Final Touches Before Serving
Learn the checks and finishing touches made in the last few minutes before a dish reaches the table—seasoning, resting, and plating order.
What Will You Learn in This Lesson?
- Make one final seasoning check before serving the dish
- Rest meat for the appropriate amount of time before cutting it
- Follow the plating order (base, main ingredient, sauce, garnish)
- Check the internal temperature of the dish before serving
- Carry a plated dish from the kitchen to the table without disturbing it
Equipment You’ll Need
Required
- A tasting spoon
- Aluminum foil (for resting meat)
- Clean serving plates
- A spatula or ladle (for plating)
Optional
- A kitchen thermometer (for checking internal temperature)
- A sauce spoon or squeeze bottle (for drizzling)
Alternative
- If you do not have a thermometer: touch the center of the plate with the back of your finger to check its temperature.
Safety
- Do not dip a tasting spoon back into the pot without washing it; saliva can contaminate the entire dish.
- Do not pick up a plate straight from the oven with bare hands; ceramic and metal plates stay much hotter than they look.
- When uncovering meat that has been resting under foil, keep your hand away; steam trapped underneath can rise suddenly.