients can be challenging. The recipes are also beautifully photographed, which makes them all inviting. The book is well arranged, and its indexes are the best.
Best for healthy eating
Skinnytaste Meal Prep Gina Homolka cookbook
Whether you’ve been looking to lose weight or you can’t afford to cook every day, this cookbook is for you. With Homolka’s recipes, you will learn to plan meals, embrace the concept of freezer meals, and many more.
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This cookbook is excellent for those who cannot spend a lot of time in the kitchen as it teaches how to prepare dishes and keep them in the freezer till you are ready to eat them. The recipes turn out to be flavorful, fresh, delicious, and unexpectedly healthy. The recipes are freezer-friendly for instant cooking, quick and easy too for all sorts of meals.
Best for weight loss
True Comfort Gluten Free cookbook
If you are looking for how best to make comfort food without compromising your healthy diet, this cookbook is for you. Here Cavallari has provided you with all the best meals to satisfy your taste buds.
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There are lots of foods we eat that contain gluten; however, not everyone is gluten-tolerant. Thus, the reason for recommending this cookbook is because it has a variety of recipes that do not have gluten in them. The book is well arranged as the recipes are in order, and the preparations follow as well. Kristen’s recipes are natural, wholesome, and healthy for everyone. The cookbook also comes with nice pictures of the recipes, so you can be assured of a premium service.
Best for instant meals
The Step-by-Step Instant Pot Cookbook
If you own an instant pot and need to learn how to maximize using it, this cookbook is exactly what you need to get started. With his clear-cut instructions and step-by-step guide, Eisner already makes cooking fun for you!
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No one wants to spend the whole day cooking, and thus the invention of instant meal cookbooks. This 100-recipe instant meal cookbook is excellent for fast, delicious, and aesthetic dishes. It is easy to read and contains all the info you need to create the simple, delicious recipes that Pressure Luck is known for. Another quality is the step-by-step pictures of every recipe and its final result.
Best for quick meals
Air Fryer Cookbook
If you recently bought an air fryer or have been wondering what dishes you can make with it, this cookbook is perfect for you.
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We all need a sort of encouragement and morale booster in the kitchen, whether you are a professional or are a beginner. That’s what this cookbook is perfect for. Through the breakdown of each recipe and its preparation, cooking is made seamless and easy. However, it does not have pictures to back the recipes, but try them out and be wowed.
What to look for in a good cookbook
Considering the kind of cookbook to buy that would suit your culinary skills and needs is no hassle at all, in as much as you know what exactly to search for. Hence, to help you in your search, here’s a list of the factors to consider.
How well does the cookbook meet your needs?
A standard cookbook should contain specific eye-catching details that will immediately let you know what you need. If you are new to cooking, then the cookbook for you should aim for are the ones that contain family-friendly dishes. The format in which the recipes and preparations are written should be straightforward to follow. The cookbook should also have main keywords like ‘basic, quick, easy, busy, simple,’ etc. However, if you are an experienced cook, the cookbook you need would be quite different from that of a beginner. Yours would be the ones that contain creative recipes like Chinese cooking, specialty book on pasta or vegetarian dishes, etc. If you are also looking to make a gourmet meal, you can choose a glossy chef-authored book instead.
Is the author well-read?
How knowledgeable an author of a cookbook is, is a crucial factor to consider in choosing a cookbook. Check if they have an education or experience in culinary arts, home economics, consumer services, or cooking for large gatherings in general. Anyone can wake up and choose to create recipes, but only detailed cookbook authors test their recipes and have in-depth know-how of combining flavors and textures for an enhanced dish.
How logically-arranged are the recipes?
The recipes of different dishes in a cookbook are to be in well-defined sections and should be arranged according to the following: the main ingredients (pasta, chicken), the kind of dishes (salads, entrees, soups), or the cooking method (baked, grilled, one-pot). For instance, a book of 900 recipes may seem like a big deal and very exciting until the recipe that piqued your interest the most is lost within the entire cookbook. What a waste, right?!
Any added information?
An average cookbook states the preparation time of the dish and the number of servings for each recipe. But an excellent standard cookbook provides extra information like cooking tips, the recipe history, nutritional value, serve-with suggestions, and probably unusual ingredient definitions.
Does the cookbook provide inspiration?
A standard cookbook should inspire you to go beyond the written recipe and try it out independently. Some of the books were inspired by suggesting alternative ingredients to the consumers.
Are the preparation steps easy to follow?
Many people prefer step by step, numbered directions written in chronological order, and it is the best kind of description. In choosing a cookbook to buy, avoid the ones with continued tips on a non-facing page. Also, avoid cookbooks with directions that are written in the form of a narrative. A cookbook should be orderly and neat, so locating the recipes and steps will be no issue at all.
Does the cookbook have an extensive index?
This is an aspect that not all books tend to have, but it is a must-have. A standard cookbook should feature indexes that list recipes by names and by their main ingredients. Let’s say you are looking for Spaghetti Bolognese; you should be able to find the recipes under the letter ‘S’ for Spaghetti, ‘B’ for ‘Bolognese. A good index in a cookbook boosts your morale to cook repeatedly, using the same book.
FAQ
How many recipes should a cookbook have?
A book is called a ‘cookbook’ because it contains various recipes that can be used to prepare dishes; therefore, the number of recipes matters. On average, a cookbook should have about 80 to 120 recipes. The more the recipes, the wider you experience, but the less the recipes, the more the author augments the available ones.
Should a cookbook have pictures?
Yes, definitely! We eat with our mouths, but we also eat with our eyes. What do we mean by that exactly? A good cookbook should have pictures of what is about to be prepared, and the photographs should be mouth-watering and bright-lighted. This way, you already want to eat the food without preparing it, and once that’s the case, making the food will be no issue at all.
How many pages should a cookbook have?
There is no stipulated number of pages a cookbook should have, but it sure should have an ordered structure and what it is all about. The recipes and preparations are to be well arranged and organized so that reading would be straightforward. Having a scanty cookbook doesn’t exactly evoke a sense of confidence in prospective readers.
Final verdict
We are in a world where things are evolving every day, so we shouldn’t remain at a single spot. Are you a beginner? Or you can cook, but are having trouble making certain dishes? Get a cookbook! Do not remain ignorant. Cooking is a creative endeavor, and the best cookbooks will kickstart or improve your culinary skills. We hope you love the recommended books reviewed in this piece, as they are some of the best in the world.
