This post is part of a series called Cooking 101, which introduces the basics of cooking. The series follows the book Culinary Fundamentals, with supplements from The Professional Chef by the Culinary Institute of America. Check out the previous posts here.
Unit 7: Equipment Identification
Part 1: Cookware and Bakeware
Part 2 of Equipment Identification [...]

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This post is part of a series called Cooking 101, which introduces the basics of cooking. The series follows the book Culinary Fundamentals, with supplements from The Professional Chef by the Culinary Institute of America. Check out the previous posts here.
Unit 7: Equipment Identification
Part 1: Knives
Kitchen equipment is a pretty broad subject, [...]

Posted in Cooking 101, Equipment 3 Comments »

Here is a quick kitchen tip as a follow up to my post on cookware materials: know your pots and pans. Since I’ve started cooking, I’ve realized that heat recommendations in recipes (medium-high, low, simmer, etc.) don’t mean much. With a variety of cookware materials available and everyone owning a different stove, it [...]

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Cookware material is a difficult subject to write about because everyone has their own preferences. Yet it is important for new cooks to know what they should be buying when first outfitting a kitchen. Cooking for Engineers has a great article discussing the thermal properties of the materials as well as pros and [...]

Posted in Equipment 4 Comments »

The safety of nonstick, Teflon coated pans is a topic that I’ve mentioned recently and I decided it was worth looking into. My cookbooks offered a little information, but nothing extensive. Mark Bittman voices his worries in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian, explaining that he only uses nonstick for eggs or sauteing, and [...]

Posted in Equipment, Health 7 Comments »

Here is the final list of the minimum tools a new cook needs in the kitchen:

Chef’s knife: Used very frequently.
Paring knife: Used less frequently, but often enough to need it.
Serrated knife: Good for fresh bread and tomatoes. I love bread, so, with the convincing of a reader, it stays on the list.
Two cutting boards: [...]

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