White Sauce Question

[rotuts]

@TdeV 

 

 

the issue I see w these ' newer ' methods

 

for WS etc.  is

 

do the ( much ) higher agitation speeds

 

incorporate air ?

 

if so , is this good sometimes

 

and not so good otherwise ?

[JoNorvelleWalker]

  On 7/6/2021 at 5:44 PM, TdeV said:

@JoNorvelleWalker, does your blender have a heater in it?

I'm wondering if I could make a white sauce with the Bamix. (I'm not very good with a whisk).

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No, the Blendtec does not have a heater.  However from friction a Vitamix or a Blendtec can boil cold milk in a couple minutes.  I doubt a Bamix could do that.

 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

  On 7/6/2021 at 5:55 PM, rotuts said:

@TdeV 

 

 

the issue I see w these ' newer ' methods

 

for WS etc.  is

 

do the ( much ) higher agitation speeds

 

incorporate air ?

 

if so , is this good sometimes

 

and not so good otherwise ?

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I did not notice any incorporation of air in my bechamel last night.

 

[Margaret Pilgrim]

  On 7/6/2021 at 5:44 PM, TdeV said:

@JoNorvelleWalker, does your blender have a heater in it?

I'm wondering if I could make a white sauce with the Bamix. (I'm not very good with a whisk).

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THIS shaped whisk.  With it, lumps haven't a chance.    Without it, I can't boil water.   

[TdeV]

I guess the truth is that I'm not very good at standing around a stove. 🙄

Don't have much memory of aerated white sauce, so I suppose that's not the proper method. Right, @rotuts?

The Bamix does have other blades than an aerator.

 

I shall have to experiment  . . .

[AlaMoi]

veddy confuzed here.....

 

for a white sauce, I melt the butter, add equal by volume AP flour, stir - cook until slightly brown....

add cold milk and whisk in.

second dose of cold milk, whisk in...

 

no lumps, no problems....

[rotuts]

Ive always used hot milk.  

 

never had any problems , no lumps

 

when milk is added slowly.

 

problems from time to time w cold milk.

 

 

[rotuts]

this will get us to the WS , soon 

 

but , 

 

https://www.everythingkitchens.com/vitamix-vs-blendtec.html

 

I found this after the Revelation that both 

 

the VMX  and BTC  heat up the container contents

 

it therefore follows :

 

weigh white flour //  measure cold milk // same with cold butter 

 

of course , some fresh ground nutmeg.

 

White Sauce !

 

clean up blender via blender.

 

Ig gain so much weight !

 

BTW  price range the same :   Vitamix  or Blendtec

 

just in case I need that info.

Edited July 7, 2021 by rotuts (log)

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I have an Oster I was given as a present in 1958.   Weighs a ton.   Works great.   Doesn't boil water, but hardly can I.

[Bernie]

Another vote for hot milk (not boiling!)

I do the butter flour bit then take it off the heat. Heat the milk in the microwave till hot (no bubbles just hot)

Add the milk and stir. It should only thicken a little but it will mix together smoothly without lumps.

You don't have to stand by the stove stirring while it thickens.

Return to heat to thicken

I add a little nutmeg. It fixes up any residual flour taste if I am not cooking with the sauce.

I have used half cream but only in a dish where i will be adding strong flavors, it does make the sauce a little bland.

[haresfur]

  On 7/6/2021 at 8:29 PM, AlaMoi said:

veddy confuzed here.....

 

for a white sauce, I melt the butter, add equal by volume AP flour, stir - cook until slightly brown....

add cold milk and whisk in.

second dose of cold milk, whisk in...

 

no lumps, no problems....

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You use a whisk? I use a rubber spatula and just add cold milk in small glugs. After a few batches you get to know how much you can add at each stage without getting lumps.

 

Rubber spatula means you can use a higher heat without scorching the bottom.

[heidih]

  On 7/6/2021 at 11:59 PM, haresfur said:

Rubber spatula means you can use a higher heat without scorching the bottom.

