Ever wonder how and why Michelin star rated chef have their stars? I for sure don't know the exact reason and the requirements they needed to fulfill just to have a star. All I know is that the food they make is SO. DANG. GOOD. So I did a bit of research on what techniques and secrets Michelin Star chefs have up under their sleeves and boy, oh boy I found not just a few, but a staggering 77 cooking tips from Michelin star chefs that will absolutely elevate your cooking. Buckle up! We're diving right in.
- Keep fresh, unwaxed lemons in your freezer. Once frozen, grate lemon zest over your completed dish for a refined taste. - Chef Berwyn Davies, 1 Michelin star
Chef Berwyn's Instagram
- The key ingredient in Italian bread soup is stale bread! All you need to do is toss in other ingredients such as carrots, tomatoes, and herbs. - Chef Nicholas Stefanelli, 1 Michelin star
Chef Nicholas' Instagram
- Don't limit yourself when making gnocchi; try Russet potatoes and burnt flour for a whole new flavor. - Chef Alex Hong, 3 Michelin stars
Chef Alex' Instagram
- Cured ham, bread, garlic, and tomato are all the ingredients you need to make a Catalan sandwich. - Chef Andrew Zimmern, 1 Michelin star
Chef Andrew Zimmern's Instagram
- Place an ice cube in the center of your burger patty when cooking. It will melt and moisturize the meat - Chef Elliot Graham, 2 Michelin stars
Chef Elliot Graham's Instagram
- Adding milk, water, and salt when cooking cauliflower keeps it bright white. - Chef Michael White, 1 Michelin star
Chef Michael White's Instagram
- Making mashed potatoes with French cheese and smoked butter gives them a whole new flavor. - Chef Suzette Gresham, 2 Michelin stars
Chef Suzette's Instagram
- To get the best-tasting asparagus, cure and peel the stalks before rolling in equal parts sugar and salt. Let sit for 10 minutes then rinse off and prepare as desired. - Chef Shea Gallante, 1 Michelin star
Photo courtesy of totalfood.com
Chef Shea Gallante's Instagram
- When preparing potatoes for mashing; drain the excess water, return to the hot pan, and cover for about five minutes so they dry out and become easy to mash. - Chef Wolfgang Puck, 2 Michelin stars
Chef Wolfgang Puck's Instagram
- Ask the fishmonger or butcher for you to see and smell the products up close. - Chef Eric Ripert, 3 Michelin stars
Chef Eric Ripert's Instagram
- When you need more oil, add it along the edges of the pan to ensure it is hot by the time it reaches the center. - Chef Anita Lo, 1 Michelin star
- Shmaltz or chicken fat has a rich flavor and can be used in many dishes. - Chef Tony Maws, 1 Michelin star
Photo courtesy by Dartagnan.
Chef Tony's Instagram
- Instead of using a shopping list, buy the items that look good. - Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, 3 Michelin stars
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You can add freshly grated wasabi to your mashed potatoes for more flavor. - Chef Mari Katsumura, 1 Michelin star
Photo courtesy by Cherry Circle Room
Chef Mari's Instagram - Prepare a great burrito by using leftovers such as chicken, green onions, and roasted pepper. - Chef Curtis Stone, 1 Michelin star
- You can serve caviar with egg whites, egg yolks, and red onions on buttered toast for points with your guests. - Chef David Shim, 1 Michelin star
- For a unique sub/hoagie/grinder, use mayonnaise, vinaigrette, lettuce, and chili paste. - Chef Curtis Stone, 1 Michelin star
- Give your BLT sandwich extra flavor by adding bacon vinaigrette. - Chef Mazen Mustafa, 1 Michelin star
- Perfect vegetable soup? Start with your onions, peppers, and diced carrots sauteed in oil before adding any liquid. - Chef Shaun Hergatt, 2 Michelin stars
- When preparing lentil dishes, keep the water at least an inch above the lentils. - Chef Attul Kochhar, 1 Michelin star
- Add a dash of white soy sauce or soy sauce and a splash of agave syrup to sweeten and balance your ceviche. - Chef Val Cantu, 1 Michelin star
- For the perfect chicken salad, brine and steam the chicken until it is perfectly seasoned and tender. Mix with fresh apple, celery, pomegranate, seeds, and walnuts. - Chef Cristina Bowerman, 1 Michelin star
