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Do you know when the big turkey is done, or when the pumpkin pie should come out of the oven? To be delicious, food must be done to perfection. The trick is to know when it's reached this perfect stage.
Oven regulators, kitchen clocks, and timers watch the time and temperature for you. Thermometers tell you when a roast is done, when the candy has cooked long enough, and when deep fat is just the right temperature for frying.
But there are other foods you can check best by touch, look, or feel. These simple tests are a part of cooking lore, the know-how of generations of good cooks.
| Puffy omelet |
Touch the top of omelet lightly with a finger. If it’s done, the omelet springs back. You can also insert a knife in center--it should come out clean.
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Griddle cakes |
Turn the griddle cakes when the bubbles have burst and the underside is a golden brown. The griddle is ready when drops of cold water dance on the top.
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Bread and rolls |
Touch the dough lightly. If your finger leaves a slight dent, the rolls are ready to go into oven.
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Baked potato |
Press the potato between your fingers. (Protect fingers with hot pad.) If it feels soft, it’s done. To shorten baking time, place the potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes before baking.
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Rice and spaghetti |
Pinch a grain of rice between your thumb and forefinger. When no hard core remains, it’s done. Use same squeeze play to tell when spaghetti and macaroni are ready for sauce.
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Pumpkin pie |
Shake the pie back and forth once. If no ripples appear on surface as you move pan, it’s ready to take out of the oven. This test avoids marking pie with knife.
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Cake |
Insert toothpick in the center of cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. The cake will also shrink from the sides of the pan and spring back if it is pressed lightly in center.
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Stirred custard |
When the mixture coats spoon, it’s ready to be poured into cool bowl. If it’s overcooked and separates, beat it vigorously.
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Baked custard |
Insert a knife into the custard halfway between the edge and the center. The knife should come out clean, with only a fleck of custard on it. It will finish cooking in center after you remove it from the oven. |
Next: Testing Meat and Candy |
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