How to cook for beginners: the ultimate guide
Learn How to cook for beginners
Do you love spending time in the kitchen? Some people do while others don't. Cooking can be messy, and the potential of burning, undergoing or over-salting your dish is very high. However, you have to start somewhere, and mistakes are inevitable but then learn from them.
On the other hand, there is plenty of information on YouTube about cooking. You can also learn from your mum, friend or enroll in catering school. Keep on practicing, and you will ultimately love the kitchen.
Cooking is both an art and science of preparing food. There are different cooking techniques and ingredients across the world. These elements vary from continent to continent, community to community, family to family.
There are those who love grilling their food, others boiling while still others prefer baking. These variations are caused by economic, environmental, cultural trends and traditions differences. More so, cooking varies based on training and skill levels.
Thus you can cook at your home or buy meals prepared by chefs in food establishments. Unlike cooking at home, cooking professionals are trained to make popular global cuisines such as Mexican dishes, Italian cuisines, American food, Mediterranean cuisine, French food, Spanish cuisine or Caribbean food.
For that reason, you can order a French cuisine in Africa, or American dishes when you visit the US. The study guide will provide you with vital information about purchasing ingredients, preparing, cooking and serving your meals.
Estimated reading time: 14 min
Table of Contents
Brief History of Cooking
Cooking is classified as an art and science of using heat to prepare meals. It involves various culinary techniques such as getting food ready and presenting it on the table. Cooking has a rich history that begins with the primitive humans.
These individuals ate roasted game meat because they found raw meat unpalatable and hard to chew. They began roasting meat after they learnt how to light the fire for warmth and light.
There was a shift from roasting to steaming during the Paleolithic period. This was when the Aurignacian people living in Southern France began wrapping their food with wet leaves and placing them over the hot embers. After that people started toasting wild grains using skulls. Shells, or flat rocks. The society continued using such methods until the Neolithic Period when pottery was introduced.
Culinary techniques became better when the people began making their earthenware, cultivated edible plants and domesticated livestock. These changes provided enough food supplies, such as milk and grains.
People began roasting food using fired-clay vessels and other cooking techniques like braising, stewing, boiling, frying and pickling and baking.
They began preserving fish and meat by air-frying, salting, smoking, and chilling. New cooking items made that helped in preparing and making different dishes. Today you can enjoy various dishes because of inventions and development of different cooking techniques, recipes, utensils, ingredients and spices.
Types of Meals
There are three meals that are served every day.
Breakfast
The first meal that one takes is called breakfast. It's a meal that breaks the fast one was into since they slept. It's an important meal that should be skipped because while sleeping the body digested and consumed what you had eaten for supper; thus, it needs another food to function properly. Therefore, you should give your body a balanced meal.
English breakfast and continental breakfast are the two typical meals taken at the start of the day.
1. The Continental Breakfast is fast, simple and light; common with the Italians and the French. Cereals and fruits are part of this meal and are either served as a buffet or at the guest's table. Some of the beverages used in this type of breakfast are different types of coffee, chocolate, cold and hot milk.
2. English breakfast, on the other hand, has a variety of food servings; thus, you are required to choose between the savory and sweet. The English breakfast is divided into courses such as:
- Starters are the foods you start with. They include Weetabix, cornflakes and rice crispies and served with milk, tea, coffee or fruit juices.
-Main courses are the main dish. Its comprises of toasted bread, cakes, poached herrings, eggs, sausages, beans, bacon, grilled, mushrooms and tomatoes
Using Eggs for Your Breakfast
Eggs are used for breakfast in most homes because they are versatile, cheap and source of protein. Eggs can be poached, boiled, poached, scrambled or made into an omelette. Spanish omelette is one of the common ways of cooking an egg.
Lunch
Lunch is the second meal of the day and is served at midday. The meal is different from one culture to the other. There are different types of lunch, but the common one is early lunch which is served before noon. Late lunch is eaten after 2 p.m.
You can serve broth-based versions, lean protein, whole grains, fruits, cruciferous vegetables, among others.
Dinner
Dinner is the last meal of the day. Dinner is taken at any given the time of day. That is, it can be served between midday and evening. Supper and dinner are two different meals made at the end of the day. Supper is lighter than any other meal you taken in the day and is served late in the afternoon or early in the evening.
The difference between supper and dinner is the amount of food you take, and the words are used differently in various parts of the world.
