Tips to Prepare Chicken Noodle Soup—the Ultimate Comfort Food!

Whether you want something to warm you on a cold winter night or something warm to ward off a winter cold or you simply love soup, Chicken Noodle Soup is always a winner. My first attempt at this soup was anything but a culinary delight, but over the years I have learned several of the secrets to preparing a great batch of soup.

First, here is the recipe for Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
1 stewing chicken, cut up
2 quarts water
1 large onion, quartered
1 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 celery ribs, sliced
5 chicken bouillon cubes or about 2 Tbsp. chicken base
5 whole peppercorns
4 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Dash of dried thyme
3 – 4 carrots, thinly sliced
About 2 cups noodles, uncooked


In a large stockpot, combine the first 12 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours or until the chicken is tender. Remove chicken from broth. Cool. Debone chicken and cut into chunks. Strain broth and skim fat. Return to stockpot. Add chicken and carrots. Boil noodles in separate pan according to directions and add to soup. If you prefer more liquid, add additional chicken stock. Serve.

Tips:

Use a large enough stockpot to accommodate your recipe--a stainless steel stockpot with a steamer basket insert is ideal for conveniently straining your soup.

1. Do NOT add too much water.

2. If you have time to make the soup a day ahead, you can refrigerate overnight. The fat can then be skimmed easily from the top of the soup.

3. If you prefer extra liquid, add chicken stock rather than chicken broth.

4. If you have the time, you might want to make your own chicken stock. Though a bit more tedious to prepare, the end result is well worth it. The stock has a much richer flavor than conventional broths.

Chicken Stock Recipe

3 to 4 lbs. whole chicken, cut up, or 3 to 4 pounds necks and back
About 4 quarts of water
2 onions, coarsely chopped
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
2 stalks celery with leaves, coarsely chopped
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs thyme or 1 tsp. dried
4 sprigs parsley with stems
8 peppercorns, cracked

Place the steamer basket in the stockpot. Place the chicken in the basket and fill the pan with water to 1 inch below the large holes in the steamer basket. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. With a large serving spoon, skim off the froth (fat and scum) that rises to the surface of the water and discard. Add the balance of the ingredients. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan (if you have a waterless stockpot, open the vent), and simmer for about 3 hours. Do not allow the stock to return to a boil.

To strain the stock, lift the steamer basket above the liquid level and press the juices out with a large serving spoon. The basket contents can be discarded or reserved and frozen as a starter for your next batch of stock.

To remove the fat, place the stock in the refrigerator. When it has cooled, the fat and debris will rise to the surface. Skim off and discard.

To store, package in 1 cup quantities and freeze up to 3 months.

Marcia Klun is a former teacher and an experienced cook as well as the owner and webmaster of http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/, a site that offers quality stainless steel products, such as waterless cookware sets, stockpots, cutlery, skillets, flatware, and other gourmet cooking essentials. In addition, the site offers relevant information about waterless cooking and provides a variety of healthy recipes that can be adapted to waterless cookware.

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterless Stainless Steel Cookware

If you have been considering the purchase of stainless steel cookware, you may have encountered ads featuring waterless cookware. For many, the world of “waterless cooking” is an unknown entity. As a user and vendor of waterless stainless steel cookware, I would like to address several of the most frequently asked questions regarding waterless cookware.

What is Waterless Cooking?
Waterless cooking has gotten a lot of publicity in recent months. Is it just hype? Actually, no! Waterless cooking really has been around for quite some time. Waterless cooking, unlike conventional cooking, uses minimal or no water. It relies instead on the natural moisture in the food. As a result, very few nutrients are lost in the cooking process. Lower cooking temperatures and steam-controlled cookware retains the natural juices of the food, enhancing their taste. When cooking vegetables, for example, simply rinsing the vegetables in water and shaking off the excess water provides enough moisture to cook the vegetables to the desired state of doneness. Obviously, dried foods, like beans, rice, pasta, etc, require more liquid to cook properly.

