Betty Crocker Cookbook Review
One of the Most Enduring Cookbooks of All Time
Here is a Betty Crocker Cookbook review for the cookbook I consider an essential part of every cook's library.
The cookbook is now 50 years old and in its 9th or 10th edition. Both of my adult daughters bought their own versions because they grew up seeing me use it as my basic cooking reference. Their versions are definitely different from mine, but just as fine a reference as ever.
Cookbook Description
This cookbook is quite simply a foundational reference cookbook. If you want to learn how to cook, Betty will tell you and show you how, from the most basic concepts to learning how to cook for company. The focus is on basic American food, but it's not just entrees... there are recipes for side dishes, appetizers, beverages and tons of desserts.
The latest edition has over 1000 recipes, so you can see it's a big book. The recipes are broken up both into the type of dish (for instance, dinner vs. dessert). Meals are broken up by main meat ingredient (or vegetarian). There are also notations on fast meals and slow cooker meals.
Presented in loose leaf binder format, it's easy to have it open on your counter while you're cooking. Mine certainly bears testimony to that, as many pages are stained and marked by the foods I have cooked over the past 30 years.
If you want to know how to cook a turkey, it's in there. Want to know how to make pan gravy or a white sauce? It's in there. Just about any cooking technique is covered. Betty even teaches you how to shop for certain foods, such as fresh vegetables. It's almost like having "Mom" at your elbow.
Pros About the Betty Crocker Cookbook
What I like best about the book is that it's such a great reference book. There are definitions of cooking terms and how to photos for cooking skills. To my eyes, the recipes aren't quite as creative as Rachael Ray's, but it's good food. Today's versions also focus a lot more on good nutrition and quick, easy cooking.
The binder format is a huge plus. No cookbook stand needed to use this cookbook.
Cons About the Betty Crocker Cookbook
If you're looking for ethnic foods,this isn't the best place to search. It's not the focus of the book. The recipes that are there, though, are thoroughly tested and will provide reliable results.
To be honest, I've not used my daughters' newer editions that much. Some of the reviews on Amazon don't seem to like the newer editions as much as the old ones. But my daughters love theirs and use them all the time, so maybe it's a generational thing.
In Summary
Rating: 8 stars
If you're looking for a great reference cookbook or are learning to cook and/or bake, the Betty Crocker cookbook is a wonderful choice. I highly recommend it. It's basic, not gourmet cooking though, and its focus is on American style food.
You can check out the Betty Crocker Cookbook here
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