A direct-heat cooking method using oil, butter, or other fat.
18
votes
3answers
2k views
What oil or fat to use for different purposes?
I understand that one of the main reasons to use different kinds of fat or oil is the temperature at which it burns, e.g. an extra-virgin olive oil to fry a steak wouldn't work. Taste is also a very ...
23
votes
10answers
12k views
How do you cook a steak like those found in fine steakhouses?
I went to a 5* restaurant once, the steak was unbelievable. You could cut it with a butter knife, it was fat and juicy, pink in the middle, great stuff.
When I cook it at home, I seem to just slice ...
48
votes
10answers
24k views
Do you heat the pan first, then add oil? Or put the oil in and heat up with the pan?
As the title says...
I personally heat up the pan first, then put the oil in and after it's heated up add the ingredients. I go with the line of reasoning that doing it this way gives the oil less ...
5
votes
3answers
7k views
How do I prevent food from sticking to a standard (non-coated) pan?
On cooking shows I always see cooks using ordinary pans without non-stick coatings, and nothing ever seems to stick to their pans. But when I try the same recipes at home, my food always sticks.
...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Why does my olive oil smoke/burn when I fry with it?
I see many chefs/people in food channels who use olive oil to fry stuff (like salmon). However, when I add olive oil for frying it quickly burns releasing dark smoke. Is there a specific type of olive ...
11
votes
4answers
4k views
How can I bake normally fried foods?
A lot of frozen, convenience foods are foods that are traditionally fried can be prepared by baking.
I'm thinking of, fish sticks, french fries, tator tots, jalapeño poppers, etc.
I'm lousy at deep ...
27
votes
7answers
24k views
The secret to hash browns / home fries / breakfast potatoes
I have never been successful in making pan-fried potatoes àla the American diner.
It seems like such a simple concept, but they never turn out right! Usually undercooked & oily, with some parts ...
13
votes
5answers
984 views
Perfect Fried Egg
I like a fried egg with all the white cooked, yet all the yellow runny.
I normally do this by separating the yolk and white, and putting the yolk in halfway through.
Anybody know an easier way?
11
votes
6answers
2k views
Is there any way to avoid grease splatter?
I often cook fries in a skillet. I put about 1/4 cup vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat on high, then I toss in some frozen fries.
As soon as I toss them in there is an explosion of grease ...
18
votes
12answers
4k views
How do I flip an egg when preparing it “over easy”?
I tend to break a lot of yolks when preparing eggs over easy. I also can't do it too fast, making it hard to cook multiple eggs at once (they tend to overcook).
Sometimes the spatula I'm using ...
18
votes
11answers
100k views
How to make extra crispy and crunchy breading like KFC?
I'm wondering how I would go about making extra crispy chicken breading like they do at many places like KFC and the like. Is there a certain ingredient that makes the breading like that?
Any ...
22
votes
12answers
16k views
How to stop meatballs falling apart when frying
I tried cooking meatballs as a change to what I usually cook but I found that they didn't stay together when being fried.
I made the meatballs with about 500g of mince, a chopped onion, some herbs ...
16
votes
4answers
23k views
How to keep my (deep frying) oil usable as long as possible?
I have a new deep fryer. I am pleased with its results so far. I am not a 'heavy user' though - say once every 2-3 weeks. I want to re-use the oil a couple of times. The deep fryer is covered but not ...
11
votes
14answers
30k views
What oil to use when cooking steak, and what difference does it make?
When cooking steak, I have always been told groundnut oil is the best to use. But what difference does it make? Is it the best? And if it is the best, what's the next best?
9
votes
2answers
10k views
Is cooking with olive oil bad or toxic?
I've heard that cooking with olive oil is bad for you and can be toxic. Is this true? If so, to what extent?
I see no warning on the container of my olive oil that states that it would be bad to ...
6
votes
2answers
204 views
What technique should I use to make latkes for a party so that I don't have to stay in the kitchen?
What usually happens is that I fry up fresh latkes during a party and I end up in the kitchen for the majority of the party.
Is there a way for me to precook the latkes and then still have them taste ...
3
votes
4answers
4k views
Why do you need to fry onions and garlic before adding other ingredients to a dish?
