Sautéing Techniques for Beginners

In my actual profession (web design and marketing … not cooking), AI has become a bit controversial. So naturally, I wanted to explore what was going on with it. People are out there generating full posts and other web content with it and to the end reader, they may be none the wiser (although Google has a few things to say about it these days, but that’s a whole other topic). So I decided to ask an AI, “how to sauté like a pro”. After reading what it spit out (and checking it for plagiarism – none detected), I thought I’d make a few adjustments of my own and share it here. I can see usefulness for it in some ways, but my take on it is that is doesn’t replace the human voice, tone and emotions. My writing style is very much how I speak and I have decades of experience writing on a variety of topics both for fun and within my profession. Those are things that, as of yet, AI hasn’t truly captured. It’s “experience” is a database. It’s “tone” is trying to be grammatically correct. It has no emotions.

Anyway, here’s a point jointly written by myself and a bot.

First off, what’s the difference between sautéing and frying?

Sautéing and frying are both cooking methods that involve cooking food in a pan with oil, but they have some key differences.

Sautéing is a method of cooking food quickly over medium to high heat with a small amount of oil (or fat, like butter or ghee). The food is usually cut into small, even pieces and cooked until it is cooked through and a little bit browned on the outside. It’s considered a “dry” cooking method in that the ingredients are put in the pan with just a small amount of oil/fat. It’s often used for vegetables and tender, thin cuts of meats like chicken or fish. During the cooking process, the food is moved around constantly to prevent burning and uneven cooking. A lot times people mistake sautéing for frying.

Frying, on the other hand, is a method of cooking food by immersing it in hot oil. The oil is heated to a higher temperature than is used for sautéing, often between 350-375 F. The food is usually coated in batter before it’s placed in the hot oil. It’s considered a “wet” cooking method, food is submerged into the oil, which is more often used for more dense and bigger foods like chicken, fish fillets, french fries, donuts, etc. During the cooking, the food is let in the oil and taken out once it’s cooked.

A healthier choice, that just requires a little practice…

Sautéing is generally a healthier choice of cooking because it uses less oil and cooks the food more quickly, which helps to retain its natural flavors and nutrients.

Sautéing is 1 part technique and 1 part art. It requires a certain level of skill and practice to master, but with the right technique and attention to detail, anyone can learn to sauté like a pro.

Part of the art of sautéing is knowing when to add certain ingredients, when to stir or flip them, and when to remove them from the heat. This is where practicing with different foods really comes in and it’s still the best way to hone your skills. Also, really getting a good feel for your cooktop (gas, electric, or induction) and how it heats as well as your specific frying pan(s) is part of the process. Play around with different foods, heat settings and timing. You can check out the post on dry sautéd mushrooms for a start.

To sauté like a pro, here’s a list of things to keep in mind:

1. Choose the right vegetables: Some vegetables, such as leafy greens and mushrooms, tend to release a lot of moisture when they’re heated, so they’re not the best choices for sautéing. Instead, opt for vegetables that hold their shape well, such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, and zucchini.
2. Cut the vegetables evenly: Cut the vegetables into similar size and shape so they cook evenly.
3. Preheat the pan: Make sure the pan is hot before adding the vegetables. This will help them to cook quickly and evenly, and it will prevent them from steaming instead of sautéing.
4. Use oil with a high smoke point: Choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as safflower. These oils can withstand high heat without breaking down and becoming rancid. You can also try ghee and that usually works really well.
5. Stir and toss the vegetables: Once the vegetables are in the pan, use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir and toss them frequently. This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from sticking to the pan (and burning).
6. Season with salt and pepper: Add salt and pepper at the right time, usually near the end of the cooking process, so they don’t draw out the moisture of the vegetables.
7. Remove from heat: Once the vegetables are cooked to your liking, remove them from the heat. Overcooking will make them mushy (or cause them to burn) and lose flavor and texture.
8. Experiment with herbs and spices: You can play with different herbs and spices to add depth and complexity of flavors to your sautéed vegetables. Try basil, thyme, rosemary, garlic, or red pepper flakes for a delicious taste.