You can prepare beef, chicken, and fish dishes for dinner. A full course meal has more than 3 courses. The most common full course meal is either 3 or 4 and consists of soup/salad, main course, accompaniment and dessert.
Classifications of Ingredients
There are different ingredients used when preparing meals. They are classified based on their type, as shown below.
Vegetables: Eggplant, Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, lettuce, peppers, avocado, artichoke, tomatoes, turnip, sweet potatoes, spinach, onion, mushroom, lettuce, leek, pumpkin, spring onion, green peas, and zucchini.
Cereals and Pulses: floor, rice, oats, millet, green gram, cornmeal, breadcrumbs, beans, chickpeas, barley, wheat, and pigeon pea.
Spices and Herbs: Coriander, chives, chilies, oregano, salt, paprika, mint leaves, fenugreek leaves, nutmeg, thyme, turmeric, garam masala, cardamom, dill, ginger, cumin, parsley, basil, bay leaf, cayenne, and cloves.
Meat: Beef, chicken, turkey, pork, meat stock, ham, liver, kidney, crab, mutton and bacon.
Seafood: Shrimp, tuna fish, shellfish, sardines, salmon, prawns, fish, fish fillet, cod, and mackerel.
Dairy Products: milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, and butter.
Nuts and Oilseeds: Canola oil, hazelnut, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, mustard oil, sesame oil, olive oil, mustard seeds, cashew nuts, peanuts, almonds, walnuts
Fruits: Grapefruits, kiwi, lemons, orange, mangos, grapes, bananas, berries, tomato, watermelon. Strawberry, papaya, olives, pear, lemon juice, raisins, dates, custard apple, coconut, apples, cherry, apricots, peach, figs, pomegranate, pineapple, guava and plum.
Sugar Products: Brown sugar, icing sugar, golden syrups, honey, castor sugar, sugar, and cane sugar.
Other Ingredients: Red wine vinegar, almond milk, red wine, white wine, margarine, soy milk, yeast, sea salt, chocolate chips, quinoa, oyster sauce, noodles, coconut oil, coffee, vegetable oil, and soya sauce.
Recipes
A recipe is a list of instructions on how you can cook a meal. You can find the instructions online or in cook cooks.
A recipe has 5 components.
Yield: It refers to the number of people that meal will serve. Yield is important because it helps you avoid cooking a lot or less food. The number is always indicated at the top right hand.
Ingredients: The recipe should provide a list of ingredients needed, the specific form and quantity. They should also be listed in the order in which you will use them to prevent skipping some. The other option is to list them according to their significance. That is, you should list the main items first and end up with the least needed items.
Further, the indicated amount is based on international standards.
Directions: The recipe should have a step by step instructions on how you will prepare the meal. The set of instructions are listed in the order that you will perform the activities. Most recipes have numbers, thus making it easy to follow. Read the instructions carefully if they are provided in paragraph form.
It should tell you the mode heat, the type of equipment, and stirring procedures. The more detailed a recipe is, the better and the perfect the dish you are making.
Equipment: some recipes don't have specific equipment to be used when cooking. However, it must state the appropriate equipment to be used. You will see information like use 8*8 square pan. That means you should use the specified pan to prevent food from overcooking or overflowing.
Temperature and Time: Most recipes will give you the exact time and temperature at which you should cook your food. For instance, you will find a 370°F for 30 minutes, which means that you should bake at 370°F and for 30 minutes.
Some recipe may cook additional information such as heat the liquid until it boils, or bake at 370°F for 30 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. The following a sample of a recipe.
Irish Breakfast Tea Recipe 2 Servings
Ingredients
150 ml Full Cream Milk
3 tbsp Sugar
A pinch of Himalayan pink salt
10 Gms Irish Breakfast Tea
A pinch of cinnamon
Whipped cream
150 ml of water
Directions
1. Heat the water in a pan up to 90°C.
2. Pour the Irish breakfast tea leaves into the water.
3. Heat the milk in another clean saucepan and add sugar and salt. Allow it to boil.
4. Pour the Irish breakfast tea liquor and milk into a blender and blend them for 20 seconds or until it bubbly and frothy.
5. Pour the entire mixture into 2 mugs and garnish using a pinch of cinnamon powder and whipped cream.
6. You can brew it for another 6-7 minutes to get a stronger concoction.
Meals Prep Methods
A lot of preparation is done before a meal is presented on the dining table. The following are the helpful steps of meal preps.