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Wooden spoon here - same idea

[Margaret Pilgrim]

I repeat, for white sauce, veloute, Allemande, hollandaise, bernaise, beurre blanc and friends, i depend on the coiled wire whisk shown above.   I literally could not cook without them.  

[AlaMoi]

how to make a white sauce is a topic similar to how to peel hard boiled eggs.

one should expect multiple opinions.

[Tropicalsenior]

No one has yet talked about my favorite way to make Bechamel. For years now I have been making mine in the microwave. No more scorched pans and no more constant stirring. I put the butter in a pyrex Bowl and melt it for 30 to 45 seconds, add the flour, salt and pepper, and mix well with a whisk.

My wire whisk is like this.

Microwave for 45 seconds to cook the flour. Add the milk and whisk well to combine. Microwave for 1 minute and stir well. Continue microwaving at one and a half minute intervals stiring well each time until it is thickened.

I use the classic proportions, 1 tablespoon butter plus 1 tablespoon flour plus one cup of milk for a thin sauce, 2 + 2 + 1 for a medium sauce, 3 + 3 + 1 for a thick sauce.

If adding cheese, add it just as it reaches the thickness that you want and heat for 1 minute to melt.

Just don't overcook it. I have better results with 1% or 2% milk.

[MokaPot]

I'm not so great at sauces and roux, but I can make white sauce with a wooden spoon. (Stovetop.)

[Tropicalsenior]

  On 7/7/2021 at 6:20 PM, MokaPot said:

I'm not so great at sauces and roux, but I can make white sauce with a wooden spoon. (Stovetop.)

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Me too but I can't tell you how many pans that I have scorched because I have been distracted. (kids, husband, television, dogfights, and now I have old age to contend with). To me, this is so much easier.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Tropicalsenior (log)

[Margaret Pilgrim]

[rotuts]

at a certain age

 

don't be so sure

[MokaPot]

  On 7/7/2021 at 6:28 PM, Tropicalsenior said:

Me too but I can't tell you how many pans that I have scorched because I have been distracted. (kids, husband, television, dogfights, and now I have old age to contend with). To me, this is so much easier.

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Understood. Now, all my pots and pans are non-stick. I might not be able to do a white sauce, anymore, on stainless steel with a wooden spoon (stovetop). I like that you used your microwave oven (you mentioned that upthread).

 

At this point, I'd probably use a silicone spatula on nonstick to make a white sauce.

 

[Tropicalsenior]

  On 7/7/2021 at 7:11 PM, MokaPot said:

I like that you used your microwave oven

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Thank you. Years ago I learned that you could actually cook in a microwave, not just heat and reheat. It has become my right arm. I know that a lot of people put them down, but I use it for every trick in the book.

[Wait. Wot]

  On 7/7/2021 at 7:17 PM, Tropicalsenior said:

Thank you. Years ago I learned that you could actually cook in a microwave, not just heat and reheat. It has become my right arm. I know that a lot of people put them down, but I use it for every trick in the book.

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Could you please to be telling me what book? I use the microwave to warm and reheat. My SO hates the idea of cooking with the microwave but loves the induction cooktop.  Go figure!

[Tropicalsenior]

  On 7/8/2021 at 1:19 AM, Wait. Wot said:

what book

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I guess, just kind of, The Book of Life. It's something that I just figured out on my own. But if you follow the directions above, that should pretty much tell you how to do it. I even make gravy in the microwave just following this formula for the proportion of pan drippings plus flour plus liquid.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

  On 7/8/2021 at 1:19 AM, Wait. Wot said:

Could you please to be telling me what book? I use the microwave to warm and reheat. My SO hates the idea of cooking with the microwave but loves the induction cooktop.  Go figure!

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Barbara Kafka.    Brilliant ways of using the microwave to do just about everything, but IMHO many recipes involve a lot more steps and utensils than I would use on stovetop.    That said, we depend on our microwave for lunches daily.

[Tropicalsenior]

  On 7/8/2021 at 1:27 AM, Margaret Pilgrim said:

lot more steps and utensils than I would use on stovetop

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I agree! She gets a lot more involved than she needs to. When you get old and lazy like me, things aren't that involved.