5 Essential Tips For Beginner Chefs

There are few jobs as stressful as being a chef. However, if you’ve already got this far – then it is assumed that you know what you’ve got yourself into. As manic as chef life is, it is just as rewarding as it is intimidating.

Not all chefs are cut from the same cloth (excuse the pun), but all chefs have one thing in common – a passion for cooking.

If you have recently started training to become a world-renowned chef, the below five tips will help you on your way:

Read The Recipe

Reading the recipe should always be your first step before preparing any meal. Take the time to go through each step and make sure that you thoroughly understand what is expected of you.

Too many young chefs have been caught out by recipes that required hours of prep or overnight marinading, and they did not realize it until it was too late. So go through your recipe and check the steps – then make sure that you have all the necessary ingredients and equipment.

Have The Essential Equipment

That doesn’t mean you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on the latest technology and kitchen gadgets. All it means is that you need to have the basics that any chef needs in a kitchen, which include the following:

• Oven-safe dishes – anything safe to use in an oven will come in handy.
• Can Opener – because not all cans have pull-rings.
• Peeler – you can peel fruit and vegetables using a knife, but a peeler is superior and much easier.

Use Sharp Knives

Although sharp knives are dangerous if they’re not used with caution, dull knives are far worse. Fruit and vegetable prep should be a breeze, and your knife should glide through them like butter.

Use a high-quality knife sharpener stone to keep your knives sharp and ready to slice and dice what you need them to.

Don’t Overcrowd Roasting Dishes

If you don’t give food items enough space when roasting them, they won’t crisp up and be delicious. Meat and vegetables need space to brown, and they’ll only do that if there is enough space between them.

If your food is packed tightly together then it will end up steaming instead of roasting. They’re vegetables, not sardines – spread them out.

Define Your Relationship With Salt

Without salt, food is often bland – but over-salting is just as bad. Season according to the recipe, but always taste as you go. Under-salt and then keep tasting as you add more until you have achieved the perfect balance.

Too much salt is almost impossible to fix, so take things slow.

To End

Cooking for others is one of the most humbling and rewarding things to do for a living. Follow the steps above to ensure that you don’t let anyone down, especially this early in your career. Be sure to cook as often as you can because practice makes perfect.