The Essential Techniques That Every Home Cook Should Know (2024)

5Comments

Inspired by conversations on the Food52 Hotline, we're sharing tips and tricks that make navigating all of our kitchens easier and more fun.

Today: We'regoingback to basics with the essential cooking techniques -- think of this as Cooking 101.

• Let's start with rice. There are many different kinds, and it's important to get to know all of them.
• There are also many ways to cook rice -- here's a rundown of all your cooking options.
• Brown rice can be a bit trickier to cook than other varieties, but you can make it perfectly each time with this advice.
• But don't let all these options overwhelm you -- just heed these tips for stress-free rice.

• Everyone loves pasta -- here's everything you need to know to make yours the best.

• You'll need a good topping for your perfectly cooked spaghetti -- so makemarinara sauce without a recipe.

• Picking out quality meat is important; learn how to identify the freshest meat and store it properly.
• No meat eater can resist a perfectly seared steak -- here's how to get it right every time.

• There are tons of opinions on how to roast a chicken. Read up on our community's tips, then go it on your own.

• You'll need a side for that roast chicken. Luckily, you can roast almost any vegetablefor an easy side dish; once you have your technique down pat, your weeknight dinners will be all the better.

• From poaching to scrambling, try your hand at the many ways to cook an egg and find your favorite.

• The best thing since sliced bread is actuallyhomemade bread.Start with this no-knead sandwich loaf.
• Once you've mastered bread, move on to pizza dough.

• Canned beans are fine, but cooking dried beans yourself makes them a thousand times tastier.

• If you feel like your coffee isn't reaching its full potential, test out these 5 tips to improve your morning cup of joe.
• For the dog days of summer, beat the heat with some cold-brewed coffee.

• If you've never baked from scratch before, start off easy with these delicious chocolate chip cookies.
• You should always have a chocolate cake recipe in your back pocket, for dinner parties and birthdays and every day in between. Here are fourteen.(And this one's vegan!)
• And finally, master the perfect pie -- from perfecting yourcrust, to par baking, to weaving alattice. We believe in you.

Which kitchen techniques do you think are most essential? What did we miss? Tell us in the comments!

Tags:

• How to Cook
• DIY Food
• Back to Basics
• Kitchen Confidence

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

• Foodie26

• kun

• Kimberlie

  See Also

  I’m A Recipe Developer And Culinary School Grad; Here Are The Cooking Tips & Tricks I Use Most

• TC

• Jacob K Thomas

I put chocolate chips in 95% of the things I make and am a strong proponent for lunch dessert.