The Conservative Cave

Interests => All Things Edible (and how to prepare them) => Topic started by: Mr Mannn on October 04, 2014, 10:32:19 AM

Title: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on October 04, 2014, 10:32:19 AM: Video: Look at this, please. Is he using a frying pan?
I have a frying pan, I can do this right?
and. If I use butter instead of olive oil will it still work?

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Dh1KBaeVs[/youtube]
Title: Re: Video: Look at this, please. Is he using a frying pan?
Post by: Big Dog on October 04, 2014, 10:40:54 AM: I can't get the video to work, but the answer to your question is:

Yes, you can use a frying pan, and yes, you can use real butter instead of olive oil. Be careful with the heat, so you don't burn the butter.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on October 04, 2014, 01:33:13 PM: OK so I went to the store. The guy at the butcher counter said you could even cook steaks in a frying pan. So I got two porter house steaks and a pair of lamb chops.

I also got some olive oil. The nice stuff is expensive. So I got a really expensive one.
1) Question. Whats the diff between olive oil and extra virgin olive oil?
2) What is the diff between olive oil and vegetable oil? (besides the price)

seasonings. The You Tube cooks use a ton of salt. So I got a 85 cent tub of salt.
I also got garlic powder, and grind as you go pepper.

oh and get a load of this video. This guy uses a really cheap, tough cut of steak with a TON of salt. Yes, you wash all that salt off before you cook. Take a look.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RWJEOScToE[/youtube]
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Dori on October 04, 2014, 02:52:40 PM: Oils burn at different temps. Some oils have a taste.

Butter and butter substitutes can burn easily.

For everyday cooking I use canola oil. It's light and doesn't have any odor or taste to it like some vegetable oils do. I use olive oil in recipes for dressings and grilling vegetables. Oils and shortening (like Crisco that's solid at room temp) can go rancid, only buy what you will use in a reasonable amount of time. If it starts to smell unpleasant, pitch it out because that rancid taste will get into your food.

I've never been one to salt raw meat. I was told (a long time ago) that the salt draws out the juices (flavor) and toughens it. How high a temp on cooking a steak is important too. It will depend on the cut and how thick it is, and how you like it cooked. (well done to rare). Also, if there is a lot of fat involved and the flame is too high, you can wind up with a pretty good grease fire inside the skillet. Don't leave frying unattended.

I like to grill or fry a steak by only turning it once. Put the meat down on a heated and oiled skillet (don't start on a cold skillet or grill). As soon as the juices have bubbled to the surface of the raw side, turn it over for about the same amount of time. Also, don't press meat down with a spatula (hamburgers either) as that presses the juices out. You want to keep as much of the juice inside the meat as possible. Both for flavor and tenderness. Also, don't cover the meat with a lid. That will cause moisture and condensation and that seems to steam or toughen the steak.

Now there are lots of ways to cook other meats on a low flame with a lid, but that takes a lot longer and not usually done with steaks. I have made a large sirloin steak covered in onions, celery and tomatoes, but that I do on a low setting for a long time covered and served over rice.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on October 05, 2014, 11:07:12 AM: You're not supposed to refrigerate potatoes right?
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Big Dog on October 05, 2014, 11:18:34 AM: Quote from: Mr Mannn on October 05, 2014, 11:07:12 AM
You're not supposed to refrigerate potatoes right?

Correct. The starches (complex carbohydrates) break down to sugars (simple carbohydrates), which will change the texture of the potato and burn (carmelize) while cooking.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: BlueStateSaint on October 05, 2014, 12:22:23 PM: Quote from: Big Dog on October 05, 2014, 11:18:34 AM
Correct. The starches (complex carbohydrates) break down to sugars (simple carbohydrates), which will change the texture of the potato and burn (carmelize) while cooking.

Guess I need to educate my wife, then . . . :fuelfire:
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Big Dog on October 05, 2014, 12:25:46 PM: Quote from: BlueStateSaint on October 05, 2014, 12:22:23 PM
Guess I need to educate my wife, then . . . :fuelfire:

I learned that from Alton Brown.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: thundley4 on October 05, 2014, 12:34:44 PM: Quote from: Mr Mannn on October 05, 2014, 11:07:12 AM
You're not supposed to refrigerate potatoes right?

