Cooking Preparation & Timing

It’s all about the timing… cooking times.I have taught my wife how to be a great cook but she still has problems with her timing of the meal so that everything comes out at the same time. There is nothing worse then having your main item cooked but your waiting for your side items like starch or vegetables to finish while your main item is getting cold.

What you want to do is when timing your meal you need to figure out how long it will take to cook your main item and then time your side dishes accordingly.

Sometimes this can be a challenge depending on how difficult your side items are to cook. The other thing to consider is how long it takes to have your pans heat up, do you have enough stove space, and do you have all the pots and pans needed, you don’t want to finish one item and have to wash the pan to use for the next item.

Have all your prep done and set up in front of you (Mise en place: meaning “put in place” preparation and assembly of ingredients, pans, utensils, and plates or serving pieces needed for a particular dish or service period) including even sandwiches and side dishes, pots and pans, tongs,  spatulas, strainers and such, don’t forget your seasonings, when everything is ready to go you can time your meal allot better.

Also don’t hesitate to use your timers on the oven or a separate timer on the side, for your cooking times. Once you get this practice down you will see that everything is coming out at the same time and your meal is fresh and hot. Your family and friends will appreciate this also. Now that you have the knowledge you can feel confident to make the right choice of your cookware needs.

Tags: kitchen tips