knowledge.txt

Chopping: Cutting vegetables into irregular, bite-sized pieces.
Dicing: Creating uniform cubes of varying sizes.
Slicing: Cutting vegetables into flat, even pieces.
Mincing: Finely chopping vegetables to create tiny pieces.

Cooking times for steak:
Blue: 1½ mins each side.
Rare: 2¼ mins each side.
Medium-rare: 3¼ mins each side.
Medium: 4½ mins each side.

One of the most important items in cooking is a quality set of knives. Most tasks can be accomplished well with just a chef’s knife, paring knife, and serrated knife. You’ll also need a cutting board for a chopping surface. 

For the actual cooking, you’ll need a couple of pots and pans. Stainless steel cookware is good for almost all purposes. Start with a simple set: a stock pot, sauté pan, and saucepan. You’ll also want sheet pans for roasting and baking. You may want a nonstick pan for eggs and delicate seafood.

Cooking tips for beginners:
Read recipes thoroughly ahead of time. 
Prep and organize ahead of time.
Don’t overcrowd your pan or baking dish.
Turn your pan handles to the side.
Get a good chef’s knife.
Purchase fresh, quality ingredients.
Don’t leave the kitchen.
Don’t put food in a cold pan.
Bring meats out of the fridge early. And don’t cook wet meat or fish.
Rest meat after cooking.
Use proper measuring tools.
Be weary of high heat.
Salt your pasta water, never add oil, and don’t rinse.
Don’t improvise too much.
Be flexible.