TL;DR
What: Essential cooking techniques everyone should know.
Why: Save money, eat healthier, impress your friends.
Quick Start
Prepare:
- Pan or pot
- Spatula, knife
- Oil, salt, pepper
Steps:
- Heat pan over medium heat
- Add a bit of oil
- Add food when oil shimmers
- Season while cooking
- Don’t flip too often
Cheatsheet
- Low heat: Simmering, melting butter, slow cooking
- Medium heat: Most cooking - eggs, vegetables, sauces
- High heat: Searing meat, boiling water, stir-frying
- Oil shimmers: Ready to cook
- Meat sizzles: Don’t flip yet, wait for release
Gotchas
Food sticking to pan
Pan wasn’t hot enough. Preheat properly, oil should shimmer.
Vegetables are soggy
Pan was overcrowded. Cook in batches.
Burned outside, raw inside
Heat too high. Lower heat and cook longer.