My 25 Biggest Cooking Mistakes

Summary

In this video, a professional chef with over 20 years of experience shares 25 valuable cooking tips and tricks to help you avoid common kitchen mistakes. From essential tools like rice cookers and thermometers to techniques for perfect knife skills and seasoning, this tutorial covers everything from basic preparation to advanced cooking hacks. Learn how to achieve the perfect sear, prevent food from sticking, and elevate your dishes with simple yet effective strategies. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned cook, these tips are sure to improve your culinary game.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start your cooking organized with a trash bin and essentials like salt, pepper, oil, and a good knife.
• 😀 A blunt knife is a dangerous knife. Keep your knives sharp using honing steel and sharpeners.
• 😀 Master basic knife cuts like slicing, fine dice, and large dice for different recipes.
• 😀 Consider investing in a rice cooker if you cook rice regularly for perfect results every time.
• 😀 Use a thermometer (like a Thermapen) to accurately check the temperature of your food.
• 😀 Weighing your ingredients with a scale is essential for consistency, especially when baking.
• 😀 Properly season your cast iron and carbon steel pans to create a non-stick surface and ensure longevity.
• 😀 A pressure cooker can drastically reduce cooking time for stews, beans, and legumes.
• 😀 Essential kitchen tools include tongs, spatulas, sieves, wooden spoons, fish slices, peelers, and a bench scraper.
• 😀 Taste as you cook! Adjust seasoning throughout the process for a well-balanced and flavorful dish.
• 😀 Don’t overcrowd your pan—ensure your food has room to cook properly for a nice, golden result.

Q & A

Why is it important to stay organized in the kitchen?

Being organized in the kitchen helps to minimize distractions, improve efficiency, and reduce the risk of accidents. Having everything you need within reach, such as a rubbish bin, seasoning, and tools like knives and towels, ensures a smoother cooking experience.

What is the difference between a honing steel and a knife sharpener?

A honing steel is used to realign the blade's edge and maintain its sharpness, while a knife sharpener actually removes material from the blade to create a new sharp edge. Both are important for keeping knives safe and effective, but honing steels should be used regularly, while sharpening is necessary less often.

Why is it essential to hold a knife properly when cutting?

Holding a knife properly provides better control, stability, and reduces the risk of injury. Holding the knife closer to the bolster with your thumb and index finger wrapped around the blade allows for better precision and safer cutting.

What are the three main cuts of an onion that home cooks should master?

The three main cuts for an onion are the slice (for salads and stir-fries), fine dice (for sauces), and large dice (for stews or curries). Mastering these basic cuts helps in creating the right texture and flavor for various dishes.

How does a rice cooker simplify cooking rice?

A rice cooker is simple to use and ensures perfectly cooked rice every time. By adding the right amount of water and rice, and pressing a button, it automatically cooks and keeps the rice warm, making it a valuable tool for anyone who cooks rice regularly.

Why should you invest in a thermometer like a Thermapen in the kitchen?

A thermometer like the Thermapen provides accurate temperature readings for meat, cakes, or other dishes, ensuring they are cooked properly. It removes the guesswork and helps you avoid undercooking or overcooking, leading to better results.

What are some basic kitchen essentials every cook should have?

Essential kitchen tools include tongs, a rubber spatula, a sieve, a ladle, a whisk, a wooden spoon, a fish slice, a peeler, and a bench scraper. These tools are versatile and help in various cooking techniques, from stirring and flipping to peeling and moving ingredients.

Why is it important to taste as you go while cooking?

Tasting as you go allows you to adjust the seasoning and flavors early on, ensuring a balanced dish. Different ingredients can vary in flavor, so it’s important to adjust seasoning, acidity, and sweetness throughout the cooking process.

What is the correct way to crack an egg to avoid breaking the yolk?

The best way to crack an egg is on a flat surface, not the edge of a bowl or knife. This method helps avoid breaking the membrane that holds the yolk intact, allowing you to separate the yolk from the white more easily and cleanly.

How can you thicken sauces using cornflour (cornstarch)?

To thicken a sauce with cornflour, mix it with an equal amount of cold water to make a slurry. Then, slowly add it to a hot sauce or stock, stirring as it thickens. Start with about 1 tablespoon of cornflour for every 500 ml of liquid, and adjust as necessary.