What is multi-ply?

Ply refers to the number of layers in the bottom of the encapsulated pan. Some refer to it as element. These layers are important because the number of ply or elements allows for even heat flow and durability. The aluminum conducts the heat well in the inner layers. However, it is not desirable on the outside because it corrodes and comes off on the food. The multi-layers include stainless steel on the entire outside (top and bottom) of the encapsulated bottom. The inner layers consist of aluminum, as well as other metals, that are considered to be better conductors of heat. These multi-layers spread the heat evenly, insuring that there are no "hot spots." The thickness of the cookware also reduces chances of the piece warping. Stainless steel protects the food and the cookware itself.

Recently there has been an increase in the number of layers or ply added to the cookware. For cookware to be classified as waterless, it must be at least 5-ply or have five layers. Our company features cookware that has 7-ply, 9-ply and even 12-ply construction. While extra ply will very minimally increase the weight of the pan, it does not mean that your food will cook any better or taste any different because of the extra layers. When considering the purchase of cookware, use factors other than multi-ply (such as number and type of pieces in the cookware set) to determine which set is the best choice for you.

What Is Waterless Cookware?
While all waterless stainless steel cookware is made out of quality stainless steel, not all stainless steel cookware is quality or waterless. To be classified as waterless, the cookware must meet 4 requirements.

• A high-grade stainless steel must be used. Waterless cookware must be a minimum of 5-ply. You will often see advertisements for products with 7-ply or 9-ply or possibly more. To some degree, the layering is important. Stainless steel is a great material for waterless cooking, but stainless steel is not known for fast heat transfer. Thus, the addition of a layer of aluminum in the center of the stainless steel provides for the fast and even distribution of heat.


• A Flat-bottomed pan is needed for efficient heat transfer. The bottom of a waterless cooking pan needs to be flat to provide for even heat distribution.


• A thicker bottom plate is necessary to evenly distribute the heat. The special design of the encapsulated bottom of each stainless steel pot provides strength and rigidity that prevents warping. It also eliminates hot spots that may burn food. Heat is distributed evenly in all directions.


• A special lid is used to keep the steam from escaping. Waterless cooking will not work if a proper seal cannot be formed. When a seal is created, it locks in the natural moisture that escapes from the food during the cooking process. Thus, foods are cooked in their own natural juices, retaining vital vitamins and minerals. This is really the key to waterless cooking—a vapor seal must be created.

While I cannot speak for other brands, I can tell you that our Maxam Stainless Steel Cookware meets the criteria above. Maxam Cookware has over 50 years of experience and research going into the production of its products. Further, this quality cookware can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of comparable quality cookware offered at the State Fair.

Why is your stainless steel product cheaper than some of the other waterless cookware brands?
There is virtually little difference between all of the quality cookware brands. One of the unique features of our brand is the steam-control valve on most of our sets. This valve on most of our lids helps you determine exactly when to turn the temperature down. Some of the other brands do not have this steam release valve. Generally, if a waterless cookware set is constructed of a high-grade stainless steel, such as 304 surgical stainless steel (used in all waterless cookware), the manufacturing company has a good reputation (Maxam has been around since the 1950s), there is a Factory Lifetime Warranty that includes a customer service address with every set, then you can be quite certain that you are receiving a quality, high grade set of cookware. We are not experts on other brands so it would be unfair of us to compare their product to ours. Some of these other cookware brands cost between $1000 and $2000 more. That difference in price between our product and theirs is not because of quality differences. More likely it is because of difference in marketing. With our product, you are dealing with the wholesale market rather than the retail market. Many of the higher priced brands are shown at home shows, county and state fairs, etc. and require a much greater marketing budget than our form of sales.

We hope you found this information helpful. If you decide that you would like to investigate stainless steel cookware further, visit our site – The Gourmet’s Cookware. Not only do we provide additional information about waterless cooking, we have also included some great waterless cooking recipes.

