Food Preparation Tips, Tricks & Techniques

Transcript Woman: Dough stuck on your hands? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Rub dry cornmeal on them and it’ll come right off. Neat!

Instructions Step 1: Pinch the stem Pinch the stem of the fava bean pod and unzip the seam that joins both sections together. TIP: Choose pods that are smooth and bright green. Pods that bulge out are probably old and bitter. Step 2: Remove beans Slide your finger inside the pod and scoop out the …

Transcript Woman: Washing fruits and vegetables? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Use a solution of one part vinegar to three parts water to remove bacteria, then rinse. Spiffy!

Instructions Step 1: Select and prepare your tomatoes Use only firm tomatoes. Wash them by wetting them with water, gently rubbing them with your hand, and drying them with a paper towel. TIP: Don’t wash them in a sink filled with water or with soap, as contaminants can be absorbed through the stem scar. Step …

Instructions Step 1: Harvest before the plant flowers Harvest your mint leaves before the plants flower. Mint leaves lose flavor after the plant flowers. Step 2: Pick in the morning Pick in the morning hours when the leaves are tender and contain the most oil. Don’t wash the leaves or you risk losing some of …

Transcript Woman: Fishy odor? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Put a tablespoon of peanut butter in the pan as your fry the fish, it will absorb the stink. Sweet smell of success!

Transcript Man: Is grease the word on your stove? Woman: Quick Tips! Man: Next time you fry meat, sprinkle the pan with salt before you start. It will keep fat in its place. Neat!

Instructions Step 1: Cut the bottom Place the watermelon on a towel to catch the juice. Cut off a small amount of the bottom of the watermelon to make a flat surface for it to stand up tall. TIP: Place the watermelon on a turntable for easy maneuvering. Step 2: Carve the skin Carve off …

Instructions Step 1: Cut in half Cut the washed watermelon in half lengthwise. Step 2: Make lengthwise cuts Take one half with rind side down, and make straight slices one inch apart through the length of the watermelon flesh, without cutting through the rind. Hold the knife at a 45-degree angle to the surface when …

Transcript Man: What to share a banana with two buds? Woman: Quick tips! Man: Peel the fruit. Slide your thumb lengthwise down the center, and pull the remaining piece apart at the seam. Yum!

Instructions Step 1: Dig them up Dig up herbs before the first frost and plant them in fresh soil, allowing for a couple of inches around the root ball. TIP: Check for insects which, if present, can be eradicated with a soap spray. Step 2: Choose hardy plants Choose hardy plants to bring inside. Transplant …

Instructions : Raw chicken can contain salmonella and other bacteria. Wash your hands and tools thoroughly after working with raw meat and be sure to cook it completely. Step 1: Lay on a plastic bag Lay store-bought chicken whose feathers have already been plucked on a plastic cutting board. To remove skin from a chicken …

Instructions Step 1: Choose an orange Choose a firm, heavy, and vibrant orange to indulge your taste buds. TIP: Avoid oranges with bruised or wrinkled skin. Step 2: Roll Roll the orange around with your palm on a flat surface to loosen the skin. Step 3: Cut the orange Make a small cut into the …

Instructions Step 1: Remove neck and giblets Reach inside the neck cavity and remove the neck and giblets. Save them for stock before the cooking starts. TIP: If you can feel ice on the inside of the turkey, set it in cold water until it has completely thawed. Step 2: Rinse it Rinse and clean …

Instructions Step 1: Use the right knife Use a knife designed specifically for cutting fish. A thin, flexible, very sharp knife is best to cut through and along bones without tearing the meat. TIP: Don’t use a serrated or electric knife to fillet a fish. It will shred the delicate flesh. Step 2: Arrange the …

Instructions Step 1: Remove the packaging Remove the turkey from the packaging, put it on a large dish, remove the giblets and neck, and cover it. Step 2: Thaw in the refrigerator Put the turkey in your refrigerator where it won’t touch other foods. In a refrigerator at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, allow 10 to 12 …

Instructions Step 1: Test your thermometer Test the accuracy of your instant-read meat thermometer. Insert the tip 2 inches deep into boiling water. If it is properly calibrated, it will read 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level. Step 2: Use recommended cooking time as a guideline Use the turkey’s recommended cooking time as a guideline, …

Transcript Male: Tomatoes need peeling? Female: Quick tips! Male: Put them in boiling water for about 45 seconds, then plop them into ice water. Your fingers will be able to slide the skins right off. Easy!

