Master Two Basic Cooking Techniques – Sauting and Cooking Pasta
While you may chuckle at the thought of not knowing how to boil water, some people will tell you how they ruined their favorite pan when it boiled dry! Basic cooking skills are something that everyone should know, even if they have never set foot in the kitchen. From making a grilled cheese sandwich to creating a five-course meal, you really have to start somewhere! Below, you will find some information on basic cooking skills that can get you started in the kitchen.
Sizzling Saut
The word “saut” means “to jump” in French and that’s the whole premise behind sauting meat or vegetables. You’ll want to use a frying pan and a bit of fat or butter to keep whatever you are sauting from sticking to the pan. Prepare your meat by trimming the excess fat and cutting it up into smaller pieces. Prepare the vegetables, such as onions and mushrooms, and dice them up, too.
Start by placing the pan over high heat and melting a piece of butter. You’ll know if it’s ready when the butter starts to foam a bit and turn slightly brown. Add the meat first so that the released flavor will infuse with the rest of the dish. Keep everything moving and add the vegetables in next. This is a great way to make steak toppings or soup bases.
Perfect Pasta
Soggy, sticky pasta will ruin even the most exquisite of sauces. You need to follow a set of basic rules so that you will not experience endless frustration.
Don’t make the common mistake of using a pan that is several sizes too small. You can’t cook an entire bag of pasta in something that is meant to hold a couple of quarts of liquid. A good rule of thumb is to use four to six quarts of water for every pound of pasta. And before you put it in, add a teaspoon of salt to the water.
A tablespoon of oil will do wonders for your pasta not clumping together. Also, the water will have less of a tendency to boil over. An added tip for this is to have a wooden spoon lay over the top of the pan. Try it, it works!
A vigorous boil is what you are looking for. After adding in the pasta. Stir continuously for the first two minutes. This boils off the excess starch and makes the cooked product even less likely to clump together. Stir every couple of minutes or so until you reach the recommended cooking time.
Don’t wait until the final minute to check if it’s done. Variations in pan thickness, water volume, and stove intensity will produce different results. The time is just a rough estimate meant to serve as a guide. Check the pasta by taking a piece and biting it. Or you can just try to cut a strand by using the spoon.
Most people like their pasta “al dente” which means “firm but not soft.” This is usually what the time recommendations on the packages are for, too. Once the pasta is done, drain it immediately or it will continue to cook. You can rinse it with cold water for a pasta salad or immediately add your favorite sauce to keep it from sticking together. If your sauce isn’t ready, a tablespoon of butter or olive oil will keep it from sticking.
Michelle is an accomplished contributor whose niche is writing about easy, but delectable, household cooking. Her content articles often stress the advantages of crock pot such as slow cooker recipes, which is one of her absolute favorites.
Processing your request, Please wait....
