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The Unfailing Way to Make Any Onion Last Forever

While I enjoy a nice, cathartic cry every now and then, onion tears are not that; they’re painful. They sting and burn, and to make matters worse, you’re holding a sharp knife, so don’t you dare rub your eyes. It doesn’t matter if you’re slicing, dicin…

While I enjoy a nice, cathartic cry every now and then, onion tears are not that; they're painful. They sting and burn, and to make matters worse, you’re holding a sharp knife, so don’t you dare rub your eyes. It doesn’t matter if you’re slicing, dicing, or mincing, it all hurts. When fresh onions are cut, they release a sulfuric gas that causestears to stream down your face; the older the onion is, the stronger the gas is and therefore, the more heartbreak you’ll experience. There are numerous old wives tales about how to stop yourself from crying while cutting onions and only some of them work.

No one wants to drag out time when chopping onions, which is why it pains me to tell you that you need to chop the whole dang onion. Seriously. Chopping and freezing whole onions will extend the life of fresh onions, rather than only cutting and using what you need. Plus, you’ll get a head start on meal prep and will ultimately save yourself time and money (eliminating food waste is always a win).

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How to Turn $10 Trader Joe’s Flowers Into a Fancy-Schmancy Bouquet

Last weekend, I wandered into a flower shop to buy blooms for a friend’s birthday. Everything was beautiful and lush and wild, and I was happily putting together a lovely bouquet—until I realized that peonies cost $14. Per stem.

I love the simple, eve…

Last weekend, I wandered into a flower shop to buy blooms for a friend’s birthday. Everything was beautiful and lush and wild, and I was happily putting together a lovely bouquet—until I realized that peonies cost $14. Per stem.

I love the simple, everyday pleasure of flowers. I treat my apartment, each week, to a bunch of feverfew or ranunculus, or whatever’s in season, and I think a bouquet makes an old-fashioned, charming gift. But I’m quite honestly tired of shelling out over $50 for the delivery of a standard-issue bouquet that I don’t even really love. (I don’t know about you, but it takes ages to sift through some pretty garishly assembled options just to even get to the handful that don’t make my eyes bleed—those rainbow bouquets destroy me.)

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How to Transform Leftover Potatoes into Shiny New Dinners

As a single person who loves to cook, there are many a week where I eat the same dish over and over (and over) again. But as much as I love leftovers (especially leftover potatoes), I also love variety. To balance affordability and flavor fatigue, I tu…

As a single person who loves to cook, there are many a week where I eat the same dish over and over (and over) again. But as much as I love leftovers (especially leftover potatoes), I also love variety. To balance affordability and flavor fatigue, I turn to dishes that transform into entirely new meals with just a few extra ingredients.

I hardly need to tell you, but hearty, humble potatoes are leftover superstars. From mashed to baked, roasted to boiled, potatoes transition into solid foundations for salads, soups, patties, and casseroles. With a little bit of planning, potatoes can fill you up all week long. Here are some of my favorite ways to reuse spuds.

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A Wallet-Friendly Way to Stretch Any Salad

I try not to be the kind of person who tells you a dish you’ve made is missing something. But also, that big salad you’re about to dive into definitely needs pita chips. Let’s back up: When it comes to summer dinners—whether I’m having people over or i…

I try not to be the kind of person who tells you a dish you’ve made is missing something. But also, that big salad you’re about to dive into definitely needs pita chips. Let’s back up: When it comes to summer dinners—whether I’m having people over or it’s just me—come dinnertime, I gravitate towards simple meals that show off summer produce. I’m talking toasts, cold noodles, dips, salads. And when I go salad, there’s only one non-negotiable part: adding chips. Pita chips, specifically.

I understand there might be skeptics about this addition, but hear me out. Obviously you know about croutons in salad. And perhaps you’re familiar with Tuscan panzanella, stale torn bread and tomatoes soaked in oil and vinegar; or fattoush, the Levantine salad of greens, vegetables, and toasted or fried flatbread—this crispy-carb-tossed-in-tangy-dressing is the vibe we’re going for. Like croutons, pita chips add a welcome crunch to salad, but their flat shape also makes them something of a scooping device, excellent for making sure every last bite of cucumber or feta gets into your mouth, not left clinging to the side of the bowl.