Transcript Woman: Honey stuck to a spoon? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Run the spoon under hot water before dipping it into the jar and the sticky stuff will slide right off. Sweet!

Instructions Step 1: Release cloves Pull away the cloves from the bulb of garlic. Step 2: Peel the skin Peel the skin from the individual cloves by cutting off the stem and then pressing down on the clove with a side of a knife blade. Remove the skin after it releases. Step 3: Smash the …

Transcript Male: Got thick carrots? Female: Quick Tips! Male: Slice them in half lengthwise, then dice them with the flat side down. Easy!

Transcript Male 1: Preparing an iceberg salad? Male 2: Quick tips! Male 1: Raise the head of lettuce with both hands then smash the core down on the counter as hard as you can. Give the core a twist, and it will pop right out. Cool!

Instructions Step 1: Combine dry ingredients Combine the salt, brown sugar, pepper, herbs, and saltpeter. Make sure the saltpeter is thoroughly mixed in. Step 2: Make brine solution Chill the water to 38 degrees Fahrenheit and add the dry ingredients. This is your brine solution. Step 3: Wash and trim meat Thoroughly wash the meat …

Instructions Step 1: Study the color Study the meat’s color and select beef that is bright red. Pork or lamb should be more pinkish. TIP: Vacuum-sealed beef may appear dark purple towards the center because air has not reached these areas yet. Step 2: Ask the butcher Ask the butcher what he recommends or check …

Transcript Male: Forgot to take dinner out of the freezer? Female: Quick tips! Male: Put it unwrapped on any unheated, uncoated, thick metal skillet or pan. It conducts the room’s heat. Cool!

Instructions Step 1: Shuck corn, remove silks, trim ends, and wash Shuck the corn and remove all of the silk. Use a sharp knife to trim the ends. Then rinse each of the ears under cool water. TIP: Freeze corn the day it is picked to best preserve the flavors and texture. Step 2: Decide …

Transcript Man: Cooking button mushrooms? Woman: Quick tips! Man: Brush dirt off more easily with a soft bristled toothbrush. Clever!

Transcript Woman: Rolling out pastry? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Stick the dough between two pieces of wax paper or plastic wrap so nothing sticks to your rolling pin. Genius!

Instructions Step 1: Select beans Select freshly harvested, high quality, crisp green beans. TIP: Choose green bean varieties recommended for freezing by Extension Office agents or other experts to achieve the best results. Step 2: Wash and sort Wash the beans in cold water and sort them according to size and maturity to ensure uniformity …

Instructions Step 1: Air dry the herbs until they are crumbly Use twine to tie small batches of herbs and hang them in a cool, dry place until they are dry and crispy. Store them in air-tight containers until you are ready to use them. TIP: Use one-third of the amount called for if you …

Transcript Woman: Making lemonade? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Coax more juice from lemons by microwaving them for five seconds, and then rolling them on a counter top before you cut them open. Nice!

Transcript Woman: Need to dry greens in a jiffy? Man: Quick tips! Woman: Put them into a clean pillowcase and spin the case above your head like a helicopter blade for 30 seconds. Woosh!

Transcript Male 1: Measuring honey? Male 2: Quick tips! Male 1: Coat the cup with non-stick cooking spray or a thin layer of vegetable oil before adding the honey and it will slide right out. Neat!

Transcript Man 1: Need to peel some garlic? Man 2: Quick tips! Man 1: Press the side of a wide knife blade across the clove, then press down on the blade with the heal of your hand. The clove will crack open with the skin sliding off. Mission accomplished!

