Cooking Methods Part 2 of 3

To a few cooking seems to be an innate skill but to others it is filled with dread and horror. Cooking need not be frightening. Here we will take a look at some of the chief cooking methods and show you how easy it really is.

Once, you master one or two of these cooking techniques, you will then be enthused and confident to try some of the others.

Just relax and enjoy it.

FRYING

From the oven to the fry pan. Frying is the method of cooking food in hot fat. Frying will give your food a appetizing golden brown color and a wonderful flavor – please keep in mind that nutritionist warn about too much oil in our diet from frying.

DEEP-FAT FRYING

This is the frying process where the food is totally immersed in hot fat. It needs to be very hot and generally cooks the food quickly. When deep frying you need an oil that can be heated to a high temperature without smoking – an oil with a high smoke point. Good oils for this are corn oil and soya bean oil but groundnut oil is the best. In order to deep fry foods successfully they need a protective coating to avoid drying out. The two most popular coatings are breadcrumbs and batter and these are most commonly used on fish, seafood, chicken and chips, with a new fad being the mars bar. You have probably seen this method of cooking performed many times before at your local store. A deep heavy pan is used to heat the oil and a wire basket used to lift the food out. Much care is need as the oil is extremely hot and it can be quite dangerous. Many house fires have been caused by the fat catching fire. For a safer option you can buy an electric deep-fryer with a thermostatic control.

SHALLOW-FAT FRYING

A safer alternative to deep frying is shallow frying. This frying method is similar but the oil is heated in a shallow pan. And instead of immersing the food in the oil the food is laid in the oil and cooked one side at a time. You can use vegetable oil such as corn oil and the thicker the food you are cooking the thicker the oil will need to be. The oil will need to be very hot other wise the food will absorb the fat and won’t taste as good. Put the food in and cook one side, and then flip carefully using a slotted spoon or fish slice. Once cooked remove carefully from the oil, shake it gently to remove excess oil and drain on kitchen paper. Serve immediately while still hot. You can use this method of cooking for coated foods like fish cakes and crumbed meat, or for potato slices.

PAN-FRYING

This is a modern more heath conscience method. It cooks the food quickly and easily. It is either done dry, for fatty foods like bacon and sausages or a small amount of oil is added for chops, steak, chicken etc. The pan is heated either with or without a little oil, the meat is added and cooked on one side and is then turned over and cooked on the other side until cooked through. The heat quickly seals the food and keeps it moist and tender.

STIR-FRYING

Stir-frying refers to cooking a variety of foods together quickly in a pan. It is a very quick way of cooking small pieces of food in a healthy and appetizing way. It has been shown a lot on television in recent years and has become very popular. Generally a wok is used however a similar result can be achieved in your fry pan. For a successful stir fry you need to ensure all the ingredients are cut up into similar sizes, so that they will cook evenly. Prepare all the food in advance and have it ready because once, you start it won’t take long to cook. Heat a little oil in the pan and make sure it is really hot before cooking. It is important to only cook small quantities at a time because you want the food to fry and not to steam. The most common foods cooked like this are:- thin strips of beef, pork, lamb, chicken; prawns; scallops; slices of fish; mixed with lots of vegetables – pak choi, cabbage, mushrooms, peppers, carrot, onion, zucchini and spring onions. Noodles are often added towards the end of the cooking time and since this method of cooking originated from the orient often flavors added are ginger, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil.

SAUTEING

This method is similar to frying and evolved from stir-frying. Sautéing means `moving’ the food. The most common item sautéed is onions – fry the onions in a little oil in a frying pan but you keep stirring them. Because the onion is finely chopped it needs to be kept moving to prevent it from burning in the hot pan.

Related Articles

The Fascinating World of a Neurologist: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain

Have you ever wondered how the human brain, a mere 1.5 kg blob of grey matter, governs our every thought, emotion, and action? It's...

The All-Encompassing Power of Mental Healthcare: Going Holistic

You've probably heard the saying, "Mind over matter." But how often do we truly prioritize our mental well-being in today's fast-paced world? The significance...

Simple Tips to Maintain Youthful and Beautiful Skin

Age has an effect on our skin, making us less attractive as we get older. To keep looking our best and maintain youthful complexions,...

Advanced CPR Training: Elevate Your Skills with MyCPR NOW

Are you ready to take your CPR skills to the next level? MyCPR NOW go to the website offers advanced training that goes beyond...

Quickest Ways to Lose Weight- Methods That Really Works

No matter where you turn online - Twitter, Quora or any health-related forum - many questions and posts revolve around using Garcinia Cambogia to...

Ways Massage Therapists Can Work Smarter

Are You Enjoying Massage But Are You Realizing How Exhausting It Can Be? Physical and Emotionally Exhausting As an avid massage therapist, the physical...

Tips for treating your Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

What is IBS? Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be defined as a common chronic illness that impacts the lining of your stomach (bowel). While your...

PASSING A RESTAURANT-HEALTH INSPECTION: WHAT LOOK FOR

Passing a Restaurant-health Inspection: What Look for A restaurant's success is dependent not only on its talented staff but also on the amazing food they...

Meniscus Tear Prevention Tips for Athletes to Lower Their Risk

In the United States alone, over 850,000 meniscus tears are performed annually. A meniscus tear often needs to be performed due to faulty cartilage...

Type 2 Diabetes – It’s Better To Make One Lifestyle Change At A Time

Let's introduce you to Jim. Jim is a 42-year-old Type 2 diabetic. It had...

What Really Is CBD and How Does It Work?

CBD is the form for cannabidiol. It's a phytocannabinoid that is proven to encourage the...

Eight Reasons to Have a Fit Buddy

Hiring a personal trainer is the first step to getting on track with your...

Public Health Insurance – An Essential Lifesaver For the American Health System

There is much debate about the type of insurance proposals that will be required...

Basic Facts About Cook Islands

Scattered across the Pacific Ocean is the Cook Islands, a group of beautiful islands...

What Are the Species of Probiotics and Why More Species is Better in a Probiotic Formula?

With the recent hoopla about probiotics, the importance and the advantages of probiotics have...

Lee Mcintyre’s Instant Internet Lifestyle: How To Really Make Money Online

There are thousands of ways to make money online. You can create information websites...

Chinese Cooking Methods – Providing Delicious Variety To Your Everyday Meals

Nowadays, food lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to cooking skills and...

What Not to Cook in a Cast-Iron Skillet

I have an embarrassing confession: I used to use my cast-iron cookware to make...

- A word from our sponsor -

spot_img
error: Content is protected !!