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30 Simple Cooking Techniques You Should Be Doing, As Revealed By Professionals

You won't earn any Michelin stars from these, but you won't view cooking as a burden anymore.

30 Simple Cooking Techniques You Should Be Doing, As Revealed By Professionals

Simple cooking habits can make a bigger difference than most people expect, especially when the goal is better food without turning dinner into a project.

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This roundup pulls together a set of practical kitchen techniques that can help with flavor, timing, safety, and cleanup. The advice is straightforward, but a few of the tips are the kind people only learn after making a mess or two.

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By the end, the kitchen starts to look a little less intimidating, and a lot more manageable.

Here are some techniques you can practice to make better meals:

Here are some techniques you can practice to make better meals:Joker042
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1. Garlic and onion have different cooking times and should never be sautéed at the same time.

1. Garlic and onion have different cooking times and should never be sautéed at the same time.TaloonTheMerchant
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2. Mise en place, or prep work, will make cooking less of a hassle.

2. Mise en place, or prep work, will make cooking less of a hassle.Johndough99999

3. Do not overlook your acids, people!

3. Do not overlook your acids, people!Jioni92

4. Let your meat rest, and don't use dull knives.

4. Let your meat rest, and don't use dull knives.Wheres_the_sand

That first stretch already covers a lot of the basics.

5. Don't just stick to what you know.

5. Don't just stick to what you know.Rezzone

6. Compare multiple recipes online before cooking.

6. Compare multiple recipes online before cooking.BullGooseLooney904

7. Safety first.

7. Safety first.Diamonds4days1

8. If you're going to use the dishwasher, place your knives blade side down.

8. If you're going to use the dishwasher, place your knives blade side down.grendus

Some of these are less about flavor and more about not making life harder.

9. Watch a few online tutorials if you want to learn the proper technique. Pro tip: start with Gordon Ramsay's video.

9. Watch a few online tutorials if you want to learn the proper technique. Pro tip: start with Gordon Ramsay's video.ChanceGuest

10. This one applies to sautéing.

10. This one applies to sautéing.FatuousOocephalus

11. When you deep fry, you want the flavor on the meat and the breading, not the oil.

11. When you deep fry, you want the flavor on the meat and the breading, not the oil.PM_me_porn_pls

12. You lose a lot of the flavors in vegetables when you boil them to death; try roasting them instead.

12. You lose a lot of the flavors in vegetables when you boil them to death; try roasting them instead.[deleted]

13. There's a proper way to remove the seeds from your bell peppers.

13. There's a proper way to remove the seeds from your bell peppers.FakeAssRicky

The middle of the list gets a little more specific.

This debate echoes the partner who wouldn’t let their boyfriend taste their cooking before a dinner party.

14. Boil your potatoes first before roasting them.

14. Boil your potatoes first before roasting them.DeliciousMalediction

15. The microwave is a good friend, but it can't be used for everything.

15. The microwave is a good friend, but it can't be used for everything.small_but_lazy

16. A warm plate makes a significant difference.

16. A warm plate makes a significant difference.MaybeItsJustMike

17. Use the non-blade side of the knife to scrape ingredients off the chopping board.

17. Use the non-blade side of the knife to scrape ingredients off the chopping board.Jarek86

18. This also works when cooking bacon.

18. This also works when cooking bacon.Cockwombles

19. Don't underestimate cleanliness in the kitchen.

19. Don't underestimate cleanliness in the kitchen.Pitchesotoole02 Cooked bacon sizzling in a clean kitchen, emphasizing proper salt and hygienePitchesotoole02

20. Salt your pasta water liberally.

20. Salt your pasta water liberally.lothlin

21. Eggs are great when cooked properly.

21. Eggs are great when cooked properly.TrayThePlumpet

22. It's the egg whites you should watch out for, not the yolks.

22. It's the egg whites you should watch out for, not the yolks.Zack1018

23. Buy a meat thermometer and use it.

23. Buy a meat thermometer and use it.BullGooseLooney904

24. Patience is a necessary aptitude in the kitchen.

24. Patience is a necessary aptitude in the kitchen.guyute21

25. Crack your eggs on a flat surface.

25. Crack your eggs on a flat surface.treewithpants

26. High heat for faster cooking time is not a substitute for slow cooking.

26. High heat for faster cooking time is not a substitute for slow cooking.[deleted]

27. Specific knives are used for specific ingredients.

27. Specific knives are used for specific ingredients.RandellX

28. It's called a pinch grip, and it makes a world of difference.

28. It's called a pinch grip, and it makes a world of difference.JadeTheGuy

29. The kind of salt you use also affects the flavor of your food.

29. The kind of salt you use also affects the flavor of your food.icycubed

30. Use an ice bath immediately.

30. Use an ice bath immediately.bigheyzeus

BONUS: Perhaps the most important tip of all.

BONUS: Perhaps the most important tip of all.large00f

Don't forget to clean as you go while cooking. Use the idle time while waiting for the water to boil to clean your countertop and rinse the utensils.

These techniques won't make you a professional chef by a long shot, but they will make your food a lot better. Prep work will also be easier if you're doing it the right way.

Simple habits can make the biggest difference.

Still arguing about strict kitchen rules with your roommate? Read why enforcing “love language” food rules blew up.

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