cooking

Essential guide to cooking tools, gadgets and kitchen accessories.

Baking tools are designed for baking enthusiasts to achieve better results with less effort.

Electronic rice cookers are a very specialized aid. Only those cooking rice in large quantities or very often are bound to need one.

Slow cookers are typically earthenware. They have a low (175° F) and high (200°F) settings which enables them to cook over six to ten hours, depending on the model.

These appliances use high frequency electronic waves, similar to radio waves. The waves penetrate the food, causing the molecules to vibrate; the vibration generates heat, up to a depth of 1 1/2 inches, all round. Some models have a sensor to detect when the food is cooked. Combining convection and microwave cooking delivers microwave speed together with the toasted look of conventional cooking.

With a little practice, it is easy to control cooking conditions and get perfect results.

Steaming is healthier than boiling or frying as less nutrients are lost, and the food does not absorb any fat, so there are no added calories.

One dish meals are great for those times when you just can’t muster up the motivation, energy or time to cook an elaborate meal.

A relation of British cooking terms and their equivalents in American English. Some are not the words you would find in a recipe book, but you would hear in everyday speaking or when shopping for food.