Hana Washington
Editorial byline
Hana Washington is an editorial byline for Favorite Foods & Drinks, with a focus on Kitchen & Gear, Recipes. Biographical credentials and external profiles are published only after verification.
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Coverage Areas
Latest Articles
Dutch Oven, Combo Cooker, or Bread Baker? Choosing the Right Vessel for Your Sourdough
Choosing the right sourdough baking vessel involves comparing traditional Dutch ovens, Lodge Combo Cookers, and specialized bread bakers. The best choice depends on your priorities for versatility, ease of handling, and desired loaf shape.
Nov 5, 2026 · 5 min read
Four Lenses That Cover Food Photography: The Prime, Macro and Zoom Decision Guide
Choosing the right food photography lens depends on your shooting style, budget, and camera sensor. Key options include the versatile 50mm prime, the detail-capturing 100/105mm macro, and the flexible 24-70mm zoom.
Oct 31, 2026 · 7 min read
Dry-Aging at Home: Bags vs. a Converted Mini-Fridge, and How to Choose
Home dry-aging offers two primary paths: specialty bags for simplicity or a converted mini-fridge for enhanced control. Success hinges on maintaining precise temperature (34-36°F) and adequate airflow, regardless of the chosen method.
Oct 29, 2026 · 5 min read
Five Tools That Fix Your Toughest Food Styling Problems
Discover five essential tools that food stylists use to solve common on-set problems and achieve meticulous adjustments for more appealing food photography. From precision tweezers to glycerin spray, these instruments enhance detail, freshness, and stability.
Oct 28, 2026 · 4 min read
Three Levels of Care: How to Wash, Deep Clean, and Restore Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Wooden kitchen utensils require a three-tier care approach: daily washing, deep cleaning for stains and odors, and restoration for dryness or cracks. Following these simple steps ensures your wooden tools remain hygienic and last for years.
Oct 27, 2026 · 4 min read
Five Tools That Decide Your First Batch: A Beginner's Cheesemaking Equipment Guide
Begin your cheesemaking journey with five essential tools, prioritizing non-reactive materials and the correct type of cheesecloth to ensure success. This guide helps beginners select the right equipment, avoiding common pitfalls that can ruin a batch.
Oct 26, 2026 · 6 min read
Maillard Reaction vs. Caramelization: How Bakers Can Tell Them Apart and Control Browning
The golden crust on your bread and the deep amber of your caramel come from two different chemical reactions. Understanding the Maillard reaction (sugar + amino acid) and caramelization (sugar alone) is key for bakers to control flavor and browning.
Oct 25, 2026 · 5 min read
How to Choose Food Photography Lighting: Match Direction and Quality to the Mood and Texture You Want
Master food photography by controlling light direction and quality to evoke specific moods and highlight textures. This guide explains how to use natural or artificial light with modifiers like diffusers and reflectors to achieve your desired aesthetic.
Oct 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Dutch Oven or Open Steam: How to Choose Your Sourdough Crust
Achieve your desired sourdough crust by choosing between covered Dutch oven baking for a thick, artisan loaf or open baking with added steam for a thinner, softer, or custom crispy crust. Understanding the role of steam in early baking is key to controlling oven spring and final crust development.
Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read
LED, Strobe, or Window Light: Choosing the Right Source for Your Food Photography Style
Choosing the right lighting source for food photography depends on your desired aesthetic. This guide compares natural window light, continuous LED, and strobe lighting to help you select the best option for your style.
Oct 18, 2026 · 5 min read
How to Compose and Light Your Food Photos: A Beginner's Framework for Better Shots at Home
Master food photography at home with a beginner's framework focusing on composition and lighting. Learn practical techniques for arranging shots and choosing light to make your dishes look appealing.
Oct 17, 2026 · 5 min read
Butter, Temperature, and Fold Geometry: The Science of Flaky Laminated Dough
Achieving flaky laminated dough relies on creating thin, continuous layers of butter between dough sheets. Mastering this technique requires precise control over butter quality, temperature, and folding geometry to build the desired architecture.
Oct 17, 2026 · 7 min read
The Science of Knife Sharpening: How Grit, Angle, and Abrasion Decide Your Edge
Knife sharpening is a science governed by three core variables: abrasive grit size, sharpening angle, and effective heat and debris management. Understanding these principles allows for choosing the right method and achieving a superior, durable edge.
Oct 16, 2026 · 5 min read
Glutenin Builds the Strength, Gliadin Builds the Stretch: How Sourdough Techniques Shape Your Rise
Understand the distinct roles of glutenin for strength and gliadin for stretch in sourdough gluten development. Learn how techniques like hydration, autolyse, and folding intentionally build these protein networks to shape your dough and achieve the perfect loaf.
Oct 15, 2026 · 5 min read
How Michelin Stars Are Really Awarded: The Five Official Criteria
Michelin Stars are awarded exclusively for the quality of food, evaluated against five core criteria: ingredients, flavor mastery, chef's personality, harmony of flavors, and consistency. Factors like decor and service are assessed separately and do not influence star ratings.
Oct 8, 2026 · 5 min read
How Sourdough Hydration Shapes Your Loaf's Crumb and Crust
Sourdough hydration, the percentage of water in a recipe, is the most influential variable for controlling a loaf's crumb and crust texture. Understanding how water interacts with flour and yeast allows bakers to intentionally design their desired bread characteristics, from dense sandwich loaves to airy, open-crumbed crusty breads.
Oct 2, 2026 · 4 min read
Choosing the Right Specialized Butchery Knife for Your Home Kitchen
For home cooks, specialized butchery knives like boning, filleting, breaking, and cleaver knives offer precision and power beyond a general chef's knife. Understanding their distinct designs helps you choose the right tool for deboning, filleting, or breaking down meat.
Sep 30, 2026 · 5 min read
What's the Best Coffee Maker for You in 2026?
The difference between a mediocre morning brew and a truly excellent cup often comes down to just ten degrees Fahrenheit, a precision many popular coffee makers fail to achieve.
Sep 20, 2026 · 4 min read
Top 8 Vintage Dinner Recipes for Home Cooks
Forget the casseroles: a 1965 calendar featured Quiche Lorraine, while other mid-century cookbooks offered Teriyaki Beef in Bacon and Sauteed Chicken Livers in Spanish Rice, revealing a surprisingly g
Sep 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Top 3 Most Booked Restaurants in Stanislaus County Revealed
In the heart of California's Central Valley, a steakhouse in Modesto consistently outbooks Nashville's famed hot chicken joints on OpenTable, revealing a surprising commonality in American dining habi
Sep 10, 2026 · 5 min read