Keep them in a cool dry place. If you don't use them soon enough they might start to sprout.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: JohnnyReb on October 05, 2014, 12:46:48 PM: "How not to burn water".....use "It's Not Water Water".
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Hey, who knows, some DUmmie might be down at WAL-MART right now asking for it.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on December 21, 2014, 08:16:46 PM: OK. Just for bragging rights, I want to say I have browned hamburger and made Hamburger Helper!
I went to the store and purchased outrageously expensive hamburger and slaved away with my electric skillet. I expected back breaking, menial work...but in a few minutes: it was brown!
---that was easy!

After all the failures with freeze dried hamburger and a microwave...I could have been chowing down on the bachelor's favorite meal...I remember paying gals $20 to make me a batch and bring it to work.

Sure this is basic cooking 101 stuff. To y'all it may be nuthin. But I have mastered a basic skill used in a lot of cooking. I got an A.

and don't tell anyone. It tasted better than freeze dried.

This weekend was good. I ate a porterhouse steak Saturday night. Lamb chops for lunch. and cheesy macaroni HH for dinner.

I have an electric skillet, a frying pan, a crock pot, a toaster and a microwave.
I still need to get a basic pot to cook stuff on the stove top.

So thats my update. I've not been telling you guys and gals stuff like this because I thought you were getting bored. I feel like I just discovered the Force.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Big Dog on December 21, 2014, 08:22:10 PM: Quote from: Mr Mannn on December 21, 2014, 08:16:46 PM
OK. Just for bragging rights, I want to say I have browned hamburger and made Hamburger Helper!
I went to the store and purchased outrageously expensive hamburger and slaved away with my electric skillet. I expected back breaking, menial work...but in a few minutes: it was brown!
---that was easy!

After all the failures with freeze dried hamburger and a microwave...I could have been chowing down on the bachelor's favorite meal...I remember paying gals $20 to make me a batch and bring it to work.

Sure this is basic cooking 101 stuff. To y'all it may be nuthin. But I have mastered a basic skill used in a lot of cooking. I got an A.

and don't tell anyone. It tasted better than freeze dried.

This weekend was good. I ate a porterhouse steak Saturday night. Lamb chops for lunch. and cheesy macaroni HH for dinner.

I have an electric skillet, a frying pan, a crock pot, a toaster and a microwave.
I still need to get a basic pot to cook stuff on the stove top.

So thats my update. I've not been telling you guys and gals stuff like this because I thought you were getting bored. I feel like I just discovered the Force.

The Force is strong in this one.

(http://global3.memecdn.com/luke-and-yoda_o_315852.jpg)

Way to go! I'm proud of you.
Title: How long does it take to Preheat an oven?
Post by: Mr Mannn on January 01, 2015, 07:43:37 PM: How long does it take to Preheat an oven?
I've got a frozen Pizza, I want to try. I have to preheat an oven to 400 degrees
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Chris_ on January 01, 2015, 08:10:32 PM: 15-20 minutes.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on January 01, 2015, 08:30:54 PM: Cooked the Pizza. Came out OK. But it set off my fire alarm.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Chris_ on January 01, 2015, 08:43:39 PM: Quote from: Mr Mannn on January 01, 2015, 08:30:54 PM
Cooked the Pizza. Came out OK. But it set off my fire alarm.
Open a window.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on January 01, 2015, 11:10:57 PM: Quote from: Chris_ on January 01, 2015, 08:43:39 PM
Open a window.
Yep. Lesson learned.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Chris_ on January 01, 2015, 11:19:41 PM: You really don't need to crank your oven to 450Â° to bake in an oven. 400Â° is fine... it just takes a few extra minutes. It's not like you're running a haute cuisine bakery or French pastry shop.

Also, clean the bottom of the oven if you have any accumulation. I use a BBQ brush (steel bristles and a scraper with a wooden handle) to scrape mine clean while it's cold. I push everything into a small pile and use the vacuum cleaner to pick it up.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Mr Mannn on January 02, 2015, 12:31:22 AM: Well I thought I turned my oven off, but I set it to broil for about two hours.

~~ I wondered why it wasn't getting cold with all the windows open.Turned it off an hour ago.
why does the broil sit right next to the "off" indicator?

Its cool now going to bed.
Title: Re: Cooking 101. Questions about things like, "How not to burn water."
Post by: Chris_ on January 02, 2015, 12:49:42 AM: Don't know. I don't use the broiler.