Cooking Tips — little secrets from the pros
Why does rice turn out fluffy, why won’t dough rise, why does meat get tough? 2163 tips tested by chefs and the community — sorted into categories and explained one by one.
All Tips
2,163 tips listed
Why Does Food Cool Quickly During a Long Meal?
During a long meal, food cools quickly because it sits in a wide, shallow serving dish with the lid off, and the dish itself is cold. Each ladleful exposes the...
What Salt and Seasonings Should You Put on the Table?
Along with salt and black pepper, serve red pepper flakes, sumac, dried mint, and cut lemon according to the meal: lemon and red pepper flakes with soup, sumac...
How to Arrange Dishes on a Long Dining Table
On a long table, dishes are not lined up just once down the center; each dish is divided among several smaller serving dishes and repeated along the table. From...
In What Order Are Dishes Served at a Dinner Party?
At a dinner party, dishes progress from light to rich: cold appetizers and olive oil dishes welcome guests at the table, followed by soup, a hot appetizer, and...
How to Keep Sherbet and Ayran Cold at the Table
Keep sherbet and ayran cold at the table by chilling the pitcher from the outside, not by adding ice to the drinks. Ice that melts into the drink dilutes the su...
Which Dishes Should Be Cleared from the Table First?
When clearing the table, remove dishes made with meat, poultry, fish, dairy, or eggs first, along with cooked rice and pasta and cut fruit. Next come vegetable...
How to Plate Food and Why Not to Fill a Plate to the Rim
Serve food with some room around the edge of the plate. A plate filled to the rim spills when carried, sauce runs over the edge, and the diner has no room to cu...
How to Slice Cakes and Layer Cakes Cleanly
Slice cakes and layer cakes cleanly with a long, thin knife that has been heated and wiped after every cut. For layer cakes, press straight down in one stroke;...
Why Is Flatbread Placed Under Meat on a Kebab Platter?
Flatbread is placed under kebab because it absorbs the meat’s juices and fat, keeping them from pooling at the bottom of the platter; the soaked flatbread becom...
How to Portion and Decorate Ashure in Bowls
Ladle ashure into bowls while it is hot and fluid, because it thickens as it cools and sets with a smooth, glossy surface; decorate each bowl after the ashure h...
How to Keep Holiday Refreshments Ready for Guests All Day
When guests arrive throughout the holiday, prepare refreshments in small batches instead of arranging everything on the serving plate at once: fill the plate li...
Why Does Cooking Change at High Altitudes?
As altitude increases, air pressure drops, and water’s boiling point drops with it: water boils at 100°C / 212°F at sea level but at about 2,000 meters, it drop...