I love the cooking shows on The Food Network, but I've noticed something that drives me nuts-no clue why. It's a little silly, but maybe there is a good answer. Why do all the cooks keep some of their ingredients in a little bowls instead of in the containers they came in? When they put it in their food, they take a pinch out of the bowl. They always seem to keep thier salt and pepper in little bowls. It's not just fresh ingredients they keep in there, either. Does anyone ever notice that?
2006-09-04 08:40:01 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
right after I asked that question, I turned on The Food Network and the lady that is on there now is using all of her ingredients out of the containers, not little bowls. I guess it doesn't look as good as the bowls, so those of you who said that, I agree!
2006-09-04 08:51:00 · update #1
In preparation for the show the ingredients are placed into small bowls to facilitate better camera viewing angles. It would be more of a challenge to shoot cooking close-ups with the original tall packages in the way. Secondly the show does not wish to promote one brand over another (i.e.; no visible packaging labels).
2006-09-04 08:44:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
On cooking shows, (and in many homes where baking is going on) ingredients are kept in small bowls in the interest of time. TV hosts don't have time to walk to the pantry to find the box of ingredient (say, baking soda), grab the measuring spoon, measure out three teaspoons, add to bowl, etc. In advance of the filming, these ingredients are placed out, close at hand, pre-measured for use. Otherwise the cooking segment would take twice as long, and on TV, time is money!
In my own home, I pre-measure active ingredients like baking soda, powder, etc, and sometimes other ingredients, too just to be absolutely sure before prep that I have everything I will need.
As for salt, cooks generally keep loose salt in "cellars" or "boxes" and throw in a pinch here and there as needed. Rarely will a serious cook use a shaker when preparing food.
I hope this has helped you to understand your concern.
2006-09-04 08:49:08 · answer #2 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tm mcdnnl has it right.
In order to facilitate the cooking within the alloted time all ingredients are premeasured and put into those containers for ease of adding to the recipe rather than chopping and /or measuring the ingredients.
Secondly the products are not supposed to have "free advertising" so when cans are used the labels covered or faced backwards. By putting the ingredients in a bowl there is no need for the prep cooks to cover the label or the opening of the can, jar or other container.
2006-09-04 08:56:02 · answer #3 · answered by Kamikazeâ?ºKid 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use to do demonstrations and teach private cooking classes. Anyways, the reason why we always used the little glass bowls is to prep the spices and ingredients so that there was no screwing up measurements while talking with the audience. For the most part all ingredients are prepped and pre-measured to save time.
2006-09-04 10:42:44 · answer #4 · answered by Active Denial System™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything is bought in bulk and premeasured. They can't waste time measuring on the air. There is a huge staff behind every cook that you see that prepare the various stages of the cooking. It would be silly to put a pinch of salt in a bowl so it contains more and the cook takes a pinch.
2006-09-04 08:50:51 · answer #5 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know for sure, but I can make a couple of guesses. First of all, if they were in the original containers, we would be seeing the brand names, which is a no-no, unless that show is being sponsored by that particular brand. Secondly, the nice little silver bowls are uniform and clean looking, so the set is nice. Just a few guesses...
2006-09-04 08:44:26 · answer #6 · answered by wannabeteacher 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok.. they use the small bowls instead of original containers because they can't advertise any brand names. Also, you mentioned how they take a pinch out of the bowls...everything is pre-measured. Notice how they never use measuring cups?
2006-09-04 08:56:26 · answer #7 · answered by Charlotte's mom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe they use the freshest of ingredients made ahead of time instead of out of a jar. Also, it's easier for them just to reach into a bowl than a small jar. As far as the salt and pepper are concerned, they use sea salt and peppercorn that they grind into a bowl and use it that way instead of doing it themselves...saves time for a fast show! :)
2006-09-04 08:50:10 · answer #8 · answered by peg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes we pre-measure,...and by "we", I mean chefs. You need to be familiarized with a kitchen term known as 'mise-en-place'. Loosely translated, "everything in its place"...when we prep something, we will usually take out what we need, or a small amount of the ingredient, as opposed to having the whole container there...saving space, is the usual culprit here. Hope that clears it up!
2006-09-04 08:48:29 · answer #9 · answered by longhair140 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do that so if their hands are dirty from something else that they don't contaminate all their salt or pepper. They also do it so they don't have to take the time to measure while they are taping. It could be a big mess if they spilled stuff.
2006-09-04 08:46:21 · answer #10 · answered by applebetty34 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