Food is the ultimate requirement of the body. Everybody needs to eat food and cook for themselves; even if you are lucky enough to have someone else cook for you, it is important to know how to cook the basic dishes.
Once you start cooking for yourself, you will enjoy the process, and the food you eat will feel more rewarding and satisfy you further.
However, it might seem monumental for those who do not know how to cook, as various steps are involved.
So, you should know the common initial steps before cooking, as they will make the process much easier for you. Cooking is not simply about gathering the ingredients and tossing them all together to make a dish, but there is a fine process to it that you should know.
So, here are some of the steps you can take to make cooking a breeze.
1. Clean the kitchen
A clean kitchen is an efficient kitchen. You do not want your kitchen to be messy with all the utensils you might not even need.
Ensure that the stove, utensils, and equipment you will need are clean so that you do not have to stop in between the cooking to clean them all.
This will make the whole process efficient, as dirty dishes will not divert your focus.
In addition, ensure that the countertops are also well cleaned.
2. Read the recipe thoroughly.
Whatever you are going to cook, you must either read about it in a book or online beforehand. If you know the recipe already, it is important to take a minute to run through it once to ensure you have everything you need.
When you read the recipe, you will come across a list of ingredients you should use to cross-check whether you already have those items.
Moreover, reading the recipe prepares for any type of special cooking that you might have to use in between.
3. Prep the ingredients.
These common initial steps before cooking will help you streamline your processes.
Commonly this step in the culinary world is known as Mise En. In the traditional sense, it is a simple concept; this step often comes after reading the recipe thoroughly.
Once you have been through the recipe, you should arrange all the equipment and ingredients and place them around your kitchen station.
For instance, you must gather all the knives you might need, along with the towels, bowls, pots, and pans.
This way, you will save yourself multiple trips to the panty.
After taking out all the ingredients, take them out in small bowls as per the quantity needed for the recipes.
4. Learn the basic
You must learn various techniques, no matter how good of a cook.
If you are new to the game, then knowing what broiling and braising are will make your life easier in the kitchen, and you will be able to navigate through the recipes.
You should start with boiling and simmering, as they are the two most basic cooking techniques.
In addition, you must also learn stir-frying, sauteing, grilling, stewing, roasting, and baking.
Once you get the hang of it, you will take less time to cook your favorite recipes.
These are the best initial tasks you must perform before cooking a recipe to ensure that you can work properly in the kitchen.
