Guides
Cooking guides
Short answers to the questions the recipes keep raising, each with its sources and the recipes that use it.
All guides
- Prep, Cook and Total Time: Reading a Recipe's ClockWhat prep, cook, waiting and total time mean on a Weekly Delight recipe, why the total includes marinating and proving, and what none of them include.
- Choosing Rice: Long, Medium and Short GrainWhy basmati, arborio, bomba and sushi rice behave differently, which to use for pilaf, risotto, paella and fried rice, and how to keep cooked rice safely.
- Pan and Tin Size: Why It Changes the ResultHow to swap a cake tin, loaf tin or tray for another size or shape: compare the areas, keep the depth, and trust the doneness cue rather than the clock.
- Ingredient Substitutions: What Each Swap ChangesHow common swaps change a dish: butter and oil, baking soda and powder, honey and sugar, and dairy-free or gluten-free versions, and what to expect.
- How to Rescue a Split SauceWhy mayonnaise, hollandaise, béarnaise and carbonara sauces split, how to bring one back with a fresh egg yolk, and how to stop it happening next time.