While the use of on-demand food delivery service apps has gained immense popularity in the Philippines during the past year, it can’t be denied that cooking is still considered a life skill here. And it’s not just because Filipino culture places high value on cooking and eating; this is also because preparing home-cooked meals is often a more economical and sustainable option than eating out or having food delivered at home.
Making delicious meals in the kitchen may seem a little too intimidating for some people. True, there are cooking techniques that one can only master after extensive training in the kitchen, but you don’t need to be able to make duck liver pâté to claim that you know how to cook.
If you’re a novice in the kitchen, you can start racking up your cooking skills by studying these cooking techniques that you can practice and master in your own home:
Knife Skills
One of the first things that you need to learn is how to use a chef’s knife properly. You need to master this tool to be able to cut, slice, dice, mince, or chop the different ingredients that should be included in the dish you’re making. There are many devices out in the market that claim to replace the need for having excellent knife skills, but if you’re adept at using a chef’s knife, it’s likely that you’ll be able to do whatever these kitchen devices claim to be able to do without spending extra money.
Sautéing
Sautéing is a technique that’s used in a lot of Filipino dishes. You’ll be able to use this technique regardless if you’re cooking fried rice for yourself or trying out a new pochero recipe to earn the admiration of your friends or in-laws. To sauté simply means to fry ingredients quickly using a hot pan and a little bit of fat.
Simmering
After coming to a full rolling boil, some dishes need to be cooked in simmering water or soup. This means lowering the heat until you’re able to see small bubbles rising to the surface of the liquid. Simmering is a technique that’s often used when cooking stews and soups.
Roasting
Roast chicken is a staple dish in many homes and celebrations. This dish can often be bought from a restaurant or specialty kiosks in malls, but you can also easily make one at home. You can roast chicken or red meat in an oven or an open fire as long as you can maintain a temperature of around 150 degrees Celsius. The process should take about an hour and a half or so. After that, you can sink your teeth into crispy chicken skin and juicy meat.
Boiling an Egg
Boiling an egg seems like a simple task, but many people still struggle with it. Boiled eggs can vary in consistency, and some people prefer runny, soft, or hard-boiled eggs over the other options. There are many YouTube tutorials that you can use to get the timing right and end up with the yolk consistency that you want. Alternatively, you can experiment at home using a few eggs and a timer.
*This is a guest blog by Briana Jones.