Restaurant Food Secrets
(ref: YouTube)
1. Curing Meats:
- Season meat generously with salt and let sit in the fridge overnight.
2. Adding Acid:
- Add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice to your dishes for extra brightness.
3. Hydrocolloids (Xanthan Gum):
- Use xanthan gum to thicken sauces without adding fat or calories.
4. Compression (Vacuum Sealing):
- Pickle vegetables quickly by vacuum sealing them with pickling liquid.
5. Precise Measurements (Exact Recipes):
- Measure ingredients carefully to ensure consistent flavor.
6. Par Cooking:
- Pre-cook food to a specific temperature in advance to speed up service.
7. Par Frying:
- Par fry breaded items in lower temperature oil to achieve a crispy exterior without overcooking.
8. Coning (Slow Cooking in Fat):
- Slowly cook proteins in a large volume of fat for intense flavor and tenderizing.
9. Two-Step Cooking:
- Cook food to 80-90% done in advance and finish it quickly during service.
10. Pre-Making Dishes (Cooking in Advance):
- Cook time-consuming dishes like braises or stews ahead of time to save time and effort.