Do you prepare ingredients before or during cooking?

[csmcnamara]

I cut, chop, dice and measure as I go along. It would be easier if I did it ahead of time but this is how I have always done it!!

[aggie94]

I also prefer to do all the prep work, including chopping and measuring, before I actually start cooking. And during down times while stuff is simmering, or waiting to boil, etc., I can wash the dirty prep work dishes and not end up with a huge pile of dishes after dinner is all done.

[slknight]

Thought you might be interested in a similar thread about the "little bowls."

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/006622.html

[KValley]

Having learned the hard way about and working to break myself of the habit of diving into a recipe without reading carefully and preparing things ahead of time, I am now of the "mise en place" camp (very sweet post, Sara Emily). And I am with aggie. We don't have a dishwasher, so I clean as I go, doing the bulk when things are simmering, boiling, baking, and DH does the dinner dishes.

I am impressed Hungry! WHen I worked outside of the house, I used to prepare my Tupperware containers of sliced fruit and veggies on Sunday to get me through the week, but I've never thought about preparing peppers, onions, garlic in advance.

I have only recently begun to use a set of souffle dishes that I bought a couple of years ago at Pier One at prep containers. They are small and pretty and I feel so Julia Child.

[DmOrtega]

After looking at the thread slknight posted I can see that I'm just now catching up. Better late than never, right?

[valeriek]

Count me in as one who has learned the hard way that prepping before hand is the key to success. It makes for a much more enjoyable cooking experience. I try to do anything that can be done ahead of time, including opening any canned items. I don't clean as I go though. I am a dump it in the sink for later kind of girl!

[DmOrtega]

Do you watch cooking shows on tv? Ever notice that the ingredients are already prepared to cook? Sometimes they will chop or measure during the cooking process and sometimes not. I recently found the glass bowls that are used for holding the ingredients. It is so much easier to measure and prep everthing ahead of time. I had not been doing this before. I was using my plastic cereal bowls. I like the glass bowls because they are easy to clean. They come in different sizes and everything looks so good in the bowls. It really makes cooking easier.

[HUNGRY!]

DmOrtega, I try to prep ahead by chopping up peppers and onions and freezing them once a week. I also do this with cilantro. Then, when I need them i just throw them in.

[pookie1970]

dmortega - I also use the little bowls of various sizes and try to do all of my prepwork prior to starting to cook. I find it much easier and I am less likely to get confused or flustered while cooking! I got the idea to use them from the cooking shows as well.

W/S sells the bowls individually, so you can get as many of each size as you like! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif Another excuse to buy more things from them!

[This message has been edited by pookie1970 (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Sara Emily]

Dm, there is a principle in French cooking known as "mise en place", which simply means "everything in its place." Strictly speaking, they use it to refer to the prep. work that is done before a meal is put together and cooked. That way, you KNOW you have everything you need and do not have the unpleasant surprise halfway through a recipe of finding, for instance, that you only have ONE egg, when you thought you had and when you need TWO! Also, it makes cooking a more flowing, cohesive process. Everything is washed, measured, and properly prepared, in readiness for the grand creative process!

I like this principle so much that I have made it the "theme" for my kitchen and have painted it on the arch above the sink, along with a few favorite vegetable and herbs. I take it further in that God must also occupy first place in my life; my husband comes before others in my care and consideration; friends and others then find their place in my time and energies, etc.

Yes, I'm a little bowl user and hope you continue to enjoy yours as you cook to your heart's content! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif