Tips

Ever spatchcocked a chicken? It’s easier than you might think! It’s the same method as butterflying a chicken, and you only need a pair of kitchen shears. Makes for more evenly cooked chicken with crispier skin!

Continue reading “How to Spatchcock (Butterfly) a Chicken” »

Cutting fruits and veggies safely is all in the grip! And the surface! And having a good knife helps, too. Here are 4 tips for safer, smarter chopping.

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Are you just not sure you’re holding your chef’s knife right? Do knives in general mystify you? Here are two of the most common ways to hold your chef’s knife.

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This post is sponsored by Le Creuset.

Colorful, shapely, and durable, stoneware elevates everyday meals. Cooks have used it for centuries, and it still has an elemental appeal.

From oven to table, it makes even the humblest casseroles feel luxurious. If you’re new to baking in stoneware, you’re in for a treat.

WHAT IS STONEWARE?

Stoneware is earthenware—clay—fired at a high temperature, which makes it more durable. It’s resistant to chipping and it holds heat beautifully.

You’ll find stoneware in all sort of sizes, shapes, and colors. The stoneware used in most modern kitchens is glazed, and that’s what we’re focusing on here.

WHY BAKE IN STONEWARE?

There are plenty of baking dishes out there, from metal to glass. What’s so great about stoneware?

1. Versatility: Stoneware is dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and oven-safe. It can go from the freezer to the oven. Some styles can even go under the broiler. And unlike glass, there’s no need to adjust your baking temps.
2. Ease of use: Good-quality stoneware has a glaze so smooth and strong it’s nearly nonstick. Cooked foods release with ease, and cleanup is a breeze.
3. Resilience: You don’t need to handle stoneware delicately. From dishwasher to cupboard to oven, you’d have to work really hard to scratch, crack, or chip any of it.
4. Ability to hold heat: Stoneware holds heat very well and distributes it evenly. If you like the browned corner pieces of casseroles and gratins, stoneware is for you! Not just that, but stoneware’s superior heat retention makes it perfect for oven-to-table serving, keeping your food warm for meals.
5. Curb appeal: The things we use every day should offer functionality, but there’s utility in cheer and beauty, too. Le Creuset stoneware, in particular, offers an enticing palate of colors. In the kitchen and at the table, those pops of color perk up your food and your mood.

TIPS FOR COOKING WITH STONEWARE

Here are a few more tips and tricks for working with stoneware. We mention Le Creuset in particular here; if you’re using a different type of stoneware, be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Can stoneware go under the broiler? Not all stoneware can go under the broiler, but Le Creuset can, as long as it’s at least 2-1/2 inches away from the heat source. This means you can get those nice, bubbly tops on gratins and your favorite macaroni and cheese.
• Freezer-to-oven! Into freezer meals? Le Creuset stoneware can also go from the freezer to the oven—the key is that it’s a cold oven. Put the frozen dish in the cold oven and then set the temperature, so the dish and the oven heat together.
• Avoid direct heat: Most stoneware is not made for direct heat—don’t use it on a burner or grill.

SHAPE MATTERS

Choosing between round, oval, square, or rectangular dishes isn’t rocket science, but there are a few considerations:

• Corners: Love browned, crispy corner pieces? Then you’ll want a square or rectangular dish. Round baking dishes won’t give you as much of the crispy edges that you desire.
• Depth: Do you like crusty tops, or custardy centers? Round, deep dishes will give you creamier, oozier middles. Deeper dishes often take longer to bake. Shallower dishes, meanwhile, will create more surface area—perfect if you like browned and crunchy tops. They tend to bake faster.
• Presentation: Switching up the shape really does make a difference in how you perceive the finished recipe once it’s on the table. There’s something elegant about oval dishes, while dishes with corners have a more casual feel. The classic French gratin dish is oval, for instance; if you bake a gratin in a square pan, it seems homier.

PUT A LID ON IT

Some stoneware comes with lids, and some does not. When is a lid an advantage?

• Storing leftovers: If you have leftovers, just pop the lid on your cooled dish and stick it in the fridge.
• Transport: Lids do a great job of keeping food warm if you’re taking it to a potluck. You can cover the dish with foil and then the lid for a one-two punch of insulation.
• Protection from over-browning: A long bake time can make the top of a cake or casserole quite dark, or result in a dry texture. Some recipes call for covering during all or part of the bake time.
• More curb appeal: Lids are cute, let’s face it.

No lid? No worries! Foil is a great lid. If you’re covering a dish for most of its baking time, we recommend greasing the foil so any cheese or other gooey ingredients don’t stick once you remove it.

SIZE, CAPACITY, AND CONVERSIONS

Some recipes call for a dish with a specific capacity—say, a 2-quart casserole—and some call for a dish with specific dimensions, like a 9×13 dish. If you don’t know the size or capacity of your dish, how you tell if a recipe will fit?