Meal Plan
If you plan to be cooking more meals at home than eating at the restaurant, then you need a meal plan. It's a list of specific meals that you plan to cook during the week. The process makes planning easy and helps others to know what to expect every day. You may pick recipes that you're familiar with and preserve for new ones for holidays when you have enough time.
Stock your Ingredients
Purchase ingredients that are applicable in different dishes. For instance, you can use chicken to make it as an entrée, tacos, or add to soup.
Shopping for Ingredients
It's essential to set aside a day that you will be doing all your shopping. Prepare a shopping list based on the dishes on the meal plan. Buy enough ingredients for the entire week. You can preserve your food or ingredients properly to make them last a week.
Select a Prep Day
You may opt to be cooking every evening after work or prepare most of the meals and keep them in the fridge. Cooking more dishes at once saves time and energy. In view of that, you need a prep day when you will be preparing your food. You can do it alone or invite a friend to share work and of course the food.
You may turn it into a family where each member is allocated duties based on their age. The younger ones can sort, measure and weigh, wash vegetables, dice some ingredient or prepare the table. The older ones can stir food or mic ingredients, heat the oil, and prepare the dough, among others.
Begin by cooking meals for 2 to 3 days and based on the outcome; you can extend it to a week. Remember that your work can go to waste if you keep foods refrigerated for long. The following is the length of time you should refrigerate your cooked foods.
1. Cooked ground chicken and beef should be kept for 1-2 days.
2. Cooked whole fish, meats, poultry, stews and soups should be stored for 3-4 days.
3. Cooked chickpeas and beans should be stored for 5 days.
4. Chopped vegetables and hard-boiled eggs should last for 1 week.
5. Store soft cheese for 2 weeks and hard cheese for 5-6 weeks.
Different foods have a different number of days that they can stay in the freezer.
1. Cooked stews, soups and beans can stay frozen for 2-3 months.
2. Cooked ground poultry and meat can stay frozen for 3-6 months.
3. Fruits like pears, bananas, berries, mangoes, plums can last for 6-8 months.
4. Vegetables can stay frozen for 8-12 months.
Set up Cooking Time
Agree with your family on the day and the time for cooking your meal. You can begin with meals that require more time to cook. These include making quinoa, cooking meat, marinating fish or meat, soaking beans, roasting vegetables. Then the next step is to perform duties that require a shorter time to complete. They include chopping carrots and washing lettuce.
Cooking
You can use a slow cooker where you toss all the ingredients and allow them to cook slowly. On the other hand, you can fry, boil, roast, and bake your food. Foods like vegetables that require light cooking before storage can be blanched and put them in the freezer after cooling. You can also blanch them to get rid of germs, seal in vitamins and taste as well as brighten their color.
Portion Out the Food
Serve the entire meal if you cooked for a single day. However, if you cooked different dishes to last for several days, then you need to divide it into portions based on the number of family members and days. You can put the portions in a glass container or re-sealable plastic bag. Pour the stews, soups and broths into tins and freeze them.
Use airtight containers to freeze your food. Put food in large re-sealable plastic bags, and squeeze out to remove extra air.
Organize your Fridge
Once every food is ready and packed correctly, label the containers with content, and the day it will be eaten. You can keep foods that get spoiled faster at the front so that you don't miss them. These are spices, chopped fruits or juices.
Methods of Cooking
There are different cooking techniques that used when preparing meals.
Frying
It’s a method of cooking where oil is used at high temperatures. They are different methods of frying food.
1. Deep frying- food is entirely immersed in hot oil.
2. Pan-frying – food is cooked in a pan with shallow oil and flipped over to allow the other side to cook.
3. Stir-frying – food is fried quickly in an oiled pan using a high amount of heat.
4. Sautéing – food is browned using a small amount of oil in a frying pan. You can to cook until it gets tender.
Baking
It's a dry way of cooking food. The food is placed in an enclosed environment, thus making the outer part brown and preserves moisture. Baking is used in making bread, cakes, pastries and desserts.
Roasting
It’s similar to baking, but here a higher amount of heat is used. Thus, the food gets dry and brown on the outside, thus locking in moisture. It's commonly used when cooking protein-based foods like chicken and beef. You have to reduce the temperatures when roasting vegetables.
