Most of the cookbooks I find on techniques teach you How To Cook, but there are only a few that teach you How NOT to Cook.
Years ago I thought it would be fun to look at some of the most basic cooking techniques used every day and the common mistakes we make when doing them. You will be surprised at how many mistakes we all make that you didn’t know about.
I was planning on publishing this collection of articles as a cookbook but decided it would be more helpful to post them on my website instead so I can get your feedback and add new chapter in the future. Over the next few months, I plan to introduce these posts describing common cooking mistakes we make all the time in our kitchens and how to avoid them.
I hope you enjoy this new section of The Reluctant Gourmet.com, comment on some of your own cooking mistakes and please share this page with your friends and family.
The Boiling Technique Mistakes Boiling occurs when water reaches 212F (100C). There are a couple of caveats that come with that, however. First, the temperature 212F (100C) applies only to water. Other liquids boil at slightly different temperatures. Second, that temperature holds true at sea level. For every 500 feet above sea level you go, […]
How Not To Cook Pasta & Tips for Perfect Pasta Thanks to the great American melting pot, pasta is a staple in the United States. When “spaghetti and meatballs” turns up on children’s menus, you know that what was once brought over by Italian immigrants is now as American as apple pie. I’d be […]
How Not To Cook – Common Cooking Mistakes & How to Avoid Them A while back I started writing a cookbook, How NOT to Cook – Common Cooking Mistakes & How to Avoid Them. I wrote about a dozen chapters on mistakes I’ve made over the years and how I ultimately learned the right way […]
I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More
What is Demi Glace? I am a huge fan of demi-glace for preparing classic sauces like mushroom or peppercorn sauce but I have to warn you, it is a huge process to make classic demi glace at home. It is not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort – at least once. […]
Penne Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
How to Make a Delicious Pasta Meal with Roasted Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella In our house we typically have a weekly “What’s On Hand” meal where my wife and I find ingredients in the refrigerator and pantry that need to be used sooner than later and prepare a pasta dish, stir-fry or Mexican fajita. This […]
Pan Roasting—the Chef’s Secret Cooking Technique One of my favorite cooking techniques not talked about in most cookbooks If I could teach you just one chef’s technique that will help you save time in the kitchen and deliver a thick cut of meat to the table with a perfect sear and juicy medium-rare throughout, it […]
