Meal Prep and Cooking Tips

Looking to convert U.S. cooking measures to metric measurements? Trying to find how many tablespoons are in a cup? View the conversion factors in these tables.

Discover handouts and guides for shopping and planning healthy meals on a budget.

Read how to perform common food prep techniques, including zesting lemons and wrapping eggrolls.

What are healthy cooking methods, and what equipment do you need for each method? Read this handout to find out.

View a table of spices to learn about their flavors and uses.

Learn when it is safe to eat fish you catch and how to clean and cook fish to reduce adverse health effects.

Use these videos, recipes, and cooking tips to prepare healthy meals at home.

Learn how to dry vegetables at home using oven or dehydrator methods.

Learn how to freeze fresh fruit using dry and tray packing methods.

Explore this directory of 80+ healthy foods, and learn about their health benefits and how they can be prepared.

What is the correct way to measure dry and liquid ingredients? Perfect your recipe-making skills with these tips.

Learn about options for baking without gluten for people with gluten allergies or intolerances.

Looking for a substitute for an ingredient like flour, sugar, or eggs? Learn what you can use in your recipe.

Follow along to learn the best ways to cut fruits, vegetables, and other foods.

Use these videos and tips to learn basic kitchen skills for cooking healthy foods. Topics include:

• Herbs and Seasonings
• Knife Skills
• Roasting
• Sautéing and Stir-Frying
• Steaming
• Thermometer Basics

Are you missing an ingredient for your recipe? View what you can use as a replacement. (PDF | 143 KB)

Learn how to use healthier ingredients in your favorite recipes.  (PDF | 177 KB)

Learn how to use a slow cooker, and find sample recipes to try at home.

Learn basic kitchen skills, including methods for cooking, cutting and measuring.

Use this glossary to look up common food preparation terms and techniques. Also find videos on kitchen skills and cooking.

Read tips on saving money and maximizing your meals when cooking for one or two people. 

Find tips on how to store and transform leftovers to reduce food waste in your kitchen.

Discover how one common household ingredient can be used for five different meals. Featured ingredients include rice, oats, beans, and canned vegetables.

Try these tips and recipes to create healthy, easy meals with five ingredients or less.  

Find basic information about fruits and vegetables, including how to clean, freeze, and eat them. Use the Fruits A-Z directory and Veggies A-Z directory to look up facts about a specific food. Read various methods on how to cook vegetables. 

Get step-by-step instructions on how to cook dried beans.

Find instructions on how to prepare roasted vegetables that are packed with flavor.

Explore how to prepare easy recipes like omelets and soups without a recipe, helping you to use ingredients that you already have.

Discover ways to safely use leftovers in new meals.

Follow along to these step-by-step recipe tutorials. Find recipes including protein bites, apricot chicken, and hummus.

These Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) cooking videos demonstrate the quick-and-easy preparation of USDA standardized recipes for children 3 through 5 and 6 through 18 years of age.

Find ways to increase your intake of fruit and vegetable and save money. 

Sandwiches are an easy, budget-friendly way to add more nutrition to a meal. Discover steps to build a healthier sandwich.