The Joy of Cooking - Why We Love to Cook
Posted on August 6, 2008
Filed Under Food |
The joy of cooking lies in every individual. It doesn’t matter if you love to cook or you love to eat, it is still considered one and the same with each playing a vital part in the Culinary Arts. In order for cooking to become enjoyable, someone has to love eating its finished results; otherwise what would be the purpose of cooking?
Cooking is described as the preparation of food for eating. Cooking is also considered the oldest and most needed craft that man has ever known. It involves the application of different methods, such as applying dry heat, use of heated liquids and fats, curing, pickling, and smoking.
The joy of cooking has been discovered by man a long time ago. The concept of cooking started even before fire and pottery was discovered and invented. Man has a need to survive. In order to survive, one has to eat. It is this physiological need that made man discover the importance of eating.
At the time, there was no fire to cook your food with and no potter to cook your food on. What man did was to eat his food directly from a catch. Man then discovered that there are certain foods that can be eaten raw such as fish, fruits, vegetables, and insects.
When fire was discovered, the joy of cooking began to fill the hearts of man. The change in flavor and texture once food was exposed to fire changed and it changed in an even better way, sparking man’s interest. Man either cooked the food directly over the fire or chose to wrap and steam his food over hot embers.
To date, there have been five identified forms of cooking, all established with the use of heat. The first form is cooking through the use of liquids. This includes poaching, stewing, and boiling. Another form is cooking with the use of fats and oil or more commonly called frying. Next is cooking through exposure to vapor such as braising and steaming. Last is cooking by exposing to dry heat such as roasting, broiling, and baking.
The Culinary Arts has identified two types of cooking and five forms of cooking food with the use of heat. All these were studied for the love of cooking and for the goal of improving and perfecting the art.
Indeed, no one can replace the joy of cooking in anyone’s heart. As time passes, cooking will always be the most favorite thing man ever does.
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