The basics tag has no wiki summary.
71
votes
23answers
9k views
How do you properly cook a steak?
I love steaks so much, that I would like to get a green card and live in the States just to enjoy good steaks whenever I want.
When I try to cook a steak at home (I live in Italy), I almost ever get ...
13
votes
21answers
1k views
What are some good recipe resources? [closed]
When closing questions that ask for recipes, I try to add a comment explaining why, and I would like to point to a resource for recipes. Is there any advice we can give to these people?
I usually use ...
21
votes
20answers
1k views
Resources for a beginner learning to cook
I'd like to learn to cook. At the moment I can make scrambled eggs, and that's pretty much it (I'm exaggerating, but just a little).
My question is, what is the best way to get started? I've thought ...
47
votes
9answers
1k views
How should I poach an egg?
What's the best method to poach an egg without it turning into an eggy soupy mess?
10
votes
18answers
3k views
Need suggestions for ABSOLUTE beginner's cookbook [closed]
I have a friend who is 24 and can barely make mac and cheese from a box. She lives with her grandparents due to some tough financial situations, so she survives, but she is always very impressed with ...
15
votes
6answers
13k views
Can extra virgin olive oil be used for stir frying, roasting, grilling?
I'd like to use extra virgin olive oil for the above mentioned cooking methods as opposed to other oils/butter. Are there any downsides to it, or can it be used safely in all those cooking methods? Is ...
44
votes
7answers
1k views
What's a good resource for knowing what spices are, and what to use them on?
I know what spices like garlic and black pepper are, and what foods you typically put them on. But spices like cardamom, rosemary, thyme, paprika, whatever, completely elude me. I haven't found a good ...
10
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I cook for just one person? any good cookbooks?
Being single again, I'm thinking it's time I learned how to cook for myself, problem is knowing how to cook, and buy, buying being a significant part of the problem, in quantities that will be just ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I safely improve my cutting technique
I'm not bad with knives if I should say so myself. My cutting speed is definitely above average, but I've have never been trained by professionals. Most of what I know, I have picked a long the way, ...
17
votes
5answers
7k views
Ways to learn to season food correctly?
What is a good way of learning how to season food correctly? Are there some foods which are particularly bland until seasoned correctly that can be used to 'educate' your palate as to what is ...
8
votes
12answers
2k views
Is it possible to bake a cake without an oven?
I don't have an oven; is there any way to simulate what an oven does with any other tools available at my home? In particular I would like to be able to bake cakes.
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Can I use the grill tray in my oven for grilling?
My oven came with 2 baking trays, and a small tray which looks like a grill (i.e, its got rows of vertical metal strips the same way as a grill does). Can I use this tray for grilling or broiling, and ...
16
votes
5answers
2k views
What are the fundamental sauces that every cook should know how to make?
I'd like to learn to make some sauces and I'm looking for the most common, "standard" sauces that professional cooks all learn how to make in culinary school.
What sauces form the basic "building ...
16
votes
5answers
2k views
How do you make tomato paste?
I have a garden every year and would prefer to use my own tomatoes for all my cooking. I can them and make sauces, but haven't found a good recipe that describes the technique for tomato paste. I ...
11
votes
5answers
374 views
How does one begin to create salsa?
Let me start by saying that I am not a cook by any means.
Now, I love salsa and I always have, but mostly I just get store brands. I've had homemade salsa before and it tends to be a lot more ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
How can I cook the perfect potato for a potato salad?
I have never managed to cook the perfect potato when making a potato salad.
The potato tends to either be too mushy or it is too crunchy depending on if I over cook or under cook. I never seem to be ...
12
votes
4answers
782 views
Clarified butter? What should I know?
Ok, someone mentioned Mac-n-Cheese. Which led me to a mornay sauce. Which requires a bechamel. Leading to roux. Dropping me on the doorstep of clarified butter. I haven't ever used or made it. Is ...
4
votes
6answers
3k views
How to make roux-based sauce thicker
Sometimes when I make a roux-based sauce, it turns out too thin. Are there any ways to make it thicker after the sauce is done? Adding salt helps a bit, but I don't want to add too much for obvious ...
0
votes
5answers
291 views
What to look for in a pot?
What to look for in a pot. I'm supposing somebody that's just starting to live alone or a couple. Help me complete this list.
Size: small, but not too small. Maybe 2L or 3L.
Material: Stainless ...
