ROB MCCARTHY

I still remember the first time my grandmother handed me a spoon of her banana pudding at her kitchen table in Charleston. The wafers had gone completely soft, the cream tasted faintly of lemon, and the bananas had mellowed into something almost honeyed. That was forty years ago, and I have spent most of my … Read more

I bought my first Blackstone griddle three summers ago, and it completely changed how I cook outside. The flat top gave me a giant stainless-steel playground where I could sear smash burgers, fry rice, and toast buns at the same time. After two years of testing and a lot of burnt onions, I’ve pulled together … Read more

I have made cream cheese frosting more times than I can count — for birthday carrot cakes, Thanksgiving cinnamon rolls, and late-night red velvet cupcakes when a craving hits. After testing ratios across dozens of batches, I landed on a formula that is tangy, fluffy, sweet without being cloying, and sturdy enough to pipe beautiful … Read more

If you love the savory, crispy flavors of an egg roll but do not want to deal with wrappers or deep frying, this Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe is the solution. It takes everything great about a classic egg roll and turns it into a fast, one-skillet dinner that is ready in about 20 … Read more

I still remember the first time I made French toast from scratch. I grabbed a fresh loaf of sandwich bread, dipped it for what felt like forever, and ended up with a pan of soggy, pale strips. It was not the breakfast I had in mind. Years later, after testing dozens of variations in our … Read more

Planning picnic food recipes used to stress me out. I would overthink every container, worry about soggy bread, and end up making three trips back to the kitchen before we even left the house. After testing dozens of make-ahead picnic recipes over the past few summers, our team landed on a simple framework. The best … Read more

Three years ago, I ruined my first attempt at cooking salmon. I baked it at 425F for 25 minutes, then wondered why it tasted like cardboard. That single dry piece of fish sent me on a mission to test every salmon recipe I could find. Since then, our team has cooked more than 80 fillets … Read more

Finding the best backpacking backpacks can make or break a multi-day hike. After spending months testing packs on trails from weekend overnighters to extended backcountry trips, I put together this guide to help you cut through the noise. I have loaded each of these 8 packs with 30 to 45 pounds of gear, worn them … Read more

I’ve spent the last three months testing more than a dozen grills across campgrounds, tailgates, and backyards, and the best portable camping grills in make far more difference than most buyers realize. Over the past decade, our team has cooked on everything from 2 lb charcoal pucks to 47 lb rolling stands, and I can … Read more

Finding the best daypacks means balancing comfort, capacity, durability, and the specific way you plan to use the bag. Whether you are summiting a trail, catching a flight across Europe, or just commuting to work, the right daypack keeps your gear organized without weighing you down. Our team spent months researching and comparing 12 of … Read more