Expert Advice: Answering Cooking Questions with Babish
Summary
Andrew Rea, also known as Babish, provides expert insights into cooking techniques and ingredients in response to questions from his followers. He discusses everything from the differences between salt types to the best knives for home cooking. Other topics include recommendations for cutting mangos, making bagels, and even which Star Wars character would be the best cook.
Table of Contents
- The Importance of Salt Varieties
- Essential Knives for Home Cooks
- Perfecting Scrambled Eggs and Melting Cheese
- Seasoning Ribeyes and Cooking Large Cuts of Meat
- Tips on Cutting Mangos and Making Bagels
- Sharpening Knives and Substituting Ingredients
- Star Wars Characters as Cooks
The Importance of Salt Varieties
Babish explains the differences between table salt, kosher salt, and flaky finishing salt. He notes that each type of salt provides a different level of salinity, and therefore, requires different amounts of salt to achieve a balanced flavor in a dish. For example, kosher salt has larger crystals than table salt, which makes it easier to control the salt levels in a dish. Meanwhile, finishing salts, like Maldon flakes, provide a different texture and flavor, and are best used as a final touch on a dish just before serving.
Essential Knives for Home Cooks
When it comes to knives, Babish recommends using German steel knives from his Babish cookware line. However, for those who are just starting out, he suggests affordable alternatives like Victorinox Fibrox and Wusthof’s ProLine. He also emphasizes the importance of using a honing rod to keep the knife straight while cooking, but notes that this won’t make it sharper. To sharpen a knife, he recommends using a hand sharpener or getting it professionally sharpened every few months using a whetstone.
Perfecting Scrambled Eggs and Melting Cheese
For fluffy scrambled eggs, Babish suggests whisking them vigorously and adding butter to a non-stick pan on medium-low heat. Then, he recommends cooking them without stirring too much, only occasionally pushing the eggs around with a spatula. Regarding melting cheese, Babish advises against mixing cheese with other ingredients in a hot pan, as it can break and ruin the dish. Instead, he suggests grating cheese separately and adding it directly to the dish once it’s complete.
Seasoning Ribeyes and Cooking Large Cuts of Meat
Babish suggests heavily seasoning ribeyes with kosher salt and cracked black pepper before putting them on a hot cast iron skillet. He recommends searing them for a couple of minutes on each side before finishing them off in the oven. For larger cuts of meat, like roasts or whole chickens, he advises tempering the meat to room temperature before cooking to prevent it from drying out. He also suggests cooking these cuts low and slow to ensure even cooking and tenderness.
Tips on Cutting Mangos and Making Bagels
As mangos can be difficult to cut, Babish recommends a modified avocado technique to get as close to the pit as possible. He recommends using a sharp knife and cutting along the sides of the pit, being careful not to slice too deeply. For making bagels, Babish suggests using a higher oven temperature and placing the rack in the right spot for even browning. He also emphasizes the importance of poaching the bagels before baking, which gives them a unique texture and flavor.
Sharpening Knives and Substituting Ingredients
In addition to honing and sharpening knives, Babish also discusses substitutions for ingredients. When asked about substituting evaporated milk for coconut milk in a recipe, Babish suggests consulting an expert or testing the recipe with different substitutions to see what works best. For sharpening knives, he once again recommends using a whetstone or taking the knife to a professional every few months. He also notes that a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one, as it requires more force to cut and can slip more easily.
Star Wars Characters as Cooks
In a fun segment, Babish discusses which Star Wars character would be a great cook. He quickly dismisses Leia and Darth Vader due to their lack of interest in cooking. However, he suggests that Luke may have picked up some cooking skills from his time on Tatooine or from Aunt Beru. Alternatively, he considers Chewbacca as a culinary expert, with his fur providing an excellent source of seasoning. Ultimately, he suggests that a gray Jedi like Jolee Bindo, who has mastered both the light and dark side of the Force, would be the ultimate cook.
Conclusion
With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Babish provides valuable insights into cooking techniques and ingredients. From seasoning ribeyes to cutting mangos, he offers practical tips that any home cook can use to up their game in the kitchen. Whether you’re a Star Wars fan or just looking to improve your scrambled egg game, Babish has you covered.
