Joe Ray
WIRED Contributor
Food writer Joe Ray (@joe_diner) is a Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year, a restaurant critic, and author of Sea and Smoke.
Hard-Core Home Bakers, This Is the Mixer of Your Dreams
Committed bread aficionados will love the expert mixing and kneading skills of this Swedish countertop marvel.
Meet Our New Favorite Travel Mug
The Oxo Good Grips Thermal Mug keeps your coffee nice and hot—and it's dishwasher-safe!
Home Cooks, You Should Be Pre-Salting Your Vegetables
Brining veggies or tossing them with salt before cooking is a simple and foolproof way to unleash more flavor.
The 7 Best Cookbooks of 2021
From Black American barbecue to steaming bowls of Asian dumplings, these recipes are the best way to taste the world without leaving your kitchen.
Oxo's Super-Simple Coffee Machine Makes Super-Good Joe
The Oxo Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker sets a new standard for drip brewing. It's also remarkably unfussy.
You Should Buy the New Instant Pot. Just Ignore Its App
This “connected” update of the ever-popular multicooker is a winner, despite some shortcomings in its mobile app.
Get More From Your Multicooker With These 5 Cookbooks
If you’ve got an Instant Pot (or something like it), let these books guide you toward some exciting new flavors.
10 Gift Ideas to Tempt the Home Chef
From the real everyday pan to the best book for odds and ends, we have ideas that will keep the curious cook in your life tinkering away.
Sharpen Your Kitchen Skills With These 7 Cookbooks
These titles emphasize technique and skill—and they're a strong foundation for the serious home chef's library.
This Rice Cooker Also Slow Cooks, but in Teensy Batches
This Zojirushi's limited ability to cook large quantities of anything other than rice and grains makes it hard to justify its higher-than-average price.
The Vitamix Made Me a Blender Person—No Kale Required
The spin cycle is this machine’s sweet spot.
Poor Recipes and Bad Design Sink This Smart Kitchen Gadget
The Multo by CookingPal proves that the smart kitchen isn't always so smart.
Can Some Classy Cookware Zap the Microwave's Bad Rap?
Anyday's cooking bowls—and their companion recipes—are meant to help you harness the time-saving power of the microwave you already have in your kitchen.
Black Barbecue Gets Its Due in an Inspiring New Cookbook
The first book from renowned pitmaster and chef Rodney Scott puts a long-neglected keystone of Black American culture on the table.
An Online Pastry Course to Challenge Curious Home Chefs
Rouxbe's extensive web-based course takes a deep dive into French pastry knowledge.
An Unfussy, Affordable Nonstick Pan That Works With Induction
If you’ve had trouble finding a nonstick pan that performs well, consider Cuisinart’s carbon-steel cookware.
4 Rugged French Presses for Your Coffee-Fueled Summer Escape
Whether you're home or camping, these glass-free French presses brew with style.
This $2,500 Iron Is a Badass Wrinkle Destroyer
The Laurastar Smart U works so well it may give you a flashback to the smoothest sheets you've ever slept on.
I Avoided Fake Meat for Years. That Was a Big Mistake
Our food writer had been steering clear of Impossible, Beyond, and other plant-based meat replacements—until he finally cooked with some.
This Countertop Composter Turns Table Scraps Into Plant Food
If your city doesn’t have a food-waste recycling program, consider Vitamix’s gadget for composting your leftovers.