Whether it's custard that won't set or brittle fleur de sel caramels, we've all had failed cooking attempts. But when disaster strikes while closely following a recipe, it poses the question: Whose recipes can be trusted? And whose cannot? Most religious recipe followers seem to have culinary experts they've come to trust. For example, I find it hard to pick on anything by famed perfectionist Thomas Keller. Same with any cookbook that's been tested over and over again, like those from the late Sheila Lukins. And I've never been able to find fault in a recipe from Tyler Florence or Ina Garten. Whose recipes have you counted on time and time again?
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Star by Julien Macdonald
I've always had success with Alton Brown's recipes. I also trust Ina Garten's recipes.
1Haha, FinnLover, those were the two names that popped right into my mind first too!
2Ina has the best recipes, I find myself making more & more from her books lately. And of course, my mom!
3America's Test Kitchen stuff and Cook's Illustrated recipes
4MMM I
5Martha Stewart never fails me.
6Alton Brown and Alfred Portale. I always turn to Alton when I am unsure of the technique and Portale's recipes always seem to make complicated flavor building very easy.
7Agreed. Ina's recipes are almost fail-proof. I also trust Food & Wine magazine, Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, and Giada. Oh TyFlo's ultimate recipes are awesome too!
8In the land of cookbooks, my "go to" team include: Ina, Tyler, Giada and Nigella (no need for last names, right?). When it comes to magazines I rely on La Cucina Italiana and Saveur.
9Definitely Cooks Illustrated. I can't think of a recipe I used of theirs that didn't work fabulously.
10Alton Brown has great recipes. Everything I've tried from his show and cookbooks work!
11Martha Stewart's recipes always work for me. Also, Alton Brown and Ina Garten have never failed me. And anything from Bon Appetit seems to turn out fantastic as well.
12As much as it pains me to say this I have found the Joy of Cooking to have a lot of problematic recipes. Even though I want to love and trust it I just can't.
13Mark Bittman, Ina Garten. For seasonal dishes, the Penzey's Spices catalogs, website, and in-store recipe cards.
14America's Test Kitchen and Alton Brown
15arihm, interesting point. I don't have one, so I can't comment on that, but now you have me curious!
16Martha and Ina never fail me.
17Martha Stewart! But I've always been really good at judging recipes just from looking at them.
18Without hesitation, Dorie Greenspan and Cooks Illustrated / America's Test Kitchen. Every recipe is perfect the first time!
19Alton Brown for sure! Thomas Keller is also very precise.
20Martha stewart for me as well! I also like Rachel Ray and Paula Deen but some of Paula's recipes are not for me but there are a lot that I do really really like.
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