Essential cooking skills most people can't master
Classic cooking techniques you need to know

How to make a basic pasta sauce
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There’s no need to buy sugar-packed pasta sauces from the supermarket. It can be far cheaper and healthier to make your own. To prepare, simply fry an onion in olive oil before adding garlic and tomato puree. Once cooked, add chopped tomatoes and dried oregano and simmer for 20 minutes.
How to make a classic salad dressing
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It's easy to liven up your salad with a homemade vinaigrette. Stock up with extra-virgin olive oil, shallots, Dijon mustard, salt, lemon juice and red-wine vinegar, then start by reading our guide to salad dressings.
How to make your own whipped cream
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Once you start regularly making your own whipped cream, you’ll never buy the canned version again. Add a pinch of sugar and a splash of vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste), then whisk until it reaches soft peaks.
How to poach an egg
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You’ve probably seen various products for making perfect poached eggs. But, there’s no need for those silicon pods if you can master this simple technique. The most important thing is to use a deep pan with plenty of water, then wait until it reaches a gentle boil before you drop in the egg. These are the secrets to cooking perfect eggs every time.
How to substitute ingredients
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Realising half-way through a recipe that you’re missing a key ingredient is very frustrating. But, you may not always need to make another trip to the supermarket. Yoghurt can be used as a substitute for mayonnaise or sour cream for example, lemon juice for vinegar and honey for sugar. Check out this list of common substitutes.
How to make stuffing from scratch
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How to mix spices for curry
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How to chop vegetables like a pro
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Slicing, dicing or chopping vegetables has a big impact on the way they taste and look. And, doing this properly is not just a skill to be mastered by the professionals. Check out this article on how to hold your knife properly and which techniques to learn.
How to knead dough
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When making dough it's important you knead it thoroughly to develop the gluten. To begin, lightly sprinkle your surface with flour. Using the ball of your hand, squash the dough and stretch it away from you. Bring it together in a ball shape and then rotate by a quarter before repeating. Do this for at least 10 minutes or until you can see light coming through when it's stretched and held up to a window. For more tips, read our guide on how to knead bread.
How to roast a chicken
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There’s more to roasting a chicken then just throwing it in the oven. Butcher Olly Seabright recommends removing any bindings to ensure a good air flow around the carcass. Then combine oil and salt and rub into the skin, this will enable seasoning to stick to the chicken and give it a nice golden colour.
How to carve a chicken
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How to cook the perfect steak
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The secrets to cooking steak are simple. Always pat dry your steak as excess moisture can prevent a proper crust. Oil and then fry in a smoking-hot pan, which will sear the meat. For more advice on choosing the right cut, marinating, seasoning and cooking times read our guide to making the perfec steak every time.
How to make creamy scrambled eggs
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How to tell if a cake is cooked
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How to cook a whole fish
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How to get fish skin crispy
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How to choose the right oils #1
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How to choose the right oils #2
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How to choose the right oils #3
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How to make hummus
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How to make the perfect gravy
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Forget those gravy granules. Making your own with roasted meat juices is simple. Put the roasting tray back on the hob over a high heat and stir in one teaspoon of plain flour. Mix in some roasted veggies and pulp using a fork or potato masher. Once mixed, add a litre of stock (and a glass of wine, if preferred). Bring everything to the boil and continue to scrape the bottom of the tin. Reduce and simmer. Try Jamie Oliver’s recipe and check out our guide to gravy.
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