Macération

Intermediate 🍳 Food / Culinary

Definition

Soaking ingredients in liquid to extract flavor or soften texture. It's basically marinating's pretentious cousin.

Example Usage

The dried fruit underwent maceration in brandy for three weeks.

Origin

French, from Latin 'macerare' meaning 'to soften'

Fun Fact

Maceration can be cold or hot, with hot maceration extracting flavors much faster.

Source: Larousse Gastronomique

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crème fraîche

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temper

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tempering

Gradually equalizing temperatures between ingredients to prevent curdling, seizing, or thermal shock. The delicate dance of slowly introducing cold eggs to hot liquid without making scrambled egg soup.

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