Season Properly | Cooking How To | Food Network Asia

Summary

This video offers expert tips on seasoning with salt and pepper to elevate your cooking. It explains the differences between kosher, fine, and sea salt, highlighting their unique flavors and textures. The video emphasizes the importance of freshly ground pepper for enhanced flavor. Viewers learn effective techniques for seasoning, such as salting at the right time during cooking and adjusting seasonings to taste. With these tips, home cooks can enhance their dishes, ensuring every meal is perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Properly seasoned food is what separates great cooks from the pack.
• 😀 When a recipe says 'season to taste,' it typically means using salt and pepper.
• 😀 There are various types of salt, each with unique flavors and textures.
• 😀 Kosher salt has a neutral flavor and is less concentrated, making it easy to control.
• 😀 Fine salt is often used in baked goods and can be harder to control when sprinkled.
• 😀 Sea salt can have a briny flavor and comes in both coarse and fine varieties.
• 😀 The choice of salt in a recipe depends on personal preference and taste.
• 😀 Freshly ground pepper has a more robust flavor than pre-ground pepper.
• 😀 Start seasoning by sprinkling kosher salt from a height to evenly distribute it over food.
• 😀 Salt draws out moisture; if you want to wilt onions, salt them first; for crispy food, salt later.
• 😀 Always taste your food and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

Q & A

What is the key difference between great cooks and average cooks according to the script?

The key difference is the ability to season food properly, which enhances the flavor of the meals.

What does 'season to taste' mean in a recipe?

'Season to taste' means adding salt and pepper according to your preference, adjusting to the level of flavor you enjoy.

What are the different types of salt mentioned in the script?

The script mentions kosher salt, fine salt, and sea salt, each with unique flavors and textures.

How is kosher salt different from fine salt?

Kosher salt has a neutral flavor and is less concentrated, making it easier to control when seasoning. Fine salt is smaller and harder to control, and it is often used as a flavor enhancer in baked goods.

What is the primary advantage of using freshly ground pepper?

Freshly ground pepper has a better, more pronounced peppery flavor compared to pre-ground pepper.

What is the best way to season with kosher salt according to the script?

To season with kosher salt, take a pinch in your fingers, raise your hand high, and sprinkle the salt evenly over the food. The higher you are, the more evenly the food will be seasoned.

When should you salt something to wilt it, according to the script?

You should salt something first if you want it to wilt, such as onions.

When is the best time to salt something to make it crispy?

You should salt it later if you want it to be crispy.

What should you do if a recipe says 'season to taste' and you think your food needs more flavor?

You should taste your food and add more salt if you feel it needs more seasoning.

How does salt affect the texture of food while cooking?

Salt draws out moisture from food, which can help achieve different textures, like wilting or crisping, depending on when it's added.