The first book on technique from America's Test Kitchen features 100 innovative techniques that will transform your cooking life, paired with more than 200 innovative recipes that put the techniques into real-world, home-kitchen practice. From making the most tender burger patties to grill-roasting an entire ham, from making pan sauces to dry-aging your own beef, from griddling the fluffiest pancakes to tempering chocolate, making caramel, and baking French pastry, the test cooks of ATK show you the way.

The first section, Essentials Every Home Cook Should Know, covers core techniques to improve anyone's cooking. Learn why it's crucial to season with salt properly before and during cooking for fabulous Roasted Bone-In Chicken Breasts and Crispy Salt and Pepper Shrimp. Cook any piece of salmon to silky, golden-crusted perfection through our high-low roasting technique. The second section, Techniques You Didn't Know You Couldn't Live Without, includes techniques we developed from an unexpected angle of discovery. Bake beautifully crusty, golden, bubbly-topped pizza in your home oven by using a skillet. Fry easy, restaurant-quality homemade French fries by starting the potatoes in room-temperature oil. The third section, The Bucket List, gives you the know-how to make dreamed-about projects come true. Barbecue true Texas Beef Ribs in your standard kettle grill. Cure your own bacon or gravlax right in your refrigerator. Bake, assemble, and decorate a show-stopping, sky-high layer cake for any special occasion.