Before there was the internet, there was cookbooks. Home cooks uses these books as their point of reference. While Cookbooks are not as popular these days, they are still essential source of information. Often time these recipes and information are provided by experts and not some random bloggers. However, due to how big the markets is for cookbooks, we have a lot of junk. To make it easier, here is a list of some of the Best Cookbooks of All Time. The list below, is in no particular order. They all offer valuable information and the one you choose should depend on your need.

Best Cookbooks of All Time List

Below, you will find a list of some of the Best Cookbooks of All Time. They all offer something different and honestly, they should be part of your kitchen.

The Essential, Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century (Best for General Recipe)

The New York TImes is known for their cooking column. While many have created their own version, Amanda Hesser has compiled one of the most modern and up to date recipe collection. It has been regarded as one of the best recipe collection in the USA. You wont be disappointed by the recipes provided.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity (Best for Pairing Food)

Like Colors, some food have a affinity for one another. Knowing how food pairs is crucial in developing recipes and cooking food. Want to know what works with tumeric? What about Cinnamon, this book have a combination for just about anything. Over the years, it has won many awards and its a great guide for any cooks out there.

Larousse Gastronomique: The World’s Greatest Culinary Encyclopedia (Best Encyclopedia For Food)

Wikipedia is the encyclopedia of the world. But for Food, Larousse Gastronomique is the encyclopedia for food. It has information just about any western type of food. From the different ingredients, techniques and even chef. They have information on them. Just be aware, that this book is a bit French orientated. So its great if you want to learn about French Food.

On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen (Best Science Related Cookbook)

Cooking is actually just a series of chemical reaction. This book by Harold McGee explains it. Its one of the best resource to get a better understanding of how cooking really works. Once you develop that, how you cook and how you approach it will be different. Instead of blindly following recipes, you can see where they are wrong and how you can improve on it.

Joy of Cooking: 2019 Edition Fully Revised and Updated (Best Italian Cookbook)

The Joy of Cooking is consider to be the Italian cooking bible. At over 1000 pages, you will have recipes for just about any Italian Dish. Over the years, it has received many revision, but this 2019 version is the most modern. If you look at its review, you will see that most modern cookbook author reference it at one point or another.

How to Cook Everything―Completely Revised Twentieth Anniversary Edition: Simple Recipes for Great Food (Best for Beginner Cook)

Mark Bittman How to Cook everything is known for their simple and easy to cook recipes. Nothing extravagant but rather simple and accessible recipe that most home cook can do. Over the year, he has refined it so that it can fit a more modern kitchen. The older books works just fine, but the newer edition have some picture for some visual aid.

The Professional Chef (Best for Intermediate and Professional Cooks)

Where as Mark Bittman book is great for beginner cooks, The Professional Chef is great for intermediate and professional Cook. They go into details about the different techniques, cookware and approach to cooking. Quoted by some of the best cooks in the world as the Bible for cooking, its a indispensable book. This particular book is over 1200 pages long, so get ready for a long haul when reading it. I find the digital edition to be a bit more manageable though.

Institut Paul Bocuse Gastronomique: The definitive step-by-step guide to culinary excellence (Best for Professional Cooks)

Looking to get into fine dining? Then this book by the Legendary Paul Bocuse is for you. It has detailed step by step instruction to teach you classic French Technique. While many people may consider Julia Child to be the authority, I argue that Paul Bocuse is a much better resource. If you must get a book on French Technique, get this one.

Best Cookbooks of All Time Thoughts

These books are some of the Best Cookbooks of All Time. As I find more, I will add more to the list. However, any of these books are good reference material. If you can, give one a shot. They all specialize in different things. I personally like On Food and Cooking and is one of the inspiration for this website. But the others are just as good.

Want to Learn More? Check out our article on the Best Salt for Cooking.