Skill 6 of 16

Seasoning as you go

Salt a little at each stage and taste before you serve.

What it means

Season

Seasoning means adding salt, pepper or spices to bring out a food’s flavor. A little at a few stages tastes better than a lot all at the end.

How you’ll know: When you taste it, it tastes bright and like itself, not flat and not salty.

Pinch

A pinch is what you can hold between your thumb and two fingers, less than an eighth of a teaspoon. It’s a small, forgiving amount, so there’s no need to measure.

How you’ll know: It’s a light sprinkle you can barely see on the food, not a little pile.

To taste

To taste means there’s no exact amount: add a little, taste, and add more if it needs it. You’re the judge, and it’s easy to add more but hard to take any out.

How you’ll know: Each taste gets a little better, and you stop when it tastes good to you.