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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: tp4tissue on Sun, 17 April 2016, 11:11:08

Title: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 17 April 2016, 11:11:08
Is just Lots-of-Oil,  No ?

I mean, 9/10 cooking videos,  you can pretty much see that the Oil makes the biggest difference..

And almost all restaurant foods are quite greasy..

(http://img.emoticonplus.com/WbY2e.gif)

Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 17 April 2016, 11:47:12
Butter, not oil.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Elth on Sun, 17 April 2016, 11:49:43
Or the Paula Dean method, butter & oil
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Waateva on Sun, 17 April 2016, 12:29:48
Salt
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: demik on Sun, 17 April 2016, 12:57:58
Don't **** up
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: scubaste on Sun, 17 April 2016, 13:00:18
Effort and Knowledge, which might be the secret to nearly everything.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: alexjd99 on Sun, 17 April 2016, 13:02:29
Sriracha, garlic salt, butter. Done and done.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: demik on Sun, 17 April 2016, 13:03:41
Mushrooms.

When you're tripping balls everything tastes good
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: mobbo on Sun, 17 April 2016, 13:05:16
It totally depends on what you're cooking. Basic things that help immensely are: fresh ingredients, seasoning, butter :P, fresh herbs and spices. onions, garlic...shallots.

One of the best things you can do though, is taste as you go. don't just whip **** together and hope it turns out for the best (unless you're baking - or are following a very specific recipe). but often times, if you're like me, you're just making do with what you have in the fridge or sitting around. if you decide to add something, taste it after. repeat per ingredient added.  it's very hard to make something that tastes bad if you are constantly tasting and adjusting during the cooking process.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: pr0ximity on Sun, 17 April 2016, 13:06:46
Ingredients and less of everything else. Buy fresh, local ingredients and the end result will taste better, no question.

Aside from that, practice. It took me a while to get used to controlling heat in pans, taking them off the heat if they're too hot, not over-heating cast iron, etc. I'm still learning a lot but I burn much less than I did in the past.

Also, branch out to other cooking aside from pan searing. Broil stuff in the oven, make your own bread, grill things other than meat (vegetables, fruits, fish).
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 April 2016, 05:34:59
My secret to good cooking is to get someone else to do it.

Preferably someone who knows what they are doing.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: dgneo on Mon, 18 April 2016, 05:39:07
Salt (in moderation).

Brings out the flavors of almost everything you put it on.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: lolpes on Mon, 18 April 2016, 05:43:05
In restaurants you may see abuse in salt and butter, things taste better that way normally, but not so good for you.

At home, just practice and that is the secret too good cooking, learn techniques instead of memorizing entire recipes ;)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Jokrik on Mon, 18 April 2016, 05:56:12
No fat no flavor :)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Mon, 18 April 2016, 06:08:54
Enough oil, enough seasoning. Like REALLY season them f**kers in the pan. Also, TASTE. taste taste taste in the process.

And don't throw everything in the pan at once. First, get the pan to heat up warm enough. THEN add oil. THEN add veggies, simmer them down a bit if you want them glazed or if you want them sealed burn them f**kers down immediately.

I love cooking... secret to good cooking is practice practice practice. And learning how to cut. Buy a goood kitchen knife.

When I have a new recipe, I cook it at least 5 times in a week to get it into my muscle memory. Like typing basically. Get those steps ingrained in them gray matter.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 18 April 2016, 06:12:00
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 18 April 2016, 14:42:14
* Seasoning with the right amounts of salt and black pepper. Restaurant chefs often overdo it.
* A splash of red wine.
* Use Pecorino Romano where you would otherwise have used regular parmesan cheese.
* MSG ... from meat, broth, by using sundried tomatoes, cooked tomatoes, yeast flakes or msg powder.

Or the Paula Dean method, butter & oil
Butter and olive oil. If you use flavourless oil then you could just as well use only butter.

