VENTURE BEYOND THE MICROWAVE

Few people know the difference between grilling and broiling. Do you?

Image: Annie Spratt

From the ancient technique of holding a food item with a stick over an open flame to the intricate ways of modern cuisine, the art of cooking has many forms. And while some of us are happy sticking to a couple of those techniques, the most experienced or adventurous cooks can use a whole lot more of these methods for their preparations. Take a look at some of the most used cooking methods and see which ones you use!

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If you have ever eaten poached eggs, then you know what we are talking about. Poaching is a gentle cooking method that submerges food in hot liquid between 140 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The low heat works well for delicate items, preserving moisture and flavor without needing fat or oil.

Poaching is a common method of cooking eggs that results in a soft, tender egg white and creamy yolk. It's more health-conscious than pan frying since you don't need oil. You can use broth, wine, or aromatics as the poaching liquid, which adds flavor to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The finished product is tender chicken that can be cubed, sliced, or shredded.

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A more intense variant than poaching, simmering is a gentle method of cooking food that utilizes higher temperatures than poaching, usually between 180 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range lies below the boiling point and produces tiny bubbles.

To achieve a simmer, bring water to the boiling point and lower the temperature. Simmering produces cooked rice with a light, fluffy texture. You can also choose tough cuts of meat that will release fat and collagen as they simmer, like chuck roast.

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In case you didn’t know it, steam can cook food. To steam food, boil water continuously to produce a steady steam cloud. The steam surrounds food and cooks it evenly while retaining moisture. You can also use a pot and steamer basket, a microwave, or wrap food in foil and cook it in the oven.

You can steam most vegetables with excellent results. Sturdy vegetables like beets, carrots, and potatoes take a bit longer than delicate foods like leafy greens. As for fish and seafood, you can cook a more flavorful fish by adding broth or wine instead of water.

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Boiling simply involves submerging food in water heated to the boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The boiling water produces large bubbles, which keeps food in motion while they cook. The expression "slow boil" means that the water has just started to bubble slowly but is not quite heated to the boiling temperature. A full boil occurs at the boiling point, appearing as fast-moving, rolling bubbles.

Pasta is one of the most commonly boiled foods. The hot water cooks the pasta quickly, allowing chefs to remove it from the water before starches break down to prevent a mushy texture.

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A somewhat similar cooking method to roasting, baking uses indirect heat to surround foods and cook from all sides. However, roasting refers to cooking meats or vegetables, and baking indicates making bread, rolls, and cakes. Additionally, baking usually uses lower temperatures than roasting.

Baking transforms wet dough or batter into a final product with a firm texture. You can also bake pizzas in a hot oven to form the crust, harden the dough, and melt the cheese.

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The cooking method of choice for outdoor barbecues, grilling is similar to broiling because grills use radiant heat to cook food quickly. Most grilling equipment features an open grate with a heat source beneath the food.

Flip food items to cook on both sides and adjust the grill's temperature to get grill marks from the hot grate or rack. A grilling favorite, hamburger meat is moist and cooks well on a hot grate. The high heat sears the outside of the burger for a delicious charred flavor.

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The meatier cousin of baking, roasting is performed inside an oven and uses indirect heat that cooks from all sides for even browning. Choose low temperatures of 200 degrees to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to roast tough cuts of meat, or higher temperatures that reach up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for more tender cuts.

Roasting cooks large cuts of meat slowly and evenly. Prime rib, beef tenderloin, pork butt or shoulder, and pork loin all benefit from roasting.

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Possibly not the healthiest cooking method on this list, frying is a popular technique that involves immersing food in hot oil or fat. The hot oil cooks the food quickly, creating a crisp exterior while retaining moisture.

There are different types of frying techniques, including shallow frying, deep frying, and stir-frying. Pan-frying cooks food in a shallow layer of oil, while deep-frying cooks food by completely submerging it in hot oil. For the best final product, use the right oil, maintain the proper temperature, and avoid overcrowding the pan.

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Similarly to grilling, broiling cooks food by transferring extremely high heat onto food items, usually directed from a radiant above the food that cooks on one side at a time. Browning can occur quickly in this process, sealing juices and flavor inside and leaving a crisp exterior.

Because this cooking method is fast, use a timer and check food frequently so it doesn't become burnt or overcooked. In commercial kitchens, you can broil items using a salamander or broiler oven.

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Stewing completely submerges food in hot liquid. Use small cuts of meat in a stew, which are slow-cooked at low heat. As the stew cooks, fibrous vegetables break down while the meat's fat and collagen melt away. This leads to a thick, flavorful gravy filled with tender meat and soft vegetables.

Meats that are rich in collagen and fat do well in a stew pot. Vegetables add depth to stews. Onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery are commonly used ingredients.

Worldplay wonderland

Pronunciation can be deceiving! 10 confusing similarities!

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Naturally, words that are pronounced or spelled the same but have different meanings are fun. They are called homophones and homonyms, respectively. But if you’re paying much attention to a certain conversation, they have the power to create quite a confusion, and who knows where that talk might end? To avoid these kinds of misunderstandings, check these 10 words that share a pronunciation, but come from different places.

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Waist and waste are pronounced the same, which makes them homophones. However, the meaning is quite different and so are their origins. Let’s see how they go.

