Grocery Guides
Learn all things grocery from picking produce at its freshest to finding what’s in season. Know the difference between alfalfa and clover sprouts? Or when to get yams vs sweet potatoes? Get answers here.
Grocery Guides
Welcome to Instacart's Grocery Guides!
Looking for information on produce, drinks, or other things on your grocery shopping list? Instacart’s new grocery guides explore everything from how to identify the freshest fruit to how to cut and store your favorite vegetable. Explore tips & tricks on the easiest way to cook quinoa to how to preserve nutrients in your fresh produce. Why? Here at Instacart, we believe that the meaning…
Apr 14, 2021
Grocery Guides
Pinto Beans: Where They’re From, When They’re In Season, and More
What are pinto beans? Pinto beans are small, versatile legumes commonly used in Mexican dishes, including tacos, burritos, and tostadas. Pinto translates from Spanish to "speckled" referencing the reddish-brown spots on these beige-colored beans. Usually eaten…
Jul 11, 2022
Grocery Guides
Luffa: What Is It and Where Does It Come From?
What is luffa? Did you know your dried luffa sponge (alternatively spelled “loofah”) hanging in the shower is actually a dried plant? Luffa, also referred to as a vegetable sponge, sponge gourd, or rag gourd, is…
Jun 24, 2022
Grocery Guides
Oyster Sauce – What is It, How is It Made, and Where to Find It
What is oyster sauce? Oyster sauce is a dark brown sauce with a texture similar to paste. It is made from oyster extract and has a sweet, salty, and umami flavor. Oyster sauce is commonly used…
Jun 17, 2022
Grocery Guides
Mezcal – All You Need to Know on How It’s Made, Stored, and Bought
What is mezcal? Mezcal is a Mexican distilled alcohol made from the agave plant. Pronounced "messcal," its name means "roasted agave" in Nahuatl, an Indigenous language spoken in Central Mexico, and is a nod to how…
Jun 13, 2022
Grocery Guides
Shochu – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries
What is shochu? Shochu is a traditional Japanese distilled alcoholic beverage typically made with rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, or brown sugar. Some distillers, however, prefer making the drink with less common ingredients like chestnuts…
Jun 9, 2022
Grocery Guides
Soju 101: Understanding the Different Types of Soju
Soju is a South Korean liquor that has found incredible popularity worldwide. This rice wine–pronounced "sow-joo"–has been catching on in the United States and is used to make a variety of cocktails. Those new to…
Jun 7, 2022
Grocery Guides
Venison – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries
What is venison? In the States, venison refers to deer meat. While venison originally meant the meat of a game animal, it now refers primarily to the meat of antlered and hoofed animals such as…
Jun 7, 2022
Grocery Guides
Ales – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries
What are ales? Ales are a popular type of beer enjoyed all over the world. They're different from lagers (the other major category of beers) because they're brewed at a higher temperature. The result is a more…
Jun 3, 2022
Grocery Guides
Beef Roast – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries
What is beef roast? A beef roast is a 2-inch cut of meat from a cow that is, generally, cooked in an oven. There are many different types of beef roast, including: Beef brisket – cut…
Jun 3, 2022