Cooking is one of those things we should all learn to do. Beyond the practical aspect, which is that of preparing your own meals and those of your loved ones, knowing how to cook is good for your health, as demonstrated by serious scientific studies, but also good for your wallet . The savings made by eating meals that you have prepared yourself rather than by going to a restaurant, or by buying industrial meals, are far from negligible. And then cooking, and this is the argument we should have started with, is a real pleasure for the senses.
However, if there are simple dishes that anyone can make without much difficulty, cooking good food requires a certain amount of know-how and, above all, experience.
We have collected on this page some basic best practices, tips, and tricks, on which the greatest chefs agree, and which will help you to improve your cooking or cooking skills.
1. It all starts with the choice of ingredients
Delighting your family or friends, from the beginning to the end of a meal, begins with ingredients rich in flavor and of the highest freshness. By choosing seasonal fruits and vegetables, you will seduce even gourmets, with simple everyday recipes: at their best, they guarantee you tasty recipes. Buy them at the last minute to keep all their crunchy or tender texture. If you can, pick them up directly from the producer and reserve your free-range chicken.
2. Having good utensils is essential for cooking well
Treat yourself to professional quality equipment for perfect cooking. The coating of your pans affects the quality of cooking and the amount of fat used. Choose the container recommended in the recipe to avoid surprises. Maintain your spoons and spatulas, otherwise they will damage the holding of cooked food. A good quality knife will allow you to obtain presentable pieces. Remember to maintain it properly.
3. Don’t venture into a recipe without fully understanding it
Read a recipe twice before starting to make it. You will thus be able to assess the level of difficulty and the techniques to master. Check if the preparation requires a resting time or a marinade. Take the meat out of the refrigerator in advance : at the ideal temperature for cooking, you can sear it or roast it, accompanied by its delicious juice. Likewise, cheeses taken out of their packaging melt better.
4. Before you start cooking, do the “mise en place”
The implementation consists of take out all the utensils and prepare the ingredients you will need in advance. This essential step will subsequently allow you to be totally focused on cooking and on the delicate parts of the recipe. If you prepare everything in advance, you will not let the oil burn, you will stir at the right time or prevent your eggs from falling, for example. You must therefore peel, wash and cut your ingredients but also prepare your work surface with the necessary containers and utensils before starting to cook.
5. Keep basic condiments on hand
Stock up on basic ingredients to enhance any dish. You will need different oils, depending on your menu. Think about fine herbs, edible flowers and other scents to surprise your guests. You can prepare ice cubes of court-bouillon, pistou, tapenade or coulis to transform a family dish into a gourmet recipe.
6. Use herbs and spices to add flavor to your dishes
Herbs and spices add a touch of exoticism to your traditional recipes. You will travel without adding extra calories. The cumin captivates the vegetables, the curry gives an Indian color to your chicken and the cinnamon enhances the apple, without complicated preparation.
7. Don’t forget to add salt either
The salt gives depth to the different flavors. This precious culinary ally is often used just before tasting to avoid drying out the food. It also offers interesting textures.
8. Taste your preparations at each stage and monitor the cooking
Strictly following the instructions of a recipe is not enough: you must taste each step. This habit will help you achieve a velvety consistency or cooking. You can then adjust the seasoning. But, above all, you will get your bearings to become a true cordon bleu. As molecular cuisine attests, a good meal remains a matter of precision.
9. Work on both taste and texture
Step by step, your palate will be refined and your cuisine will be enriched. You’ll want to pair pleasant textures with flavors that suit them best. A little water preserves the unique appearance of each vegetable during cooking. Wait a moment before cutting your roast beef: once out of the oven, the juices will distribute throughout the meat instead of running down.
10. Touches of acidity awaken the taste
Add lemon juice or vinegar to your preparation allows you to enhance the taste. A duck breast with honey is bland without a touch of acidity to create the sweet/salty effect. Citrus is also very valuable for flavoring fish and chicken, regardless of the sauce.
11. Keep the oven door tightly closed
Open the oven door regularly to monitor the cooking of a dish is one of the most common mistakes in cooking. You should know that when you open the oven door the temperature drops very quickly, which leads to uneven cooking of food, in addition to considerably extend cooking times.
This is why it is recommended not to open the oven, or to only do so once halfway through the cooking time. Instead, use the light in your oven, without opening the door, to have a clear idea of what is happening inside, and to avoid burnt dishes.
12. Cultivate curiosity and don’t hesitate to experiment
Finally, keep an open mind, because cooking is also a story of creativity and experimentation. Do not hesitate to test new associations or new marriages, and exploring uncharted territories by cooking ingredients you didn’t know before. All this will contribute to strengthen your passion for cooking and improve the way you cook, for your greatest pleasure and that of your loved ones.
If you are passing through this page, we invite you to share your cooking tips and tricks with us. Leave us a little comment!