Steaming
It involves cooking food using water vapor, mostly originating from boiling water. On the other hand, you can use a steamer that enables vapor to raise when the water underneath boils and food placed on the perforated vessel above cooks until its tender.
Grilling
Heat is supplied from the bottom and involves open flame. It can also be done on a pan, wood burning, gas flame, coals, or electric heating. You can marinate or season food before grilling, and it usually gets charred and has grill lines.
Searing
A minimal amount of oil is used in this method over high heat. Searing does not cook food inside, although the outer side is caramelized. You can use it when making fish which makes it crispy outside but delicate and tender on the inside.
Broiling
It’s similar to grilling because the source of heat is placed at the top. You can also adjust your oven to broiling. It's a quick method, and if you're not keen, the food can get burned. You can use it to brown cheese on lasagna or make it crispy.
Boiling
It involves submerging food in boiling liquid like water and cooking it until its tender. You have to drain the water once the food is ready.
Poaching
The method requires the use of small amounts of liquid preferably water, broth, milk stock or juice. It’s mostly used when cooking eggs, fish and fruits.
Simmering
Food is simmered when you add liquid and cook it over low heat that allows only small boils to be visible on the surface.
Braising
You being the cooking process by searing or sautéing food, followed by extended simmering to make it tender. It's used when preparing stews, pot roasts and casseroles when larger pieces of poultry legs are part of the ingredients.
Blanching
It's a way of cooking food partially and submerging the food in ice-cold water to cool it and stop cooking further; it's mostly used in vegetables, potatoes, and green beans. An Ice bath is made up of ice-cold water and dipping your food there will halt the cooking process.
Stewing
It's a method cooking that begins with searing or sautéing, and then liquid such as water is added to make food tender. You use the method when cooking vegetables and diced meats.
Reheating Frozen Foods
No matter how accurate you may try to cook the exact amount of food, you will always have some leftover. You should never throw away uneaten foods that remain in the pan. Instead, put the leftovers in a re-sealable plastic bag or an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
You should eat leftovers before getting spoilt. That means you should reheat and eat it. However, you need to be very careful when reheating these foods because you may get food poisoning if improperly done.
It’s said that nearly 1 out 6 Americans suffer from food-related diseases, and most of them end up in the hospital due to severe food poisoning cases.
The following are the tips for handling leftovers.
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Don’t put warm leftovers in the fridge. Instead, cool them for rough 2 hours and then store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
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You can also put it in the freezer for 3-4 months. However, the food will lose flavor and texture but will be still safe.
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Defrost the leftovers properly by transferring them from the freezer to the fridge itself. You can also set your microwave into defrost and heat the food until hot.
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You can reheat the food using the microwave or saucepan. However, the process might take longer if the food had not thawed completely. Therefore, you should heat its steaming hot.
Methods of Reheating Leftovers
Foods are cooked with different ingredients and methods. Thus, you should choose an appropriate method of reheat your leftovers to avoid interfering with the texture and flavor of your meal.
Toaster Oven
Reheating of food in a toaster ensure food is evenly and gently heated. You can cover your food with a foil to prevent it from getting dry.
Some of the foods that can be reheated with a toaster oven are baked foods, fried foods, crusty bread, grilled meat, pizza, seafood and grilled sandwiches.
Microwave
A microwave is one of the most useful equipment in the kitchen because it reheats food quickly and evenly. However, heating food with a microwave makes it lose its texture. You can use a microwave on foods that have don't have a crispy crust.
Spread the food out and cover it with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out. Don’t reheat different dishes with the same plate.
It simply means that you shouldn't heat pork chop which are denser in nature together with vegetables or rice, which are quick heating foods. You should reheat pork chop first until it’s warm and then add the rest to ensure that everything is heated completely, and at the same time. It will also prevent overcooking of your meal.
The foods that you can reheat with a microwave are stews, soups, sautés, casseroles, pasta, rice, noodles, boiled or steamed vegetables.
Stovetop
It’s the best method of reheating food because it returns it to almost its original texture. It’s the best for dishes with a lot of moisture such as stews and soups. You should use low or medium heat and stir regularly to spread the warmth.
On the other hand, you should use the right pans and pots when reheating foods on the stovetop.
Pans and Pots: They are ideal for stews, rice, pizza, sautés and meat.
