What is the best Cookbook to buy?

Question

I'm a beginner, and looking for an easy to follow cookbook for all occassions! What would you recommend?

Answer 1

If you like to cook, or eat, one cookbook is never going to be enough! Seriously, though, I'll recommend two to start:

If you just want recipes, Classic Home Cooking by Mary Berry. Hundreds of easy, tasty recipes that work.

For beginners, though, Joy of Cooking is the classic reference. This book will actually teach you to cook instead of just providing recipes. The recipes are mostly easy to follow and will work. (Believe it or not, some cookbooks don't test their recipes well enough and contain serious errors or typos.) There are some recipes that are too hard for a beginner. I think this is far better than the Better Homes & Gardens one (which I also have but never use).
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I will second the recommendation for Cooks Illustrated if you want a magazine, or any of the cookbooks they have published. And they really test a bunch of variations on recipes before they settle on their favorite version. However, I think of the magazine and the cookbooks as more for intermediate-level cooks.

Is there any particular type (or ethnicity) of food you prefer? It's easier to learn to cook dishes that you've had a bunch of times already.

If you like Italian, you MUST get "Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking" by Marcella Hazan. These are mostly not that hard and truly delicious.

If you like French, eventually someone will recommend Julia Child's classic two-volume set, which is absolutely great...BUT THAT ONE IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. In fact, I don't know of a truly good but beginner-level French cookbook, unless it's an older one like Elizabeth David's French Country Cooking (another classic).

For Chinese, the China Moon Cookbook.

For California-style what they used to call novelle cousine, there are several cookbooks from the Chez Panisse staff (Alice Waters and/or others). The recipes themselves tend not to be hard but some of the ingredients are sometimes expensive or hard to find. (Can you get fresh truffles where you live?)

Also, I think one of the better recipe sites is still http://www.epicurious.com. But I wouldn't learn to cook from those recipes, just use it as a supplement later. Also Jacques Pepin's site which does have some easy recipes on it: http://www.kqed.org/w/jpfastfood/recipes.html

Answer 2

Better Homes and Gardens Cookbooks and Good Housekeepings Illustrated Cookbook. You can't go wrong as a starter with these that you will use forever.

Answer 3

I love the cookbooks put out by communities, the firehouse, or schools. You know they are recipes with history and done by people like you and me, and ingredients that will be easy to find
I guess depending on how much you want to put into cooking look through garage sales, and rummage sales, libraries, to jsut skim or look at what you may feel youll enjoy, why spend 30 or more dollars on a cook book, not to use it. You know you best, you know what kinda food you like, you know how commited you are to coking, I love cooking but i never have a huge budget or patience ofr gourmet meals, i love to serve stuff that my friends and family think are gourmet, but i want it cheap , not alot of steps, and still feel like i accomplished something, so i look for everyday books or magazines. I also go to library during there clean out sales, we have book stores that sell used books form a dollar to five. So what are you out if you find a cookbook thta looks cool but then doenst flatter your fancy pass it on to someonelse or maybe donate to library or the home econimics class in your local school..

Answer 4

There's a magazine called "Cooks Illustrated" that I subscribe to, and it's fantastic. They have a cookbook called "The New Best Recipe" and what they do is they test recipes over and over again until they find the ultimate recipe. I have it and use it all the time, it's especially great for some inspiration.

Answer 5

Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook

The directions are well written and easy to follow. Plus there are lots of extras like conversion tables, substitutions and so many good tips and tricks.

Answer 6

Joy of Cooking ... the classic. You cannot go wrong buying this cookbook.

Answer 7

If you want recipes, Home Cooking Delicious & easy, I recommend this book in 2014, http://bit.ly/1oE6lL6

Answer 8

Culinaria series, they are a bit of a coffee table book too, but will teach alot about regional cooking, and are amazing books to look at, and read into.

Answer 9

Betty Crocker is a wonderful starter.

Answer 10

better homes and garden best book i still have my grandmas first edition and now i have a 12th edition so they last forever and they have great recepies too!