Taste test ingredients like flour, butter, chocolate and vanilla extract. These ingredients play a huge part in flavoring a baked good and not all are created equally. While many people will say price is indicative of quality, this isn’t always true. Taking the time to taste a variety of products available from different companies and at different price points will give you an idea of the varying quality in these basic ingredients. It will also let you pick out those you think have the best taste.

—Russell, Chasing Delicious