Contest| "Tools to Spark Culinary Inspiration #17"
• Is cooking a choice or a hobby for you? Explain |
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Cooking is a passion of mine because it brings me joy. I do it willingly, not because I have to. When I cook, I enjoy playing music to keep distractions away.
Cooking with joy makes the food taste better, while cooking out of obligation often leads to burnt or bad flavors. When something is a hobby, you want to learn more and explore it deeply.
I began cooking at a young age. My mom would have me sit nearby and help with small tasks while she cooked. This daily practice built a strong foundation for my cooking skills. In the end, cooking isn't just about technique; it also requires a good attitude to make any dish delicious.
• What do you understand by "broiling"? Explain the difference between "baking" and "broiling?" |
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Broiling is a cooking technique that applies high heat from above or below to prepare food.
Broiling is like grilling, but it uses direct heat rather than hot air. It's an effective way to cook lean meats such as chicken breasts, pork tenderloin, and strip steaks, along with vegetables, fish, and potatoes.
Difference
| Broiling | Baking |
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| Broiling relies on direct infrared heat from the oven's top. | Baking uses indirect, dry heat from the top, bottom, and sometimes the back of the oven. |
| Broiling is fast, often browning and cooking food in just a few minutes. | Baking can take anywhere from 10 minutes to more than an hour. |
| Broiling is ideal for crisping or browning the surface of food. | Baking is better for cooking food all the way through. |
• What are the four essentials of good cooking? |
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Since there are so many essentials of good cooking, I would mention salt, fat, Acid and heat.
These four aspects of cooking can guide you in adjusting flavors to enhance your dishes, without needing a recipe.
The primary purpose of salt in cooking is to boost flavor. Try tasting multiple times to find the perfect flavor for your dish that day in the kitchen.
"It reveals and activates aromatic compounds, allowing us to enjoy and perceive flavor – much of flavor comes from aroma." When you add salt, the best approach is to taste it.
When it comes to fat, it might sound simple but be sure your right choice of fat is impressive for your dish. Here in Nigeria, we use more of vegetable oil and butter for our dishes. If I try to cook with olive oil, it will never taste right for me because all flavors will be that of olive oil and I am not so good with it.
Acid might sound technical when added to food, but it’s important for adding balance. "In many recipes, you shouldn’t actually taste the acid. Its role is to brighten up flavors that might seem dull." If your dish feels too heavy, too starchy, or just plain boring, adding acid could help.
Heat refers to temperature heat, not spice heat, meaning "what is happening in the pan."
Understanding how to cook with heat helps you achieve the right doneness both outside and inside your food. This skill is crucial when you want to brown the outside while keeping the inside tender, like with steak, or when you want to make tough ingredients, such as pulses, soft.
• In your own understanding, explain the four basic safe food handling behaviors? |
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• Clean: Your hands must be properly washed and cleaned before handling food. Clean the surface and maintain cleanliness all through the cooking period.
• Cook: Cook with normal temperature and low heat to enable the out part and inner part done at the same time.
• Separate: Don't cross- contaminate. Be sure if that.
• Chill: Refrigerate on time to maintain food safety.
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