Marcia Klun is the owner and webmaster of www.thegourmetscookware.com, a site that offers quality stainless steel products, such as waterless cookware sets, stockpots, cutlery, skillets, flatware, and other gourmet cooking essentials. In addition, the site offers relevant information about waterless cooking and provides a variety of healthy recipes that can be adapted to waterless cookware.

Diet, Exercise and Waterless Cookware—Keys to Healthy Lifestyle!

In recent years the percentage of overweight and obese individuals has become a cause for real concern. As a nation, Americans are definitely getting fatter! According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Even more disturbing is that today 12.5 million children are overweight in the United States—more than 17 percent. Overweight children are at greater risk for serious health conditions. While those statistics are alarming, we can take action to insure that we do not become one of those statistics. The situation is never hopeless. Each and every one of us can do our part to promote healthy eating and proper exercise to prevent and overcome obesity in our country.

The Food Pyramid promoted by the Food and Drug Administration that had consisted of 4 basic groups has become obsolete. In 1992 the FDA began revising this chart focusing on a diet high in healthy vegetables, lean meat and low in processed, high-glycemic carbohydrates. The following food guide provides examples to help you make better nutritional choices

Foods to Focus On (Priority 1)

• Healthy Vegetables – 4 to 9 servings per day; examples: carrots, green beans, broccoli, spinach, asparagus and other green vegetables. 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw = 1 serving


• Healthy Proteins – 2 to 4 servings per day, examples: low-fat cottage cheese, seafood, lean meats, and skinless poultry, 3 to 4 ounces or 1/2 cup = 1 serving


• Healthy Fats – 2 to 6 servings per day; examples: 1 tsp. olive oil or sesame oil, 2 – 3 Tbsp. nuts and seeds, or 1/4 avocado


• Healthy Carbohydrates – 1 to 4 servings per day, examples: pears, apples, dates, oranges, and cherries, milk plain yogurt, legumes, whole-wheat grain, rice bran, yams, sweet potatoes, and pasta cooked al dente (firm to the bite), 1/2 cup = 1 serving

Foods with Some Nutritional Values

• Moderate Carbohydrate Foods: 2 to 4 servings per day; examples, apricots, papayas, fresh pineapple and raisins, 1/2 cup = 1 serving


• High Carbohydrate Foods – these foods should be limited to 1 serving per day; examples, white rice and breakfast cereals, 1/2 cup = 1 serving. Choose long-grain or brown rice and whole grain breakfast cereals

Foods that Should be Consumed Sparingly

• Sugar and sugar based foods; examples, sugar, candy, sweets, processed foods
  

The health benefits of fruits and vegetables are well-known and well-publicized. Studies by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Academy of Sciences suggest that the nutritional goodness of fruits and vegetables, with a diet that is low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol and that contains plenty of whole-grain breads and cereals, may decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. Whether you are trying to lose 5 pounds or 50 pounds, this statistic provides an incentive for change.

There is no doubt that fruits and vegetables offer protective aspects as well as nutritional value. Now, through the use of waterless cookware, you can maximize that nutritional impact. Do you know that waterless cooking retains 98% of the minerals, while boiling food the old-fashioned, conventional way destroys an average of 42% of the food's minerals?

You too can enjoy this wonderful method of cooking with multi-ply stainless steel waterless/greaseless cookware. Foods cooked via the waterless technique help retain the greatest percentage of nature’s health-giving minerals and vitamins because a food's water soluble nutrients are dissolved and lost when then food is cooked in water. There is no need to peel! Cooking with waterless cookware eliminates the need to strip away the flavor-and-nutrient-rich skin. For most fruits and vegetables, a gentle scrub is all that is necessary before cooking.
The greatest favor you can do for your family is to prepare food that provides maximum nourishment. Foods cooked over a low heat with minimum moisture have more flavors. Vegetables and fruits retain appetizing colors; meats can be roasted on top of the stove and become tender, juicy and delicious. And, you can cook without oil or grease, reducing calories and cholesterol.

