Hello world! I'm Jesse from BuzzFeed's food team, and I have always loved to cook.
After working in restaurants all throughout high school, I decided to go to culinary school instead of traditional college.
But I totally understand that culinary school isn't for everyone, and that's OK because I'm here to share some of the best cooking tips I learned during my program. And no, I won't be teaching you how to break down a duck — although they do teach you that.
Here are 16 of the most valuable lessons I learned:
1.If your food tastes bland, it probably just needs salt...
2.And it might need sugar, too.
3.For glossy, restaurant-quality sauces, finish them with a pat of cold butter...
4.And always deglaze your pan.
5.Completely dry your meats before cooking them.
6.For maximum flavor, toast your nuts and spices.
7.If your food tastes flat, add a touch of acid.
8.Cooking for a crowd is all about keeping it simple.
9.Finish cooking your pasta in its sauce and always reserve some pasta water.
10.Cook your eggs over low heat to keep them the whites tender, the yolk soft, and the edges nice and delicate.