Think of it as if the dish you’re making is a building; you have to build a foundation, so to speak, at each level before going to the next. The salt/pepper, etc. should be added at small amounts at each level, so that when your dish is finished it has the different layers and complexity, rather than doing the whole dish and then seasoning at the end, but nothing else. You want to give the ingredients time to absorb the seasoning and fully express their flavors and aromas.
To the best of my understanding, most dishes need to be balanced with sweet and salt working together, and acids and fat working together. You can achieve these things in literally thousands of different ways. I cook a lot of italian food, so I use olive oil or pork fat (rendered from bacon or pancetta) and balsamic vinegar a LOT. Mexican food you might use the same pork fat, but use apple cider vinegar instead for the acid. I’ve noticed that Seafood tends to have a lot of fat in the pan coming directly from whatever you cooking, and simply balancing with lemon juice can work well–but butter is also used frequently for the fat.
Lastly, aromatics, herbs and spices will give you a more regional flavor. Some regions are very simple (thyme and oregano tend to yell “Italian!’), while others are hopelessly complex. – Squid_Viciously
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9. When cooking meat don’t constantly move it. – tomthehippie
A lot of flavor you get from meat is the sear that builds up on the surface. Moving the meat around constantly stops it from building up a good sear. Listen to the meat. Learn the difference between a dry and wet crackle. As long as you hear a wet crackle, leave it alone. Also, meat should be cooked until it is almost done, then set aside to rest for five to ten minutes. Don’t touch it. Don’t cut it. Let it rest. – tomthehippie
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10. Let the Maillard reaction happen if you want flavor. – Catusa
Let you toast become toast. Let you food saute long enough in the pan. Don’t rush things because the browning reaction is what creates flavor. – Catusa
More cooking advice next page!
Clare WhitfieldChief Editor
Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.
I get what you’re saying, and yeah, those cases where people meet as adults can explain why the attraction happens.…