Obsessed with the Best: 100+ Methodically Perfected Recipes Based on 20+ Head-to-Head Tests – The Thoroughly Tested Guide to Roast Chicken, Pasta, Biscuits, and More

Named a Best Cookbook of 2026 by Bon Appétit and Food & Wine As featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, CN Traveler, Gourmet, and more. A charmingly obsessive, thoroughly tested exploration of the best ways to cook and bake your favorite foods. Some might think the “best” roast chicken means “most efficient without sacrificing juicy meat,” while others might think “best” is the one that you won’t be able to stop thinking about for years, no matter how long it takes in a sous vide bag. When writer Ella Quittner (creator of Food52’s “Absolute Best Tests”) is cooking or baking something, she cannot rest until she’s tested every method she can to arrive at the best result. Even if that means traveling to Tokyo to learn the trick to extra juicy tsukune for her tender meatballs or spending time in the Alabama Black Belt gathering intel from the pros for her flakiest biscuits. In Obsessed with the Best, Ella walks you through the results of 24 head-to-head tests of cooking methods to help you find the perfect choice for your palate. From these building blocks, Ella shares more than 100 recipes, grounding you in minimalist techniques that maximize flavor, and sharing creative options as jumping off points for your own favorite flavors. Recipes include: Read more

From the Publisher Whipped Corn Muffins Milk Chocolate Mousse Head-On Herby Garlic Prawns