Unlock Your Culinary Skills: 13 Essential Cooking Tips from a Professional Chef!

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Chicken pot pie on a green⁤ and white checkered⁢ napkin — Simple upgrades can enhance classic dishes.
Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock

As a professional chef, I have learned several techniques ⁢to elevate everyday meals.
Create homemade⁢ croutons and peel celery ‌before adding it to salads.
Chill⁢ cookie ‍dough prior⁣ to ⁤baking and incorporate salt into sweet recipes.

As an ⁣experienced chef, I understand ‍that even minor adjustments can ⁣significantly impact the final dish.

Here are 13 essential tips for preparing popular foods everyone should master:

Roast⁤ Chicken with⁣ Hearty⁢ Vegetables

Transform your roast⁢ chicken into a complete meal⁣ by surrounding it with chopped carrots, onions, potatoes,‍ and other robust vegetables in⁤ the roasting pan. As the chicken cooks, its juices will infuse the vegetables with flavor. By the time your chicken is ready, you’ll have deliciously seasoned ⁢veggies to‍ accompany ‌it.

Crispy ‌Croutons ⁤Made by Hand

Croutons cooking in oil on a ⁣black baking ‍sheet — Avoid using knives for crouton preparation.
Steidi/Shuttershock

Create exceptionally⁤ crunchy croutons—so crispy they might drown out conversation during dinner—by tearing slightly stale bread instead of cutting it. Tearing generates unique shapes that absorb olive oil and seasonings better while providing more ⁢surface area for browning in the oven.

Brew French Onion Soup in Bulk

Simplify your cooking process by⁣ preparing⁢ a large batch of French onion soup using an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven. Once it’s nearly finished,⁣ top it with toasted croutons and shredded ⁢Gruyère ⁤cheese; then broil until bubbly ⁤and golden brown for a delightful family-style serving.

The Art of Low-and-Slow Scrambled Eggs

Lessen ⁣the heat when scrambling eggs and stir minimally for an ultra-creamy texture. Instead of constantly mixing them around in the pan,⁤ gently pull edges toward the center as ‍they cook. Remember‍ to take them ⁣off⁢ heat just before they’re ⁤fully⁣ set; they’ll continue cooking off-heat but remain moist on your plate.

Peeled Celery Enhances Salads

Tuna salad served in a⁤ bowl on a table. — The‍ outer ‍layer of celery can be tough.
Joanna 12/Shuttershock

The next time you prepare tuna or pasta⁢ salad, use a vegetable peeler along each ⁢celery stalk’s length. This removes tough‍ fibers from its outer layer that can make eating raw celery unpleasantly chewy.

Puff Pastry:⁤ A Versatile Ingredient

Keep puff ‍pastry stocked in your freezer so you can effortlessly create impressive appetizers or⁢ desserts at any moment. With just this ingredient plus some extras like ‍cheese⁤ or fruit toppings, you could whip up ‌everything from ⁢savory ⁢chicken pot pies to elegant ‌tarte Tatin without breaking much sweat!

Add Sweetness to Your Sandwiches

Add thin slices of apple ⁢or pear between layers of‍ bread and cheese for an easy yet‌ gourmet twist on grilled cheese sandwiches! The natural sugars released from fruit complement umami-rich cheeses beautifully!