How Do You Sharpen Cooking Knives?

I bought one of those chinese sharpening stones online (the wok shop). It feels a little like pumice or sandpaper to the touch. I also have one of those steels. I tried sharpening a knife with the stone and the steel and I think I might have ruined the knife. What I did was rub the edge of the knife against the edge of the stone on both sides at a 20 degree angle (at least I was trying to). Then I did that thing with the steel that the chefs on tv do. I looked at my knife and it was all scratched up and rough. Do I do something wrong or is that how you sharpen knives?

Is There A Cooking Knife Set For Chefs That Has All Kinds Of Knifes In It?

like chef knife, butcher knife.. all that good stuff. It is for a gift for my friend who is becoming a chef, but i have no clue…

Is Forschner A Good Quality Knife For Cooking As A Chef?

im just starting out and bought forschner because it is a heavier knife which im used to. it is swis made forged stainless stell. which from what i know is good.
is it?

I Need A Place For My Cooking Knives, Any Ideas?

i have quite a few chef knives and some smaller ones too along with carving and all purpose knives and can’t find a block or anything like that to keep them. i don;t like having them in a drawer, any other ideas of how i can store them convieniently?

What Are The Better Chef Knife For Cooking?

Essentially it is equal to you. You can use a knife that’s actual costly and does the job better than any other, but it doesn’t feeling effective to you. That can be a negative in your culinary journeying. Find out something that does the job, that feelings correct to you. in your hand. That might be the best.

What Is Your Favorite Brand Of Cooking Knives That Stay Sharp And Do Not Rust?

I am looking to buy a few knives…probably not a whole set since I never use all the knives. I want a Chef’s, paring, serrated knife, and maybe a few other knives.
I am looking at the Rachel Ray East West knife as one option.

When Do U Do The Crockery/cutlery After Cooking A Decent Size Recipe?

a) while food is being cooked
b)after the food is done cooking
c)thoroughly after the meal
What if u had little space to put the crockery ? Wud u go for a) cleaning/washing while food is being cooked
Thanks

Cooking Careers 101 – How to Become a Hotel Chef

Hotel jobs are very stressful and can be extremely tiring as you will work long days preparing and making food for guests as well as catering for functions that the hotel might be hosting like a wedding, party or corporate event. Qualified chefs are in short supply leaving many jobs unfilled longer than hotels would like. Some of the chef hotel jobs are the chef de partie or the sous chef, the demi chef, hotel cook, head cook, pastry chef, kitchen manager, master chef, sommelier, or the director of food. You also get the food preparers and other kitchen staff as well as the hotel management checking in every so often or liaising with you about events that are happening.

The hotel cook is usually called the head chef, master chef, or executive chef. If you are the head chef in a hotel, you will be responsible for the running of the entire kitchen as well as the creation of the menu and recipes for the other chefs to prepare and make. You will oversee the reparation of the food, check the making of all the dishes that leave each chef station, help train the new apprentice chefs and assistant chefs, and you will also encourage and lead your team of chefs. The head chef will also manage the banqueting hall and other food related facilities in the hotel like the bars and cafes, the hotel restaurant and any other food areas. As the head chef it is your duty to produce stunning menus and make the recipes that are used each day, so that uniformity is maintained in the food service along with consistent high standards. You are also the kitchen manager in a hotel and you will also have the tasks of handling the monetary issues of the hotel kitchen, ordering supplies and ingredients, and providing estimated consumption cost to the hotel management.

The chef de partie is the second in command in the kitchen and also known as the sous chef. If you have this hotel chef job, you are very busy and are basically the middle man between the head chef and the rest of the kitchen chefs and staff. You will be responsible for the running of the kitchen, for the organization of the menu, kitchen staff and recipes, of the food preparation, and ensuring that the food is up to the correct standards, as well as maintaining the hygiene and health regulations in the hotel kitchen. The chef de partie must know everything about the food that is being made, and works very closely with the head chef. You must know how to make all the different types of dishes on the menu.

The demi chef is also known as the demi chef de partie. You will work directly under the chef de partie and your job is to ensure that all the food going out of the kitchen is of the highest standards for each section. You will have different sections to control such as meat, vegetables, pasta, etc, and it is your job to facilitate the smooth running of your particular section. The demi chef also needs to keep in mind minimum wastage, correct hygiene and cleanliness, adhere to safety regulations, and take stock counts.

The commis chef is the next hotel chef in line under the demi chef and your job is to help the demi chef prepare the mis en place and ensure minimum wastage at all times. The commis chef will provide an accurate inventory of the ingredients used and clean and prepare the stations for cooking each shift. The commis chef has to be efficient and organized.

