What is speed scratch cooking?

"Speed scratch cooking" is a term that combines elements of scratch cooking and speed cooking, emphasizing a balance between fresh, homemade meals and efficient preparation.

Here's a breakdown:

Scratch cooking:

* Focus: Creating dishes from raw ingredients, avoiding processed foods and pre-made meals.

* Benefits: Control over ingredients, healthier options, often more flavorful.

* Downside: Can be time-consuming.

Speed cooking:

* Focus: Minimizing cooking time by using shortcuts, pre-cut ingredients, and quick cooking methods.

* Benefits: Efficient, convenient, great for busy schedules.

* Downside: May compromise flavor and freshness, potentially use more processed ingredients.

Speed scratch cooking bridges the gap:

* Goal: To enjoy the benefits of scratch cooking (freshness, flavor, control) while minimizing the time investment.

* Methods:

* Strategic planning: Prepping ingredients in advance, like chopping vegetables.

* Smart shortcuts: Using frozen vegetables, pre-made sauces (that are still relatively healthy).

* Efficient techniques: Mastering quick cooking methods like stir-frying, roasting, and using a pressure cooker.

* Multitasking: Utilizing the time efficiently by preparing multiple dishes simultaneously.

Essentially, speed scratch cooking is about making mindful choices to cook from scratch while still being time-efficient. It's about prioritizing fresh ingredients and homemade flavor without sacrificing the convenience of speed cooking.