The word "waist" refers to the part of your body just below your ribs, where your pants sit comfortably, or not so comfortably after a big meal! On the other hand, "waste" is a synonym for squander, like when you leave food on your plate. But it can also refer to an ineffective use of your time, like watching TV all afternoon.

Interestingly, "waist" comes from the Old English word wæst, meaning "growth", while "waste" has Latin roots in vastare, meaning "unoccupied" or "uncultivated". So, next time you’re adjusting your waistband, don't waste the opportunity to show off your vocabulary!

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Have you ever tripped up the stairs because you were too busy catching someone’s stare?

While "stair" refers to a step, typically one in a series, helping you get to the next floor of your house, "stare" is a way of looking at someone, an intense way of looking at someone, to be precise! For example, the kind of look you give your friend when they share too much information!

Although they sound the same, "stair" comes from the Old English stǣger, while "stare" has roots in Old Norse stara, meaning to "gaze steadily." Never mind this, just be careful where you’re looking, or you might miss a step!

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Whether you’re flying on a plane or enjoying the view of a plain, these words sound the same but mean completely different things.

You know, a plane can either be the flat surface of something (like geometry class) or a flying machine. Meanwhile, a plain refers to a large area of flat land, or something that’s simple or unadorned, like your favorite plain T-shirt.

Now, similar pronunciation is also a trait of their root words: On the one hand, "plain" comes from the Latin planus, which means "flat" or "even". On the other hand, "plane" comes from planum, referring to a "level surface."

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No matter how much of a lone you are, there’ll always be someone to loan you something, right?

"Lone," however obsolete, means solitary, like when you’re the only person at the park bench on a peaceful afternoon. "Loan," instead, means to lend something, like a book, money, or even a spare jacket on a cold day; you could never go wrong with that move!

Now, as for the etymology behind these homophones, "lone" derives from the Old English word all ane which ultimately derived into "lone," a short for "alone." Meanwhile, "loan" is rooted in an Old English root that didn’t survive: læn, which meant "gift." Mind you, a loan is not a gif, so be careful with that!

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We don’t know about that, but let’s get into these homophones. If you’re hoarse, your voice is scratchy and raspy, probably from shouting too much at the latest NFL game, right? Did we get you there? Anyway, as for its homophone, a horse is an animal you can ride to enjoy a nice trot.

Now, if they sound similar, are their origins so? No, they aren’t. "Hoarse" comes from Old English hās, which means "rough," while "horse" has roots in the Proto-Germanic harss, which also meant "swift running animal." Next time you’re cheering yourself hoarse while watching a horse race, you can appreciate this fun coincidence of language.

Image: 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič

The worst kinds of homophones and homonyms are the ones you can actually use in a logical sentence a confuse your audience for the same price! This is one of those cases.

Your heel is the back part of your foot, the part that takes the brunt of every step. Meanwhile, healing refers to the process of recovery, whether it’s a wound, a sprain, or just an emotional crisis.

Both words sound the same but have distinct origins: heel comes from Old English hēla, while heal comes from hǣlan, meaning "to make whole." So if you’ve got a sore heel, take it easy and let it heal!

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It’s easy to confuse grease and Greece, especially when you’re frying some bacon while thinking of a Mediterranean getaway.

While "grease" refers to animal fat or any oily substance used to make things run smoothly, Greece is the country famous for its ancient history, delicious cuisine, and stunning islands we all wish we could visit right now.

These two words have different origins anyway. Grease comes from the Latin crassus, meaning "fat," and the Old French gresse, which means the same. At the same time, Greece derives from the Latin Graecia, a reference to the ancient Greek people. What do they have in common? A trip to Greece or greasy wheels will keep you moving!

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It doesn’t matter if you’re in the first, second, third, or fourth position; you have to take a step forth and keep moving!

"Forth" means to move forward, often with purpose, while "fourth" refers to the number four in a sequence. But what about their origin? Are they as close as their spelling?

"Forth" has roots in Old English forð, meaning "forward," while "fourth" simply comes from the Old English feorða, the word for the number four. So whether you’re stepping forth into a new adventure or celebrating a fourth-place win, you’re always on the right track.

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Just a one-letter difference, and different meanings too, but we can say that one is a consequence of the other!

A flea is a tiny, jumping insect known for its itchy bites, while "flee" is what you’ll want to do if you come across one of those insects, run away! "Flea" means, usually, to avoid something unpleasant (like a flea infestation!)

Contrary to the others, some etymologists suggest they may come from the same word. "Flea" comes from Old English flēa, but it may also come from the same root as "flee,"which is flēon, "to escape." Curious, right? If you ever find yourself dealing with fleas, just remember: it’s perfectly reasonable to flee from those little pests! They are doing that themselves!

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To end this article, let’s tackle "doe" and "dough," two words that have a common pronunciation but are spelled in different ways.

A "doe" is a female deer, soft and graceful, while "dough" is what you work with before it turns into bread.

Pronunciation is the only thing they share, since their origins are also different. The word "doe" comes from the Old English dā, which means exactly what it is, "female deer,". On the other hand, "dough" comes from dāg, which means "kneaded mass." Funny how two very similar words can mean different things, and come from completely different places. That’s the fun behind our language!