Our recipes are intended as practical cooking guidance. Read the complete method and ingredient notes before starting, especially when adapting a recipe or cooking for someone with an allergy.
Ingredients, measurements and substitutions
Use the ingredient state specified in the recipe: cooked and drained beans are not interchangeable with dry beans, for example. Where weights are provided, they are the most direct way to follow the stated quantities. Package sizes vary by country and brand.
Substitutions can change texture, flavor, cooking time and allergen suitability. We explain useful alternatives where possible, but an unlisted substitution is not a guaranteed equivalent. Doubling a recipe may require a larger pan or batches rather than simply doubling the cooking time.
Timings and doneness
Prep and cooking times are estimates. Your equipment, ingredient size and starting temperature affect the result. Use the texture and doneness cues in the instructions as well as the clock. Check your appliance instructions and use a food thermometer where food safety requires a temperature check.
Kitchen testing and illustrative images
A published recipe is not automatically a claim of a documented personal kitchen test. Recipes are only described as kitchen-tested when that statement can be supported. Generated images are illustrative, including step images, and are not proof that the photographed-looking dish was prepared.
Allergens and dietary descriptions
Check every packaged ingredient and avoid cross-contact when preparing food for someone with an allergy. A recipe title or a suggested substitution is not an allergy-safety guarantee. Dietary suitability depends on the actual ingredients and serving accompaniments you use.
Food safety and leftovers
Follow authoritative local food safety guidance. As a general reference, USDA advises refrigerating perishable leftovers within two hours, or one hour above 90°F (32°C), keeping them at 40°F (4°C) or below, using refrigerated leftovers within three to four days and reheating them to 165°F (74°C) throughout. Read USDA leftover handling guidance and reheating guidance. A recipe-specific shorter storage limit should take priority.
Do not taste food to decide whether unsafe storage has made it safe. Cooking advice on this site is not individualized medical or dietary advice. For an urgent safety concern, consult an appropriate professional or local authority.
Nutrition and ratings
Nutrition is not displayed when it has not been reliably calculated or provided. Any available estimate depends on ingredient brands, serving sizes and substitutions. We do not invent nutrition figures, ratings or review counts.
Print and feedback
Use Print Recipe on recipe pages for a kitchen-friendly copy containing ingredients and instructions. Check the live page for later corrections or updates. Report unclear quantities, missing steps or concerns through our Contact page. See our Editorial Policy for our approach to content and corrections.