One of the sections of the hotel kitchen will be reserved for the pastry chefs. If you are a pastry chef, you are on a slightly different level to the other chefs and will be solely responsible for making and creating the delicious pastries for desert. The pastry chef will also organize and oversee the preparation and making of all the pastries, desserts, and ice creams. The pastry chef is basically the master chef of the confectionary department. You must bake cakes, desserts, make pastry, icings, and sugar decorations, and convey your tips and methods to the other pastry workers in your team. You will have to help train new chefs in the pastry department and give tips and advice.

The sommelier has the hotel job that involves all the drinks ordered by the guests. You must ensure that they are all prepared and served perfectly. You are also responsible for the correct pouring of wine and other beverages and have intricate knowledge of wines and how they complement the food on the menu.

The Real Secrets for Cooking Perfect Steak that Chefs won’t tell You

Cooking perfect steak might mean different things to different people, but by using the same – very simple procedure, everyone can achieve their own personal definition of perfection right on their BBQ grill. The process begins with choosing and preparing a whole beef tenderloin and ends with knowing exactly when that steak has finished cooking to the doneness that you want it to be. And all of this happens without disrupting the steak’s beauty with knife gashing and checking that center for “pinkness.” Intrigued? Give me 10 minutes and I’ll give you my formula for cooking perfect steak on your outdoor grill tonight!

It All Starts BEFORE Cooking Tenderloin!

For most carnivores, the beginning of the process towards steak nirvana is when you actually start cooking tenderloin. Unfortunately, this approach leaves out one of my best secrets for cooking perfect steak: start with the whole tenderloin. There are so many advantages to buying a whole tenderloin and breaking it down yourself. You can definitely save some money learning how to do this, and it is a lot easier than you think. When you buy the whole tenderloin, the first thing you have to do before cooking tenderloin is to remove the “chain”. The chain is the side muscle; it contains a lot of the fat and is great for use later in stews, chilis or even my favorite treat: Tenderloin Philly Cheesesteak. But that’s a whole other way for cooking tenderloin and beyond the scope of this article! Once you’ve removed the chain, you must remove the thick top end of the tenderloin – “the head”. This, too can be set aside and used later. What you are left with is a long tenderloin from which to cut your steaks. The most important thing to remember is to try to cut the steaks of consistent size by weight. Consistent size equals consistent cooking, which equals reliable cooking! Use a scale and aim for a consistent size somewhere between 3 and 5 oz per steak, depending on who you’re cooking for.

Do you Really Know How to Grill Beef?

If you believe most people, grilling takes no skill at all. It’s so much easier than cooking and anyone can do this with little advance planning or common knowledge. Right? This is actually one of my favorite cooking myths! Knowing correctly how to grill beef (or anything else) is essential to outdoor cooking success. Grilling is direct source conductive heat. Cooking is to grilling as driving is to flying a rocket ship. Everything happens quickly and intensely with grilling and that includes mistakes. So, let’s begin with the simple process:

First, get the grill as hot as possible. Keep the lid down while heating the grill, but open when cooking. This is another common grilling mistake. If you close the lid while cooking, the method you are applying is similar to that of oven cooking. Why bother doing it outside on the grill? Brush the steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can use any other kind of seasoning or rub here, but I find that the true steak flavor comes from a good cut of meat and you don’t need anything else. You might have a different opinion so season as you see fit. Place the steak on the hot grill “show side” down – meaning the side you’d want to display on the plate goes down on the grill first.</li> <li>Now observe for signs of done-ness. When the steak is 75% done on one side, flip it over and cook the rest of the way.

Knowing how to grill beef is a simple process, but most people still go into it blindly. By following the steps, you will always be working towards cooking the perfect steak, rather than just cooking a steak until it has reached a safe to eat temperature and texture. The fine line of difference between acceptable and perfection make all of the difference, and with perfection so reliably reachable, why not aim high?

How Long Should the Meat Cook? Until It’s Done!

If you want to know how long to cook anything, the answer is always the same. We cook our food until it’s done. So how do we determine how long to let the meat cook so that it’s “done”? Now that is a better question! When we cook anything, there are some consistent and reliable things that happen. The first cooking sign we look for is coagulation of proteins, which happens at 165 degrees. The sides of your steak will turn grayish brown, as it stiffens and shrinks a bit. This is how you observe this coagulation of proteins in your steak. Next, at 320 degrees, sugars carmelize forming grill marks and imparting a nice steak smell. To get those cool cross-hatch grill marks, pick the steak up, rotate it a bit and drop it back down on the grill while it is still cooking on the first side. At 50-75% done, (what the French term as “a point”), you flip the steak to the other side to complete cooking. The only way to determine if your steak is cooked the way you like it is with a thermometer. You will insert a thermometer – and ONLY a thermometer – into your steak and cook until the steak has reached your desired final temperature: 125-135 degrees is rare; 145-150 is medium and 160-165 is well done.  If you gash the steak to examine the middle, you’ve released some of the moistness, which is almost always NOT what you are tryng to do. Also, remember to let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so that the juices have redistributed in advance and will not run off on the serving plate.

