Real Simple Cooking School
The truth? There’s no real magic to cooking, just some simple know-how. These videos demonstrate the basics.
The Basics
How To: Slice an Onion
Onions are notorious for making people cry. The reason? Slicing into a bulb releases enzymes, which react with the air to
form sulfuric acid that has an immediate tearing effect on our sensitive eyes. The best way to reduce tears is to handle the
onion for the shortest time possible, using this quick, efficient slicing method.
How To: Chop Rosemary and Thyme
Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme make a world of difference to the flavor of your dishes. This video shows how to prep
and chop them, quickly and efficiently.
How to Hard-Boil an Egg
How To: Cook Pasta
How To: Cook Rice
How To: Measure Dry Ingredients
How To: Whip Cream
How To: Separate Eggs
How To: Zest Citrus
How To: Cook With Sticky IngredientsMore Advanced
How To: Choose and Prepare an Artichoke
Artichokes are tasty, but preparing them can be daunting. With the hassle-free technique in this video, you’ll be rid of this
vegetable’s thick, thorny leaves in no time―and can move on to enjoying the fruits of your labor.
How To: Make Your Own Piecrust
Easy enough for first-timers, this surprisingly simple tutorial will make even the most reluctant bakers into believers. This
recipe makes one 9-inch piecrust with just 10 minutes of hands-on time (total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes).
Gas Grill Maintenance Checklist
A few simple steps will keep your barbecue grill in top condition. For charcoal grill maintenance tips, click here.
- Clean the burner and tubes. Make sure the propane tank is turned off. Remove the briquettes and cooking grates, and carefully detach the gas tubes and burner. Clean the tubes with warm, soapy water and towel dry. Wipe the burner clean with a damp cloth. Towel dry the gas ports on the burner, then clean out each one with a toothpick.
- Wash the grill. First, cover the gas valves with aluminum foil to protect the connections from corrosion. Wash the grill’s interior and exterior surfaces with a long-handled stiff-wire grill brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry, then reattach the gas tubes and burners.
- Burn off the grease. During the grill season, briquettes transfer heat to the cooking grates, leaving them coated with grease. Before firing up your grill for the season’s inaugural cookout, flip over the briquettes, close the lid, and heat the grill on high for 15 minutes.
