READ RECIPE BEFORE ATTEMPTING IT
It took me a while to work this one out, but it really is useful. It’s tempting to just look at the ingredients needed in a recipe and crack on one step at a time, but taking the time to read the full method can give you a much better understanding of the finished dish and what is involved. It will also enable you to put your own spin on things, which for me is what cooking is all about – personalisation. Having the confidence and understanding the full story before you start a recipe will make life so much easier.
KEEP YOUR KNIVES SHARP
This is quite an obvious one and you’ve probably heard it before, but a blunt knife can give you poorly cut food, slow you down and – most importantly – it is dangerous. Invest in a decent knife sharpener; there’s something very satisfying about prepping food with a sharp knife. No matter how fast or slow you are when it comes to slicing, your fingers will thank you for it!
PREP LIKE YOU’RE ON A COOKING SHOW
When I’m filming I always have my ingredients ready and laid out before attempting a recipe, but even when I’m not filming and am just cooking at home for the family I still find it beneficial. It’s worth getting a nice little collection of small food prep bowls that you can stack after each ingredient is used; anything that will take the hassle out of the steps so you are fully prepared and can concentrate on the good stuff is good in my book.
USE EGGSHELL TO REMOVE SHELL
In the early years of MyVirginKitchen, whenever we cracked eggs into a bowl both Phoebe and I would quite often end up with a little eggshell floating in the bowl. I’d be trying to scoop it out with my fingers – if you’ve ever done this you’ll know it can take ages to fish out! A great little tip is to take a large piece of eggshell and scoop it into the bowl – the smaller piece of shell will cling to it. Try it – it works a charm!
SOME OF MY FAVOURITE KITCHEN UTENSILS
SILICONE SPATULA
My favourite kitchen utensil ever. I love a good wooden spoon when it comes to mixing but there is no greater satisfaction than scraping a bowl clean in one good swoop with a spatula!
FOOD SCISSORS
Yep, having a decent set of kitchen scissors in your drawer can be a lifesaver in certain circumstances. Obviously useful for opening cartons and packets, but I also use them for roughly cutting up bunches of fresh herbs, or even slicing chicken portions, sausages or bacon into smaller pieces. If I can use scissors instead of a knife, I will!
TONGS
Love tongs! I look at them as being like a giant finger and thumb that you can use to manipulate your food, allowing you to flip, spin and grab most items of food safely. A well-known chef (who shall remain nameless) actually pinched my favourite pair at a food festival! Obviously a fan too.
DECENT NON-STICK PANS
I used to have quite a cheap set of pans but I soon realised what a difference a decent set makes. Like all pans they have a shelf life and you need to treat them right, but a good set of non-stick pans in a few sizes can make the whole cooking experience so much easier.
CAKE RISES UP IN THE MIDDLE
I have found spreading the batter to the outer edges of the cake tin with a palette knife can prevent this happening most of the time. If it does still happen, use a long, serrated knife to carefully slice off the top once cooled, especially if the final cake is being covered in icing and decorated.
PASTRY DOESN’T ROLL OUT/BREAKS
Whether you’re using homemade or shop-bought pastry it’s important to chill it in the fridge until needed, but you’ll need to take it out of the fridge to bring to room temperature before working with it. Adding too much flour when you are rolling out will affect the consistency of the pastry, so avoid this by rolling the pastry between two sheets of baking parchment; this also makes it less messy, too!
BURNT BOTTOM OF SAUCEPAN
I get this a lot! In fact it happens to everyone I’m sure; there’s nothing worse than trying to scrub the bottom of a burnt pan. The best solution I’ve found? Add water with a few squirts of washing-up liquid to the pan and place it back over the heat. Bring to the boil, letting it simmer for around 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, pour out the water and scrub with a wire cloth or silicone spatula.
CASSEROLE IS TOO THICK/THIN
If something is too thick adding extra water, stock or other liquid usually does the trick. In terms of thickening a recipe adding cornflour (mixed with a little water first into a paste) works, as does adding cooked grains or pulses or even breadcrumbs.
OOPS, MY RECIPE IS TOO SPICY
Sometimes a blob of soured cream just won’t cut it to cool things down! If it’s a beef chilli, for example, fry some extra beef mince and add to the dish to spread out the flavour. Another trick is to add sugar, particularly to casseroles or soups. Just add very small pinches and keep tasting until you are happy.
BLIND BAKE
To bake something (usually pastry) before you add the filling to prevent the pastry becoming soggy on the bottom.
CREAM
To mix ingredients (usually butter and sugar) together to achieve a smooth, creamy finish.
WHIP/WHISK
To use a hand-held electric whisk to beat ingredients, for example cream or egg whites.
KNEAD
To handle dough in a strong manner – essential in breadmaking to develop the gluten.
GARNISH
To finish a dish with savoury toppings, usually herbs or spices
PARBOIL
To partially cook an ingredient in boiling water.
PROVE
To allow a homemade dough to rise in a warm area.
BASTE
To spoon cooking juices over food to keep it moist, usually during cooking.
POACH
To simmer slowly in a pan of liquid (often stock or milk).
FOLD