Cooking Techniques

One of the comforts of home is being in a room that smells good. During the winter, and especially around the holidays, staying indoors most of the time calls for creating pleasant aromas in the...

Pectin is a naturally occurring substance that is known for its thickening or jelling ability. Pectin can be found in fruit such as apples, grapefruit, lemons, and grapes. Unripe fruit generally...

It has come to the point where there are cooking shows featuring expert grillers. This is a sure sign that grilling is an extremely popular cooking method, not to mention a social activity, with...

Within the culinary industry, the brigade system provides a method of organization in the kitchen. Each worker has a specific food preparation or cleaning duty in a specific location. The concept...

Give foods cooked on the stove top all the complex flavors of the grill, with liquid smoke and a grill pan. Liquid smoke is made by condensing real hardwood smoke into a concentrated seasoning. A...

You can use an ice chest to thaw meat, provided you have enough ice or refreezable ice packs to keep the meat at the same temperature as your refrigerator. Meat thaws if it is above the freezing...

Serrano hams, a Spanish specialty, are cured to preserve the meat and lock in flavor. Serrano hams are made using a hog's back leg. To make your own Serrano ham, you need adequate space to cure...

The brigade system is a method of organization in the culinary industry, used by restaurants to form the best staff model possible. Used correctly, the brigade system can provide a structure that...

Balancing spices in your dishes will help you add depth in flavors, keep the food from becoming overpowering and tailor the meal to your own personal taste. While many foods lend themselves to a...

Barbecuing outside has always been considered a beloved American pastime. However, there is a new trend that is revolutionizing how we cook our food outdoors. Infrared grilling is the new...

A pressure cooker is a wonderful tool for creating a tasty, home-cooked meal in a short amount of time. The Wolfgang Puck Pressure Cooker is a high-quality pressure cooker sold by the Home...

Popcorn is a classic American snack food that has been around since the 19th century. It can be cooked in anything from melted butter to olive oil. One of the most common types of oil to use is...

Hemp is a wonderfully versatile and beneficial substance and hemp seeds can be used in cooking and baking to add a nutty flavor to all kinds of sweet and savory dishes. Cooked and strung together,...

When you are searching for something different to eat that is tasty and affordable, consider some of the different ways you can prepare canned salmon. Salmon patties are not only delicious, they...

Cook meats and poultry to a golden brown and basted in their own juices on a rotisserie stainless steel grill. Some stainless steel rotisserie grills have multiple burners to cook meats quickly...

Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, leeks are an excellent addition to many dishes. They taste a bit like onions but are not as strong. Perfect for omelets, soups, stews, casseroles and...

Many quick-fix dishes, such as ramen noodles and freeze-dried pasta, come in Styrofoam containers that require you to cook them in the microwave. Because Styrofoam melts easily when exposed to...

Cooking is a competitive art form, and in order to become successful chef you must have a wild passion for culinary adventure that sets you head and shoulders above the competition. Years of...

Sea urchins are spiny, baseball-sized, ocean-dwelling creatures. Considered a delicacy in some areas, sea urchins are becoming a popular item in the culinary world. There are more than 500...

Penne pasta, also known as "quills," according to the National Pasta Association, complements a variety of pasta dishes. Because of its sturdy shape, it can hold up to even the heartiest pasta...

Grilling and baking meats and vegetables in foil pouches is a way to make preparation and cleanup easier. Cooking in foil pouches locks in savory flavors during the cooking process. You can use...

Infrared cooking refers to cooking food with invisible light energy. When light waves hit the food, the molecules shake violently and begin to heat up.

Chia seed powder is a powerful source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. The most nutritious chia seed powder is made by sprouting the seeds until the tiny leaves from the sprouts begin to open...

TVP, or textured vegetable protein, is a meat substitute made from soybeans and manufactured by the Arthur, Daniel, Midlands Corporation. The granules can be used in any recipe calling for ground...

Many people do not realize that they can freeze mashed potatoes for use in pierogies. You can freeze and reheat them to use as a side dish for regular meals. Freezing leftover mashed potatoes will...

