November 1, 2010

How to Read a Recipe

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Let’s get down to the basics of cooking: reading a recipe. Every recipe you read has its own style, but most have standardized methods and terms. We want to clarify some of this for you, and also give you a good game plan for reading and executing a recipe successfully.

Methods and Terms
Prep time: This means the actual hands-on time/active time it takes to make the recipe

Total time: Hands-on time + the time it takes for the dish to cook

Ingredients are listed in the order in which they are used and often have directions next to them (ie. chopped, sliced)

Descriptors and cooking ranges: These are given to help you tell what something should look or feel like in the time specified. Often both a descriptor and specific time or time range are given—sometimes it’s just one or the other (ie. cook until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes)

“Meanwhile:” This is an important word. It suggests that while something is cooking (ie. pasta is boiling) you can be doing something else at the same time (ie. making the pasta sauce).

1 cup parsley, chopped vs. 1 cup chopped parley
The way to measure chopped onions, herbs, grated cheese, etc. varies from recipe to recipe. The former means that the ingredient is first measured or is in whole form, then chopped. The latter means that the ingredient is first chopped, then measured.

Game Plan:

1. Read the recipe all of the way through
2. Heat the oven, if specified
3. Pull out ingredients and equipment (try to use specified pot/pan size, or as close to it as possible, as this will affect cooking times)
4. Prep ingredients in the ingredient list as specified, then follow the directions in the paragraph. However, if one of the first ingredients takes a long time to cook, start cooking it then continue to prep your other ingredients. For instance, if chopped onions are listed first and they take 10 minutes to cook, start cooking them; then, while they are cooking, you can continue chopping your other vegetables (this is a great time saver.)

And remember one more thing: it’s ok to mess up!

Posted by do it Delicious
Category: Tips and Tricks