Essential Cookbooks You Need for a More Delicious 2024

Published by Esther Fung, Feb. 20, 2024

Even with the internet at our fingertips, cookbooks are still an important staple in any kitchen. Not only are they a delight to experience – flipping through thick, glossy pages replete with mouthwatering photos of culinary potentials to create and enjoy – but they are also more organized, easier to use, and much more hygienic than hunting down recipes on four different blog posts with pop-ups and videos that play automatically. Keep reading to see why cookbooks are still worthwhile purchases and discover which cookbooks are perfect for you.

What are the benefits of owning cookbooks? 

With a myriad of recipes available online, cookbooks still offer a variety of benefits for both novice and experienced cooks that phones do not. Read on for some of the top reasons why you should opt for cookbooks instead of your phone when making meals. 

Trustworthy

No one likes taking a chance on a new recipe, only to end up with a meal that doesn’t quite hit the mark. The recipes found in published cookbooks have all undergone extensive testing. This reliability means that you can feel confident in trying out new dishes, knowing that they’re sure to produce delicious results.

Organized

Many cookbooks are curated by type, such as appetizers or main courses, or by theme, like vegetarian options and quick meals. This level of organization and structure makes it easy for you to look through only the recipes you’re interested in, instead of wading through thirty different bookmarked pages trying to find that one dish you made a few months ago. 

Hygienic

Phone screens are notoriously covered with grime, bacteria, and germs from frequent use. In contrast, cookbooks are stored safely indoors and only brought out when needed and after the chef has washed their hands. Working with a cookbook, then, is a lot more hygienic than scrolling on a phone screen while you’re seasoning your meat or chopping vegetables. 

Easy to use

When you use cookbooks, you don’t need to close out of ads or pop-ups, subscribe to an email newsletter, or scroll past a long story from the blogger about how much their grandkids love their chocolate chip cookies. While cookbooks still offer interesting and pertinent context about each dish, the recipe takes center stage, not buried underneath paragraphs of irrelevant information, making it easy for you to start cooking. 

Reliable

Domains expire. Web pages move. Blogs disappear. That beef stroganoff recipe your family has been loving for the past five years might suddenly vanish, leading you to a page with nothing but an error message on it. With cookbooks, you have a physical copy of every recipe, and you can even bookmark your favorite ones and write notes in the margins.

Which cookbooks are right for me?

Every cookbook is compiled with a specific purpose. That goal might be to explore the cuisine of a region of the world, to create dishes that fit a specific diet, or to learn how to master a type of food preparation such as grilling or baking. Below, we've compiled our favorite options for your different needs. Browse cookbooks at affordable prices and start envisioning all that you can make in the kitchen!

For the beginner

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman is the perfect cookbook for someone who isn't feeling very confident in the kitchen yet. With a whopping 2,000 dishes covering everything from appetizers to dessert, this tome will be your go-to resource for years to come. One Pango staff member shared that "all the recipes are really forgiving, and he provides nice alternatives and outs for basically everything." Shop this comprehensive cookbook here and check out other beginner-friendly cookbooks below.

Diabetes-friendly cookbooks

If you or someone in your household has been diagnosed with diabetes, it means a change in your diet. This transition can be daunting, but getting the right cookbooks can make a world of a difference. Our recommendation is Eating Well with Diabetes. It features over three hundred and fifty dishes that are both good for your body and your tastebuds, and even has recipes for bread and dessert. Make this cookbook yours here and see more cookbooks for a diabetic diet below.

Cookbooks for grilling

Yes, there are cookbooks that will teach you how to grill! For those who are new to the grill, Weber's Way to Grill is the comprehensive cookbook that will teach you all that you need to know. Each recipe has been triple tested, and every technique is introduced with detailed step-by-step instructions as well as high quality photos, so you know exactly what to do. Shop this cookbook here and check out more cookbooks for grilling below.

Cookbooks for kids

Cooking with your little ones is a great way to teach them important life skills, bond, and make great memories. We recommend The Cookbook for Kids, written by Lisa Atwood in partnership with Williams-Sonoma. This kid-friendly cookbook features sixty recipes that include breakfast options like cinnamon-swirl French toast, after-school snacks like granola bars, and other delicious meals like fish tacos and nachos. Snag this cookbook here on Pango as well as other cookbooks to make great memories with the kids in your life.