10 Ways to Be a Better Cook When Entertaining
Many chefs have met great amateur cooks during their careers and have learned a lot from them. This is part of the beauty of cooking professionally for decades, we can still learn from anybody. And that’s exactly the kind of exchange we love having in our French market cooking class in Paris. But of course, amateurs can learn a great deal from professional chefs as well. We could all use some tips on how to be a better cook, no?
In my life as a cook and chef, I have done my fair share of entertaining. Some went better than others but overall, I always try to respect some simple “rules” to help make the event go smoothly and not end up too stressed. With the pressure of the holiday season and the cold weather in many places, you want to keep things light and easy.
Here are some essentials to a successful dinner when entertaining at home. Couple our tips with hacks for coping with those winter blues, and you’ll be an ace in the kitchen guaranteed:
1) Plan the menu days in advance:
Planning in advance will give you more time to find and buy your necessary ingredients. Choose dishes that can be prepared ahead of time or dishes that taste better the next day. In winter, for example, make a stew it will be even better the day after you cook it.
2) Read the recipes carefully:
It’s important to understand the process of your recipes before you start cooking. Write the list of ingredients you need before doing your shopping.
3) Buy the best quality ingredients you can find:
If your budget is tight use less luxurious items, but don’t scrimp on quality. Your food will only be as good as the products you buy.
4) Delegate the less important preparations to your loved ones if possible to save time:
Peeling or cleaning food can be done by people with no cooking experience.
5) During the cooking preparation, keep the working surface clean:
Wash dishes and utensils as soon as you have finished using them. A clean environment will make you more relaxed and efficient. This is something most chefs have learned early on in their careers.
6) Use only sharp knives:
Knife care is very important for anyone who wants to get serious in the kitchen. Dull knives can be dangerous because more force is needed to cut. Invest in a good quality sharpening steel to keep your knives very sharp. A magnetic bar is the best way to store your knives. Wooden blocks are good for the blades, but food debris can get into the slots and is not very hygienic.
7) Constantly control the oven when baking or roasting:
Adjust the power level when cooking over the top range, or adjust the baking temperature when needed. Nothing worse than burning something you worked so hard to prepare because your oven was not set correctly or ran hotter than expected.
8) Do not improvise or experiment with a baking recipe:
Making desserts is chemistry. If you have a good recipe, stick to it. The recipe can be divided or multiplied, but make sure you have divided or multiplied all the ingredients. You can experiment with your baking another day when the results don’t matter if you mess up.
9) Taste, taste, taste:
Not only will it help you to correct the seasoning, but it will also dramatically develop your palate.
10) Don’t forget a beautiful table and presentation is also important:
Entertaining is more than the food and wine, it’s an experience. The presentation of the food on a plate and having a beautiful table setting enhances the dining experience as well.
So if you follow these tips, I’m sure that you will not only be a great cook but also a wonderful entertainer and your friends and family will definitely want to come back for more.
Bonne fรชte!
Interested in French cooking classes in Paris? Book a class with Cook’n With Class Paris – small group sizes, classes all in English.