Cookbook Review: KitchenWise : Essential Food Science for Home Cooks by Shirley O. Corriher

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook free of charge, from Simon and Schuster, via Edelwiss Plus, for review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own

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The James Beard Award–winning, bestselling author of CookWise and BakeWise delivers priceless cooking techniques and know-how based on her expansive understanding of food science.

kitchenwise cover

Synopsis:

Want to cook fluffier scrambled eggs and more flavorful sauces, keep your greens brilliantly green, and make everything taste more delicious? KitchenWise combines beloved cooking expert Shirley Corriher’s down-to-earth advice with scientific expertise to address everyday cooking issues. Whether you are a beginning cook or a professional chef, Shirley’s guidance will save you time and money, and let you know exactly what to do behind the stove. 

A gifted teacher with a degree in chemistry, Shirley takes readers through the hows and whys of what she does in the kitchen, explaining the science behind common problems and offering solutions for how to fix them. (For example, salt has an amazing ability to suppress bitterness and allow other flavors to emerge.) Filled with more than 30 of Shirley’s favorite time-tested recipes, in Kitchenwise readers learn how to cook more successfully, why certain ingredients work well together, and what makes good food great.

Amazingly informative, approachable, and packed with proven techniques, KitchenWise serves up new ways to get the most from your cooking.


Review:

We've all had recipes that just seem to fail, and we can't figure out WHY. In this book, Shirley shows you WHY, and then explains the science behind the problem, so that she can show how to fix the issue in the future! Who knew cooking could be so educational? The recipes included may seem traditional, but they are foundational recipes that can take you from breakfast to dessert, and Shirley shows you how you can make them your own, by following the simple principles she gives. I love that she covers what makes food taste good to us, and food safety as well. This really is your all-compassing, everything you need to know in the kitchen book!

After going through this book, I'm going to use it for Miss Grace for a semester  Chemical Cooking class, to reinforce her Chemistry learning, and add a bit of home ec back into her transcript! Got a reluctant science student? This might be just the thing to make it FUN! And it can help TEACH your kids to cook properly along the way. Seriously- I learned quite a few techniques I had realized could actually SAVE me time in the kitchen! This would be a great gift for someone who loves cooking and for sharing with your kids too! And be sure to pick up her Cook Wise and Bake Wise for a complete trilogy!


About the Author:

Shirley O. Corriher has a BA in chemistry from Vanderbilt University, where she was also a biochemist at the medical school. She has consulted for Julia Child, Procter & Gamble, Pillsbury, and The Joy of Cooking, and is a noted international speaker and teacher, named by Bon Appetit as Best Cooking Teacher of the Year. Her media appearances include Good EatsSmart Solutions, Real Simple, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and she has written a regular column for the Los Angeles Times and in publications including Cook’s Illustrated and Fine Cooking. Her first book, CookWise, won a James Beard Award for excellence. She is also the author of BakeWise and KitchenWise. She lives in Atlanta.



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