Learn which herbs and spices that to go with which ingredients.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 18 April 2016, 14:56:10
Bacon. Forget moderation, just Baconize everything and your cooking will jump to 10/10
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: munch on Mon, 18 April 2016, 15:28:18
Enough oil, enough seasoning. Like REALLY season them f**kers in the pan. Also, TASTE. taste taste taste in the process.

And don't throw everything in the pan at once. First, get the pan to heat up warm enough. THEN add oil. THEN add veggies, simmer them down a bit if you want them glazed or if you want them sealed burn them f**kers down immediately.

I love cooking... secret to good cooking is practice practice practice. And learning how to cut. Buy a goood kitchen knife.

When I have a new recipe, I cook it at least 5 times in a week to get it into my muscle memory. Like typing basically. Get those steps ingrained in them gray matter.

better to add oil before heating up, that way you won't have too much smoking if your pan is too hot when you add the oil.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Mon, 18 April 2016, 15:46:04
Enough oil, enough seasoning. Like REALLY season them f**kers in the pan. Also, TASTE. taste taste taste in the process.

And don't throw everything in the pan at once. First, get the pan to heat up warm enough. THEN add oil. THEN add veggies, simmer them down a bit if you want them glazed or if you want them sealed burn them f**kers down immediately.

I love cooking... secret to good cooking is practice practice practice. And learning how to cut. Buy a goood kitchen knife.

When I have a new recipe, I cook it at least 5 times in a week to get it into my muscle memory. Like typing basically. Get those steps ingrained in them gray matter.

better to add oil before heating up, that way you won't have too much smoking if your pan is too hot when you add the oil.

Good point.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:07:09
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:21:46
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.

Mmmmm MM! My grandfather ate raw ground beef sandwiches. This was before all the mad cow stuff though
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Waateva on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:23:31
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.

Mmmmm MM! My grandfather ate raw ground beef sandwiches. This was before all the mad cow stuff though

My wife's aunt and grandma did as well, they called them cannibal sandwiches.  Just white bread, red onion, and raw ground beef  :'(
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:24:59
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.

Mmmmm MM! My grandfather ate raw ground beef sandwiches. This was before all the mad cow stuff though

My wife's aunt and grandma did as well, they called them cannibal sandwiches.  Just white bread, red onion, and raw ground beef  :'(

Hehe, cannibal sandwiches
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:37:02
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.

Mmmmm MM! My grandfather ate raw ground beef sandwiches. This was before all the mad cow stuff though

My wife's aunt and grandma did as well, they called them cannibal sandwiches.  Just white bread, red onion, and raw ground beef  :'(

Hehe, cannibal sandwiches

I've had raw beef sashimi..

It's alrite.. imho.. raw beef is too chewy and not really that great mouth-mechanically...
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Mon, 18 April 2016, 16:43:26
Raw beef can be delicious: beef carpaccio, steak tartare, kitfo, crudos, etc.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: absyrd on Mon, 18 April 2016, 17:11:08
Restraint.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 18 April 2016, 17:12:02
Restraint.

from.... ?  (http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/ahaaah-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862489)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: whmeltonjr on Mon, 18 April 2016, 17:35:41
Proper seasoning goes a long way. So does not overlooking things.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Tue, 19 April 2016, 01:02:59
It's really simple: The secret to good cooking starts with good ingredients.

This is the main reason I do not usually cook at home, having worked in 4-star kitchens I know how much the yummy ingredients cost + the time to prep and it's usually cheaper to just have someone prepare it for you if you.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 19 April 2016, 01:53:25
The secret to good cooking starts with good ingredients. This is the main reason I do not usually cook at home [...] I know how much the yummy ingredients cost [...]
This doesn’t really follow IMO. You can always buy ingredients for dramatically less than restaurant meals which use the same quality (because the restaurant has other costs beyond ingredients). It’s also generally easier to prepare food matching your own tastes and dietary needs at home than to find it at a restaurant.

