Buying guides and reviews
Buying Guides
Making perfect Vietnamese spring rolls at home used to mean juggling a plate of dry wrappers and a separate bowl of warm water. A spring roll water bowl is a two-part kitchen tool…
Buying Guides
There is something magical about the slow drip of a Vietnamese phin filter. That first morning I set one on my kitchen counter, watching hot water slowly seep through dark grounds…
Buying Guides
I still remember the first time I pulled a bamboo sticky rice serving basket from my kitchen cabinet. The earthy scent of fire-dried reed stock filled the air, and I finally unders…
Buying Guides
The best tool to shred papaya is a specialized julienne peeler or Thai-style zigzag shredder with stainless steel blades. After testing 15 different models over the past three mont…
Buying Guides
Nothing beats the aromatic intensity of freshly ground spices. After testing over 20 mortar and pestle sets in my home kitchen for the past three months, I have confirmed what chef…
Buying Guides
I spent three months testing wok rings on my Samsung gas range, trying to achieve that perfect wok hei flavor at home. Like many home cooks, I bought a beautiful round bottom carbo…
Buying Guides
There is something magical about biting into a perfectly crafted dumpling. That thin, tender wrapper gives way to a burst of savory filling, and for a moment, everything else fades…
Buying Guides
I used to think a spider strainer was just another kitchen gadget I’d use once and forget about. That changed three years ago when I started cooking more Asian dishes and doing reg…
Buying Guides
I spent three months testing 15 different wok spatulas in my home kitchen, cooking everything from fried rice to kung pao chicken. After hundreds of stir-fries, I’ve narrowed down…
Buying Guides
There is something magical about cooking in a traditional Chinese clay pot. I remember the first time I tasted claypot rice at a small Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong. The crispy…