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Summary
In this article, we will be discussing various cooking tips shared by Chef Kenji Lopez-Al during his appearance on the show Cooking Support. The tips include the difference between cooking Chinese food with a wok versus a regular frying or sauce pan, how to make a good burger, how to butcher a whole chicken, and much more.
Table of Contents
- The Difference Between Wok and Frying Pan Cooking
- Tips for Making a Good Burger
- Butchering a Whole Chicken
- Understanding Heat Transfer
- Cooking with Spices and Salt
- The Importance of Sharp Knives
The Difference Between Wok and Frying Pan Cooking
According to Chef Kenji Lopez-Al, the main difference between cooking Chinese food with a wok versus a regular frying or sauce pan is the shape of the cookware. A wok heats up with a hot zone in the center and cools down on the sides, while a Western-style frying pan is meant to be heated evenly. This difference in shape affects the way the food is cooked and the flavors that are produced.
Tips for Making a Good Burger
Chef Kenji Lopez-Al shared his personal preferences for making a good burger, including avoiding adding things inside the patty and having a high fat content for a deeply browned crust. He also emphasized the importance of seasoning the patty well and cooking it to the desired level of doneness.
Butchering a Whole Chicken
During the show, Chef Kenji Lopez-Al demonstrated how to butcher a whole chicken, which can save money and provide tasty ingredients for making stocks. He advised removing the meat from the joints and cutting through the ribcage to get bone-in chicken breasts. The chef also suggested spatchcocking the chicken and seasoning it with a mixture of kosher salt and baking powder to get crispy skin when roasting.
Understanding Heat Transfer
The speaker explained the three types of heat transfer, including radiation, which is commonly used in baking. Radiant heating is direct heat energy coming from the heat source through the vacuum of space or through the air. This type of heating is responsible for browning and crisping in baked goods.
Cooking with Spices and Salt
Chef Kenji Lopez-Al discussed the importance of using spices and salt in cooking, noting that a pinch of oregano or cumin is about a sixteenth of a teaspoon, but it can vary depending on personal preference. Salting to taste typically requires a one to two percent ratio of salt to other ingredients. He also explained that sausages are made of meat, fat, seasoning, and salt, and are stuffed into casings made of pig, cow, or lamb intestines. Salt and meat give sausages structure.
The Importance of Sharp Knives
Finally, Chef Kenji Lopez-Al emphasized the importance of having sharp knives in the kitchen. Knives should be sharpened every six months with a honing steel or sharpening stone, and honed before each use to maintain their sharpness. A sharp knife not only makes cooking easier and more efficient, but it also makes it safer.
