Today's episode of NPR's daily science podcast Short Wave is titled "Wok This Way" and is a conversation with chef and cookbook author J. Kenji López-Alt about the wok. (I use J. Kenji López-Alt's recipe for roasted potatoes a lot.)

What's the most versatile pan in the kitchen? According to chef and cookbook author J. Kenji López-Alt, it's the wok! And along with spices, he sprinkles science explainers into his writing. Today's episode is just that — the science of the wok in action. He and host Emily Kwong talk about how to choose, season and cook with one, and why its unique shape makes it so versatile. Plus, we hear how Emily fared cooking one of Kenji's dishes from his new cookbook The Wok.

I've been cutting peppers in a way that closely resembles the chef's method. It's a great way to neatly cut the pepper into strips and not have to deal with the mess of getting seeds stuck to the Pepper. As Chef Kelly Scott says in her comments you can still use the top and bottom… READ THE REST

I saw Mark's post about the Kingsford charcoal chimney, and I 100% co-sign on the awesomeness of charcoal chimneys. I wanted to share a trick for the fastest and easiest way to start a charcoal chimney.  Back in the aughts, a friend gave me a Weber 20-inch kettle grill, and memories of my uncle gleefully… READ THE REST

I consume two packets of Trader Joe's ginger juice powder dissolved in hot water almost every day. It's not like regular ginger tea, which is just the ground-up root of the ginger plant. As the package copy for Trader Joe's 100% ginger juice drink mix says, "We take fresh ginger grown in Northern Thailand — which… READ THE REST

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views.  Having a great domain name can be the difference between people knowing where to find you, and having no clue where to begin. It can also be an incredibly useful thing that other people… READ THE REST

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views.  JOI Plant Milk Base contains just one ingredient. Simply add water, and enjoy. Whether you're following a plant-based diet, managing severe allergies, or simply trying to eat food that's good for… READ THE REST

We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views.  Having a good routine can really be a game-changer for so many people. It can help keep you focused, on track, balanced, and most importantly, it can help you to stay healthy. Good… READ THE REST

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