Cooking Tip
By Kendall Oberto
Mise en place
Mise en place is a fussy French culinary phrase which means “putting in place” or as would say “getting your act together”. It’s all about two key concepts. Firstly, it means really reading through your recipe to make sure you know all the components and what steps are necessary to stage those ingredients. Secondly, it’s about preparing those ingredients in a way that they are accessible and ready to go. You should not only prep your ingredients into their final form (for example mince, chop or dice), but also group your ingredients into when they are used (for example, combine all herbs or sauces that are added at the same point in the recipe). If you don’t know the value of taking these two steps, then take my advice and learn it now. You will never do anything more positively impactful for your cooking or hosting success. Prep on friends! Check our our Essential Cooking Tools: Recipe Prep Containers for more tips on prep.
Essential Kitchen Tools: Recipe Prep Containers
Thanks to many influential cooks in my life, I have learned the extraordinary value of good preparation in the kitchen. There is maybe no better impact on the success of a dish (or the host/hostess’ enjoyment of a party) than the appropriate amount of preparation. I find that there are three key sizes of prep containers for the average recipe. Of course, there are times that big bowls are appropriate but for most recipes these do the trick. Here are the ones I like:
Small stainless steel cups are perfect for prepping herbs and seasonings and small amounts of sauces. These hold about 3-4 tablespoons. Amazon link: https://a.co/d/2QVRNsK
Standard Pyrex muffin cups are great for a myriad of sauce components, like when making a stir fry. These hold a little less than a cup and have the benefit of going in the microwave for those ingredients (like butter or cream cheese) that need to be softened. Amazon link: https://a.co/d/eu9Xhsj
Classic French White Corningware for larger ingredients like vegetables and shredded cheese. These hold about two cups. Amazon link: https://a.co/d/3gahs3y
