No.5 The 100 Greatest Cookbooks · October 2026

The Food Lab

J. Kenji López-Alt · 2015

Cover via Open Library

DebutLast month
5Peak
1Month on chart

Home cooking, tested like science; the reasons behind every step of the American classics.

Buy the book
Bookshop.org link. Chef Amazing earns a small commission, and so do independent bookshops.

On the shelf: Cookbooks that teach you to cook, with where to buy each one.

Cook from it

Cook in its spirit

Chef's own recipes, written in the style of the book, not taken from it. For the book's own, get the book.

Is this you? Write to hello@chefamazing.com for your badge and post, or if we got something wrong.

← No. 4Salt, Fat, Acid, HeatThe Silver Spoon→ No. 6The Silver Spoon

Chef Amazing remembers every place you ate, keeps the lists friends send you, and helps you cook it at home.

Our founder's story · For chefs and food creators · Privacy · Terms