Moist Heat Cookery Methods

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Introduction
In cooking, there some basic methods cooking that are used. These commonly used basic cooking methods are divided two general groups. The groups are: Dry heat cookery methods and Moist heat cookery . The methods of cooking are divided into these two groups because the way food is cooked and the type of heat that is used. Let us have a look at the Moist Heat cookery methods

Moist Heat Cookery Methods
In moist heat cookery methods, liquid is used a medium to cook the food. Such medium could be water, coconut cream or oil. These liquids are added the food before heat is applied to it or sometimes heat is applied to the liquid before the food is added into the cooking utensils to be cooked. The moist heat cookery methods include: boiling, stewing, shallow frying, deep frying, barbequing basting. All these moist heat cooking methods use liquid cook the food in.

Boiling
This is the common method of cooking and is also the simplest. With method of cooking, enough water is added to food and it is then cooked over the fire. The action of the heated water makes the food to get cooked. The liquid is usually thrown away after the food is cooked. In the case cooking rice, all the water is absorbed by the rice grains to make it get cooked. During the heating process, the nutrients can lost or destroyed and the flavour be reduced with this method of cooking. If you over cooked cabbage, all the nutrients can get lost.

Stewing
In the process of cooking using the stewing method, food is cooked using a lot liquid. Different kinds of vegetables are chopped, diced or cubed and added the pot. Sometimes pieces of selected meat, fish or chicken is also chopped and added to the stew. The liquid is slightly thickened and stewed food is served in that manner. This method is also used preparing fruits that are going to be served desserts. With this cooking method, every food is cooked together at the time in one pot. The flavour, colours, shapes and textures of the different vegetables that are used, makes stewing a handy method of cooking. The only disadvantage is some of the vegetables might overcooked and thus the nutrient content becomes much less. It is therefore important that the vegetables that take the longest to cook to be put into the pot first and the ones that need least cooking to be put in last. In way much of the nutrient contents of the food not get lost.

Frying
When food is fried using oil solid fat it is important that you observe some rules in handling oil or fat. Simple rules to follow when frying: 1.Make sure is enough oil or fat put in the frying pan or a deep frying pan. 2.The food to be cooked must not have water dripping from it. This is when water comes into contact with hot oil or fat, you will have the oil sizzling and spitting out the pan, which could burn your skin if you are not careful. 3.Put the food the hot oil carefully. Try not to make a big splash as the oil could burn your skin. 4.The oil of fat should heated to the right temperature before putting food into the pan to be fried. If the food is put in the oil or fat is not heated to the right temperature, the food will soak up the oil and you will have food that is all oily or greasy. If the oil or fat is over heated, you will end up with food that is burnt. Sometimes the food especially doughnuts will turn brown on the outside but the dough inside is uncooked. To cook food using the frying method, are two ways of doing it. There is the shallow frying and the deep frying methods.

Shallow Frying
In shallow frying, food is cooked in a frying pan with a amount of oil or fat. The oil or fat is heated to the correct amount and the food is put the heated oil. The food is turned over a few minutes or is stirred around a couple of times before it is cooked and dished out. If patties, potato chips or coated foods are fried, it is best to put a piece of brown paper or paper napkin inside the tray to soak up any oil from the food before serving it.

Deep Frying
This is when a lot oil or fat is used in cooking the food. The oil fat is usually put into a deep pan and is heated to boiling point. Food is then put into the hot boiling oil and is cooked in that way. Such food as fish fingers, potato chips, meat balls, and dough nuts to name a few, are cooked using the deep frying method.

Cooked_fish.jpgBarbequing

The method cooking food by barbequing is usually associated fund raising activities, parties or picnics. It is most suitable to cooking meat cutlets, fish or chicken pieces. The food usually marinated with spices and tenderizers (for meat cuts) for sometime before it is cooked. With this of cooking, a sheet of metal with stands is heated up and oil is used cook the food. A sufficient amount oil is heated up and food is added. The food is then turned over a couple times before it is dished out.

Basting
This method of cooking is usually associated roasting. The juice or liquid comes out of the meat being cooked is spooned over the roast frequently while it being roasted. The outer part of the meat is moistened frequently during cooking process with the juice is being spooned over. Usually, the extra juice from the cooked meat is added a mixture to make the meat sauce.