French for ‘putting things in place’, mise en place refers to the set up before cooking. It involves gathering the ingredients needed for a recipe and prepping them for use.
Mise en Place Essentials
Before you get started, make sure you have these essentials on hand to make prep a breeze.
What Ingredients to Prep
Spices
Measure out any needed spices for your recipe. You can even combine all spices in one dish to save on cleanup.
Sauces
Pour sauces and condiments into a bowl for easy addition while cooking. Also useful for individual dipping, like for sushi!
Aromatics
Ingredients like garlic, onions, scallions and ginger need to be sliced, crushed or minced.
Herbs
Leafy herbs should be chopped or sliced, whereas dry herbs should be stripped from their steams.
Dry Goods
Measure out the exact amounts of ingredients like flour, yeast and sugar prior to cooking.
Seasoning
Salt & pepper should be kept within easy reach to season your dish throughout each step.
Chop, Slice, Dice
Learn fundamental knife techniques to help you prep your ingredients like a pro chef.
Let's Prep!
1. Have your recipe on hand. Make sure you read your recipe thoroughly prior to starting.
2. Gather your ingredients and equipment. Take out any necessary spices and pantry ingredients and place them at your work surface.
3. Prep your ingredients. Wash your herbs and produce and cut them as needed. Crush your spices to the appropriate grind. Measure out all ingredients and place them in appropriately sized bowls.
4. Place your prepped ingredients at your cooking station. Make sure they are near by so cooking goes smoothly.
