10 Game-Changing Vegetarian Cooking Tips from Professional Chefs

In the kitchen, as in life, it’s the little things that make a major difference: adding salt to bring out every last bit of flavor; picking perfectly ripe produce; topping food with the right sauces; and using fresh, local ingredients. Nail these seemingly small steps and creating a delicious meal suddenly becomes a no-brainer.

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Ahead, we’ve gathered 10 tips from top professional chefs about vegetarian cooking. From knowing when an avocado is ready to eat to keeping salad crisp and serving up extra-tasty watermelon, these little tweaks will up your game in the kitchen with noticeable results.

Originally published August 2016. Updated October 2017.