There are many reputable vendors on the Internet that offer quality waterless stainless steel cookware at affordable prices. Before making that purchase, shop around. Most importantly, learn all you can about waterless cookware and waterless cooking. Once you’ve made an informed decision, I can assure you that you will absolutely love preparing meals for you and your family. To learn more about waterless cooking, you can visit our site—http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/

Marcia Klun is the owner and webmaster of http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/ a site that offers quality stainless steel products, such as waterless cookware sets, stockpots, cutlery, skillets, flatware, and other gourmet cooking essentials. In addition, the site offers relevant information about waterless cooking and provides a variety of healthy recipes that can be adapted to waterless cookware.

Don’t Panic—Waterless Cooking Really is Easy!

Waterless cooking is not a new concept. If you invest in a good set of waterless stainless steel cookware, it does not mean that you have to throw away all of your old cookbooks. You can easily adapt existing recipes by following a few simple principles.

First, however, I would like to define waterless cooking. It is simply a method of cooking which uses minimum moisture to cook foods. Unfortunately cooking foods in too much water or oil robs foods of its nutrients. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging , 2% of the vitamins and minerals are lost when boiling vegetables in water as compared to only 2% when steam-cooked using the waterless method. That statistic alone is a powerful motivation for switching to waterless stainless steel cookware, but it is not the only factor. When foods cook in their own natural juices, they not only look better but they taste better.

Waterless Cooking Principles

• Use a lower temperature setting. One of the benefits of waterless stainless steel cookware is that the multi-ply (capsule) bottom construction distributes heat evenly through the pan. There are no hot spots. With quality waterless cookware, it is never necessary to cook above medium heat. With many recipes, you can start the cooking process on medium and then complete the process on low.


• Understand waterless cooking concepts. Most foods can be cooked with minimal water. When cooking vegetables, for example, rinse and freshen your vegetables. Pour off any excess water. Then simply put vegetables in pan, cover with the lid, close the vent, set on low heat. Don’t peak. Every time the cover is lifted, moisture escapes. If there is too much air inside the pan, the vapor seal may not form. This may result in burnt foods. Rely on the standard fruit and vegetable cooking charts for preparing your foods to perfection. While vegetables and fruits have enough of their own moisture to cook the waterless way, dried foods, like rice, pasta, and dried beans, require the addition of liquid to rehydrate. Naturally, stews and soups require liquid as well.


• Go Greaseless. You can prepare your foods without the addition of extra oils and fats. Many people are skeptical of this but when you are cooking on a surgical stainless steel surface, you do not have to worry about burning. The key to successfully preparing steaks, chops, and chicken is to (1) preheat the pan on medium heat until it is hot enough so that water droplets “dance” over the surface when sprinkled in the pan and (2) let the meat sear to the pan. It will temporarily stick to the pan. After 4 or 5 minutes on a side, try to lift the corner of the meat. If seared, the meat will release without forcing.


• Use the Steam-control system correctly. Covers of the waterless cookware are designed to form a natural “water seal” with the shoulder of the pan when cooking on low heat. Follow these steps to steam cook correctly: (1) Start cooking on medium heat with the steam valve in the open position (2) Listen for the whistle. (3) Turn the heat down to a low simmer and close the valve. Once you do this, an air-tight seal is formed. Remember, don’t peak—rely instead on the standard cooking directions for cooking vegetables or fruits.

Once you have mastered the art of cooking with waterless cookware, you will soon discover a whole new culinary experience. Not only will your foods look and taste better, but you can be assured that you are eating healthy as well. By reducing or eliminating fats and oils from your diet, you can reduce some of the negative factors in your diet without sacrificing taste and essential vitamins and minerals. Eating healthy is the first step to a better and longer life. Let waterless stainless steel cookware help you in your quest for a better and healthier lifestyle!

