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

Glass filled with ice cubes ready to be crushed into nugget ice at home

Featured guide

How to Make Nugget Ice at Home, With or Without a Machine

How to make nugget ice at home: crush cubes in a blender or Lewis bag, refreeze for a soft chew, or press flake ice in a machine. Methods compared.

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Latest guides

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls on parchment paper on a wooden table with almonds and cinnamon

Baking

Cinnamon Rolls With Bread Machine Dough (Cream Cheese Icing)

Cinnamon rolls with bread machine dough: run the dough cycle, roll, fill, cut 12, rise and bake at 350°F for 22 to 25 minutes, then top with cream cheese icing.

Red wine being poured from a decanter into a glass in a home kitchen

Wine & Home Bar

Are Wine Fridges Noisy? Compressor vs Thermoelectric

Are wine fridges noisy? Most hum at about 35-45 dB, quieter than a refrigerator. See typical noise levels, what causes noise and how to fix it.

A close-up view of stacked wine and drinking glasses on a dimly lit bar counter.

Wine & Home Bar

Best Wine Fridge: 3 Picks for Every Space, Compared

The Ca'Lefort 24-inch is the best wine fridge for a growing collection; the Icyglee 15-inch is the slim dual zone pick and the Euhomy the value pick.

Close-up of a cold drink garnished with fresh mint leaves and ice

Wine & Home Bar

Cocktails and Drinks That Are Best Over Nugget Ice

Cocktails and drinks that are best over nugget ice: juleps, mojitos, swizzles, tiki drinks, iced coffee and sodas, plus the drinks to keep on big cubes.

Overhead view of a hand adding sugar from a measuring cup to butter in a glass bowl on a kitchen scale, with a cup of milk above.

Baking

How to Convert a Bread Recipe for a Bread Machine (1 to 2 lb)

How to convert a bread recipe for a bread machine: match the flour to your pan, adjust liquid and yeast, and load in the right order. Includes a size chart.

Rows of wine bottles with corks facing out and hanging 2011 vintage tags, stored on their sides in a dim cellar, the cool steady setting a wine fridge copies.

Wine & Home Bar

How Long Do Wine Fridges Last? Know Before Buying

How long do wine fridges last? Typically 10-15 years for compressor models and 4-8 for thermoelectric, plus the warning signs and what extends life.

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

Wine & Home Bar

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.

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 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.