50 Cooking Tips With Gordon Ramsay | Part One

Summary

This script offers a wealth of culinary tips, from sharpening knives to maximizing kitchen efficiency. It covers knife handling, using a veg peeler for thin slices, adjusting pepper mills, and quick garlic peeling. Techniques for chopping onions, cooking with high heat, and resting meat are shared. The script also provides tricks for deseeding chilies, zesting lemons, and utilizing leftover ingredients. It concludes with advice on cooking rice, pasta, and potatoes, as well as making the most of leftovers and preserving herbs and spices.

Takeaways

• 🔪 Keep your knife sharp by honing it before and after each use, with a 45-degree angle and long strokes on the steel.
• 🥗 Prevent your chopping board from moving by placing a damp cloth underneath it for stable cutting.
• 🥄 Use a vegetable peeler for more than just peeling; it's great for making thin ribbons, parmesan shavings, and chocolate curls.
• 🧂 Adjust your pepper mill settings for different dishes: fine grind for soups, medium for general seasoning, and coarse for steaks and fish.
• 🧄 Bash garlic cloves with the back of a knife to easily remove the skin, or crush a whole head in a bowl for quick peeling.
• 🧅 When chopping an onion, leave the root intact to avoid tears and use a long slicing motion for even cuts.
• 🔥 Always preheat your oven and start with a hot pan when required for optimal cooking results.
• 🍳 Cook meat at room temperature for even cooking and let it rest afterward to remain tender and juicy.
• 🌶️ To de-seed a chili, rub it upright between your hands to release the seeds, then cut off the top and bottom for easy removal.
• 🍋 Use lemon and lime wedges as ice cubes to flavor drinks without diluting them.
• 🍚 Cook perfect basmati rice by rinsing it first, infusing it with cardamom and star anise, and letting it steam with a lid on.

Q & A

Why is it important to keep a knife sharp in the kitchen?

Keeping a knife sharp is crucial because working with a blunt knife is more difficult and potentially dangerous. A sharp knife is quicker and more efficient, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring precision in cutting.

How should one hold a knife when sharpening it on a steel?

One should hold the knife at a 45-degree angle with a confident grip, similar to holding a tennis racket or a squash racket. It's important to keep fingers behind the steel to avoid injury from the knife's motion.

What is a useful tip to prevent a chopping board from moving while chopping?

To prevent a chopping board from moving, wet a kitchen cloth, kitchen paper, or tea towel and place it underneath the board. This provides a non-slip surface for safe and confident chopping.

How can a vegetable peeler be used beyond its basic function?

A vegetable peeler can be used to slice ultra-thin ribbons of vegetables for Asian dishes, create delicate Parmesan shavings for soups and salads, and even make chocolate curls for desserts.

What are the different settings on a pepper mill and their uses?

A pepper mill has settings for fine, medium, and coarse grinding. Fine grinding is ideal for soups and sauces, medium grinding is suitable for general seasoning, and coarse grinding is perfect for steaks and fish.

How can one easily peel garlic cloves?

For a single clove, bashing it with the back of a knife can remove the skin easily. For a whole head, crushing the garlic and then shaking it in a covered bowl for about 10 seconds can help separate the peeled cloves.

What is the proper way to chop an onion to avoid waste and tears?

To chop an onion, leave the root intact, slice while letting the weight of the knife do the work, and use the knuckle as a guide. Push the onion back together and cut through the root, turning and repeating the motion until fully chopped.

Why is it recommended to preheat the oven before cooking?

Preheating the oven ensures even cooking and helps to achieve the desired temperature throughout the oven for optimal results. It is recommended to preheat the oven at least 20 minutes before cooking.

What is the best way to store leftover wine for future use in cooking?

Leftover wine can be frozen in freezer bags or ice cube trays for future use in stocks and sauces. This method preserves the wine's flavor and makes it convenient to use in cooking.

How can one cook perfect rice according to the script?

To cook perfect rice, start with rinsing 400 grams of rice in cold water. Add the rice to a pan with three cardamom pods, star anise, salt, and pepper. Use a ratio of one part rice to one and a half parts water. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 8-10 minutes without lifting the lid. Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork.

What are some tips for making the most of leftover ingredients in the kitchen?

Leftover ingredients can be used in various ways: rice can be used in stir-fries or salads, herbs can be kept fresh in water or made into flavored oils, and leftover bread can be turned into breadcrumbs, croutons, or used in salads. Additionally, leftover wine can be frozen for use in cooking.