These days, DIY projects and homemade endeavors are celebrated, but some culinary creations aren’t worth the effort and time to make at home. Whether due to intricate techniques, specialized equipment, or simply because the professionals do it better, here are 20 things you’re better off leaving to the experts.
Paneer and Ghee
Paneer, the Indian cheese staple, and ghee, clarified butter, may seem simple, but achieving the perfect texture and flavor can be challenging. With the precise temperature control and expertise required, buying these items from a trusted source is often easier.
Puffed Pastry
The delicate layers of puff pastry require precise folding and chilling to achieve that perfect flakiness. Attempting it at home can result in uneven layers or a dough that doesn’t rise properly, making it a time-consuming and finicky process best left to professional bakers.
Croissants
Similar to puff pastry, crafting the perfect croissant is an art form that takes years of practice to master. From laminating the dough to achieving the right balance of buttery richness and airy texture, a skilled baker best enjoys this French delicacy.
Lobster
While cooking lobster at home may seem luxurious, the process can be messy, challenging, and potentially dangerous for inexperienced cooks. Leave it to the professionals to ensure your lobster is perfectly cooked without the hassle.
Soup Dumplings
Making soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, requires a delicate balance of dough thickness, filling consistency, and precise folding techniques to ensure that each dumpling bursts with flavorful broth upon biting into it. Given the intricate process involved, leaving this dish to the experts is often best.
Deep Fried Foods
Deep frying may seem straightforward, but achieving the perfect crispiness without excessive greasiness requires precise temperature control and expertise. Additionally, managing hot oil can be hazardous, making it safer and more convenient to indulge in deep-fried treats from a professional kitchen.
Ramen
Crafting authentic ramen broth from scratch can take hours, if not days, of simmering and skimming to achieve the depth of flavor that characterizes this beloved Japanese dish. With the availability of high-quality instant ramen options and expertly crafted bowls from ramen shops, homemade versions often pale in comparison.
Pho
Like ramen, traditional pho broth requires a lengthy simmering process to extract the rich flavors from beef bones and aromatic spices. While homemade pho can be rewarding, the time and effort involved may not always be worth it compared to restaurant versions’ convenience and quality.
Wontons
Wrapping wontons with delicate, thin skins and flavorful fillings takes practice and skill. Achieving the perfect balance of wrapper thickness and filling-to-dough ratio can be challenging for home cooks, making it more convenient to enjoy these dumplings at a restaurant.
Phyllo
With its paper-thin layers, phyllo dough requires patience and precision to roll out and handle without tearing. Even experienced bakers often opt for store-bought phyllo dough for its convenience and consistent results rather than tackling the time-consuming process of making it from scratch.
Potato Chips
While homemade potato chips can be delicious, achieving the perfect crispiness without burning or uneven cooking can be tricky. With the vast array of gourmet potato chip options available in stores, the effort of frying your batch may not always be worth it.
Donuts
Making donuts from scratch involves multiple steps, including proofing the dough, frying, and glazing, each requiring careful attention to detail. With countless artisanal donut shops offering creative flavors and perfectly executed treats, homemade donuts may not always measure up.
Sushi
Crafting sushi requires impeccable knife skills for slicing fish and precise rice preparation and rolling techniques to achieve the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Given the complexity involved, sushi is often best enjoyed when prepared by a skilled sushi chef rather than attempted at home.
Pasta
While making pasta from scratch can be a fun culinary project, the time and effort required to roll out the dough and shape it into various pasta shapes may not always be practical for everyday cooking. With high-quality dried pasta readily available in stores, homemade pasta is often reserved for special occasions.
Dim Sum
The variety of dim sum dishes, from delicate dumplings to intricate pastries, requires expertise and attention to detail that can be challenging to replicate at home. Enjoying dim sum at a bustling restaurant with a wide selection is often a more convenient and satisfying option.
Bread
Although homemade bread can be incredibly rewarding, achieving the perfect texture and flavor requires practice and patience. With the availability of artisanal bread from local bakeries and grocery stores, it’s often more convenient to leave the bread-making to the experts.
Beef Wellington
Crafting the perfect Beef Wellington involves multiple components, including searing the beef, wrapping it in puff pastry, and baking it to perfection. With its elaborate preparation and cooking process, Beef Wellington is often reserved for special occasions or enjoyed at upscale restaurants.
Rotisserie Chicken
While roasting a whole chicken at home can be a comforting and delicious meal, the convenience of picking up a perfectly cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store often outweighs the effort of preparing it from scratch. Plus, store-bought rotisserie chickens are typically seasoned and cooked to perfection.
Pad Thai
Achieving the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors in Pad Thai requires a delicate touch and an understanding of Thai cooking techniques. With the availability of authentic Pad Thai from Thai restaurants and takeout options, attempting to recreate it at home may not always yield the same results.
Ketchup
While making homemade ketchup allows for the customization of flavors and ingredients, the process can be time-consuming. It may not always result in the familiar taste and consistency of store-bought ketchup. With a wide variety of commercial ketchup options, it’s often easier to grab a bottle from the grocery store shelf.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
Refrigeration prevents spoilage and may extend the shelf life of common foods and other perishable items. While we may innocently store some foods in the refrigerator, you may be surprised that you shouldn’t store all of them, as this may affect their nutritional value, taste, and texture.
Although refrigeration can help preserve certain foods, some items shouldn’t be refrigerated to maintain flavor and freshness. Avoiding these foods can ensure your food stays nutritious, fresh, and flavorful.
Here are 15 food items experts warn people never to refrigerate for optimal flavor and freshness.
Experts Warn People to Never Refrigerate These 15 Food Items
3 Foods Dogs Shouldn’t Eat
We all love our furry friends and wouldn’t mind sharing tiny bits and pieces of food when we’re eating. While this may all be innocent, and you may be giving your dog foods that are okay, certain foods can be poisonous to dogs.
Dogs may react differently to food depending on the type, ingested amount, and size.
Read on as we discuss the three common foods dogs shouldn’t eat.
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