Basting
Intermediate Meat and fish
Basting is spooning hot fat or juices over food as it cooks.
Written with AI help from the sources listed, and published by Cory. Sources: USDA safe minimum internal temperatures, USDA on the danger zone (40-140°F). Spot a mistake? Tell us and we'll fix it.
How do you do it?
- Tilt the pan so butter or juices pool, and spoon them over the top again and again.
Why does it work?
Hot fat cooks and browns the top while the pan cooks the bottom, and adds flavor (butter with garlic and thyme).
What are the common mistakes?
- Opening the oven every 5 minutes for a roast — the oven loses heat and it takes longer.
Still stuck? Watch someone do it on YouTube.
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