Book Review: How to Squeeze a Lemon

As the subtitle implies How to Squeeze a Lemon: 1,023 Kitchen Tips, Food Fixes, and Handy Techniques , contains many tips and tricks for use in the kitchen.  The book covers a wide array of things that you might find helpful to know related to cooking - from what tools you can use in the kitchen if you don’t have some equipment that you need to how you can rehydrate mushrooms with wine.   The books main divisions are equipment, produce, meat, pantry, techniques, wine & beer, and when things go wrong.    All of these sections contain numerous tips that would be helpful for anyone who likes to cook.  The book does not go into deep focus on any one of these divisions.  However, everyone should be able to find at least a few good tips.  The book is definitely a good, general, all-around reference book without being too specific.  There is also a list of substitutions and equivalents which is perfect for the times when you realize an hour before everyone is supposed to arrive that you’ve forgotten some tiny ingredient needed to pull a dish together.  Although not completely necessary, for someone who enjoys having a bookshelf full off culinary-related books in the kitchen, this book would make a good addition.  This book would also make a good gift for a friend who enjoys being in the kitchen.  

I don't think that this is a book that I'll be putting on my list to buy for myself simply because I'm not in the kitchen often enough to need it, and I generally stick to making things that I know how to make fairly well.  Perhaps I might want it, if I ever become more adventurous in the kitchen, or when I get older and find myself cooking for more than myself more often. 

PS.  I received a free copy of this book from netgalley in order to review it.