Bistro Bounty

Restaurant-grade cooking, at home

In-depth guides to the gear serious home cooks use to eat like they're at their favorite bistro: espresso, pizza, knives, cookware, baking and wine.

Baking Wine & Home Bar

Top-down view of a clear glass filled with ice cubes and water on a white background.

Featured guide

Why Is My Nugget Ice Maker Not Making Ice? Common Fixes

Why is my nugget ice maker not making ice? Check water level, sensors, room heat, scale and a full bin first, then reset the unit. Fixes by symptom.

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Latest guides

Overhead shot of mojito cocktails with ice and mint leaves, the kind of drinks a nugget ice maker is bought for.

Wine & Home Bar

Best Nugget Ice Maker: 3 Countertop Picks Compared

The GoveeLife H8120 is the best nugget ice maker overall; the Euhomy 34 lb model is the value pick. Three countertop makers compared on output, noise and reliability.

Baking

Whole Wheat Bread Machine Recipe: Honey Sandwich Loaf

A whole wheat bread machine recipe for a soft 100% whole wheat honey sandwich loaf, with amounts for 1, 1.5 and 2 lb pans and tips for a taller, lighter crumb.

Wine bottles on shop shelves beside a wine fridge, showing the difference between room storage and a dedicated wine fridge.

Wine & Home Bar

Wine Fridge vs Mini Fridge: Which Beverage Cooler Wins?

Wine fridge vs mini fridge: a wine fridge holds a steady 40-65°F with gentler humidity; a mini fridge runs near 40°F. Which to buy for your bottles.

Clear ice cubes in a glass against a plain background, the quality of ice a clean countertop ice maker should deliver

Wine & Home Bar

How to Clean and Descale a Nugget Ice Maker: Vinegar Method

How to clean and descale a nugget ice maker: run a vinegar or citric acid solution, sanitize, rinse well, and repeat every 1 to 6 months by water hardness.

Slices of soft white sandwich bread from a basic white bread recipe on a wooden board.

Baking

Basic White Bread Recipe for a Bread Machine, 1 to 2 lb

A basic white bread recipe for a bread machine with exact amounts for 1, 1.5 and 2 lb loaves, the right order to load the pan and tips for a soft crumb.

Red wine bottles with labels packed in a box, ready for storage in a wine fridge.

Wine & Home Bar

Can You Store Red Wine in a Wine Fridge? Yes, at 55°F

Can you store red wine in a wine fridge? Yes: hold it near 55°F (13°C), 50-70% humidity, bottles on their sides. How long it keeps, plus serving temps.

Strawberry cocktail packed with ice and mint, the kind of tall drink that suits nugget ice

Wine & Home Bar

Nugget Ice vs Cubed Ice for Cocktails: Which Wins?

Nugget ice vs cubed ice for cocktails: nugget suits juleps, tiki and tall drinks; solid cubes suit stirred, spirit-forward drinks. Ice for every cocktail.

Two wine bottles with a glass in a rustic setting, ideal for showing wine storage temperature.

Wine & Home Bar

Wine Fridge Temperature for Red and White Wine

Wine fridge temperature for red and white wine: store both near 55°F (13°C), then serve reds at 60-65°F and whites at 45-50°F. Zones, garage limits, humidity.

Close-up of a rustic loaf of bread on a kitchen counter with a red Dutch oven nearby.

Baking

Best Bread Machine: 4 Picks for Every Kitchen

The KBS Pro is the best bread machine for most bakers; the Cuisinart CBK-110 is the simple first pick. Four picks compared by capacity, pan and owner reports.