AZ Cooks

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: Grilling with Fruitwood & Charcoal

Tips for Grilling with Fruitwood & Charcoal We received a lot of questions about using charcoal, wood chips and wood chunks. I prefer to use natural hardwood charcoal, lit in a charcoal chimney without lighter fluid. I use fruitwood, such as cherry or apple, when grilling or smoking chicken, fish or fruit. Soak wood chips…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: How to Use Charcoal Chimneys

The Best Way to Start a Charcoal Grill Put down the lighter fluid. Using a chimney is the easiest and best way to light charcoal, without any toxic fumes or unpleasant flavors. All you need to do stuff some newspaper underneath the chimney, then fill it with natural hardwood charcoal. Light the paper in several…  Read More

Anatomy of a Geoduck

How to Prepare a Geoduck We go behind the scenes at last year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival to show you how to prepare the most delicious clam in the world. I often say eating geoduck is like kissing a mermaid. Try it and I guarantee you’ll agree. The giant clam can be daunting…  Read More

How to Kill and Shell a Lobster

How to Kill a Lobster Dispatching a lobster is most likely what’s preventing you from cooking it at home, but learning the proper and most humane way to do it will make it less intimidating. I believe the most humane way to kill a lobster is to first put it in the freezer for 5…  Read More

Share Your Grandmother’s Best Recipe

CONTEST COMPLETE AZ Cooks Your Grandma’s Best Recipes Contest Share a favorite, original recipe from your Grandma’s collection for a chance to win a great prize pack, a shout-out from Andrew Zimmern, and have your recipe prepared on AZ Cooks. Scroll down to enter! My grandmother only cooked a few dozen dishes on a regular…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: Chicken Lollipops

How to Make Chicken Lollipops Looking for a fun presentation for chicken wings or legs? Learn how to make chicken lollipops, an easy frenching technique where you scrape the meat away from the bone to create a lollipop shape. The chicken will be more succulent and easy to eat with its bone handle. Learn how…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: How to Prep Lemongrass

How to Prep Lemongrass I love cooking with lemongrass. It’s a staple of many Asian cuisines that lends a unique citrusy aroma and flavor to soups, curries, marinades, stir-fries, dumplings and dipping sauces, even cocktails. Peel away the dried, tough outer layers, trim the top of the long stalk, pound the root end with a…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: How to Truss a Chicken

How to Truss a Chicken My digital series, AZ Cooks, is all about culinary literacy. I want to give you the tips, techniques and recipes you need to become a better cook—from demystifying essential dishes from cultures around the globe to teaching basic methods for peeling, chopping and preparing everyday ingredients. Learning to truss a…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: How to Prep Ginger

What’s the easiest way to peel fresh ginger? The best tool for prepping ginger is something I guarantee you have in your kitchen cabinet: a spoon. Because the irregular-shaped root has thin, delicate skin, a spoon can easily scrape it away without much waste. It’s also much easier to get into all of the nooks and crannies…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: Corn Huitlacoche

What is Huitlacoche? Easy to identify from its grey kernels, huitlacoche is a fungal mold that grows on corn. Often called corn smut or Mexican truffle, it’s considered a delicacy with its uniquely sweet, earthy, funky, antique corn flavor. Use the huitlacoche to season soups, saute it with vegetables, stuff it in a quesadilla or…  Read More

Andrew Zimmern Cooks: How to Make Fresh Tomato Puree

The Easiest Way to Make Fresh Tomato Puree Here’s a great tip for making fresh tomato puree, all you need is a box grater and ripe tomatoes. Make a big batch when tomatoes are at their peak and freeze for use all year long.   Ready to cook? Try one of these recipes: Mussels Fra…  Read More

How to Make Whipped Cream

Make Whipped Cream from Scratch, It’s Easy Canned whipped cream doesn’t even compare to freshly whipped cream. It’s so easy to make, and in my opinion, the best way to top off my favorite dessert—key lime pie. Really, the only mistake you can make is over beating it and turning your cream into butter. When making whipped cream, it’s…  Read More