Editorial desk · Practical notes

Read a recipe before the pan goes on

Read the whole recipe once without cooking. Mark any ingredient that needs preparation and any step that requires waiting. Check that your cookware is an appropriate size and that you have the tools the recipe calls for.

Measure and prepare ingredients in the order you will use them. Keep ingredients added together in one group, and separate anything needed at a different stage. This makes it easier to follow the recipe without hunting through cupboards.

After cooking, record what fitted comfortably in the pan and whether the portions matched your needs. Keep those notes with the recipe. Equipment, batch size and preparation can matter just as much as the ingredient list.