Cooking

Cooking or cookery is the art, technology and craft of preparing food for consumption with the use of heat.

The course

The Cookery course is arranged in three modules:

Module I Basic Concentrates on presenting basic knowledge, techniques and skills in the context of preparing a single menu item or recipe.

Module II Intermediate Progresses to preparing and planning one or two courses and introducing some regional dishes.

Module III Advanced Moves on to provide a wider experience of whole menu planning and more specialised skills.

There are separate courses on safety, hygiene and nutrition which need to be studied either before or alongside the cooking course, as knowledge of these subjects is an essential requisite of good and safe food preparation.

The content of each course Module is presented as a series of named Activity units. These are the lectures such as Art, lessons or sessions. The Activity units are listed in the Introduction to each Module in the order in which they are to be attempted. Each consists of a number of activities and assignments which, taken together, progressively build the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to become competent in the topic.

Preparation

The cooking course assumes no previous knowledge of the topic but entry level skill in basic subject are needed:

• Arithmetical skills
  • Addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of money, weight, volume, capacity and time.
  • Simple algebra for spreadsheet use.
  • Ratio and proportion.
• I.T. skills
  • Word processing Copy, paste, save and organise files and folders. Text entry and modification.
  • Databases. Simple entry
  • Web search. Search engines, search terms, saving and logging results.
  • Digital imaging. Download, save. Crop.
  • Wikipedia editing. Text and image entry. Upload and download images
• Language skills
  • Read with understanding. Abstract and précis salient information. Construct search terms.
• For practical cooking assignments participants will need access to a workspace with a stove/cooker or hob and oven and the resources to be able to provide themselves with ingredients and some equipment.

Readings

• Wikipedia: Cooking
• Wikibooks: Cookbook

Curriculum

Here, we will list some basic cooking terms. Make sure to review and master these terms before you proceed to move along with this course.

• Grease - Spread a thin layer of unsalted shortening in a pan
• Baste - Brush or pour liquid over food as it cooks
• Pare - Cut a very thin layer of peel from fruit or vegetable
• Simmer - Bubbles form slowly and break before they reach the surface
• Boil - Bubbles constantly rise to the surface and break
• Drain - Remove excess liquid by pouring it off into a colander
• Cut-in - Mixing shortening and flour
• Grate - Rub food on a grater to make very fine particles
• Whip - Beat very rapidly with a beater, mixer, or wire whisk.
• Beat - Use a spoon, wire whisk, rotary beater, or mixer until the mixture is smooth.
• Mix - Stir different food together
• Chill - Refrigerate food until its cold
• Brown - Cook food briefly until its surface turns brown
• Fold in - Very gentle way to combine foods
• Garnish - Decorate a food
• Puree - Put food in a blender so it becomes a smooth thick mass
• Toss - Tumble a mixture
• Cream - Combining shortening and sugar

3 cuts

• Slice - Cut into thin flat pieces
• Chop - Cut food into small irregular pieces
• Mince - Cut until the food pieces are as small as possible

Subpages

• Introduction
• Pasta
• Rice
• Roux

Related Learning Projects

• Food Service Sanitation
• Nutrition
• Food & Beverage Control
• Menu Planning
• Note: It is suggested that a student of cookery develop at least a limited proficiency in French.

See also

• Portal:Practical Arts and Sciences
• Hospitality management
• Menu planning
• The Asian American kitchen