Cooking technique encyclopedia
Check the principles and methods for handling basic cooking techniques, success points, and common mistakes.
Watch for a cue alongside the cooking time
The same five minutes can produce different results depending on ingredient thickness, quantity and pan size. Use time as a reference and observe the change each cooking method is meant to produce.
Water is pooling in the pan
Check for crowded ingredients and excess water left from washing. Try smaller batches and drier surfaces before simply turning up the heat. Watch for pooled water to decrease before adding more seasoning.
Try changing: batch size →The reduced sauce is too salty
Reducing liquid also concentrates flavor. Seasoning fully at the start can make the finished dish too salty. Check the seasoning near the intended consistency and adjust the heat if the sauce begins sticking.
Watch: sauce flow and the pan base →Cooked outside, firm inside
Uneven thickness makes even cooking difficult. Add firm and quick-cooking ingredients at different stages, and cut them more evenly next time. Surface color alone does not establish that meat is safely cooked.
Try changing: thickness and cooking order →