Steamer: It's the best method of reheating foods that were steamed initially like dim sum or steamed fish. Usually steamed food dries up when it cools and is stored in the fridge. However, the food is able to absorb again when it’s reheated through steaming.
Double Boiler: it involves placing a bowl with food inside a pot or pan with water and allowing it to simmer slowly. It’s the best option of reheating mashed potatoes and sauces.
Tips for Buying Groceries
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Never go to the grocery without a list. Prepare a list of all the ingredients you will need when preparing your meals. You can have a standard list, especially when you have a meal plan for the week.
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Stick to the budget. You are likely to spend more if you go to the stores without a list and budget.
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Pick meat and dairy products last if you are planning for a lengthy shopping trip. Frozen products will begin to melt thus cause damages to other products. They also get spoilt when you leave them in a non-chilled environment for an extended period.
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Pick the perishable items that are placed last on the shelf. Stores follow the rule first in, first out when organizing the shelves. Thus reach out for the last dairy product, or other fresh foods because their expiry date is the most distant one.
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Buy ingredients in bulk whenever possible. However, the option is ideal for food items that are used regularly in the kitchen. Ensure that you use all the items before they expire.
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Buy fresh fruits and vegetables because they spoil quickly. Most fruits and vegetables are imported from other countries or state; thus visit the stores the days they restore to avoid buying old items.
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Buy whole foods instead of processed items. These foods have no nutrients, and they will make you add extra weight.
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Read the ingredient labels. Avoid foods with flavorings, refined sugar and other ingredients.
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Buy nil or little junk food because they have no health benefits to your food. Instead, opt for more fruits and vegetables.
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Compare prices before buying foods. Some of the end-of-aisle promotions and sales are not always the best options. Compare what is on sale with a comparable product in the store and pick the best deal.
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Eat before leaving to avoid impulse buying.
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Allow enough time for shopping and leave friend and kids behind for they will slow your shopping process or suggest stuff that is not in the list
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Go for fish and poultry rather than red meat because they have fewer calories and fat.
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Buy a lot of legumes for they are excellent alternatives to meat. Kidney beans, red beans, and garbanzo beans cost less and are high in fiber.
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Buy large containers of plain yogurt and add individual fruits according to your flavor rather than buying individual fruit yogurts.
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Carry your own reusable shopping bags. These are safe for the environment
How to Prevent Food Wastage
There is a lot of food wastage in the house, factories and farms. Nearly one-third of all food produced in the world is either spoiled or wasted. A lot of organic matter in the landfills is wasted food that leads to emission of methane which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to adverse climate change effects.
You can improve the environment when you minimize food wastage in the following ways.
Be smart and Realistic when Shopping: You can achieve this by buying only what you need. Plan your meals, create a shopping list and stick to it when you go stores.
Don’t Over-Serve Meals: The culture in the restaurant has been nurturing the idea of massive portions. If you're not careful, you may find yourself doing the same at home to family and friends. Using small plates will help people to serve what they can finish and avoid food wastage.
Store Foods Properly: There are some fruits and vegetables that spoil when stored inside the fridge. Therefore, you need to know what should be stored where in the refrigerator.
Save Leftovers And Eat Them Later: The best idea would have been to cook enough food. However, keep uneaten foods when you go cook more than needed. Label your containers so that you can track the number of days it has stayed in the fridge.
Keep Track Of the Foods You Throw Away: Tracking what got spoilt will help you in the future to avoid repeating the same mistake. It will also help you track what is in the fridge to prevent wastage.
Try Pickling And Canning: You can extend the shelf life of your fruits by canning them.
Kitchen Hygiene
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Always ensure that your hands are clean before touching anything in the kitchen. Dirty hands can transfer bacteria to the raw or cooked food. Train your entire family to wash hands before handling food or eating.
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Ensure that all food is cooked properly to kill harmful bacteria. More so, heat food from the fridge until it’s hot. These steps will minimize cases of food poisoning.
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Wipe kitchen counters after use to keep things clean and tidy thus prevent the spread of bacteria.
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Safely store your food properly. For instance, all leftovers should be stored in sealed containers in the fridge.
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Remove all out of date from the refrigerator and clean it properly. Avoid putting warm food in the fridge.
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Avoid defrosting food on the counter or sink. Instead, use the microwave, or in cold water.
