How To-Cooking Techniques for Cooking at Home

Hi, it's me again, your new old friend, Bubba Jasper and I want to bring you some descriptions of different cooking methods or techniques for cooking at home. Some of these methods sound a little scary but stick with me and we'll get through this together. Really anyone can use and master these methods of cooking foods and all you need is a hankering to cook and the right equipment and you've got it whooped!!!! I have been cooking many, many years at home and consider myself a pretty darn good cook.

Please remember all children will need to get an adult to supervise them when cooking! Please don't let children around the stove unsupervised! Remember to keep little ones away from the stove and keep those pot and pan handles turned in and not sticking out over the edge of the stove where little hands can reach up and grab them!!!! I cannot stress this enough!

Now let's get started:

Methods of cooking foods:

• Boiling - means to cook foods heated in a liquid (usually water or stock or a combo of both) to a certain temperature to cause large bubbles to form and rise to the surface very vigorously. Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies are all great for this method.
• Steaming - means to cook foods either in or suspended above a small amount of boiling water so as the foods are not cooked by the actual boiling water but by the steam generated by the boiling water. Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies also can be steamed.
• Poaching - means to cook foods in a liquid (usually water or stock or combo of liquids) at a very gentle boil or low heat boil. This method is usually reserved for more delicate foods like eggs, certain veggies and seafoods.
• Sauteing or pan frying - means cooking foods usually in a skillet or frying pan in very little cooking oil at a low heat so as to cook slowly. Usually reserved for non battered foods but you can dust any foods in a light coating of seasoned flour prior to cooking by this method. Once again, all foods mentioned can be sauteed or pan fried. Many seafoods are deliciously prepared using this method.
• Deep frying - means cooking foods at a high temperature (usually 350 degrees or more) in a deep amount of cooking oil. These foods are usually battered but not always prior to deep frying. Be sure to use a cooking oil that can handle these higher cooking temperatures. Peanut oil is a great candidate. Olive oil is not!!! Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies are once again great for this method of cooking.
• Baking - means cooking foods inside an oven at various temperatures based on what is being baked. The foods being baked can be covered or uncovered and this method surrounds the food with heat. Meats, poultry, seafoods, veggies, cakes and pies are cooked in this manner.
• Braising - means cooking foods in a small amount of liquid either in the oven or on the stove, usually covered so as to trap the condensed liquids from escaping. This liquid adds flavor as well as helps cook or braise the food. This method usually makes a sauce or a natural gravy in the pan being used. Meats, poultry, and seafoods are great for braising.
• Broiling - means cooking foods in an oven at high temperatures (usually 500 degrees or more) very quickly. This method usually cooks one side of the food at a time but can cook foods completely without having to turn them over. Meats and seafoods are great using this method.
• Grilling - means cooking either indoors or outdoors on a grilled surface. The grilled surface can either be solid or grated. Grated grilling surfaces can be used to impart grill marks on the foods which also add to the flavor and eye appeal of the dish. Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies are all good for grilling. Usually considered a healthier way of cooking foods.
• Barbequeing - means cooking foods over wood or charcoal on a grated surface. Foods cooked in this manner are usually seasoned before and during cooking with a barbeque seasoning or sauce to impart the desired flavor. Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies are great for barbequeing. Really popular in Texas and the south!
• Smoking - means cooking foods at a low temperature for a long period using heat and smoke. This method is accomplished by building a wood or charcoal fire in your barbeque pit (outdoors) and adding water soaked wood or wood chips directly onto the fire coals to create the smoke. This wood or chips are added several times throughout the smoking process. This heat and smoke are what cooks and flavors the food. Meats, poultry, seafoods and veggies all can be smoked. Hickory, pecan, apple and cherry are all great woods to smoke with. Also popular in Texas and the south!

These are a few methods or techniques I have personally used inside and outside of my home to cook foods of all kinds! I hope you will try and become acquainted with them all! Please leave me a comment and I'll be sure to read it!

Food is good! Long live the farmer! Long live the chef! Long live the stove!

Thanks,

Bubba