Marcy Gaston

Fundamentals of Food Preparation Marcy Gaston

Fundamentals of Food Preparation provides students of the culinary arts with the critical knowledge and skillsets they will need to succeed within professional kitchens. The text provides an overview of the equipment and tools commonly used for food production, including knives, pots, pans, ranges, mixers, food processors, and more. Additionally, readers learn basic cooking techniques from sauteing to boiling stock to simmering soup.

The opening units of the text cover culinary basics, including tools and equipment, food safety and sanitation, cooking methods and terms, beginner knife skills, and measurements, conversions, and sensory evaluation. Students learn how to work with fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy, and proteins, including plant-based proteins. Additional units address the preparation of eggs, pasta, various breads, and cakes, cookies, pastries. Closing units focus on making candy, working with chocolate, creating beverages, and understanding the fermentation process. Within each unit, recipes provide students with opportunities to apply what they've learned and increase their practical knowledge.

Fundamentals of Food Preparation is an ideal resource for courses and programs in culinary arts, food and nutrition, and hospitality management.