Top 5 Spoonful Blogs of 2025
— By Emily Mott, EFNEP Administrative Coordinator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
As we approach the end of the year, we’ve taken a look back at the Spoonful Blog’s most popular and viewed blogs in 2025. We’ve put together a list of the top five for you to look back on!
Number 5 – Dried Beans
Coming in at number 5 is How to Store and Cook Dried Beans.
Do you have a bag of dried beans in your pantry and you have been avoiding cooking them because you weren’t sure how? Well, let go of the uncertainty! We have put together all the information you need to know about storing and preparing dried beans with confidence in the How to Store and Cook Dried Beans blog.
Number 4 – Food Labels
The fourth most viewed blog this year was Don’t Toss That Food Yet! Understanding Food Product Dating Labels.
You might be tidying up your kitchen and coming across boxes and cans of food past – what you assume are – their expiration dates. What now? Are they still safe to eat, or should you throw them away just to be safe? Food date labels can be confusing. Take a closer look at food product dating and what these labels really mean in the Don’t Toss That Food Yet! Understanding Food Product Dating Labels blog.
Number 3 – Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable
The third most viewed blog this year was Ask EFNEP: Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?.
When members of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) deliver food and nutrition classes, they are often asked if a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. This confusion over what is a fruit and what is a vegetable is not new. Check out what Laurie usually tells her program participants in the Ask EFNEP: Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable? blog.
Number 2 – Elderberry Syrup
Our second most viewed blog of 2025 was How to Make and Preserve Elderberry Syrup Safely.
During cold and flu season many people turn to natural remedies like elderberry syrup and fire cider vinegar to try to prevent illness or lessen symptoms. Elderberries are full of antioxidants and vitamins that, in turn, may boost your immune system. Homemade elderberry syrup is a great way to reap the benefits of the fruit and can be enjoyed by the spoonful or stirred into tea or sparkling water. Learn how to make your own elderberry syrup in the How to Make and Preserve Elderberry Syrup Safely blog.
Number 1 – Egg Substitutes
Our most viewed blog in 2025 was Using Egg Substitutes in Baking and Cooking. Egg prices earlier this year increased dramatically, and many people were exploring alternatives to eggs, looking to save a few dollars on their grocery bill.
While we love eggs as a source of protein that are low in calories, there are times in cooking and baking when less expensive alternatives can be used. In baking, eggs create structure and give lift, called leavening, to doughs. Read about the successes of egg substitutes in the Using Egg Substitutes in Baking and Cooking blog.
Honorable Mention: Resources for Times of Food and Financial Stress
When circumstances create financial or food insecurity, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has resources that individuals and organizations may find helpful. Read the Resources for Times of Food and Financial Stress blog for resources that you may find helpful.
Honorable Mention: 3 Dinners Under $15
Looking for a new family favorite recipe that is quick and affordable to make? Read the 3 Dinners Under $15 blog to learn more about the three recipes.
Resources
- How to Store and Cook Dried Beans
- Don’t Toss That Food Yet! Understanding Food Product Dating Labels
- Ask EFNEP: Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?
- How to Make and Preserve Elderberry Syrup Safely
- Using Egg Substitutes in Baking and Cooking
- Resources for Times of Food and Financial Stress
- 3 Dinners Under $15