The Best of Food52: Celebrating Recipes, Products & Community Favorites
Explore Food52’s top staff picks, timeless articles, and the winning blend of content, commerce, and community engagement.
The Best of Food52: Staff Favorites, Community Classics, and the Content-Commerce Connection
Food52 is not just a place for recipes—it’s a culinary resource, a shop filled with handpicked kitchen and home goods, and a thriving community grounded in curiosity and joy. This article explores Food52’s most cherished recipes, essential kitchen products, beloved stories, and the unique strategies that blend content, commerce, and connection.
Our Staff’s All-Time Favorite Recipes, Articles & Products
At Food52, the team is passionate about sharing what they love—from home-cooked dinners and ingenious kitchen hacks to the products they reach for every single day. Here is a curated selection of their top recommendations:
- 34 Best Nonalcoholic Cocktails – Creative, fun, and packed with flavor, this roundup is a go-to for anyone seeking great beverage ideas without the booze. It’s rescued many a club meeting or housewarming party.
- 30 Easy Soup Recipes – Soup season is eternal for many Food52 team members. A list of all-time favorites where any random pick is sure to become your next cozy dinner staple.
- The Absolute Best Way to Cook a Hot Dog – A gold standard guide, based on rigorous testing, to practical hot dog mastery.
- Must-Visit Mexican Restaurants in Portland – Enjoy Rick Martínez’s handpicked Portland, OR recommendations—bookmark-worthy for any food explorer.
Top Kitchen Products Staff Swear By
- Thoughtful, tested kitchen tools—from spatulas to nonstick pans—that get years of use in Food52 kitchens.
- Beautiful tableware, glassware, and cookware that elevate even the simplest meal.
These staff picks reflect the heart of Food52’s ethos: practical, beautiful, and trustworthy.
Celebrating Community Recommendations & Feedback
Food52 is powered by more than just editors and experts. The community provides vibrant engagement in the form of comments, recipe submissions, and votes in contests. Readers bring every article to life—helping curate which stories, tips, and recipes rise to classic status. This feedback loop has proven essential for pinpointing what matters most:
- People want solutions: From fixing homemade ice cream fails to new ways to organize a kitchen, practical tips always rank high.
- Storytelling matters: Personal essays, behind-the-scenes interviews, and deep-dive features create genuine connection and repeated visits.
Food52’s 52 Most Popular Stories of All Time
Over years of publishing, Food52 has amassed a list of stories reflecting its breadth of expertise and the interests of its audience. Here’s a look at just a few from their all-time bestsellers:
- Kitchen Storage Ideas: Clever, sometimes transformative storage hacks.
- Homemade Ice Cream Issues (and Fixes): Solutions to common pitfalls for dreamy, creamy desserts at home.
- The Built-In Oven Feature You’re Not Using: Unlocking hidden appliance features for better caramelized vegetables and more.
- Things You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher: Lessons in kitchen longevity and care.
Every item reflects a commitment to practicality, joy, and a sense of culinary adventure.
Genius Recipes: The Most Iconic of All Time
Genius Recipes, curated by Food52 founding editor Kristen Miglore, unearths the world’s cleverest kitchen tactics and tastiest techniques. Over a decade, the column has featured more than 400 recipes—here are a few that fans return to endlessly:
| Recipe Title | What Makes It Genius |
|---|---|
| Ottolenghi & Tamimi’s Basic Hummus | Ultra-smooth, quick-cooking chickpeas eliminate hours of prep. |
| Paul Bertolli’s Cauliflower Soup | Transcends humble ingredients for rich, creamy texture without cream. |
| Classic Tomato Sauce by Marcella Hazan | Minimalist ingredients, maximum flavor—one of the most famous sauces online. |
| 3-Ingredient Wonder Sorbet | The simplicity that launched the Genius column, still unbeatable. |
This column captures Food52’s mission: to make everyday cooking smarter, easier, and more delightful.