Transcript Female: Sticking fish in the deep freeze? Man: Quick tips! Female: Prevent freezer burn by putting the fish in a plastic bag or container, filling with just enough water to cover it, leaving room for expansion, and letting it freeze before sealing. Cool!

Instructions Step 1: Gather apples Make sure your apples are ripe, without blemishes, and of good quality. TIP: Use apple varieties suggested for baking to get the best results. Step 2: Wash, core, and peel apples Wash the apples to remove any pesticide residue and dirt, and then remove their skins and core them. Step …

Instructions Step 1: Freeze whole peaches for 1½ to 2 hours Place whole, ripe peaches in the freezer for 1½ to 2 hours, until they are firm but not completely frozen. Step 2: Mix ascorbic acid and sugar in a large bowl Combine the ascorbic acid with the sugar in the mixing bowl. TIP: Use …

Transcript Got grease? Quick Tips! Line an empty jar or coffee can with aluminum foil and pour it in. When it hardens, remove the foil, fold it up, and toss. Smooth!

Transcript Need to hull a strawberry in a flash? Quick Tips! Poke the end of a straw through the bottom tip of the strawberry and push through. The core will pop out, and you’ll just have to pick off a few leaves. Sweet!

Transcript Egg shell in your eggs? Quick Tips! Take a larger piece of the shell and touch the bit you want to remove. It will attract it like a magnet. Ta-da!

Instructions Step 1: Buy a whole roast Buy a whole rib-eye or loin roast. You must age a whole roast first, and then cut it into steaks. TIP: Buy the highest quality beef you can find. Only USDA Prime or Choice grade is appropriate for dry aging. Step 2: Rinse and dry Rinse the roast …

Instructions Step 1: Clip full stems of the herbs Use scissors to clip full stems of the herbs you want to dry for the winter. Stems should be at least a few inches long. TIP: Dry herbs that have a sturdy stem, like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or sage. Step 2: Wrap a piece of twine …

Instructions Step 1: Rinse and dry Rinse and pat your fish dry, and place it on a hard, flat surface. Step 2: Scrape the scales away Use the spoon to gently scrape the scales away, working from the tail toward the head. Then rinse the scales away. Step 3: Cut off the tail and head …

Instructions Step 1: Wash and pull off stem pieces Wash the kumquat and pull off any stem pieces that remain on the fruit. Step 2: Roll between fingers Roll the kumquat between your fingers to release its essential oils. Step 3: Pop in your mouth and chew Pop it in your mouth and chew, skin …

Instructions Step 1: Mix ingredients Mix the water, vinegar, baking soda, and grapefruit seed extract or lemon juice in a bowl. Step 2: Pour mixture into spray bottle Pour the mixture into the spray bottle. Step 3: Spray produce Spray your fruits and vegetables generously. Step 4: Let sit Let the mixture sit on the …

Instructions Step 1: Hold egg Wash your hands and hold the egg in your favored hand between your middle finger and thumb, resting your first finger along the egg’s side. Step 2: Rap the egg With one swift, decisive motion, rap the egg on a flat surface or the edge of the bowl or skillet …

Instructions Step 1: Cut off the crown Use a sharp knife to cut the crown off the top of the pomegranate. TIP: Buy heavy pomegranates with red skin that is thin yet tough and unbroken. The heavier the pomegranate, the juicier it will be. Step 2: Score the skin into quarters Lightly score the skin …

Instructions Step 1: Place mango Set the mango on a stable cutting board with the stem pointing up and the flatter sides facing left and right. TIP: For even greater stability, slice off a thin plane from the bottom of the mango to create a flat surface on which it can rest. Step 2: With …

Instructions Step 1: Consult a vegetable blanching timetable Check a vegetable blanching timetable for the best way to prepare your vegetables; they should be blanched before freezing to help retain flavor and nutrients. Step 2: Wash and trim vegetables Wash your vegetables thoroughly, making sure they are free of dirt and other deposits. Trim or …

Instructions Step 1: Make a shopping list of produce that’s in season, so that you have a guide as you shop the stalls. TIP: Search online or in cookbooks to come up with a few ideas for meals you can make with what you expect to find. Step 2: If you want the best selection, …

