Taste It!

I enjoy watching cooking television reality shows. Most of the contestants on these shows are accomplished chefs, with an occasional talented home cook into the mix. Combined, they possess years of culinary experience.

As I watch, I imagine what the contestants’ creations taste like. Some sound marvelous. Others look dreadful.

It turns out, that some of the contestants do little more than imagine what their own dishes taste like. When the judges are displeased with a competitor’s efforts, often one of the judges will ask, “Did you taste this?” I am shocked how often a contestant answers, “No.” The judges will shake their heads, wondering how a cook could miss such a critical part of the cooking process.

I have learned from their mistakes. One of the best ways to ensure that your completed dish will be good is to taste it along the way. That way you can make course corrections if needed to avoid disaster.

Some cautions:
Do not taste raw or undercooked meat – that is a food safety hazard. You will have to wait until the meat is properly done to taste it.
Be sanitary – use a different spoon or fork each time you take a taste. Do not use your finger to take a taste. And do not use your cooking utensils to take a taste.
When tasting a sauce as it is reducing, remember that the flavors will become more concentrated as the sauce becomes more concentrated, so keep the sauce under-flavored until the end.
Measure out the recommended amount of salt, pepper, herbs and spices before you begin cooking and put them in small bowls. Add a little bit at a time as you cook, and remember to taste along the way. This way, it is easy to adjust your seasoning. If you dump all the seasoning in at the beginning, it might become over-seasoned, and there is no way to correct it. If you add all your seasoning at the end, you will notice the seasoning on the “surface” of the dish and it will taste like you added all the seasoning at the end. If you season as you go, you will be better able to incorporate the flavors throughout the dish.

Remember why you are cooking. You want to serve food that tastes good to our friends and family, right? The best way to ensure that is to taste as you go.