Although poppy seeds come from the opium plant, the ingredient responsible for the effects of opium does not reach the seeds. It takes 90,000 of these tiny seeds to make a pound. Though small,...

Cooking a free-form meatloaf is necessary if you don't own a loaf pan, or you may simply prefer the results. The free-form technique allows grease to drain from the meatloaf and exposes all sides...

After you prepare your holiday helping of fudge this season, keep in mind proper storage of your treats to make sure that they stay fresh. Whether you plan to give your fudge as gifts to friends...

Molasses is a flavorful sweetener that is a byproduct of sugar cane or sugar beet processing. At one time, molasses was the major sweetener used in the United States. While its popularity has...

Cooking oil can be filtered and reused. Using recycled cooking oil will save money and save you some trips to the store. It is easy and safe to filter used cooking oil as long as you follow proper...

With improved technology, pressure cookers--once considered old-fashioned and outdated cooking tools--provide a number of benefits, from health to efficiency, that make them a valuable kitchen item.

Separating animal fat from waste vegetable oil after pan-frying meats is useful if you want to reserve fats for later uses. Animal fat used in place of shortening when you make baked goods adds...

If you want to tenderize your beef, consider marinating with papain. You can find papain naturally in the leaves and skin of raw papaya. Papain is a protein enzyme that breaks down the connective...

Grill meats and vegetables on a gas cooktop with the help of a grill pan. Many sizes of grill pans are available to give foods the appetizing grill marks and the taste of high heat cooking. The...

Most charcoal grills have multiple vents to draw in fresh oxygen for the fire and exhaust the smoke produced. Closing all the vents and placing the lid over the top of the grill will seal it well...

Smoked turkey necks add great flavor to soups and stews. Smoked turkey necks are pre-cooked but are not tender enough for eating; boiling is necessary for releasing flavor and eating. Boiled,...

Stew is a filling and hearty meal made of cut up vegetables, herbs, spices, potatoes, pasta or rice and cut up meat. Because stew cooks on a low simmer, it is possible to use a less expensive cut...

The recipe you are using calls for five egg yolks. No problem, but then you are left with the egg whites after the eggs are separated. Freezing egg whites in ice cube trays is a perfect solution...

A stand mixer equipped with a dough hook makes combining ingredients and kneading homemade bread an easy task. The mixer takes the work out of the process, leaving the cook with only baking the...

Heat a block of Himalayan salt crystals to season foods while they cook on its surface. Himalayan salt crystals contain many different natural minerals that give foods cooked on them a complex...

Smoking spare ribs is a fairly straightforward process involving three ideas: (1) slow cooking, (2) using a low temperature and (3) using smoke for flavoring and heat. Amazing things happen to...

Dehydrating fruits, vegetables and herbs is a natural candidate for doing with solar power because the sun works well for drying almost anything. To dehydrate food, you simply dry it out by...

Brining is a professional cooking method for making meat succulent and tender. The salt in the brine helps break down collagen in the meat fibers, which in turn creates a tender, juicy pork roast....

Herbs such as rosemary have a variety of uses: in cooking, in sore throat gargles, in aromatherapy--even in an oil to reduce rheumatism pain. For some uses of an herb you will need to chop the...

Wood smoke imparts a rich flavor to foods that many people enjoy. Smoking is associated with outdoor grilling, though the flavor of smoke can be created at home in a typical oven. The idea may...

Metal steamers are a common kitchen tool that many people don't know how to use. These adjustable stainless steel flower-like devices are lurking in a drawer in a lot of kitchens without ever...

Grill delicious spare ribs in the oven by utilizing your broiler and a few simple strategies. Ovens are capable of providing the direct high heat that sears like a grill and a controlled low heat...

Virgin Coconut Oil is useful for a variety of purposes, including cooking and skin care. It is an unrefined oil, making it healthier for the body and skin than products that contain vegetable...

Pickled or preserved eggs are essentially boiled eggs preserved in vinegar and flavored with spices and herbs; they can be either sweet or spicy. They are often served as a snack, alongside...

Smoking meat with hardwood chips in gas grills requires more steps than in traditional charcoal grills. Simply throwing wood chips on the flames of gas grill burners will char the chips and not...