Marcia Klun is the owner and webmaster of http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/ The Gourmet's Cookware offers quality stainless steel products, such as waterless cookware sets, stockpots, cutlery, skillets, flatware, and other gourmet cooking essentials. In addition, the site offers relevant information about waterless cooking and provides a variety of healthy recipes that can be adapted to waterless cookware.

Stainless Steel Cookware--What exactly is Multi-Ply?

As a vendor of stainless steel cookware, a question that we encounter frequently is “What is Ply?” and it is almost always followed by “How is that different from element?” Ply or element (the two terms are used interchangeably) refers to the number of layers in the bottom of the encapsulated pan. Many believe the more ply the better! These layers are important because they allow even heat flow and durability. The aluminum conducts the heat well in the inner layers. However, it is not desirable on the outside because it corrodes and comes off on the food. The multi-layers spread the heat evenly, insuring that there are no "hot spots." The thickness of the cookware also reduces chances of the piece warping. Stainless steel protects the food and the cookware itself.

Recently there has been an increase in the number of layers or ply added to the cookware. For cookware to be classified as waterless, it must be at least 5-ply or have five layers. Many companies now feature waterless cookware that has 7-ply, 9-ply and even 12-ply construction. While extra ply will slightly increase the weight of the pan, it does not mean that your food will cook any better or taste any different because of the extra layers. The weight difference in the 7-ply versus the 9-ply, for example, is so slight that if you were blindfolded and picked up the two different ply pans, you would not be able to make a distinction between them. When considering the purchase of cookware, use other factors, such as the number and type of pieces included in the cookware set, rather than multi-ply feature to determine which set is the best choice for you. Below is a picture describing the layers in a pan with 7-ply construction.

The construction of Maxam’s 7-ply KT17Ultra set was initially made for induction-top stoves. If you have an induction-top stove, you must use this type of cookware. This set, however, may be used on any stove-top, including gas.

The KTUltra 7-Ply Layer Construction

Layer-1 304 Surgical Stainless Steel
Layer-2 Carbon Steel
Layer-3 304 Surgical Stainless Steel
Layer-4 Aluminum Alloy
Layer-5 Pure Aluminum
Layer-6 Aluminum Alloy
Layer-7 AISI 430 Stainless Steel

Maxam also offers a KT17 set that is similar to the KT17ULTRA set. Both sets offer the same pieces as part of the set and have many of the same features, such as ability to stack cook, steam-control knobs, phenolic handles, and encapsulated bottoms. The extra ply simply adds more bonding agents in the layering process. Because the KT17 does not use carbon steel in its layering, the cost of this cookware set is typically about $100 less than the KT17ULTRA induction set.

Encapsulated (Warp Resistant Bottoms)

The special design of the bottom of each our pots provides extra strength and rigidity that will always prevent warping. The pans stay flat and hug the burner for maximum heating efficiency during the entire cooking process. A flat bottom is important because it allows as much of the surface as possible to be in contact with the heating surface. The thickness of the (encapsulated) bottom inside the stainless steel shell is also necessary for even heat distribution. Not only will hot spots be eliminated that can often result in burnt foods, but the flat cooking surface also sends out heat evenly in all directions. It is important to note that all pans (not lids) are oven safe up to 350°. However, they should not be used under a broiler.

There are many reputable vendors on the Internet that offer quality waterless stainless steel cookware at affordable prices. Before making that purchase, shop around. Most importantly, learn all you can about waterless cookware and waterless cooking. Once you’ve made an informed decision, I can assure you that you will absolutely love preparing meals for you and your family. To learn more about waterless cooking, you can visit our site—www.thegourmetscookware.com

If you are interested in owning a quality waterless cookware set, check out http://www.thegourmetscookware.com for some great deals on stainless steel cookware, stockpots, skillets, flatware, cutlery and other gourmet essentials. In addition, we offer tips for cooking with waterless cookware, cleaning your stainless steel cookware, and great recipes to try with your new waterless stainless steel cookware.

