The Science of Good Cooking: Master 50 Simple Concepts to Enjoy a Lifetime of Success in the Kitchen

by America's Test Kitchen (Editor)

Overview

Master 50 simple concepts to ensure success in the kitchen.

Unlock a lifetime of successful cooking with this groundbreaking new volume from the editors of Cook's Illustrated, the magazine that put food science on the map. Organized around 50 core principles our test cooks use to develop foolproof recipes, The Science of Good Cooking is a radical new approach to teaching the fundamentals of the kitchen. Fifty unique experiments from the test kitchen bring the science to life, and more than 400 landmark Cook's Illustrated recipes (such as Old-Fashioned Burgers, Classic Mashed Potatoes, andPerfect Chocolate Chip Cookies) illustrate each of the basic principles at work. These experiments range from simple to playful to innovative - showing you why you should fold (versus stir) batter for chewy brownies, why you whip egg whites with sugar, and why the simple addition of salt can make meat juicy. A lifetime of experience isn't the prerequisite for becoming a good cook; knowledge is. Think of this as an owner's manual for your kitchen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933615981
Publisher:	America's Test Kitchen
Publication date:	10/01/2012
Pages:	504
Sales rank:	66,706
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 10.50(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Cook’s Illustrated is a widely renowned America’s Test Kitchen brand that is the work of over 60 passionate chefs based in Boston, Massachusetts, who put ingredients, cookware, equipment, and recipes through objective, rigorous testing to identify the very best. America’s Test Kitchen brands are well-known for top-rated television shows with more than 4 million weekly public television viewers, bestselling cookbooks, magazines, websites, and a cooking school. Discover, learn, and expand your cooking repertoire with Julia Collin Davison, Bridget Lancaster, Jack Bishop, Dan Souza, Lisa McManus, Tucker Shaw, Bryan Roof, and our fabulous team of test cooks!

Editorial Reviews

Good cooks work their magic on recipes, but they perfect their skill by mastering basic kitchen concepts. The editors at America's Test Kitchen earn their reputation by sharpening those concepts and perfecting those recipes. This 500-page cooking compendium enables you to do both. As you make some of its 450 recipes, you will realize that you're applying some of its 50 fundamental concepts. The Science of Good Cooking is one of those cookbooks that keeps giving and giving and giving.

The editors at America’s Test Kitchen, known for their endless testing, experimentation, and virtually foolproof recipes, offer a comprehensive exploration of the science behind cooking and baking in this informative and engaging collection. For those who have wondered about the hows and whys of cooking, whether it be why brining makes meat juicier or how to make flakier pie crust, these folks have it covered. In their trademark style of experimenting, assessing results, deriving takeaways, and offering related recipes, they explain 50 fundamental concepts that will make even the most skilled cook better. Insightful teachings such as gentle heat prevents overcooking and high heat develops flavor are showcased in appealing recipes such as glazed spiral ham and stir-fried beef with snap peas and red peppers. Sidebars provide useful advice and guidelines on everything from egg safety and salt to flour and butter. Some discoveries are surprising, such as that adding vodka will make pie dough tender and slicing changes garlic and onion flavor. Throughout, valuable advice on washing vegetables and fruit and cooking with chocolate will pique the minds of curious cooks. Ideal as a reference for the bookshelf and as a book to curl up and get lost in, this volume will be turned to time and again for definitive instruction on just about any food-related matter. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Apart from grouping recipes by concept (e.g., "High Heat Develops Flavor," "Fat Makes Eggs Tender," and "Salting Vegetables Removes Liquids") instead of by course, this cookbook largely resembles other America's Test Kitchen titles, like The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook and The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook. You'll find Deviled Eggs, Beef Stroganoff, and Yeasted Waffles in all three, albeit with variation in instructions and ingredients. VERDICT A handy (if redundant) collection that synthesizes America's Test Kitchen's numerous kitchen experiments. For other takes on culinary science, try Shirley Corriher's CookWise: The Secrets of Cooking Revealed and Alton Brown's I'm Just Here for the Food: Food + Heat = Cooking. [Check out Neal Wyatt's "RA Crossroads: What To Read After Modernist Cuisine" at ow.ly/cjbe3 for more titles on food science.—Ed.]

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