We talk a lot about recipes inspired by Redditors around here, but where do those Redditors get their recipes? One user recently asked for some cookbook recommendations, citing the increasing unreliability of the internet. They’re still asking that advice over the internet, technically, but I’ll try not to split hairs.
If you’re also looking to spark some new kitchen creativity, look no further than these 10 cookbooks that Redditors love.
‘Joy of Cooking’ (1931)
$22 on Amazon
At least 10 people brought up Irma S. Rombauer’s infamous cookbook, which has sold more than 20 million copies over the years. “The Joy of Cooking is a classic for a reason,” writes one user. “I still regularly use the one my mom gave me 20 years ago.”
‘Arabesque’ (2010)
$15 on Amazon
Greg and Lucy Malouf’s modernized, Lebanese-influenced cookbook is a must for any fans of Middle Eastern food.
‘Dining on a Dime Cook Book’ (2004)
$38 on Amazon
When you’re looking to save money by cooking at home, you can’t ask for anything better than this book right here, which user u/BronxBelle calls their “favorite for budget cooking.”‘The I Hate to Cook Book’ (1960)
$26 on Amazon
Peg Bracken’s writing has resonated for over 50 years for good reason. With simple recipes that never require too many expensive ingredients, this might turn you from a kitchen hater into a master chef.
For more cooking on a budget, please sign up for our free newsletters.‘The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook: 500 Inspired, Flexible Recipes for Eating Well Without Meat’ (2020)
$22 on Amazon
Multiple Redditors went to bat for America’s Test Kitchen, explaining just how much there is to be learned from its books. Though the recipes can be on the complicated side, the upside is immense. “America’s Test Kitchen has upped my knowledge of why things work and why they don’t,” one Redditor writes. Here’s a great way to get more veggies in your diet.
Related: Clever and Practical Cookbooks to Give Everyone on Your Gift List
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‘Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors’ (2019)
$18 on Amazon
“Very easy and unfussy” says one user of Andrea Nguyen’s 2019 cookbook. With everything from snacks to soups to desserts, this should jumpstart your Vietnamese cooking journey.
Related: 15 Classic, Budget-Friendly French Dishes
‘The Moosewood Cookbook’ (1974)
$18 on Amazon
Moosewood — a tiny, Ithaca, NY-based restaurant — is a legend, but the cookbook that it spawned is even more so. Redditors sang this cookbook’s praises from the top to the bottom of the comments.
‘The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science’ (2015)
$28 on Amazon
For a more technical, scientific look at cooking, J. Kenji López-Alt’s “Food Lab” is worth serious consideration. The New York Times called it “The one book you must have, no matter what you’re planning to cook or where your skill level falls,” which is a review that’s hard to argue with.
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‘Half Baked Harvest Cookbook: Recipes from My Barn in the Mountains’ (2017)
$17 on Amazon
Though Tieghan Gerard’s recipes fall on the more creamy and comforting side of the healthy food scale, several users shouted out the cookbook from the popular blogger.
‘How To Cook Everything’ (2008)
$20 on Amazon
The title really says it all, you know? According to one Redditor, Mark Bittman’s books “explain things by ingredient and cooking style, and recipes almost always include suggestions for variations or changing it up.”
