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Login or signup to continue reading $ 0 / $ NaN /year All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue You can't learn to cook everything in one day. Being a great cook is an ongoing process, but there are some basic skills that every home chef should be familiar with. For instance, you need to know how to dice vegetables and make stock to cook a delicious chicken soup.
If you're working on your culinary skills, here are the five most important skills to know. 1. Proper knife cuts Most recipes provide instructions on how the ingredients should be cut before cooking.
If you don't know what to do when the recipe says to dice or mince, you'll find yourself lost before you even start cooking. Learning proper knife cuts is a crucial kitchen skill. When dicing, you need to cut the ingredients into cubes.
Large dice means 3/4 of an inch, while a small dice is a quarter inch on all sides. If the recipe requires a julienne cut, you should cut the ingredients into small matchsticks, three inches long. Mincing is often used for garlic and ginger, which requires you to cut tiny pieces.
2. How to make stock On a slow weekend afternoon, you can make homemade stock from chicken, beef or fish. Stock is a great base for homemade soup, and you can use it to make risotto and other sauces.
Stock can contain a variety of ingredients, from chicken caucuses and bones to spices or herbs. Gently simmer the ingredients for three to four hours while skimming off any protein scum that rises up. When the stock is ready, pour it into a clean pan, then boil it fiercely to reduce the stock and intensify the flavour profile.
3. How to properly cook pasta Pasta is a popular dish that everyone should know how to prepare. A delicious pasta requires only three things: salt, time and a proper size pot.
The best pasta cooking tips are learning the difference between fresh and dried pasta and understanding how to cook each variety. When preparing dried pasta, cook it in salted simmering water until it's just al dente (a bit chewy). The secret is to have your sauces ready in a separate skillet, where you can add the al dente pasta.
4. How to make a simple vinaigrette If you learn how to whip up a simple vinaigrette, you'll always have a tasty salad on the table. Making this delicious dressing helps you learn the fundamentals of emulsions and making complex sauces.
When making vinaigrette, start with three parts olive oil to one part vinegar, and toss in a pinch of black pepper and salt. You can add your favourite flavoured vinegar, seasonings and spices. Fresh herbs and mustard can also elevate the flavour of the dressing.
5. Cracking and preparing eggs Eggs are delicious in everything. If you're in a hurry, make a quick meal out of eggs and pantry staples.
You can also make eggs the centrepiece of a stunning dessert. However, before you can create the perfect dessert using eggs, you need to know the basics of cracking and cooking them. Using the edge of a bowl or chopping board to crack your eggs is wrong, as this can force shell pieces into the egg white.
To crack an egg, give it a solid thwack on a clean, smooth surface. This creates an even crack to open the egg. You should also learn how to scramble, hard-boil, poach and fry eggs.
Learning these essential kitchen skills will make you a better cook without going to culinary school. When cooking, don't stress about mastering every skill at once. Instead, learn gradually and experiment with a variety of recipes.
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