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French Cooking Methods
French Cooking
Methods
French cuisine is one of the world's most elegant styles of
cooking, and is prominent for both its conventional ("haute
cuisine") or grande cuisine and provincial techniques. French
cooking methods, styles, and equipment have been a prime impact
on virtually all Western cuisines. Almost all culinary schools
worldwide use French cuisine as the foundation for all other
forms of cooking.
It was in 1652 when the first French
cookbook "Le Cuisine François," written by a French chef, La
Varenne, showed how French cooking methods, styles, and
equipment had become an essential part of cooking in Europe.
European regions also had an influence on French cooking. It is
to be noted that each area of France has something exceptional
to offer to French cooking methods, styles, and equipment and
the entirety of the French cuisine.
One of the French cooking methods is sautéeing. It means
cooking food in butter or oil in a pan over a moderately high
heat. “Sauter,” or “to jump” in French, basically is to keep
the food being sautéed moving or stirring over heat. And two is
brunoise or dicing which means to cut food into small dice.
One-eighth of an inch square is the standard.
French cooking styles varies. It is regarded as a
time-consuming task because of the diversity of French cooking
methods, styles, and equipment. Among the styles is the
preparation of stocks which is the base of various French
dishes. A stock is made by simmering various ingredients in
water or simply the broth of cooking fish, meats, vegetables or
bones. Adding sauce adds flavor and moisture to other dishes.
French cuisine is known for a choice of sauces including
Espagnole, Béchamel, Mayonnaise, Hollandaise, Velouté and
tomato sauce. They are also used as the base for other
sauces.
Cooking in France involves a large number of French cooking
methods, styles, and equipment, some simple and others
extremely complex. Not only do basic French cooking methods,
styles, and equipment require great skill, but they also
require a profound understanding of the ingredients. Diversity
in French cooking methods, styles, and equipment is also one of
the most daring, which owes to the characteristic of most
French people. Mastery of French cooking methods, styles, and
equipment is the center of the culinary arts. And it must be
noted that the simplest preparation be undertaken in the most
vigilant manner, ignoring the amount of time it would entail
because this is the reason why French cooking has always been
devastating on all parts of the world.
All these French cooking methods, styles, and equipment play
a vital role in the success of the French cuisine making them
known all over the world. French cooking methods styles and
equipment contribute vitally to the French cuisine and made it
the best in the world. They have earned the merit of making it
an art stressing on its combination of delicate taste.