Just by understanding these simple facts about grilling, cooking perfect steak is almost a guaranteed result. Go ahead and get your own whole tenderloin today and get ready for some great outdoor eating!

The Real Secrets for Cooking Perfect Steak that Chefs won’t tell You

Cooking perfect steak might mean different things to different people, but by using the same – very simple procedure, everyone can achieve their own personal definition of perfection right on their BBQ grill. The process begins with choosing and preparing a whole beef tenderloin and ends with knowing exactly when that steak has finished cooking to the doneness that you want it to be. And all of this happens without disrupting the steak’s beauty with knife gashing and checking that center for “pinkness.” Intrigued? Give me 10 minutes and I’ll give you my formula for cooking perfect steak on your outdoor grill tonight!

It All Starts BEFORE Cooking Tenderloin!

For most carnivores, the beginning of the process towards steak nirvana is when you actually start cooking tenderloin. Unfortunately, this approach leaves out one of my best secrets for cooking perfect steak: start with the whole tenderloin. There are so many advantages to buying a whole tenderloin and breaking it down yourself. You can definitely save some money learning how to do this, and it is a lot easier than you think. When you buy the whole tenderloin, the first thing you have to do before cooking tenderloin is to remove the “chain”. The chain is the side muscle; it contains a lot of the fat and is great for use later in stews, chilis or even my favorite treat: Tenderloin Philly Cheesesteak. But that’s a whole other way for cooking tenderloin and beyond the scope of this article! Once you’ve removed the chain, you must remove the thick top end of the tenderloin – “the head”. This, too can be set aside and used later. What you are left with is a long tenderloin from which to cut your steaks. The most important thing to remember is to try to cut the steaks of consistent size by weight. Consistent size equals consistent cooking, which equals reliable cooking! Use a scale and aim for a consistent size somewhere between 3 and 5 oz per steak, depending on who you’re cooking for.

Do you Really Know How to Grill Beef?

If you believe most people, grilling takes no skill at all. It’s so much easier than cooking and anyone can do this with little advance planning or common knowledge. Right? This is actually one of my favorite cooking myths! Knowing correctly how to grill beef (or anything else) is essential to outdoor cooking success. Grilling is direct source conductive heat. Cooking is to grilling as driving is to flying a rocket ship. Everything happens quickly and intensely with grilling and that includes mistakes. So, let’s begin with the simple process:

First, get the grill as hot as possible. Keep the lid down while heating the grill, but open when cooking. This is another common grilling mistake. If you close the lid while cooking, the method you are applying is similar to that of oven cooking. Why bother doing it outside on the grill? Brush the steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can use any other kind of seasoning or rub here, but I find that the true steak flavor comes from a good cut of meat and you don’t need anything else. You might have a different opinion so season as you see fit. Place the steak on the hot grill “show side” down – meaning the side you’d want to display on the plate goes down on the grill first.</li> <li>Now observe for signs of done-ness. When the steak is 75% done on one side, flip it over and cook the rest of the way.

Knowing how to grill beef is a simple process, but most people still go into it blindly. By following the steps, you will always be working towards cooking the perfect steak, rather than just cooking a steak until it has reached a safe to eat temperature and texture. The fine line of difference between acceptable and perfection make all of the difference, and with perfection so reliably reachable, why not aim high?

How Long Should the Meat Cook? Until It’s Done!

If you want to know how long to cook anything, the answer is always the same. We cook our food until it’s done. So how do we determine how long to let the meat cook so that it’s “done”? Now that is a better question! When we cook anything, there are some consistent and reliable things that happen. The first cooking sign we look for is coagulation of proteins, which happens at 165 degrees. The sides of your steak will turn grayish brown, as it stiffens and shrinks a bit. This is how you observe this coagulation of proteins in your steak. Next, at 320 degrees, sugars carmelize forming grill marks and imparting a nice steak smell. To get those cool cross-hatch grill marks, pick the steak up, rotate it a bit and drop it back down on the grill while it is still cooking on the first side. At 50-75% done, (what the French term as “a point”), you flip the steak to the other side to complete cooking. The only way to determine if your steak is cooked the way you like it is with a thermometer. You will insert a thermometer – and ONLY a thermometer – into your steak and cook until the steak has reached your desired final temperature: 125-135 degrees is rare; 145-150 is medium and 160-165 is well done.  If you gash the steak to examine the middle, you’ve released some of the moistness, which is almost always NOT what you are tryng to do. Also, remember to let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so that the juices have redistributed in advance and will not run off on the serving plate.

Just by understanding these simple facts about grilling, cooking perfect steak is almost a guaranteed result. Go ahead and get your own whole tenderloin today and get ready for some great outdoor eating!

Next Page »