Welcome back to my Confessions of a Culinary School Graduate Series! This week is week five out of eight, and I must be honest, I am excited for this one because it hits close to my heart.
A lot of people think that because I went to culinary school, that means I get everything right all the time when it comes to food. Well, they couldn’t be further from the truth. This week’s post is all about how even though I went to culinary school, I still make mistakes in the kitchen. So, sit back, get cozy, and enjoy week five of this series!
How I Screwed Up Clarified Butter
First of all, if you don’t know what clarified butter is, allow me to quickly explain. Clarified butter is made by melting butter over extremely low heat, which allows the milk solids and water to separate from the butterfat. You then pour the butterfat into a container of some sort, keeping the milk solids separate from it.
Well, in this quick story, I am going to tell you how I messed that up.
When I was in culinary school, we were tasked with making clarified butter. Well, let’s just say mine didn’t go exactly to plan. I had the heat just a tiny bit too high, and instead of everything separating like it was supposed to, it all got mixed together. I unfortunately did not get another chance to try it again that day, but I did get another shot at it later in the year and nailed it!
Graduating Didn’t End The Mistakes
I said in the beginning that just because I went to and graduated from culinary school doesn’t mean I get everything right the first time. I have made some mistakes since school, and some of them really frustrate me.
For example, I have burnt milk since school. Yep, something as simple as burning milk. But something some people don’t know is that milk is very easy to burn. You can be stirring it, stop to look away for just a few seconds, and next thing you know, it has burnt.
I have also burnt chocolate, which is another thing that burns easily. And unfortunately, I have overcooked pasta. I know, I was disappointed too.
Those things did frustrate me because I should have known better, but I still learned from them.
And then there are those instances where you are making an entirely new dish that you have never made before and need to use a new technique that you have never done before, and you mess it up. Those times are definitely learning experiences because you tried something new, it didn’t work, and you learned from it.
Everyone Makes Mistakes In The Kitchen
To some people, this is nothing new. Of course everyone makes mistakes! But listen when I tell you that even some of the most experienced chefs make mistakes.
Whether it’s creating too much smoke and setting the smoke alarm off, letting something boil over, burning something, or making one tiny little mistake and then the whole dish changes. Everyone makes mistakes.
Experience doesn’t eliminate mistakes.
What Matters Is What Happens After
When you make a mistake, whether that means accidentally wasting ingredients or ruining something, that doesn’t mean you can’t be frustrated. You absolutely can be annoyed and upset. You made a mistake!
But what matters is what you do after.
Do you sit and let it consume you, or do you look back and try to figure out what went wrong and learn from it?
Every time you make a mistake in the kitchen, you should always look back at it and try to figure out how to do it better next time. Learn from it and grow!
Until Next Week…
I want to thank all of you who have been tuning in every week to this series because you really mean a lot to me. I am enjoying this series so much that I will probably do another series in the future once this one is over!
Also, don’t forget that in the kitchen, mistakes will happen. That is just how it goes. Yes, mistakes can be frustrating, but when you look at the big picture, they are necessary for growth. They are how we learn.
You are never going to stop making mistakes, and that is okay! Just always remember to never give up!
Lastly, leave a comment! Have you ever made a mistake in the kitchen that frustrated you, but you got up, worked it out, and learned from it? I would love to hear from you!
Until Next Week…
Stay Saucy
Hailey 🍝
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