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Knife Skills

Basic Knife Cuts: 9 Classic Chef Cuts Explained, With Sizes

The basic knife cuts are standard shapes professional kitchens use so food cooks evenly and looks intentional: large dice (3/4-inch cube), medium dice…

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Basic Knife Cuts: 9 Classic Chef Cuts Explained, With Sizes

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Heat Control

How to Blanch Vegetables Without Overcooking Them

To blanch vegetables without overcooking, prepare cold or ice water first, cut one vegetable into even pieces, and use a batch small enough for the water…

Updated 2026-09-08 · 8 min read
Heat Control

Carryover Cooking Explained: Why Food Keeps Heating

Carryover cooking is the continued temperature change inside food after it leaves direct heat.

Updated 2026-09-08 · 8 min read
Knife Skills

How to Hold a Chef Knife With a Pinch Grip

To hold a chef knife with a pinch grip, place your thumb and the side of your bent index finger on opposite faces of the blade near the handle, then wrap…

Updated 2026-09-07 · 8 min read
Sauces & Stocks

How to Emulsify a Vinaigrette That Coats the Salad

To emulsify vinaigrette, whisk the vinegar, seasonings and recipe-specified mustard or other emulsifier first.

Updated 2026-09-07 · 7 min read

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Knife Skills

Knife Skills

Classic cuts with exact dimensions, stable setup, and deliberate handling.

Sauces & Stocks

Sauces & Stocks

Pan sauces, stocks, roux, reductions, and emulsions explained as repeatable methods.

Heat Control

Heat Control

Searing, browning, and caramelising through visible cues, temperatures, and timing.