From Content to Commerce: Building a Culinary Brand
Food52 stands apart by seamlessly combining rich content with a vibrant online shop. Founders Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs envisioned a platform that empowered home cooks with not just recipes, but advice, Q&As, and top-notch tools:
- 60% of users who register interact meaningfully before making a purchase—through commenting, submitting recipes, or joining contests.
- Content often leads users to the shop—and the shop’s popular categories spark new pieces of content, creating a virtuous cycle.
- Expanding into home goods, organization, and décor deepened the community’s trust in the brand’s expertise.
Media Inspiration: The Magazine Model
Food52 draws on the strengths of classic magazines, blending strong headlines, striking imagery, and a hallmark mix of stories and product highlights to keep readers engaged. Email newsletters are an essential tool:
- Variety with consistency: The format of emails changes, but readers receive them predictably—sometimes with a shop spotlight, other times sharing new stories or favorite columns.
- The “Genius Recipes” email by Kristen Miglore: One of the most popular communications, this weekly note feels personal, quirky, and always relevant—even driving significant shop sales.
- Emails blend shop features, new content, event announcements, and even podcasts, echoing the magazine tradition of varied-yet-focused curation.
Key Editorial Topics and Recurring Themes
Food52’s greatest hits are as diverse as the cooks who use them. Regular series, trending themes, and helpful roundups appear across the site. Here are a few recurring favorites:
- Quick Meals & Easy Recipes: Speedy, approachable recipes like 20-minute meals remain evergreen favorites.
- Deep Dives: Investigations into cooking techniques, like the best ways to wash produce or the magic behind mac and cheese.
- Kitchen How-Tos: From proper cleaning tips to storage hacks and appliance guides.
- Personal Essays: Reflections on tradition, family, and the emotional power of food—ranging from touching to delightfully quirky.
Why the Food52 Approach Works: Trust, Engagement, and Joy
The magic lies in authentic engagement — people participating not just as users but as community members:
- Thoughtful curation builds trust: People return for both inspiration and practical tools, knowing rigorous standards shape every recommendation.
- Community-driven content: From recipes to reviews, Food52’s audience shapes the conversation and editorial focus.
- Commerce rooted in service: Selling only what the team and community truly love ensures authenticity.
Quick Tips From Food52’s Vault
- Never rush homemade ice cream—chill mixtures thoroughly to avoid ice crystals.
- Mason jars are your new best friends for pantry and refrigerator organization.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of the right spatula—it makes a difference in everyday prep.
- Keep a basic tomato sauce recipe handy: It can transform pasta, grain bowls, and even soups.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does Food52 only focus on recipes?
A: No, Food52 blends recipes, kitchen and home product recommendations, practical how-tos, community forums, and in-depth articles, covering all dimensions of modern home cooking and living.
Q: What makes Food52’s community unique?
A: Members actively share recipes, tips, hacks, and feedback. Their engagement shapes editorial direction, making Food52 a vibrant, user-driven platform where readers feel like contributors and collaborators.
Q: Are Food52 product picks tested?
A: Yes, Food52’s editors and staff rigorously test products for quality and functionality, ensuring recommendations are based on hands-on experience and genuine endorsement.
Q: What’s a “Genius Recipe”?
A: Genius Recipes, curated by Kristen Miglore, highlight clever, often unconventional techniques or flavor pairings that transform how you cook or bake everyday classics.
Q: Can I contribute to Food52?
A: Absolutely. Users can submit recipes, enter contests, comment on articles, and share feedback, making Food52 a participatory community for cooks at all levels.
Where to Start? A Food52 Newcomer’s Guide
- Browse staff picks for trusted kitchen staples and recipes that never fail.
- Join the conversation in comments and community features. Ask questions—get answers from experts and peers.
- Sign up for curated email newsletters for a blend of stories, shop gems, and new discoveries, magazine-style.
Final Thoughts
Food52’s success rests on pairing the best of content, commerce, and community. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook, someone seeking elegant solutions for kitchen organization, or just love the magic of a well-told food story, you’ll find inspiration and trustworthy guidance. Let your next meal— and your next kitchen purchase—begin here.
