How to read a recipe and avoid common cooking pitfalls (2024)
Reading comprehension: It’s not just for the SAT! The concept that many of us probably rolled our eyes at in our youth — surprise! — does indeed have practical implications in our real adult lives. Recipes are a prime example.
Sure, recipes are about cooking, but before you get into the kitchen, it’s key to slow down and fully understand what you’re about to undertake.
You'll see how many servings the recipe should make. Next come the ingredients, which should be listed in the same order that you're going to use them in the recipe. The ingredients will be presented a little differently depending whether you should prepare them before they're measured.
Not reading through the entire recipe before you plan to make it. One of the biggest mistakes people make when preparing a recipe is not reading through the recipe ahead of time. And, no, this doesn't mean printing it out or pulling it up on your phone or tablet 15 or 20 minutes before you plan on making it.
The other great reason to read a recipe before you start cooking is to make sure it makes sense. A good recipe should be methodical and approach the dish with steps in order. Most recipes list ingredients in the same order they are used in the instructions.
1. Read the recipe. Of all the important advice out there about cooking, this by far has to be the number 1 rule of cooking: read your recipe completely before getting started. This may seem like a mundane task (especially when you're excited dive in!), but you'll be so thankful you took the time to do it!
Read through the recipe at least twice to make sure that you understand the directions. Make sure that you can perform all the techniques. Look at the recipe yield and decide if the number of servings is what you need. If not, consider whether you should cut the ingredient amounts in half or double them.
The ingredients list is one of the most important parts of a recipe, and it should be listed in the order that it will appear in the directions list. Make sure to be specific and list exact amounts needed; and include the state of ingredients (i.e., frozen, softened, melted).
Ingredient List - The ingredient list is one of the most critical parts of a recipe. The ingredients should be listed in chronological order, with the ingredient used first at the very top of the list (Palmer, 2020).
Recipes should be arranged in the Works Cited list by the author's name, or by title if the recipe is uncredited, with the in-text citation rules being the same as for other sources. To assist the reader in locating the material, the note, "Recipe." should be included after the recipe's title in the Works Cited list.
Yield in culinary terms refers to how much you will have of a finished or processed product. Professional recipes should always state a yield; for example, a tomato soup recipe may yield 15 L, and a muffin recipe may yield 24 muffins.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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