Kitchen Tips

Practical cooking tips to make your time in the kitchen easier and more efficient.

• Salt early and often

  Season foods in stages to build layers of flavor.

• Bring proteins to room temp

  Let meat sit 15–20 min before cooking for even doneness.

• Pan sauce 101

  Deglaze with stock and finish with butter for a quick sauce.

• Sheet-pan spacing = crisping

  Leave space between items so they roast, not steam.

• Thermometer > guesswork

  Use an instant-read thermometer for perfect doneness.

• Batch aromatics

  Prep garlic, onions, and herbs in bulk for quick meals.

• Starch water saves pasta sauces

  Reserve pasta water to thicken and emulsify sauces.

• Rest meats before slicing

  Allow juices to redistribute for moist results.

• Freeze herbs in oil

  Preserve fresh herbs in ice cube trays with oil.

• Taste in stages

  Taste as you cook to adjust seasoning on the fly.

• Sharpen knives regularly

  A sharp knife is safer and more efficient.

• Mise en place = speed

  Organize ingredients beforehand for smoother cooking.