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Avoid cross-contaminating your food by keeping different chopping boards for vegetables, meat, fish, and bread.
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Always leave these boards clean when you’re done using them to prevent bacteria from breeding on them. Thus, you should clean them properly immediately after use.
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Open your bin regularly to prevent the spread of diseases when old food begins to decompose and keep pests away.
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Use an absorbent kitchen towel to clean greasy marks. This will prevent the spread of grease.
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Clean your fridge regularly and remove all foods that have stayed longer in the refrigerator. The best time to clean your fridge and freezer is when it’s relatively empty.
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Clean your sink daily; otherwise, it will not only become grimly, but bacteria will start growing, and they will contaminate your food. Use a kitchen towel to wipe any pool of water or spillages around the sink.
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Clean your kitchen after use.
Cooking Equipment and Tools
A kitchen has several items that help you to prepare. However, there is certain equipment that your kitchen should have. The following are and kitchen equipment and their uses.
Kitchen Knife
A knife is a must-have equipment in the kitchen; otherwise, there is no cooking that can be completed without it. There are several kinds of knives like a slicing knife, chef knife, and bread knife, among others.
Knives are used in trimming, peeling and slicing of vegetable and fruits. You should have a knife sharpener to keep the tool functional.
The following are knife skills that you should know.
1. Slicing is cutting ingredients into flat portions such as slices of bread, carrot coins or onion rings.
2. Chopping is cutting ingredients into smaller pieces and of any shape. You can chop parsley into smaller pieces.
3. Mincing is cutting ingredients into the smallest cuts without uniform. Mincing is done on herbs and garlic.
4. Dicing is cutting ingredients into smaller, and square-shaped pieces. Dices are same-sized shapes that look beautiful when sautéed or in a salad.
Measuring Spoons or cups
They are essential in measuring ingredients before cooking. You can’t get the right amounts of water, flour, salt or sugar without measuring spoons and cups.
Whisk
It's one of the most used items in the kitchen. A tool is used when whisking eggs, salad dressings, sauces and desserts.
Vegetable Peeler
It's a kitchen equipment that speeds up the process of peeling carrots or potatoes, among others.
Colander
It’s a tool for draining vegetables, pasta or salad greens. The equipment is well designed with handles and feet to allow water to flow.
Cutting Board
A chopping board and a knife are used together to cut or slice onions, vegetables, beef, chicken and fish. You should have a different cutting board for various items like a board for bread, meat, fish and vegetables.
Blender
It’s essential for making juice, sauces, smoothies, soups and dips.
Mixing Bowls
This is essential equipment in the kitchen for it's used when mixing spice rubs, salad dressings, sauces, marinades, and even storing leftovers.
Storage Containers
These are the plastic or ceramic containers for storing foods in the fridge. There are different sizes, shapes, colors and materials. Store foods in transparent containers and label them clearly.
Sink
Having a perfectly fitted kitchen sink is important because most of the kitchen activities are carried out in a sink. Sinks are made from different materials such as brass, steel, fireclay, copper, marble or acrylic. They also have different shapes and basin configurations.
Dish Rack
A rack helps in arranging dishes, plates, bowls and cups.
Kitchen Pan
You need a pan when roasting, frying or searing salmon, burgers or marinated vegetables.
Can Opener
It’s a cookware piece that pulls caps, tabs, or jar lids easily, safely and in a clean manner. You can pick a multiple purpose can opener for it will perform several can opening roles.
Types of Cuisine
In all cultures, food brings people together. Families and friends can gather together for potlucks or banquets. There are different cuisines that are prepared by people from various countries or regions. They include:
Mexican Cuisine: it's one of the most popular cuisines across the world. It's a colorful dish that is good in your taste bud and attractive to the eyes as a result of its beautiful presentation. The cuisine ranges from being spicy, sour to sweet. It's made from chicken, tortillas, gorditas, tamales, beans, rice and corns. The dish is spiced with lots, cinnamon, chili, garlic, cumin and onions. You are likely to guava, avocado, sweet potatoes, tomato, peanuts, and chocolate in the Mexican meals.
Italian Cuisine: It's a popular and appetizing dish in the world. Its include foods like pasta and pizza, which are simple dishes with few ingredients but exceptional quality. Italians prepare their meals with products like olive oil, basil and tomatoes. They are also known for their liking of cake, cheese, cookies, ice cream, sweets and fruits.