For many types of food, I find there’s even time savings in preparing something at home vs. transporting myself to a restaurant, ordering, waiting for someone to prepare the meal, eating, and then transporting myself home.

Of course, if you only want to eat food which takes many hours to prepare, then sure, doing that at home would be a big commitment. But a wide variety of tasty meals can be fully prepared in 15–60m.

I find that my friends who mostly eat at restaurants tend to be relatively wealthy, and either unskilled at cooking and afraid to learn, or working demanding jobs and not willing to spend the mental energy making choices involved in cooking. Many of them are also single, so the prep time isn’t amortized over several diners the way a family meal would be, and there’s nobody to cook with (cooking and eating with other people is a lot more fun than cooking and eating alone).

If there’s a top secret to good cooking, it’s having good company. A nearly inedible food disaster is more fun with someone to laugh about it than the best five-star restaurant dish alone.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: noisyturtle on Tue, 19 April 2016, 02:09:04
Meh, I used to love to cook and experiment in the kitchen but after working in a few restaurants it really turned me off cooking at home. Now it just feels like work :(
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 19 April 2016, 02:10:11
Well, fair enough. :-)

My work is staring at a computer screen, so preparing food is a fun diversion.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 19 April 2016, 05:48:24
Well, fair enough. :-)

My work is staring at a computer screen, so preparing food is a fun diversion.

I think you're doing it wrong - for me food preparation is a distraction from staring at a screen.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Tue, 19 April 2016, 05:58:49
Well, fair enough. :-)

My work is staring at a computer screen, so preparing food is a fun diversion.

I think you're doing it wrong - for me food preparation is a distraction from staring at a screen.

Aren't you both saying the exact same thing or am I reading it wrong?
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: LunarisDream on Tue, 19 April 2016, 06:07:45
The secret (ingredient) is love.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Signature on Tue, 19 April 2016, 06:09:01
msg
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Tue, 19 April 2016, 06:10:52
The secret (ingredient) is love.

Massage the meat. Lick them veggies a little before cooking them. Show em you appreciate them.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 19 April 2016, 06:16:52
Well, fair enough. :-)

My work is staring at a computer screen, so preparing food is a fun diversion.

I think you're doing it wrong - for me food preparation is a distraction from staring at a screen.

Aren't you both saying the exact same thing or am I reading it wrong?

Nope.

jacobolus said preparing food is a "fun diversion".

Rowdy said preparing food is a "distraction from staring at a screen".

A diversion is generally something welcomed, a distraction is a temporary affliction that stops you from what you were originally doing.

The implication being that jacobolus seems to like getting away from the computer screen to prepare food, while for Rowdy it is a temporary distraction that prevents Rowdy from staring at a computer screen.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: chyros on Tue, 19 April 2016, 07:37:42
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.
One of my favourite meals is indeed steak. Just steak. Rare. With nothing else.

Raw meat can also be great. A good steak tartare or filet americain or ox sausage, yummy.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Tue, 19 April 2016, 07:47:09
Have the highest possible meat content and as few as possible veg.
Chyros’s ideal meal: a big heap of lean ground beef, raw.
One of my favourite meals is indeed steak. Just steak. Rare. With nothing else.

Raw meat can also be great. A good steak tartare or filet americain or ox sausage, yummy.

Do you cook it even?
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: whentheclouds on Tue, 19 April 2016, 08:02:06
It's really simple: The secret to good cooking starts with good ingredients.
yep, this is rule #1 in any italian cookbook
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Dernubenfrieken on Tue, 19 April 2016, 08:34:13
Alcohol. A good bottle of wine/beer/cider can add to the flavor of the dish and pair well, adding to the experience.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: iLLucionist on Tue, 19 April 2016, 08:55:43
Alcohol. A good bottle of wine/beer/cider can add to the flavor of the dish and pair well, adding to the experience.

