Exclusive:
According to Michelin-trained chef and potato queen Poppy O’Toole, there’s a mistake that many of us are making in the kitchen – but it’s easily rectified if you put your mind to it
If you’re a foodie who struggles in the kitchen, you could be falling victim to a common mistake.
Michelin-trained chef Poppy O’Toole revealed that many fail to find their feet in the kitchen because they lack “confidence”. You may not think this makes a big difference, but it can really hold you back.
Not only can it lead to you overcooking items out of fear, it can also mean you mess ingredients up by over-whisking or turning them. As well as this, dithering around can mean you’re not sticking to the recipe properly.
Poppy exclusively told us: “I think that one of the biggest mistakes people make in the kitchen is not having the confidence to just go for it.
“For example, when people see ‘fry in the pan for eight minutes’, people get a bit scared and they want to touch it and turn it over, but we’re looking for that caramelisation so it’s about just having the confidence to leave things alone.”
As well as trusting the process, it’s important to give yourself enough time to complete the job properly. Poppy said because “everyone’s busy”, they can rush to get things done.
Resist the urge to do this though – as often, the best things happen when you give it time. Poppy gave the example of a bechamel sauce she made and let it cook for 30 minutes, rather than rushing it as she normally would, and she said it was the “best” she’d ever made.
She described the sauce as “beautiful”, “perfect”, and “silky smooth”, even claiming it had “more flavour” and “no floury texture” that bechamel can sometimes have.
Poppy added: “Don’t be too eager to get things done”. She recommends slowing down, because that’s when the magic can really happen in the kitchen.
Poppy O’Toole has partnered with McCain for the launch of its all-new range of air fryer fries, which is exclusively endorsed by Ninja, and comes in Deep Ridge Crinkle Cut and French Fries. The air fryer range is available now for £3.20 at Tesco, Asda, Iceland and more.
Do you have a story to share? Email: danielle.wroe@mirror.co.uk