I've been using an online Paella recipe that instructs you to sweat some onions for 5 minutes, then add garlic for a few minutes, followed by the vegetables, tomatoes, rice and stock.
Is there a ...
22
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the difference between pan frying, sauteing, and shallow frying?
As I understand it, all of these terms refer to cooking food in a small amount of fat/oil. What exactly is the difference?
2
votes
1answer
8k views
Pan frying chicken breasts?
I've got these nice chicken breasts, pre-marinated, from the supermarket meat counter.
There was a little sign on 'em that said "Great for pan searing!" (Is that different from frying, really?)
How ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views
(Why) do onions taste sweeter when cooked at lower temperature?
I use onions to add a sweeter taste to some dishes, for example in tomato sauce for pasta. I cook them in oil, with some salt, before adding the other ingredients. It seems to me that when I turn the ...
6
votes
8answers
836 views
How can I get my bacon flatter?
When frying bacon, it tends to curl up. I don't like it because my bacon doesn't cook equally and it's hard to get it crisp that way.
Is there a technique or a tip so I can have flat bacon?
5
votes
3answers
399 views
How do I cook scallops?
I like my scallops caramelized a bit, but every time I fry them I make an enormous mess. Oil splatters everywhere. Any tips? Should I grill them? Can I use the oven? (I try to use scallops ...
3
votes
2answers
625 views
how do you cook calamari/squid and avoid making it tough
having a hard time with this seemly simple 'snack'.
The calamari and squid is usually given to me by my neighbour (seafood monger). It's frozen and a mix of baby octopus and squid rings, no label.
...
3
votes
2answers
350 views
How to thoroughly bread meat with eggs and flour for frying without the mess
When making dishes like Chicken Parmesan, fried zucchini, general tso's, etc, and prepare the breaded item, I first scramble a few eggs then dip the the item from there into either flour or ...
3
votes
1answer
336 views
What limitations are there to sauteeing with water?
I was recently helping with some recipes and was instructed to use water for "sauteeing" onions, celery, garlic, etc in place of oil (scare quotes on "saute" since it involves frying in oil or other ...
9
votes
2answers
902 views
Why sweat but not brown?
Many recipes require that you sweat vegetables (celery, onions, etc). Why not saute them and brown them a little instead? Would not that develop the flavors even more? Why would you not want that?
8
votes
1answer
1k views
What differences, practical and aesthetic, are there between egg washes?
An egg wash can be done in six major variations: [with | out egg white] mixed with [water | milk | cream].
My first hit when searching 'egg wash ratio' My Persian Kitchen where the use was for ...
6
votes
1answer
4k views
Does aged onion/garlic turn green when frying?
I was frying onions and garlic the other day and the paste turned green. I had bought the onions/garlics many days ago (20-30 days) I guess. Could that be the reason? There was no fungi or something ...
6
votes
7answers
2k views
How to prevent sticking and get a nice searing on scallops
When I am searing scallops, they often stick in the pan and most of the time, they are very hard to turn.
I use only a little oil 1-2 tablespoons.
Am I not using enough?
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Crispy fried chicken goes limp: picnic disaster
I use a simple fried chicken recipe: wash chicken (I use thighs), dredge in seasoned flour, dip in egg with a bit of milk, re-dredge in flour, shake and fry. The dish comes out great on the day I cook ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How to approximate the Maillard temperature (154°C) in a pan?
Are there any common (non-toxic) household substances with boiling or smoke points close to the temperature at which the Maillard reaction occurs, 154°C?
I want to be able to check that my pan is ...
3
votes
7answers
7k views
How can I stop fish from sticking to a stainless steel pan?
I think Anne Burrell lied to me. She said fish will always stick to a stainless pan. This is true. No matter how well I lubricate my pan, my fish will always adhere like cement. She also said that the ...
2
votes
0answers
60 views
Is it a good idea or a waste to fry with olive oil? [duplicate]
A NY Times article says it's a waste:
After I’d heated them, none of the olive oils had much olive flavor left. In fact, they didn’t taste much different from the seed oils.
But How to Cook ...
1
vote
2answers
638 views
Pan-frying marinated meat without making a huge mess?
I love marinated meat, I love the extra flavor that the marinade adds to it. However, I don't always have the option to BBQ it, so sometimes I have to use a frying pan.
However, this always creates a ...
