Now-a-days, cooking has been a choice for people as a perfect time-spending and enjoying act. They tend to try their expertise and interests in cooking various dishes, to check how much they are versed with. Also for the students or professionals, who have not married yet, reside in rented houses and due to various factors, they try their hands in cooking act. Letâs see 10 basic cooking tips to make you an entry level chef:
1. Boiling an egg
Boiling an egg has been most popular cooking since many years. To boil it with perfection, take a large pot, which can hold maximum number of eggs you wish to boil. Then fill it with water till it covers the eggs completely. Add eggs one by one (you may use spoon, to avoid cracking on the upper layer). Set the timer at 8 minutes. After time completion, take the bowl out and run cold water into the pot till the eggs are completely cold.
2. How to scramble an egg
Scrambled eggs are another favorite dish for people. The egg, scrambled in French style is much better than the egg scrambled in English style. The French style has a saucy touch whereas the English style is a bit dry. Depending upon the number of people, you can choose the eggs. In a large pot, put a knob of butter and switch the heat on keeping it low. You may use 25-50 grams of butter. While melting of the butter, crack the eggs into a bowl. After complete melting (the butter must not be bubbling or heat should not be much higher), add salt and pepper as per taste and mix with the fork till it completely combines. Avoid adding anything else. Pour the mixture in to the bowl and stir on constantly. You can heat up a little if the mixture is not thickening. Soon, curds (parts of egg) would be appearing. As the small quantity of runny egg is left, take off the heat immediately. Adding another knob of butter, stir it until it melts, and add 3-4 tbs of cream. Your instant dish is ready to serve.
3. How to make an omelet
To cook omelets, it is necessary to maintain the simple rule that is âIt should not brownâ. Take a small sized pan and melt a knob of butter (as per requirements) in it. Keep the heat at low sign. While the butter melts, take a bowl and crack the egg in to it. Add salt and pepper as per taste and mix until it gets mixed completely. When the butter begin to sizzle, pour the egg in the pan and stir it continuously. Also break any curd that forms. When there is a little runny eggs left on the top; off the heat and take the pan and put under grill. While grilling, be cautious that it does not get browned. Now remove the grill, and fold the omelet in half and slide on to the serving plate. IF you wish, you can add toppings or can add a little cream over the top as per your interest.
4. Method to cook pasta
Being simple, Pasta can be cooked very quickly. The below mentioned method will give you a perfect pasta without any spill. Take a stock pot and fill water in the half of the portion and add enough salt to make it like sea water. But remember, we are not cooking sea water, but are cooking delicious pasta. This method is widely popular in Italy. Need not to add oil or anything else to the water. Keep the pot on heater and let the water boil. When the water starts boiling, add the pasta. Give stir on regular intervals to make sure it does not stick together. The different type of pasta has different timing to cook. Check the manual for the recommended time-spending and check the pasta 2 minutes before to confirm itâs not getting stick. After this, take a cup of cooking water and then strain the pasta but do not rinse or strain to dry it. It can be easily served with a good sized knob of butter and parmesan cheese. You can also add sauce with the reserved water to add flavor.
5. Cook perfect steak
To cook perfect steak, you need a thick bottomed cooking pan or grill and put it on a high heat. Use a nice thick cut at least a 2cm thick slice and salt and pepper the steak lightly on both sides. While using a grill, use oil to brush the steak. Add one or two tbs vegetable oil to coat the pan. Take medium size butter and add it to the oil till it sizzles. The surface of pan should be fine-coated using butter and add the steak to the pan without touching. Do not let it move during the cooking process. A nice crisp on the upper layer of the meat will come out. In approx 5-7 minutes, a perfect steak would be ready to serve. Add another small knob of butter before turning the steak. Then turn the steak on periodic interval. Bring-out the steak from the pan, put it on the plate, in which you want to serve and cover with aluminum foil. After 5 minutes, serve it to have a tender bite.
6. How to cook rice
Cooking rice has been a terrifying experience for some people. But if cooked taking some precautions, it becomes very simple to cook it. Just use the further mentioned method and get perfect fluffy rice each time. Take a large pot and put some vegetable oil in it. Keep the heat to medium. In the hot oil, add a half diced onion and cook it until it become soft. Now take the rice as per your requirement (recommended to take quantity equal to a full coffee mug) and put it into the pan. Now stir it till it gets mixed completely in the oil. Then, take two full coffee mug of water and pour it in the pan and add salt as per your taste. You can also add half cinnamon stick in the water. Leave the pan till the water starts boiling. Now low the flame and bring it to the lowest setting. After 15 minutes, your rice is ready to eat.
7. Mashing potatoes
Popularly known as the French style of potato mashing, the process is majorly applied in the French restaurants. This method results in perfectly mashed potatoes without any lumps. Take potatoes as per your requirement and peel them. Now in a big pot, put the peeled potatoes. Put cold water it the pot and minimal quantity of salt. Now put the put the pot on the flame and leave it for 10-15 minutes. After 15 minutes, bring out the pot and pick the potatoes from it. Keep them in another pot and leave to be cold. Now, put a cup of cream (you can also reduce the quantity as per your requirement) in the pan and let it come to the boiling level. Now sieve the potatoes and put them in the pot and then on the low heat flame. Add butter as per your taste and then mix the butter in the potatoes. Add the hot cream while mixing, this will mix the butter to the depth and would add creaminess to the mash. Add pepper and salt for the taste and serve.
8. How to roast potatoes
The duck or goose fat is the best fat for roasting potatoes. You can also go for lard or dripping in case you are not getting it. Now, peel and cut the potatoes into medium sized pieces. In a roasting dish, melt 50 g of fat per 500 grams of potatoes. Then, drop the potato pieces and keep them moving around until they get full coating. Further, use salt to season it and cook at the top of a preheated oven at 190 c or 375f with gas mark 5 for 40 minutes. Until it becomes golden and get cooked thoroughly, bast it with the fat. You can also boil it partly by tossing them in the pot until they get a fluffy outer layer. This results in reducing the cooking time in the oven.
9. Boiling vegetables
Take the vegetable you wish to boil and lean or peel and cut into bite sized chunks. Then, add these to a pot and fill the pot with boiling water. Do not forget to add plenty of salt in the water. Now, put the pot on a moderately-high heat and let it boil. Check the vegetables on regular intervals to check whether they are ready. The vegetables will become crispy and soft. Remember that the green vegetables do not turn pale green or grey. Avoid over cooking as it will make the vegetables completely soft. Take them off from the pot and serve hot. The cooking time may vary depending use of the vegetables.
10. Chicken roasting
Chicken roasting is in fact very simply. Take pepper, salt, one crushed clove of garlic, one bay leaf, and a small bunch of thyme. Now add them to the body cavity. Sprinkle salt and pepper outside. Then rub a fat coating of soft butter (do not use melt butter) on the skin. Now put the chicken breast, in a roasting pan, side down . It will not let the breast dry. Further, cook it using a pre-heated oven at 200c, 400f, gas mark 6. The ideal time would be 15 minutes per 450 grams. Keep the chicken rotating. After it is cooked, take a warmed platter and leave it for 15 minutes. Let the juice settle before serving.
