Cooking is the artistic act of preparing food or dishes for eating and consumption. Cooking encompasses a very broad range of tools, methods and combinations of different ingredients to modify or improve flavor, appeal and food digestibility.
Cooking in general requires and involves the selection, combination and measurement of ingredients in an orderly manner or procedure to achieve a desired result or final product.
However, successful cooking is hindered by a number of factors that may include the availability of tools, the pricing and accessibility of ingredients, and of course, above all, the skill and talent of the cook or the person cooking.
Globally, the diversity of cooking reflects the myriad aesthetic, nutritional, economic, cultural, agricultural and religious situations, environment or considerations that may influence or affect it.
To cook, heat must be applied to food. The process will chemically transform the food, changing its flavor, its appearance, its texture, and of course, more importantly, its nutritional characteristics and properties.
History have it that cooked food stuff, both animal and vegetable, in human civilizations from the ancient times used fire to cook food.
Cooking techniques
There a number of cooking techniques used by modern cooks to prepare sumptuous meals for people and guests. Be aware that cooking has somehow turned into an exact science because cooks have turned very systematic and exact or meticulous on ingredients and procedures.
It will be amusing to know that nowadays, cooking has also become a very important profession. Around the world, lots of cooking schools and academies have proliferated.
Lots of students and young people have changed their perspective of cooking and some of them even chose to make the activity or task a life-long commitment or profession.
The art of cooking now has become more sophisticated. Five-star hotels around the globe has turned very requiring and particular about the food they serve their clients.
There are a number of techniques on how people cook food the most common and the most advanced techniques will be described here. Read on.
Baking is one form of cooking that has advanced through the years. It involves meticulous following of procedures and utmost attention and focus to the measurement of the ingredients. Take note that when you cook, you have to be exact. Too mich flour or egg yolk or sugar can ruin your project or recipe.
Baking involves the use of the microwave for heat requirements.
Boiling is the process when the raw food material is immersed in water and the whole thing is put up under fire until the water boils down.
You know that boiling kills germs so this is a process where it is ensured that contamination in food is eliminated. People have devised ways on how to make food taste better through boiling. In the Philippines, there is a dish called ‘sinigang’ where raw meat of pork, beef or even fish is boiled with water. After the water has boiled, other food ingredients are added.
Frying is that kind of cooking where the food is cooked by immersing them in boiling oil or very hot oil. The oil temperature will do the cooking.
Most fast food dishes are cooked. The most loved cooked foods include fried chicken, fried fish and other fried delicacies. It should be noted though that fried foods are oily and contains more cholesterol than other food cooked the other way.
Khieng ’Ken’ Chho is author and owner of Online Cooking Resources. For related articles and other resources, visit Ken’s website: http://cooking.onew3b.net
