Should I Buy a Skillet or a Saute Pan (Or Both)?

This article, Should I Buy a Skillet or a Saute Pan (Or Both)?, was last updated June 2018.​ You’ve paid your culinary dues. You’re tired of nonstick wearing out and burning food in poorly heating pans. You’re ready to up your kitchen game, and you’re in the market for a top quality pan that’s a joy to […]

All-Clad Copper Core Review: Is It Worth It?

This article, All-Clad Copper Core Review: Is It Worth It? was last updated June, 2018. All-Clad tri-ply, officially branded D3, is pretty much the gold standard for clad cookware in the US. How does the All-Clad Copper Core line compare? Read on to find out.  Table of Contents About Clad CookwareHow Does Clad Cookware Compare to […]

All-Clad Vs. Demeyere: Which Is Better?

This article, All-Clad Vs. Demeyere: Which Is Better? was last updated May, 2018. If you’re a serious home chef, you need to have the proper tools. With the possible exception of knives, the most important tools in your kitchen are your pots and pans. Cookware can be tricky to buy well. Even if you can afford the […]

How to Buy Online: Teach Yourself About Technical Products and Get What You Can Truly Love

How to Buy Online: Teach Yourself About Technical Products and Get What You Can Truly Love was last updated May, 2018. When you’re shopping for products you’re not familiar with, what do you do?  How to buy online products with technical specs that you don’t fully understand? How do you know you’re getting a product you […]

Induction Cooktop Reviews: The Samsung Induction Range and Induction Cooktop–Yay or Nay?

Induction Cooktop Reviews: The Samsung Induction Range and Induction Cooktop–Yay or Nay? was last updated May, 2018.​ Table of Contents About SamsungIs Samsung a Good Quality Choice?Samsung’s Ready2Fit™ Guarantee (2018)Induction Cooking Pros and ConsIs Induction Cooking Safe?Range or Cooktop + Oven: What’s the Better Choice?Buying ConsiderationsTips for Buying OnlineReview: Samsung Slide-In Induction Range with Virtual […]

Induction Cooktop Reviews: Best Portable Induction Cooktop (Commercial Grade, 1800W)

​This article, Best Portable Induction Cooktop (Commercial Grade, 1800W) was last updated April, 2018. Rational Kitchen has a few articles about the best portable induction cooktops (PICs) on the market. This latest one focuses on commercial portables: What are they–and are they better than consumer grade options? How are they different? Are they worth the extra […]

Induction Cooktop Reviews: The Best Full-Sized Induction Cooktops for 2018

(Induction Cooktop Reviews: The Best Full-Sized Induction Cooktops was last updated April, 2018. Click here to see the best full-sized induction cooktops of 2017.) If you’re looking for a full-sized induction cooktop (30- or 36-inch in the U.S.) reviews, you’ve found the right page. Here, we review the top-rated and most reliable induction cooktops on […]

Easy Ways to Increase Your Food’s Shelf Life (Plus a Few Handy Gadgets to Help)

​Easy Ways to Increase Your Food’s Shelf Life (Plus a Few Helpful Gadgets) was first published in March, 2018. It’s true: we Americans waste a lot of food. More than a third of what we buy, according to ReFed, a nonprofit group committed to reducing food waste in the U.S. This amounts to 63,000,000 tons of […]

The Best Titanium Cookware (The Nonstick Version)

There’s been a lot of buzz about titanium cookware in the past few years. But what exactly is titanium cookware? Turns out, “titanium cookware” can mean several completely different things (click on the links to see examples on Amazon):It can be camping cookware–prized for its lightness, but not good for daily cookware.It can be clad stainless […]

The Best Cookware Set For Every Budget

The Best Cookware Set for Every Budget was last updated June, 2018. ​Getting the best cookware set for your needs without going over your budget can be a challenge. Buying on the high end doesn’t necessarily guarantee a super quality product, or one that will fulfill your particular needs. However, buying on the low end can […]

Knife Safety, Knife Care, and Knife Skills: The Basics for Beginners

If you Google for “knife safety,” “knife basics,” or “knife skills,” you’ll find a ton of articles on the Internet. The only thing new about this article is that I pull it all together into one piece: here, you’ll find basic knife safety, basic knife care, and basic knife skills all in one long yet […]

The Best Electric Pressure Cooker Models on Amazon By Popularity (But Should You Buy One? )

What is the best electric pressure cooker on the market? The electric pressure cooker market has exploded in the last couple of years. How do you know which one to buy? Popularity can be a good way to decide, but just because a product is popular doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you.  Here, I […]

Instant Pot Vs. Pressure Cooker: Which Is Better? (Beginners Start Here!)

“Instant Pot vs. pressure cooker” may not be the best terms to compare; they’re both pressure cookers, after all. And “Instant Pot” is a brand name, while “pressure cooker” is not. But if you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, this is a decent place to start, anyway.  Why is it a decent place to […]

Kitchen Safety (21 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Safer)

The kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house, so kitchen safety is important. For clarity’s sake, I’m dividing kitchen safety into 3 main categories: setup, basic practices, and food safety. Setup involves foundational principles that everyone should follow for a safe kitchen. Basic practices is about how to be careful in a kitchen: things to […]

How-To: 3 Super Easy Tips for a Clean Kitchen

When I think about a clean kitchen, I divide the work into 3 categories: clutter, germs, and grease. This logical division helps me keep my kitchen cleaner, because it helps me with my plan of attack. You can’t deep-clean for germs and grease if there’s clutter everywhere. So the first job is to keep the clutter […]