Listening to Sounds in Cooking

[MGLloyd]

The sound of the cracks is very important in coffee roasting. The coffee goes through 'first crack' and then 'second crack', and this has implications for the level of roast. I generally roast my coffee a few seconds into second crack, so when I hear that, I know it is time to stop the roast and cool the batch.

[Terrasanct]

I often use the microwave to heat milk or cream so it doesn't scald, and there's a sound that tells you it's just a second too late to rescue the cream before it goes over the sides of the dish.

[forever_young_ca]

This is spot on. I can listen to my quickbread and cake batters and know if they are done even before testing with a toothpick

I listen to stove top items all the time - the sizzle of a saute pan, the plop, plop of a boiling or simmering pot and many others mentioned above.

Question though - Can you hear your baking goods making a noise through the oven wall?

[sanrensho]

Question though - Can you hear your baking goods making a noise through the oven wall?

No, I wish.

The crackling batter test (sound of the batter cooking) is probably the first thing I notice when pulling cakes and quickbreads from the oven, then I check to see if the batter is still jiggling. On some rare occasions, I also press down on the batter. The toothpick check is the last check I do, if I think the batter is ready.

[cfm]

Oven dishes like pasta bakes or shepherd's pie - I feel that if they are making a noise then they are going to be hot through.

Catherine

[Domestic Goddess]

I would agree about the sound of rice cooking. For me, it's when I hear a slight sizzle, it means my rice is done and has developed a nice brown crust.

[Alex]

I cook rice by ear: as liquid is absorbed, the burbling turns to hissing, and then, juuuuust before silence, it's time to uncover, and stir/fluff, and serve.

(The above doesn't apply to risotto, when I want and need the entire symphony of sight/sound/taste/touch/smell.  There have been evenings when I almost had more fun cooking the stuff than eating.  Almost, I said.)

←

Yes...with risotto, there's a certain crackling-type sound when the rice is ready for the first addition of liquid (usually white wine).

[Sandra Levine]

Risotto also tells you when it's done.

[MoGa]

I seem to cook my rice (generally Japanese) a little differently to others on here.

I use two hobs, the largest and the smallest. The largest I whack up to ful power, the smallest to the minimum setting.

I put a pan with rice and water with a heavy lid on the maximum heat setting and listen out for the pot to get to a rolling boil. Without peaking I switch the pan over to the smaller hob.

I'm afraid I don't listen to the rice after that, I just set a timer for ten minutes, relax/do something else, then turn the heat off, quickly switch the lid for a moist kitchen towel and wait for another ten minutes.

---

I use sound to select water melons (as my Spanish grandfather taught me, he never picked one unless it was perfectly ripe). No need to press the melon or damage it in any way. Give it a slap (as if it was a buttock) and the sound should be hollow, although I'm not sure if that's the best way to describe it (it needs to 'reverberate' a little too).

Edited April 26, 2008 by MoGa (log)

[Alex]

Risotto also tells you when it's done.

←

Could you try to describe that? I've always relied on the tooth test for doneness.

[nickrey]

When making coffee with an espresso machine and frothing milk, you know it is at the optimal temperature when the milk does a deep sigh.

[helenjp]

I was surprised nobody else mentioned my Number One Kitchen Sound - deepfrying - the sound of the crackle changes quite clearly when food is done. The type and amount of bubbles also changes, so you get a visual clue too.

[MikeJ]

I was making dinner today, and it occurred to me that one of the best sounds in the world is the hiss from a pile of sliced onions sliding into a hot frying pan foaming with butter.

What are some of your favourite kitchen sounds?

[ElsieD]

I love the sound a nice strip loin makes when it hits a hot pan, and that lovely aroma rises up to greet you.

[Special K]

I love musique du pain - the crackling sound of the bread "singing" just after you take it out of the oven.

[Anna N]

I love the "crunch" of scallions under a razor sharp knife.

[arosenwald]

Popping popcorn on the stovetop. Memories of childhood.

[emilyr]

I love the sound of coffee percolating. Glub-blub-blubbing.

[jvalentino]

Shucking that first perfect ear of corn every summer.

[shellfishfiend]

The crisp sound of slicing lettuce or cabbage.

[Magictofu]

My 2 years old son banging pots and pans together?

[billieboy]

The smoke alarm telling me that dinner is ready.

[begpie]

the sound of thyme going in to hot oil

[Chefb28]

I like the sound of crispy, crackling chicken skin fresh out of the oven

[cbread]

The sound of liquids hitting the hot sides of my wok. The sound is percussive - almost explosive; I'm not sure it's doing all that much, but I love the sound regardless.