Use a small splash of water to deglaze and slow burning (when appropriate)
If food is starting to burn, adding a little water can deglaze the pan and help stop scorching in some cases.
Keep a cup of water nearby when cooking at higher heat. If the pan gets out of control (and it’s not just hot oil), add a small amount of water to loosen browned bits and reduce burning.
The short version
- Keep water on hand as a control tool
- Works for some situations; not for everything
- Avoid using if the pan is just oil
What you need
- cup of wateroptionalKept nearby for quick deglazing/heat control
What goes wrong
Using this in a pan that’s only hot oil
Only use when there’s food/sauce present; otherwise choose another heat-control method (like moving off heat)
Why it works
Water cools the pan surface and dissolves stuck-on fond, reducing scorching and buying time.
Learn next
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