and host of Food Network’s Alex’s Day Off “Kenji has long been a go-to resource when we are working in the kitchen and want to gain a better understanding of what we are doing His extensive research on everything from getting the most from a pressure cooker to the science behind a better burger makes him an invaluable asset His writing combines thorough analysis with a sense of humor, which is why we consult him all the time!” —Wylie Dufresne, chef, Alder, New York The Food Lab Copyright © 2015 by J Kenji López-Alt All rights reserved First Edition For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, W W Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110 For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact W W Norton Special Sales at specialsales@wwnorton.com or 800-233-4830 Book design by Level, Calistoga, CA Production managers: Julia Druskin and Joe Lops ISBN 978-0-393-08108-4 (hardcover) ISBN: 978-0-393-24986-6 (e-book) W W Norton & Company, Inc 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y 10110 www.wwnorton.com W W Norton & Company Ltd Castle House, 75/76 Wells Street, London W1T 3QT ... Book design by Level, Calistoga, CA Production managers: Julia Druskin and Joe Lops ISBN 978-0-393-08108-4 (hardcover) ISBN: 978-0-393-24986-6 (e-book) W W Norton & Company, Inc 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y 10110 www.wwnorton.com.. .The Food Lab Copyright © 2015 by J Kenji López-Alt All rights reserved First Edition For information about permission to reproduce selections