Indian Cuisine: India has a diverse culture, and almost every state has different types of favorite dishes. You will find food items like Idli, Dosa, and Vada in the South of India. The north has plenty of exotic food items like tikka, tandoori, curries and veggies. Thus Indian cuisine consist of hot curries will plenty chili served with raita. Most of the dishes are made using rice, seafood, and flavored using nutmeg, coriander, saffron, ginger, cardamom and cumin.
Chinese Cuisine: Chinese are fond of rice and noodles for they are rich and delicious. Different types of meat, vegetables and chilies form part of their meals. They prepare their dishes using styles like Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Szechuan. Their aim is to balance, color, texture and taste to make a rich and flavorful dish.
Spanish Cuisine: They are fond of Gazpacho soup and potato tortillas. They also have stews, tapas, and paella, beans, Serrano ham, chorizo and seafood.
Turkish Cuisine: A fusion of Caucasian, Central Asian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Balkan cuisines. The Ottomans combined different culinary traditions of their land with Middle Eastern dishes like yogurt to create a variety of specialties.
French Cuisine: it’s the home of the Michelin Guide and a gourmet meal. Their dishes are prepared with class and superb ingredients. Some of its dishes include onions, seafood, truffles, croissants, foie gras as well as a baguette and served with a glass of wine and presented with exceptional attention.
Thai Cuisine: Their dishes consists of noodle and stir-fried rice served with lots of curry-sauces and vegetables. They use plenty of lemon, chili, coconut and basil.
Japanese Cuisine: Japanese make their dishes using tofu, seafood and vegetables. Thus, they simmer, grill, steam, deep-fry, dress, or eat raw.
American Food: the dishes are a combination of different cultures that walk in and out of the country. You will find deep-dish pizza in Chicago, microbreweries and coffee in the Pacific Northwest. Hot dogs, Buffalo wings, hamburgers, omelette, gravy and biscuits are common items among the traditional American diners.
Protective Clothing and Uniform
Protective clothing is important not only in the construction industry but also in the kitchen. Whether you’re working as a chef in a commercial kitchen or a mum preparing coffee in the house, you should also wear appropriate kitchen uniform.
All kitchens are dangerous, and hot places to work due to open fires, hot ovens, as well as sharp knives. Thus wearing protective gear will prevent you from cuts, burn and much more.
Further, these attires protect not only you but others that will consume your dishes. For instance, hairnets and food-safe gloves ensure that your food is free from foreign objects like hair. The use of towel when holding a hot pan protects you from burns. Thus this attires not only make you look attractive, but they reveal your profession and protects you.
Headgear: Wear cap and hat when cooking to prevent strands of hair getting into the food and can absorb sweat. Thus you can wear a white hat which is popular with chef, skull cap which is designed like cake tin and suitable for long hair. A headscarf is like a large neckerchief suitable for both long and short hair. Hairnet is simple, quick to wear and keep your hair in place.
Apron: It’s worn around the waist and reaches below the knees to protect you from spilling hot liquids. White jackets are worn by the chef is a restaurant. Whether you will be wearing a jacket or apron, ensure that it’s loose to help you keep cool while working in the kitchen.
Pants: Wear a pant that is loose to allow ventilation and mobility.
Kitchen Towel: These towels are used when holding hot pans and pots. You can also use it when wiping your hands; thus, you should have two towels. You can also wipe your hands using paper towels instead of a fabric one.
Shoes: Wear shoes when working in a busy kitchen or any other kitchen to prevent slipping. Shoes will also absorb sweat and should be closed to protect your feet from scorching when you spill hot liquids.
Handling Emergencies in the Kitchen
The following are potential hazards that you are exposed to when cooking.
Fire: Overheated cooking oil may accidentally spill or catch fire, and this may burn you and the entire house. Stop the spread of fire by using an extinguisher or a blanket.
Leaking Gas: A gas cylinder or valve may explode, or a valve may leak some fumes, and this can start the fire. You can prevent adverse effects by shutting off the gas supply.
Electrical Fire: A short circuit in the electrical appliance or equipment cause fire or injure you. Use a fire extinguisher to stop electrical fires.
Parting Shot
Cooking is fun and learning how to cook tasty meals will make you and your family happy. Therefore, take the initiative of learning and practicing how to cook different dishes used across the world.
