Are you a fast or slow cook?

TastyReuben

Nosh 'n' Splosh
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This is coming from watching a Pepin video not long ago, and after talking about the most efficient way to do a particular task, he added that while it wasn’t something he’d expect a home cook to practice, it was how he was taught, both in his family’s restaurant, and then when he apprenticed in a hotel restaurant, and that speed and efficiency is very important in a professional kitchen.

Thinking on that…do you consider yourself a fast cook, or a s l o w cook? Do you go through your prep as quickly as possible, to get through the task, or do you take your time and go at a more leisurely pace? Do you feel the clock ticking as soon as you step into the kitchen, or are you more of a “it’s ready when it’s ready” cook?
 
This is coming from watching a Pepin video not long ago, and after talking about the most efficient way to do a particular task, he added that while it wasn’t something he’d expect a home cook to practice, it was how he was taught, both in his family’s restaurant, and then when he apprenticed in a hotel restaurant, and that speed and efficiency is very important in a professional kitchen.

Thinking on that…do you consider yourself a fast cook, or a s l o w cook? Do you go through your prep as quickly as possible, to get through the task, or do you take your time and go at a more leisurely pace? Do you feel the clock ticking as soon as you step into the kitchen, or are you more of a “it’s ready when it’s ready” cook?

Depending on the occasion. Friends for dinner I prep at my leisure but cook meal as fast as possible . I like to have convo with friends as I cook their steak etc. We usually kinda rush as we always play euchre afterwards. And that is always hilarious. I'm usually the one who gets hasstled and ridiculed.
And I'm.ok with that. Lol
Average mid week meal with the wife it's real quick. Sausage eggs n chip.
I can do it in 20 mins.
Brand on toast 10 to 15 mins.

Russ
 
I imagine I'm a fast cook, because I've had some limited experience in professional kitchens. I've learned to multi-task and learned to anticipate what needs to be done in advance and at the next step. First thing I do, for example, in meal situations, is get some water boiling - for rice, for potatoes, for pasta, whatever. All the prep is done in advance; I never cook anything until everything is ready.
THEN - I use the timer on the cooker. Amazing how much time it saves, because you don't need to worry about what's cooking if you already know it's going to be ready in 15 - 20 minutes, and the bleeper will let you know. Gives you time to do something else.
 
I have no idea.
I got reasonable knife and prep skills, so probaby not the slowest, definitely not the fastest :)
My question is as much about mindset as skill - I wasn’t all that clear in my OP.

IOW, are you a cook who wants to get through it (the prep work and cooking) and onto eating the finished dish as quickly as possible, or…do you actually savor the work as well…feeling the knife, expertly guided, slicing through the carrots, enjoying the sound of the sautéing vegetables sweating in the pot…the playful dance of the bubbles in a stew just coming to the boil…?
 
My question is as much about mindset as skill - I wasn’t all that clear in my OP.

IOW, are you a cook who wants to get through it (the prep work and cooking) and onto eating the finished dish as quickly as possible, or…do you actually savor the work as well…feeling the knife, expertly guided, slicing through the carrots, enjoying the sound of the sautéing vegetables sweating in the pot…the playful dance of the bubbles in a stew just coming to the boil…?
I like to drink while I cook, so...yeah. And if I have had several glasses of wine I had better go slowly!
 
My question is as much about mindset as skill - I wasn’t all that clear in my OP.

IOW, are you a cook who wants to get through it (the prep work and cooking) and onto eating the finished dish as quickly as possible, or…do you actually savor the work as well…feeling the knife, expertly guided, slicing through the carrots, enjoying the sound of the sautéing vegetables sweating in the pot…the playful dance of the bubbles in a stew just coming to the boil…?
The latter
I'm hardly ever in a hurry :)
 
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