Top 9 Timeless and Delicious Chinese Cooking Tips You Should Know

In China, people have mastered the art of tenderizing even the toughest cuts of meat. One popular method involves marinating the meat in egg yolk for about 15 minutes. While it may sound unconventional compared to using lemon juice, vinegar, or other acidic ingredients, this technique is often referred to as "velveting." Chinese chefs explain that the egg yolk not only enhances the meat's brightness but also acts as a protective layer during cooking. This prevents moisture from evaporating, ensuring the meat remains juicy and flavorful.

In Chinese cooking, raw meat is often boiled briefly in water, after which the water is discarded, and the meat is further processed by stewing or boiling in fresh water. This method serves several purposes. First, blanching helps remove impurities and excess blood from the meat. Second, it tenderizes certain types of meat, such as pork. Finally, there’s a unique technique where the meat is fully cooked in water, and then flavor is added by stir-frying it with vegetables and seasonings.

In China, there’s a secret to making dumplings that are both delicious and healthy. Typically, dumplings are filled with just minced meat, which can make them overly rich and heavy. However, the Chinese often use a filling that’s 50% vegetables and 50% meat. This approach ensures the dumplings are not only tasty but also much healthier.

Chinese cuisine features a wide range of dishes cooked using steam. This method is even applied to flour-based foods. Locals traditionally use bamboo baskets placed over boiling water. To create delicious steamed meals the Chinese way, you don’t need to search for bamboo baskets online. A simple metal steamer placed over a pot of boiling water works just as well. Just remember to stay close to the stove and ensure the pot doesn’t run out of water.

In Chinese cuisine, desserts are not heavily reliant on sugar, and items like jam and chocolate are uncommon. Instead, plant-based ingredients such as sesame, beans, and sweet potatoes are used to add natural sweetness. This is why many Europeans find Chinese desserts less sweet or even bland. Interestingly, this approach to dessert-making might also contribute to the generally slim physique of many Chinese people.

For centuries, sesame has been a beloved ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often added to a variety of dishes. A traditional dessert, sesame balls, is a popular treat. Sesame is rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, and copper, making it a highly nutritious addition to your diet. Incorporating more sesame into your meals is definitely a good idea.

In China, people take great care when washing fruits and vegetables. They rinse them thoroughly under tap water, then soak them in a saltwater solution before rinsing again. In 2006, Chinese scientists conducted a study proving that saltwater effectively removes pesticides from produce. To wash fruits and vegetables this way, mix 1 part salt with 10 parts water.

Chinese cooks don’t rely on precise measurements for rice and water. Instead, they add the desired amount of rice to the pot and use their index finger to measure the water level. By placing their finger perpendicular to the rice surface, they simply add enough water to cover up to the first knuckle.

Many of us wonder how Chinese chefs manage to make meat and fish appear so glossy. The secret lies in cornstarch, a staple in most kitchens across the country. No dish is complete without a sauce thickened with starch, especially when cooked at high temperatures.