Explainer – FoodWatcher

The Simple, Subtle Difference Between Syrups & Shrubs

If you’ve ever looked closely at the cocktail bar you’re sitting at, you’ve probably noticed an assortment of small bottles—some filled with syrups, others filled with fruit or herbal infusions—near the garnishes, glass-rim seasonings, and bitters, or …

Earlier this year we talked about the obsession with the latest kitchen It girl (vinegar), but we didn’t dive into the different ways it can be utilized outside of salad dressings and drizzles. When mixed with other ingredients like fruit juices, spices, and herbs, it can then become a drinking vinegar—a sweetened, vinegar-based syrup that, linguistically, holds a close tie to the Arabic word sharab, which means “to drink.”

Don’t Toss Your Skittles Just Yet: California’s Latest Food Ban, Explained

California just banned four food additives—and now everyone is talking about what this means for the future of candy.

Referred to as the “Skittles ban” (a bit of a misnomer as the bill won’t actually affect the rainbow candy), this legislation aims to…

California just banned four food additives—and now everyone is talking about what this means for the future of candy.

Referred to as the “Skittles ban” (a bit of a misnomer as the bill won’t actually affect the rainbow candy), this legislation aims to ban brominated vegetable oil, propyl paraben, red dye No. 3, and potassium bromate from food products by 2027. The additives have been linked to risk of cancer and “hyperactivity in children,” according to the new California bill, passed in early September.

How to Top Literally Any Dish This Summer

Summertime is the prime season for eating outdoors, cooking with minimal effort (thanks to beautiful, seasonal produce), and all-around vibrant fare. Because summer gives and gives—both in abundance as well as the range of fresh produce—let the foods work their easy magic and focus on toppings to make a memorable dish. Choose from a spectrum of dynamic topping ideas below to make every dish delectable and fun.

Crunchy & salty

Everything's better with a little extra salty zing and a crispy element to sink your teeth into.

Looking Back at How Our Five Two Brand Came to Life

Let’s talk about (quiet, serious voice) branding. Yes, the word alone feels like it should be said in a quiet, serious voice but here’s the thing…it doesn’t have to. We can be fun while we build something new—we can work with a great team, eat cheese, …

Let’s talk about (quiet, serious voice) branding. Yes, the word alone feels like it should be said in a quiet, serious voice but here’s the thing…it doesn’t have to. We can be fun while we build something new—we can work with a great team, eat cheese, rejoice over language quirks together, and then yes, we can brand like it’s our job (because it is, but still).

That’s how Five Two came gliding into the world like the most elegant speed skater—in a flurry of great conversations and snacks we shared with Creech, the NYC-based brand studio we partnered with for our next big chapter. (Incidentally, we were introduced to Creech by Dan Barber, who worked with them on branding for his seed company Row 7.)

How to Make Kombucha at Home

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

I went from questioning kombucha, to loving kombucha, to making my own…

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

I went from questioning kombucha, to loving kombucha, to making my own kombucha recipe—with a few road bumps along the way.

Wait, Do Household Cleaning Products & Disinfectants Expire?

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

You’ve finally cleaned out the cabinet under your kitchen and bathroom …

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.

You’ve finally cleaned out the cabinet under your kitchen and bathroom sink, only to find half-empty containers of cleaning products you’d forgotten about months (even years) ago. Are these products, despite their indeterminate age, still safe and effective to use? Or do household cleaners eventually expire, just like the food we eat?

How to Brown Butter: A Foolproof Guide

Brown butter: It’s an ingredient that gets name-dropped often, especially in “elevated” dishes or otherwise fancy dining settings. But aside from sounding luxurious, what does brown butter actually bring to a recipe? More importantly, how does one make…

Brown butter: It’s an ingredient that gets name-dropped often, especially in “elevated” dishes or otherwise fancy dining settings. But aside from sounding luxurious, what does brown butter actually bring to a recipe? More importantly, how does one make it? Whether you’re whipping up a batch of cookies or finishing off some ravioli in a sauté pan, here’s everything you need to know about making, using, and eating brown butter.

What is brown butter?

To get the inside scoop on all things brown butter, I turned to Food52’s Food Editor Emily Ziemski. At its most basic, brown butter is butter that’s been, well, browned. Specifically, it’s butter that’s “cooked until its proteins morph into charred, browned bits that provide LOADS of flavor,” Emily says. It’s a process that relies on something called the Maillard reaction: “A cooking phenomenon where proteins caramelize when under heat and time,” she explains. “It's the same process that makes your chocolate chip cookies brown in the oven, and your proteins get a crust when seared in a pan.”

Is Daylight Savings Happening This Year?

This Sunday will not be the last time our clocks spring forward an hour.

Despite the United States Senate approving legislation that would make daylight savings time permanent—meaning clocks would always exist in the “hour back” position—back in March…

This Sunday will not be the last time our clocks spring forward an hour.

Despite the United States Senate approving legislation that would make daylight savings time permanent—meaning clocks would always exist in the “hour back” position—back in March 2022, it has yet to be voted on by the House of Representatives. Until that legislation is approved by the House and then signed by the President, daylight savings time will persist.

What’s the Real Difference Between Garlic Salt & Garlic Powder?

Let’s cut right to the chase: Garlic powder is simply dried and ground garlic cloves. As it’s a dried product, the flavor is more concentrated, and only about ¼ teaspoon of the product is needed to get the same flavor result as 1 clove of fresh garlic….

Let's cut right to the chase: Garlic powder is simply dried and ground garlic cloves. As it’s a dried product, the flavor is more concentrated, and only about ¼ teaspoon of the product is needed to get the same flavor result as 1 clove of fresh garlic.

Garlic salt, on the other hand, is salt (usually, flaky kosher or sea salt) mixed with garlic powder at about a 3-to-1 salt to garlic ratio.