State Fair Cookware vs. World’s Finest by Maxam

Have you ever attended the State Fair and watched a cookware demonstration? If you are like me, you were soon captivated by the sales pitch. You were already envisioning using this cookware in your kitchen. Then they mention the price which, depending on the composition of the specific set, can range from $1,500 to $3,000. West Bend and Regal are excellent brands. I am sure that the claims made by the demonstrators are all true. The unfortunate reality, however, is that not everyone can afford to spend a couple of thousand dollars for a quality cookware set.

The good news is that you do not have to. There are many companies on the Internet that offer comparable cookware at a fraction of the cost. One set to consider that is comparable to the expensive brands shown at the State Fair is Maxam’s 17 pc. 9-element Steam-control set. Maxam even offers a Salad Maker with 5 cutting blades similar to that offered at the State Fair for a little over $100.

The KT17 set is truly one of Maxam’s finest! Cooking will be a dream with this set! This 17 pc. set is considered to be one of the highest quality Steam Control Surgical Stainless Steel "Waterless" cookware sets that Maxam makes. Each piece of this KT17 set is constructed of extra heavy surgical stainless steel and guaranteed to last a lifetime. The 9-element (layer) construction spreads the heat quickly and evenly. The 9-ply construction includes the following elements:

• Chrome
• Nickel
• Manganese
• Silicon
• Aluminum
• Iron
• Copper
• Molybdenum
• Vanadium

The chrome adds longer life, the iron adds strength and the copper adds durability to this quality cookware. The steam control valve makes "waterless" cooking easy. You can cook healthier in this cookware because it eliminates the need for grease or oil in cooking. To use the steam control valve, start cooking on medium heat (never use high heat). Then, when the valve begins to whistle, close the valve and turn the heat down to low and finish cooking. The 9-element construction allows you to stack cook with this cookware. Begin cooking on individual burners and when the valve whistles, you can stack the pans to finish cooking. The phenolic handles are superbly styled and are resistant to heat, cold and detergents. This set includes a cookbook with instructions and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Before you invest up to $2000 in cookware, consider our advantages and superior features. Waterless cookware Set Contents

• 1.7 qt covered saucepan
• 2.5 qt covered saucepan
• 3.2 qt covered saucepan
• 7.5 qt covered roaster
• 11-3/8" skillet
• Double boiler unit with capsule bottom that can also be used as an extra 3 qt pan
• 5 egg cups
• 5 hole utility rack
• High dome cover for skillet or roaster
  
  Some additional key features about this product:


• Stack Cooking - The 9 element construction allows stack cooking with this cookware. Start by cooking on individual burners. When valve whistles, you can stack the pans to finish cooking. Double Boiler Unit - the double boiler unit has an encapsulated bottom so that it can be place directly on your stove-top as a cooking utensil when not being used as a double boiler unit.


• Size - A description of the size of each pot is clearly visible on the bottom of the pan


• Handles - The phenolic handles are resistant to heat, cold, and detergents and have been tested for durability in ovens up to 350 degrees. However, the manufacturer does not recommend placing the pots in an oven. They are really made to be used on a stove top. This cookware actually allows you to bake food right on top of your stove. Each handle is molded with a large eyelet that permits you to hang your utensils. Also, for convenient storage, you can invert the cover, nest it in the proper pan, and hang or stack your cookware.
  

Shop around. There will be quite a variance in price but you should be able to purchase this set for between $230 and $280. Though the price difference between State Fair sets and those sold on the Internet is considerable, you will notice that, upon comparison, the actual differences between this set and the more expensive State Fair sets are negligible. Maxam also offers the KT17ULTRA set that sells on the Internet for approximately $100 more than the KT17 set. The reason this set is more expensive that the KT17 set is that it contains a carbon steel core between the stainless steel layers. If you have an induction stove, then this is the cookware for you. Induction stoves use a magnetic field to heat the cooking pan, which then heats the contents of the pan. The cook top itself stays relatively cool. With induction cooking, you need a cooking pan that will attract a magnet and has a flat bottom. The carbon steel in the construction makes this possible. A flat-top or ceramic top stove is not an induction cook stove.

