10 Best Cookbooks 2025 in the United States

The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook is a comprehensive guide featuring 500 vibrant, kitchen-tested recipes that emphasize living and eating well. Its focus on Mediterranean cuisine offers a delightful range of flavors, ideal for those who enjoy or are curious about this healthy and diverse diet. The cookbook spans from simple dishes to more complex creations, making it suitable for cooks of varying skill levels, from beginners to experienced chefs.

The recipes cater to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and heart-healthy options, which is beneficial for those with specific dietary needs or health goals. Recipe variety is a strong point, as the book covers a broad spectrum of meals, from appetizers to desserts, ensuring there's something for everyone. Ingredients are generally accessible, with most being available at local grocery stores or easily substituted, which makes daily cooking practical.

The visual appeal is high, with beautiful and appetizing photos that inspire and guide the cooking process. Authored by America’s Test Kitchen, the book benefits from the expertise and detailed testing that the brand is known for, providing reliable and well-explained recipes. The book's size and weight might make it less portable, and its extensive number of recipes could be overwhelming for some users. While the Mediterranean focus is a strength, those looking for a more diverse range of global cuisines might find it limiting. This cookbook is perfect for anyone committed to the Mediterranean diet or looking to incorporate healthier, flavorful meals into their routine.

The cookbook '5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food' is a practical choice for those looking to prepare meals without much hassle. Its core strength lies in the simplicity of its recipes, which are suitable for cooks at all levels, especially beginners or those pressed for time. The concept of using only five ingredients makes meal preparation less daunting and ensures that dishes are quick to put together. This aspect also enhances ingredient accessibility, as most of these ingredients are likely to be found in a regular supermarket.

The author of the book is well-regarded, lending credibility to the recipes and instructions. The book covers a variety of cuisines, offering a broad spectrum of flavors while sticking to the simplicity principle. However, those seeking highly specialized dietary options might find the selection somewhat limited, as the focus is more on ease and speed than on accommodating specific dietary needs.

Visually, the book is appealing, with clear photos that accompany each recipe, making it easier for readers to visualize the final product. However, the simplicity could also be a drawback for more experienced cooks who might be looking for complex techniques or gourmet-level dishes. In terms of physical attributes, it’s a hardcover book weighing 2.6 pounds, which might be slightly cumbersome for some users to handle in the kitchen. Its dimensions are standard for a cookbook, making it easy to store on a shelf but not necessarily convenient for on-the-go use.

This cookbook is ideal for anyone wanting to streamline their cooking process while still enjoying diverse flavors. It's best suited for individuals or families who need quick meal solutions without sacrificing taste.

The 'America's Test Kitchen 25th Anniversary Cookbook' is a comprehensive collection of 500 recipes that have significantly influenced American cooking over the past quarter-century. The cuisine type is broadly American, covering a wide range of dishes from comfort food to modern culinary innovations, making it suitable for a diverse audience. The skill level required to use this cookbook varies, offering both simple, beginner-friendly recipes and more complex dishes for experienced cooks, which makes it versatile for different users.

Dietary preferences are addressed to some extent, with recipes catering to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets, though the primary focus is on traditional American cooking which might limit options for more niche dietary needs. The recipe variety is impressive, providing a wealth of options across different meal types and occasions, ensuring that users can find recipes for everyday cooking as well as special events. Ingredient accessibility is generally good, with most recipes using common ingredients that can be found in standard grocery stores, although some specialized recipes may include harder-to-find items.

The visual appeal of the cookbook is enhanced by high-quality photographs and clear, step-by-step instructions, making it visually engaging and easy to follow. The author's expertise is evident throughout the book, with America's Test Kitchen known for its rigorous testing and reliable recipes, which assures users of the quality and success of the dishes. However, the book's large size and weight might make it cumbersome for some users to handle. Additionally, its focus on American cuisine could be limiting for those seeking more international or diverse culinary experiences.