6 cooking techniques explained

Not all cooking happens over a stove or inside an oven. Across cultures and cuisines, chefs use strange, surprising techniques that challenge what we think food preparation should look like and many of them actually enhance flavour and texture. (unsplash)

Clay Pot Sealing: Food is cooked inside a clay pot that’s sealed with dough, trapping steam inside. When the seal is broken, the dish releases intense aromas, making it both a cooking and sensory experience. (unsplash)

Cooking with Ash: Ash cooking involves burying food like vegetables or fish in hot ashes rather than flames. This slow, smoky technique locks in moisture and adds a subtle earthy flavour. (unsplash)

Ice Cooking: Some desserts and delicate dishes are prepared using ice to control temperature and texture. Ice cooking prevents overheating and allows precise setting, especially in modern gastronomy. (youtube: sunday china morning post)

Pressure Cooking Underwater: In this rare technique, sealed containers are cooked at controlled depths underwater, where pressure increases cooking efficiency. Used experimentally and in some coastal traditions, underwater pressure cooking alters texture while preserving moisture in a unique way. (AI generated)

Sand Roasting: Sand roasting uses extremely hot sand to cook ingredients like peanuts, eggs, or flatbreads. The sand distributes heat evenly without burning the food, making it popular in street food cultures. (unsplash)

Stone Cooking: In this method, super heated stones are placed directly into soups or pots to cook food evenly. Used traditionally in parts of Asia and Africa, the stones retain heat and help cook ingredients without direct flame. (unsplash)