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32 Aldi Groceries We’re Loading Into Our Shopping Carts

Photo by ALDI

Here at Food52, grocery stores play an invaluable role in all of our lives. We can’t seem to stop talking about them, whether it be the biggest Indian gro…

Photo by ALDI

Here at Food52, grocery stores play an invaluable role in all of our lives. We can't seem to stop talking about them, whether it be the biggest Indian grocery store in America, Trader Joe's snacks we could polish off in one sitting, or Costco products we're mildly—OK, strongly—obsessed with. The comments sections on those stories go on for pages and pages—which is why this time we wanted to include you, the community.

I've collected the things we love to get at ALDI, the German discount supermarket chain that just seems to have it all. Especially affordable prices, the main reason we can't stop raving about the grocery store (which has multiple locations scattered across the United States and the world).

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13 Ways Chicken Thighs Are Winning Dinner

There’s a reason we consider chicken a winner dinner. It’s an affordable, filling option with tons of variety. And if you’re going to break it down by cost, there’s a cut we’re flocking to: those thighs.

The average price of a pound of chicken thighs …

There’s a reason we consider chicken a winner dinner. It’s an affordable, filling option with tons of variety. And if you’re going to break it down by cost, there’s a cut we’re flocking to: those thighs.

The average price of a pound of chicken thighs is about $1.00. But budget-friendly doesn’t have to mean boring. Chicken thighs shine in all sorts of dishes, from roasting and grilling to braises and sheet pans. Sure, they have bones, but they’re easy to eat around—and add tons of flavor. (Plus, I sincerely hope you choose to keep that crispy, tasty skin!)

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13 Leftover Turkey Recipes That Don’t Start With ‘Thanksgiving’ or End With ‘Sandwich’

Whether you stuff rolls with slices of turkey and ham, or spoonfuls of green bean casserole and creamy mashed potatoes—the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is as classic as the bird itself. But even tried-and-true favorites can get a bit stale; there’re …

Whether you stuff rolls with slices of turkey and ham, or spoonfuls of green bean casserole and creamy mashed potatoes—the Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is as classic as the bird itself. But even tried-and-true favorites can get a bit stale; there’re only so many sandwiches you can stomach.

Instead, transform your turkey into a comforting pho or pot pie. Swirl spoonfuls into cake batter for moist, rich slices. Purée roasted roots into soups and whisk gravy or stocks into vinaigrettes. Even leftover pumpkin can make smooth and silky spreads.

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41 Gifts $20 and Under That’ll Make You This Holiday’s Hero

Is it impossible to find a gift that’s useful, design-worthy, and inexpensive—but not a cheap tchotchke that will get tossed in next month’s decluttering? It seems so, especially when the holidays creep up on you—somehow, no matter how much you plan ah…

Is it impossible to find a gift that’s useful, design-worthy, and inexpensive—but not a cheap tchotchke that will get tossed in next month’s decluttering? It seems so, especially when the holidays creep up on you—somehow, no matter how much you plan ahead, time is never on your side.

Thankfully, beautiful, practical, wallet-friendly gifts do exist, and we’ve done the digging to find them for you. Each of these 41 gift ideas ring at $20 or under—somewhere between the cost of a greeting card and a bottle of good wine, but last much longer—and often come with free, fast shipping. Keep this list handy for knockout gifts on a budget, whatever the occasion. You’re welcome.

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The 15 Absolute Best Things to Buy at Costco, According to a Mom

According to consumer reports, these are the best things to buy at Costco: perishable foods, store brand deals, warehouse store items, and food court hot dogs. Read on for grocery-store whisperer Katie Workman’s complete list.

As a food writer and r…

According to consumer reports, these are the best things to buy at Costco: perishable foods, store brand deals, warehouse store items, and food court hot dogs. Read on for grocery-store whisperer Katie Workman's complete list.


As a food writer and recipe developer, I’m also by default a professional food shopper. I have all kinds of user-generated algorithms in my mind about where I like to buy certain things, how much I want to spend on them, how much of them I want to keep on hand, and so on. Even though I need to shop continuously for my job, and, like many people, I have a family who needs to be fed, I still get a little adrenaline rush when I food-shop. And thank goodness, because it’s a pretty big part of my life.

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