I put cognac in my onion soup. It's that little touch between tasty and great.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 19 April 2016, 09:18:03
I agree with good ingredients. One mustn't make a peanut butter sandwich out of ordinary peanut butter. Also, don't forget the bread! Quality of bread is also very important.

If I could order a rare steak at a restaurant I would still eat my steak rare. Seems like a lot of American restaurants won't serve rare steaks because it is a health code violation. :'( (or to shield people from the sight of blood)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: henz on Tue, 19 April 2016, 09:19:22
just taste it, easy
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 19 April 2016, 10:36:51
Alcohol. A good bottle of wine/beer/cider can add to the flavor of the dish and pair well, adding to the experience.

That's the same as saying.. yea cocaine makes everything better.. 

Of course it does ....
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 19 April 2016, 10:57:57
I've used flavored vodka to caramelize certain meats. Beautiful flavor, but I try not to do it too often because I'm lazy and people seem to love it :))
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Signature on Tue, 19 April 2016, 11:00:06
Alcohol. A good bottle of wine/beer/cider can add to the flavor of the dish and pair well, adding to the experience.

That's the same as saying.. yea cocaine makes everything better.. 

Of course it does ....
Only good if sniffing food
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Dernubenfrieken on Tue, 19 April 2016, 11:21:10
I've used flavored vodka to caramelize certain meats. Beautiful flavor, but I try not to do it too often because I'm lazy and people seem to love it :))

Whiskey is perfect for this, a bit of bourbon added to a burger opens it up while its in the pan.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 19 April 2016, 11:26:54
I've used flavored vodka to caramelize certain meats. Beautiful flavor, but I try not to do it too often because I'm lazy and people seem to love it :))

Whiskey is perfect for this, a bit of bourbon added to a burger opens it up while its in the pan.

That sounds magical. I'll have to try that one day :)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 19 April 2016, 15:04:01
Chyros: http://www.vice.com/read/this-guy-has-eaten-nothing-but-raw-meat-for-five-years
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115233/possible-header-2.jpg)

Here’s his refrigerator:
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115229/photo-7.jpg)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Moistgun on Tue, 19 April 2016, 15:18:04
The secret is growing your own veggies and herbs. That intangible feeling of hard work and homegrown is da bes.  :p
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: chyros on Tue, 19 April 2016, 15:20:06
Chyros: http://www.vice.com/read/this-guy-has-eaten-nothing-but-raw-meat-for-five-years
Show Image
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115233/possible-header-2.jpg)


Here’s his refrigerator:
Show Image
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115229/photo-7.jpg)

Oh wow. Just wow =o . I don't even know what to say xD .
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 19 April 2016, 15:25:12
Chyros: http://www.vice.com/read/this-guy-has-eaten-nothing-but-raw-meat-for-five-years
Show Image
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115233/possible-header-2.jpg)


Here’s his refrigerator:
Show Image
(http://assets.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/115229/photo-7.jpg)

Oh wow. Just wow =o . I don't even know what to say xD .

Holy moley. He brushes his teeth with animal fat?! Seriously?!
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 19 April 2016, 18:13:47
If you eat nothing but meat, your teeth are going to be perfectly fine without brushing. The bacteria which cause tooth decay eat starch/sugar.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: xtrafrood on Tue, 19 April 2016, 18:16:49
If you eat nothing but meat, your teeth are going to be perfectly fine without brushing. The bacteria which cause tooth decay eat starch/sugar.

I wonder whether or not his teeth are stained red. :confused:
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: chyros on Tue, 19 April 2016, 18:26:38
If you eat nothing but meat, your teeth are going to be perfectly fine without brushing. The bacteria which cause tooth decay eat starch/sugar.
Indeed. In all honesty I'm sure the guy's diet is actually perfectly healthy. He just looks like a total maniac Oo .

That said, seared meat is great. It adds delicious flavour to the meat. I make a wicked pepper sauce, too. Yummy.

