subject: The Harsh Realities Of Inconsistent Cooking [print this page] I know Ive been asking you a lot of questions lately and I want you to know that its with good reason. To cook like a chef at home, you have to break old habits and old habits cant be broken if you arent aware of them. Its important to me to make sure that you understand the science of cooking as well as the cooking techniques that are going to make you feel more comfortable and confident.
Some of you have been grateful for the extra questions and answers. Others of you have been upset that I havent actually been cooking more. Well, Ive been listening and have come up with what I think is going to be a great solution for everyone. Im going to have my first Free Live Video WebCast coming soon. In fact, youll be able to tell me what to cook and interact with me live while I cook. Ill have more details for you soon.
In the meantimehave you ever thought this?
I can cook things, am considered a good cook by my family,
but I dont understand why my cooking is inconsistent.
This statement is perhaps the number one comment I get from students in WebCookingClasses.com.
Most people I talk to like to cook or love to cook, but suffer from not being able to duplicate their results each time. Theyre missing an internalization of the science of cooking, the internalization of basic cooking techniques. Its impossible to cook like a chef if you cant maintain consistency from meal to meal.
Being able to duplicate excellence is what makes people outstanding! Think about itan athlete can duplicate their motions exactly each time by using muscle memory.
What if Tiger Woods swung his club in a different direction each time?
What if basketball player shot fouls differently each time?
Consistent excellent results is the definition of greatness. As a result, as a professional chef, cooking consistently is absolutely imperative to me. It stands to reason that in order for you to cook like a chef, you need to be able to repeat methods for consistent results.
Now, I dont think that consistent flavors are as important to you as a home cook, because I believe each of your meals should be a new inspiration. But, to cook like a chef at home, you do have to duplicate methods, regardless of the final flavoring or seasoning for your meal.
So, lets bring in the harsh realities of practicing inconsistent cooking:
Undependable results
oSometimes things look appetizing, sometimes not.
Variations in doneness
oOf two items in the same pan, one is cooked, one is not.
oYou dont really know which hamburger is medium.
Varied portion sizes
oYour cookies are all different shapes and sizes.
Purchasing foods for convenience rather than flavor
oYoure buying sauces in a jar or dry packet.
Eliminating these harsh realities of inconsistent cooking with a few standard cooking techniques will also eliminate much of the stress and fear of cooking. (You see, it all ties together!) Stay tuned and youll learn more about the science of cooking and cook like a chef in no time.
Next time, Ill give you my 7 step chef test to becoming a more consistent cook at home.
