Lesley Stockton

Lesley Stockton, a senior staff writer at Wirecutter with over 20 years in professional cooking, teams up with Sam Sifton, assistant managing editor at The New York Times and co-founder of NYT Cooking. They delve into essential grilling techniques, from mastering heat zones to the proper way to clean and maintain your grill. Lesley reveals unexpected tools that can elevate your grilling game, while Sam shares mouthwatering summer recipes that are perfect for any cookout. Join them for tips that will make your grilling effortless and delicious!

Sam Sifton, Assistant Managing Editor at The New York Times and author of "Thanksgiving: How to Cook It Well," teams up with Lesley Stockton, Wirecutter's senior kitchen writer, to share their Thanksgiving wisdom. They dive into tips for menu planning, essential kitchen gear, and strategies for a stress-free celebration. From the significance of family traditions to must-have tools like sharp knives and thermometers, they make cooking turkey a breeze. Plus, discover great wine pairings and quirky pre-meal traditions!

Lesley Stockton, a Wirecutter staff writer with a rich background in professional kitchens, dives into the buttery world of cooking and baking. She shares insights on selecting the best butters for various culinary uses and reveals fascinating differences between grass-fed and grain-fed varieties. The conversation includes a fun taste test of 17 different butters, emphasizing how quality impacts flavor and texture, especially in beloved desserts like pie. Lesley also provides holiday baking tips and explores the rise of vegan butter alternatives.