The Complete Modern Pantry

November 1, 2022

How often do home cooks open the pantry, cabinet, fridge, and freezer only to say there is nothing to eat? Well, America's Test Kitchen (ATK) is here to save the day and get the pantry working for cooks in a bind. Packed full of information, in true ATK style, this features extensive pantry set-up advice, from what to have, how to store it, freeze it, use scraps, and much more. The substitution chart is also worthwhile and serves as an amazing tool for anyone less likely to have one building block on hand than another. Recipes run the gamut from snacks to dessert and include all of the bells and whistles that ATK fans have come to expect. Pantry improv tips give guidance for using what one has or changing up flavors. Recipes are mainly retreads but the "cooking with what you have" focus will have home chefs discovering new dishes. Solid indexing helps in finding meals to use up the jumbo-size bags of ingredients weighing a pantry down. VERDICT Extremely practical and full of resources; bound to fly off library shelves.--Sarah Tansley

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 19, 2022
The staff at America’s Test Kitchen (Desserts Illustrated) find all the potential of the humble pantry in this excellent outing. “Thinking about your pantry in terms of categories can make it easier to improvise your next dinner” they write, applying their signature “why this works” approach to uses for pantry staples: kecap manis (a salty-sweet soy sauce) layers in deep flavors to stews, glazes, and umami-packed dishes such as nasi goreng, and the surprising use of warming Arabic spice blend baharat is suggested for dishes like tacos and french fries. Expert tips enhance even the simplest preparations, such as microwaving chopped onion in a little oil to release more flavor or hydrating garlic powder to activate its flavor enzyme. Possible substitutions underscore the notion that a well-stocked pantry “doesn’t mean having everything,” so balsamic or sherry vinegar can stand in for Chinese black vinegar, while mayonnaise replaces eggs and dairy in a moist chocolate cake. Perhaps most helpful even for experienced cooks is a quick list of essential techniques, including pan-searing frozen vegetables and toasting panko bread crumbs in the microwave. The bountiful, smart advice makes this an invaluable kitchen companion.