The sweet potato has deep Southern roots, and can be enjoyed easily with this method. I’ve been known to eat them for snacks too. These sweet tubers are high in fiber, and rich in the antioxidant beta carotene. Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez They are also high in potassium, one of the most important minerals in the body. It helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals. you could get great results in much less time by cooking the potato in the microwave....

Prepare asparagus for every occasion. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox The truth is there’s near-endless ways to cook asparagus. Here’s how to roast asparagus in the oven. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Here are great recipes that call for sauteed, roasted, and blanched asparagus: Credit: Courtney West/Southern Living Credit: Courtney West/Southern Living Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Crispy microwave bacon is possible. We’ll show you how. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Need just a few pieces of bacon for aBLTor asalad? Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If youre in a hurry, the microwave is one of the easiest ways to cook bacon. We love this method because its quick and makes for easy cleanup. Learn how to microwave bacon so you’re always just a few minutes away form crispy, meaty slices....

Bacon cooked in the oven will come out perfectly crispy every time without getting grease all over your kitchen. It can also help you prevent the spurts and splatters of frying bacon on the stove. Before you store, let the cooked slices cool. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Then, put them in a plastic zip-top bag. Reheat chilled cooked bacon in a skillet or microwave for several seconds until warmed through....

Cook bacon on the stovetop just like Grandma used to. For longer storage, the strips can be frozen for two to three months. Just verify to cool the strips completely before storing and to seal them inside a zip-top plastic bag. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox When ready to eat, gently reheat the strips in a skillet over medium-low heat until just warmed through. Otherwise, allow the fat to cool and then strain it into a jar to keep in the fridge....

Several cooking methods will turn this much-maligned vegetable into a family favorite. Fresh broccoli should keep for about a week in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. The crown should break into several large florets. Emily Laurae. Cut through each floret to make uniform, bite-sized pieces. Don’t toss the stem:The large stem of the broccoli is entirely edible. The bottom inch of the stem is usually dry, so cut that off and discard it....

Perfect brown rice is fluffy and tender. Here’s how to make it. By contrast, white rice is a refined grain without the bran and germ. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Therefore, it is softer, and it cooks faster. Mastering how to cook brown rice is really quite simple. There are two popular methods for rinsing your rice. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you dont add enough water, your rice will be underdone and crunchy....

Learn how to cook beans like a pro so your next batch is tender and creamy. Learn how to cook dried beans, and impress yourself with how delicious something so simple can be. To Soak Or Not To Soak? Credit:Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This recipe is designed tocook beans without soaking. Takeaway:If you’ve always soaked your beans, there’s no harm in keeping up tradition....

Farro is a quick-cooking grain that is chewy and nutty. It’s great for sides, grain salads, and more. Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We love farro because its so versatile. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Plus, farro is easy to cook. Learn how to cook farro, and find fun ways to incorporate this whole grain into your weekly meals. What Is Farro? Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox...

A little help, so you don’t flounder in the kitchen (sorry, we had to). Flounder is a versatile, easy-to-prepare fish fillet with a mildly sweet flavor and delicate, flaky texture. This firm-fleshed white fish can be baked, sauteed, stuffed, and poached. Credit:Jim Franco Flounder is delicious, and thankfully, its readily available. Jim Franco How To Choose Flounder Use your senses when purchasing fresh fish at the market. Does the fillet glisten?...

There are evenpickled green beansandgreen bean fries. The Secret to Perfectly Cooked Green Beans Salt is the key to cooking perfect green beans. We’re not talking about the usual sprinkling of salt. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Even a palmful isnt enough. But for most recipes, youll want to cut the green beans into more bite-sized one- or two-inch lengths. But otherwise, theres no need. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox...

When you don’t have time for slime. It may be one of our region’s most iconic vegetables, butokrais a polarizing piece of produce. It was likely poorly cooked and thus, slimy. Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner Just follow these pro tips from our test kitchen toavoid common mistakeswhen cooking okra. Choose Small, Fresh Pods The smaller the pod, the less slime and seeds. Larger pods can not only be slimy, but also woody and tough....

Indeed, the results are just as tender, too. How Long Does It Take To Microwave Pasta? We tested this recipe using an 1100-watt microwave. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox What Kind of Equipment Do I Need To Cook Pasta in the Microwave? Besides the microwave, of course, you dont need any special equipment to make pasta in the microwave. You will need a large, microwave-safe bowl and a strainer....