If you are interested in owning a quality waterless cookware set, check out http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/ for some great deal of stainless steel cookware set as well as other gourmet accessories.In addition, we offer tips for cooking with waterless cookware, cleaning your stainless steel cookware, and great recipes to try with your waterless cookware.

How to Cook Eggs with Waterless, Greaseless Stainless Steel Cookware

Most foods can be cooked the waterless or greaseless way because they have natural water or fats in them. Eggs, however, are the exception to the rule. Since they have no natural oils, a small amount of some type of lubricant is required to prevent the eggs and egg-based recipes from sticking to the pan. Another important thing to remember when cooking eggs is to use a clean pan. Finally, the heat must be adjusted to medium or medium-high heat to cook.

Charles Knight is recognized worldwide as the foremost expert on the methods of waterless, greaseless cooking. He has written three cookbooks that offer tips as well as recipes to use with waterless, stainless steel cookware. He suggests that you use unsalted butter as the lubricant in your pan. This will help you achieve the proper cooking temperature for cooking the eggs. If the butter burns, the pan is definitely too hot. Once you have identified the proper cooking temperature for eggs, you may witch to oil as a lubricant.

Frying Eggs

Preheat your gourmet chef’s pan over medium heat. Place a small amount of unsalted butter in the pan—make sure it is enough to cover the bottom of the pan when melted. When the water bubbles release from the butter (usually about 2 – 3 minutes), add the eggs. When whites cook to the desired firmness, flip eggs and cook on the other side to desired firmness. As an option, you can cover the gourmet pan with a larger cover and cook to the desired firmness.

Scrambled Eggs

Prepare eggs to scramble by placing 2 eggs in a bowl. Add 1 Tbsp. of water and whip thoroughly with a whisk or fork.

Preheat gourmet chef’s pan over medium heat. Place a small amount on unsalted butter in the pan—make sure it is enough to cover the bottom of the pan when melted. When the water bubbles release from the butter (usually about 2 – 3 minutes), add the eggs. As the eggs begin to cook, draw cooked part from the edge of the pan toward the center with a fork allowing unco0ked egg batter to move to the surface of pan. Continue to repeat the process until the eggs are scrambled to desired firmness.

Soft Cooked Eggs

In a cool small saucepan, place eggs and 2 Tbsp. water for one egg, adding 1 Tbsp. for each additional egg, up to six. Use 1/2 cup water for more than 6 eggs. Cover pan and open vent. Cook on medium heat until steam appears, about 2 minutes. For electric range, turn off heat. For gas range, turn flame as low as possible. Time the eggs from the instant steam appears through the vent. Close the vent and continue cooking 3 – 4 minutes for soft cooked, 5 minutes for very firm white and medium soft yolk.

Hard Cooked Eggs

Use the same method as above, additional water for additional eggs. Cover and close the vent. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn burner off and leave covered 10 minutes. Cool in cold water, then peel.

Poached Eggs

Pour 1 cup hot water into a small saucepan or small skillet with egg poaching rack. Break eggs into lightly buttered egg cups. Place on egg poaching rack. Cover and close the vent. Cook over medium heat until steam appears. Reduce to low. Continue cooking 3 – 4 minutes for soft cooked eggs, or longer to desired firmness.

We hope you found this information helpful. Click http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/ for other great cooking tips and recipes! We have also included some great waterless cooking recipes on our site http://www.thegourmetscookware.com/healthywaterlessrecipes.html, including some new ones for July. Also check out the great deals on waterless cookware sets and pieces.