Think I might have to buy some discount steak tomorrow. Maybe try to improve my thyme-red wine sauce.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: C5Allroad on Tue, 19 April 2016, 18:35:03
No fat no flavor :)
If I've learned anything from AP bio... Saturated fats are the most delicious.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 19 April 2016, 18:37:07
If you eat nothing but meat, your teeth are going to be perfectly fine without brushing. The bacteria which cause tooth decay eat starch/sugar.

I wonder whether or not his teeth are stained red. :confused:

/head scratch.....

Maybe.. I mean...  how long have we been cooking..

I hope this guy lives to 110, and then everyone will be like, CRAP, we'd been doing it wrong this whole time..
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:26:30
If you eat nothing but meat, your teeth are going to be perfectly fine without brushing. The bacteria which cause tooth decay eat starch/sugar.

I wonder whether or not his teeth are stained red. :confused:

/head scratch.....

Maybe.. I mean...  how long have we been cooking..

I hope this guy lives to 110, and then everyone will be like, CRAP, we'd been doing it wrong this whole time..
Oh there are plenty of delicious raw meat dishes out there, that it's tasty is nothing new ;) .
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Wed, 20 April 2016, 09:01:10
actually trying is a good start, i havent read any other replies, this is just my two cents
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Liocer on Sat, 23 April 2016, 11:48:42
I'd highly recommend cooking for geeks by Jeff Potter.  http://www.cookingforgeeks.com it's really good and often goes into the science of cooking as well recommending tools and a few simple hacks that can add some quick good flavour to meals.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: MykB77 on Sun, 24 April 2016, 03:00:25
Maple syrup.  And bacon.  Maple syrup and bacon.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: gorillionaire on Mon, 25 April 2016, 10:25:15
adobo the end
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: JohnLuker on Mon, 25 April 2016, 10:37:48
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Dernubenfrieken on Mon, 25 April 2016, 11:27:01
  • Cast Iron Pans/Pots
  • Bacon Grease
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Bacon Grease

You missed cheese and alcohol, but this is pretty much my cooking style. Starting off with some nice fat, whether it be bacon, pork belly, pancetta, lard or just a bit of fat cut of the edge of your meat adds flavor to start off with.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: JohnLuker on Mon, 25 April 2016, 16:10:15
The secret (ingredient) is love.

All you need is love. And bacon grease.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jdcarpe on Mon, 25 April 2016, 16:21:32
Bacon
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: jonathanyu on Mon, 25 April 2016, 16:26:29
seems like I am the only one who doesn't like bacon at all...
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Moistgun on Mon, 25 April 2016, 16:32:00
seems like I am the only one who doesn't like bacon at all...

Pretty much.

Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Mon, 25 April 2016, 17:20:55
seems like I am the only one who doesn't like bacon at all...
i like it but its overpraised
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 25 April 2016, 19:07:11
seems like I am the only one who doesn't like bacon at all...


Try low sodium bacon..  I don't like the regular bacon because the salt flavor overpowers all the other complexities.

(http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/ahaaah-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862489)
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: Leslieann on Mon, 25 April 2016, 19:36:17
The most important aspect I've learned with cooking,  is do it SLOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW.

Far too many people cook way too fast, this is especially true for meat, and even more so on a charcoal barbeque. When the flames are a foot over your food, you're doing it wrong.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: tp4tissue on Mon, 25 April 2016, 19:41:39
The most important aspect I've learned with cooking,  is do it SLOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW.

Far too many people cook way too fast, this is especially true for meat, and even more so on a charcoal barbeque. When the flames are a foot over your food, you're doing it wrong.

This how all Chinese people cook... Chinese stoves are often 8000btu and above.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: R1N3 on Mon, 25 April 2016, 20:48:51
Butter, not oil.

quoted for truth.
Title: Re: The secret to good cooking ?
Post by: appleonama on Mon, 25 April 2016, 20:55:08
Love and lots of butter.