ROB MCCARTHY

I spent three months testing 10 different tart pans with removable bottoms to find the ones that actually deliver on their promises. After baking over 40 fruit tarts, lemon tarts, and quiches in my home kitchen, I discovered that not all removable bottom pans are created equal. Some leaked butter into my oven, while others … Read more

Finding the best ceramic pie dish for baking can transform your pie game from mediocre to memorable. After testing over 40 different pie dishes across three months of holiday baking, I have learned what actually matters when choosing ceramic over glass or metal. Whether you are baking your first apple pie or preparing for Thanksgiving … Read more

There is something deeply satisfying about slicing into a perfectly square loaf of homemade bread. The even crumb, the straight sides, the way each slice fits perfectly in a toaster or sandwich bag. If your homemade loaves come out domed, uneven, or refuse to release from the pan, you are not alone. After three years … Read more

After six months of testing every cloche on this list, I’ve learned one thing: the right bread cloche transforms ordinary home ovens into professional bakeries. Our team baked over 150 loaves of sourdough, no-knead, and rustic artisan bread to find the best bread cloche for artisan bread that actually delivers on its promises. I started … Read more

There is nothing quite like pulling a perfectly golden baguette from your oven, the crust crackling as it cools and the aroma filling your kitchen. After three months of testing and baking over 200 loaves, our team discovered that the difference between good homemade bread and bakery-quality baguettes often comes down to one simple tool: … Read more

A batard is an oval or oblong-shaped loaf of bread, and finding the right pan for this shape can make all the difference in your baking results. I have spent the last three months testing different pans for oval loaves, baking over 40 sourdough batards to find the best batard bread pan for oval loaves … Read more

Making pizza at home should be fun, not frustrating. I spent months struggling with a pizza stone that kept burning my crusts while leaving the cheese undercooked. Then I discovered the pizza screen. This simple aluminum mesh disc changed everything about my home pizza game. A pizza screen is a round, perforated metal disc that … Read more

Few things in baking compare to the magic of pulling fresh madeleines from your oven. That iconic scallop shape, the tender crumb, and of course, the signature hump that defines an authentic French madeleine. After testing over a dozen pans and baking countless batches over three months, I have learned that the right madeleine pan … Read more

Walking through the narrow cobblestone streets of Bordeaux, I stumbled upon a tiny patisserie where the canelés were unlike anything I had tasted before. The exterior shattered like glass with each bite, revealing a custardy interior that melted on my tongue. That moment changed how I approached baking these French classics at home. The secret … Read more

Nothing beats pulling a tray of golden, towering popovers from the oven and watching them deflate slightly as steam escapes from their hollow centers. If you have ever ended up with dense, muffin-like results instead of the airy, crisp-edged masterpieces you see in bakeries, your pan might be the culprit. After testing dozens of pans … Read more