Instructions Step 1: Find a fish store Find a specialty fish store with displays of fresh whole fish, mollusks and bivalves, lobsters in tanks, and seaweed decoration all layered on ice. If this is unavailable in your area, go to the fish counter at a high-end food store. Step 2: Survey the fish Survey the …

Instructions Step 1: Reheat soups and other liquids Boil soups, sauces, gravies, and other liquids over direct heat. Heat cheese-based sauces on lower settings for a longer time and stir often. Step 2: Microwave small leftovers Microwave small portions of food on the highest power, using a microwave-safe container. Cover with heavy plastic wrap, stir …

Instructions Step 1: Rinse and dry your apples. Step 2: Place one on a cutting board and slice it in half lengthwise. Step 3: Scoop out the top and bottom stems and the core seeds from both halves with the melon baller. TIP: Use a paring knife if you don’t have a melon baller. Step …

Instructions Step 1: Cut off the ends of the pineapple Cut off the leafy top and the base using a chef’s knife. Step 2: Cut off the rind in large strips Stand the pineapple on its bottom and slice away the rind in large strips, cutting deeply enough to remove the brown eyes without losing …

Instructions Step 1: Cut the core Center the corer over the apple’s stem end, pierce the apple, and push the corer all the way through. If you don’t have a corer, push a paring knife through the apple and cut around the core. TIP: If you don’t need to keep the apple whole, cut the …

Instructions Step 1: Preheat oven Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Step 2: Pierce the dots Pierce the three indentations on the top of the coconut using either an ice pick or a long, clean nail. Do this over a bowl in the sink so you can catch the coconut water. TIP: Drink the coconut …

Instructions Step 1: Pick through your greens Pick through the greens and remove any yellowed, bruised, or wilted leaves. Step 2: Fill the sink Fill your sink or a very large bowl with enough water to completely submerge the greens, about one gallon for every bunch of greens. TIP: To get your greens their cleanest, …

Instructions Step 1: Briskly rub the inside skin of a fresh papaya on both sides of steaks and chops, then cover the meat with the papaya skins and refrigerate for two hours. Papain, an enzyme in unripe papaya, is the main ingredient in many commercial meat tenderizers. Step 2: Before grilling meat, use an acidic …

Instructions Step 1: Pull off leaves Pull off the tough outer leaves of the leek. Step 2: Grasp the knife Grasp the knife in your dominant hand, holding the handle close to the blade with three fingers (middle, ring, and pinkie). Curl your forefinger around one side of the blade while holding your thumb on …

Instructions Step 1: Crack egg Hold the egg sideways in one hand between your thumb and fingers. Gently rap the middle of the egg against the rim of a bowl or on the countertop so the eggshell cracks. Step 2: Separate yolk Hold the egg upright with one hand over a bowl, with the wider …

Instructions Step 1: Cut lengthwise Cut the avocado in half lengthwise, from stem to bottom. Don’t try to slice through the pit—guide the knife around it so the avocado is separated into two halves, each still stuck to the pit. Step 2: Twist two halves apart Twist the two halves apart. The pit will stick …

Instructions Step 1: Cut the potato skin Make a cut all around the potato, lengthwise. Try to slice only the skin, not the actual potato. Step 2: Boil it Put the potato in a pot of boiling water. Boil until it is soft inside Step 3: Cool it off Plunge the potato in ice water …

Instructions Step 1: Tie the legs Position the chicken. Take the string and make a figure 8 around the knuckles of the legs. Step 2: Tie the breast & wings Tie the breast & wings. Bring the string over and under the breasts, pinning the wings to the breasts. Step 3: Tie a tight knot …

Instructions Step 1: Wash & peel Wash and peel the vegetable, if necessary. Step 2: Grasp knife Grasp the knife in your dominant hand, holding the handle close to the blade with three fingers: your middle, ring, and pinkie. Curl your forefinger around one side of the blade while holding your thumb on the opposite …