• Look it up: Manufacturer’s websites will tell you the capacity and dimensions of specific baking dishes.
• Measure the volume: Fill the dish with water all the way to the top, and then pour out the water into a liquid measuring cup. This will tell you its capacity. If it’s 2-1/2 quarts, then a 2-quart recipe will probably work in there just fine.
• Measure the length, width, and height. Because most baking dishes are fluted on the sides and therefore not exact rectangles, this method is imperfect, but it can give you a general idea. Measure the length, width, and height of the dish, measuring from its the inside edges (not the outside). Multiply those three numbers together and you’ll get its volume. (For instance, an 11-1/2” x 7-3/4” x 2-3/4” dish has a capacity of 245 cubic inches. A 9” x 13” x 2” has a capacity of 234 cubic inches. Swapping one of those dishes for the other is likely a safe bet.)

Last but not least, see the chart below. We did the conversion work for you!

CONVERSION RULES OF THUMB

Any time you do a dish swap, be mindful of the baking time. It may very well be a little shorter or longer than the recipe says.

It’s better to use a larger dish than called for versus a smaller dish. No one wants an overflow situation—particularly if it means any spillover burning on the bottom of the oven.

Doubling or halving recipes often will work, but you want to think of two factors: depth and surface area. Those will affect the baking time and consistency of your recipe.

CLEANING AND CARE FOR STONEWARE

A smooth, sturdy glaze is your friend here. Le Creuset stoneware’s strong glaze is nearly nonstick and extremely hard. Besides a plastic-bristled brush or scrubby sponge, you shouldn’t need any special tools.

Melted or burned cheese on your casserole? Fill the cooled dish with soapy hot water and let it soak 10 to 20 minutes. That alone will resolve 95% of your cleanup issues.

You can use metal utensils to cut on the surface of your stoneware, but they can leave marks on the glaze. To get rid of those, a small sprinkling of a mild abrasive (such as Bar Keeper’s Friend) in the afflicted area should do it. Amazingly, it won’t leave any scratches.

STORING YOUR STONEWARE

If you have multiple dishes, you can stack them and not fret about scratches. To prevent them toppling over, it’s best not to stack baking dishes more than two or three high. If there’s a lid, you can invert it and store it in the casserole with the knob or handle facing down, creating a stackable upper surface.

TRY THESE CASSEROLES!

Got a yen to bake comforting casseroles and desserts now? Try these!

• Pastelon (Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna)
• Blueberry French Toast Casserole
• Broccoli Cheese Casserole
• Roasted Chicken Thighs and Potatoes
• Plum Cobbler
• Cauliflower Gratin

>> Shop here for Le Creuset Stoneware

Continue reading “Guide to Cooking with Stoneware” »

Salt is essential to cooking. It dials up the flavor of any dish, sweet or savory, but there are so many kinds! Consider this your guide to the salty side!

Continue reading “The Simply Recipes Guide to Salt” »

Here’s everything you need to know to make the best oatmeal you’ve ever had. You’ll never have to suffer through a bowl of bland, gluey oats again!

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Here’s everything you need to know to make the best oatmeal you’ve ever had. You’ll never have to suffer through a bowl of bland, gluey oats again!

Continue reading “How to Make the Best Oatmeal” »

Can’t get enough salty-sweet Christmas Crack with its layers of chocolate, caramel, and saltines? Here are five fun ways to top your next batch, from pretzels to pecans!

Continue reading “5 Ways to Top Your Christmas Crack!” »

If the pantry and fridge look bare, don’t worry. There’s always something you can make for dinner. Here are 4 emergency meals you can make no matter how slim the pickings look!

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You can take the kids to the grocery store without losing your mind. We promise. A little pre-game chat and a little delegation of responsibility goes a long way toward educating and empowering your kiddos—and maintaining parental sanity!

Continue reading “How to Grocery Shop with Kids Without Losing Your Mind” »

If you want to make your week as easy as possible, spend some time on Sunday making a few batches of simple weeknight staples that can serve as building blocks for meals in the coming days.

You’ll spend the rest of the week looking back and thanking yourself for these well-spent couple of hours.

Continue reading “6 Things to Make on Sunday for Easier Weeknight Meals” »

When you are pondering an appetizer for a party, you can never go wrong with hummus. It’s popular with kids and adults, it’s easy to make in quantities large or small, and it’s highly adaptable.

Earthy, savory, creamy, protein-packed: hummus is a great base for all kinds of add-ins.

Sure there are a bunch of pre-made flavor variations available at the store, but it’s so easy to make your own “house” version. Then you not only have a crowd-pleasing party appetizer (or snack), you also have bragging rights!

Continue reading “Try This! 4 Great Add-Ins for Hummus” »

This post is brought to you in partnership with Mealthy. Check out their new Mealthy MultiPot!

Did you know that slow cooker recipes are really easy to convert to the pressure cooker?

As long as you keep a few basic rules in mind – like how much liquid to use and how to adjust the cooking time – turning your favorite all-day slow cooker recipe into a 30-minute pressure cooker special is straightforward and simple.

Continue reading “How to Convert Your Favorite Slow Cooker Recipe to the Pressure Cooker” »