- To make a Thai omelet, mix Thai soy sauce, Thai oyster sauce, and fish sauce with your eggs for a flavorful taste. You can also add vegetables. - Chef Beverly Kimberly, 1 Michelin star
- To avoid the smell of garlic on your cutting board, smash it in a resealable plastic bag using the back of your knife. - Chef Laurent Tourondel, 3 Michelin stars
- The fresher the garlic, the sweeter it will be. - Chef Todd English, 1 Michelin star
- If you want pasta carbonara that is more tasteful and classy, try adding Calabrian chiles. - Chef Andrew Zimmerman, 1 Michelin star
- Add flavor to a chicken sandwich by adding sesame miso vinaigrette. - Chef Andrew Zimmerman, 1 Michelin star
- When preparing food for a large group, avoid dressing the salad beforehand to prevent a soggy dish. - Chef Marc Forgione, 1 Michelin star
- Keep flavored vinegar near you, you don't have to always reach for the salt. - Chef Art Smith, 1 Michelin star
- For meat sauces, use a few drops of lemon juice vinegar. Don't forget to add a little cayenne pepper to lend substance to the sauce. - Chef Michelle Husser, 1 Michelin star
- Ginger peel gives your food a spicier, darker taste. - Chef Attur Koccchal, 1 Michelin star
- Do you enjoy your sandwich a little sweet and salty? Combine ham and pickles for satisfactory results. - Chef Joe Flamm, 1 Michelin star
- Create a versatile bowl of ramen depending on what you have in your fridge. You can have eggs or even hot dog ramen! - Chef Brad Carter, 1 Michelin star
- Transform your kale salad by making a dressing of black pepper, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and minced garlic. - Chef Beverly Kim, 1 Michelin star
- Quality knives are a must-have. - Chef Christophe Cussac, 2 Michelin stars
- Be organized in your kitchen by cutting vegetables and meat and making sauces before you start cooking. - Chef Richard Sandoval, 2 Michelin stars
- Cook eggs sunny side up, deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar, then sprinkle the sauce on the eggs for a unique taste. - Chef Didier Elena, 2 Michelin stars
- Avoid oil when boiling pasta; it will prevent the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta. - Chef Missy Robbins, 2 Michelin stars
- Put bacon or pancetta in the freezer for 15 minutes to make it firmer and easier to cut. - Chef Chris Cosentino, 2 Michelin stars
- Pull your steaks from the refrigerator one hour before grilling so they can come to room temperature. - Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, 1 Michelin star
- Adding cheese rinds to vegetables and broths creates a whole new dimension of flavor. - Chef Paul Virant, 1 Michelin star
- Whenever you are cooking for an important person, don't try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time. - Chef Marcus Samuelsson, 3 Michelin stars
- A small drizzle of high-quality olive oil really brings out the flavors in your pizza. - Chef Nancy Silverton, 1 Michelin star
- To ensure your salad stays crunchy when mixed with vinaigrette, season it with coarse sea salt and a little olive oil. - Chef Paul Liebrandt, 2 Michelin stars
- No time to brine your chicken? No problem, just heavily salt it on both sides an hour before you cook it, then pat it dry and roast for a crispy taste. - Chef David Myers, 1 Michelin star
- Spatchcock (meaning to split open for cooking) your turkey, thus going low and slow for a well-cooked Thanksgiving meal. - Chef Morgan, 1 Michelin star
- Homemade vinaigrettes taste better than bottled ones. - Chef Bill Telepan, 1 Michelin star
- Lasagna gets better with each consecutive day that it stays in the fridge. - Chef Alex Hong, 3 Michelin stars
- Make the grill do double duty by grilling other ingredients alongside your meat, such as peppers and onions. - Chef Mellisa Parello, 1 Michelin star
- Caramelize onions faster by using a dry, non-stick pan over medium-high heat. - Chef Michae Mina, 1 Michelin star
- To prevent your food from sweating, don’t overcrowd the pan when sauteing. - Chef Ryan Poli, 1 Michelin star
- Are you tired of your food sticking to the pan? Hold each piece with tongs below the surface of the oil for satisfactory results. - Chef Michael Psilakis, 1 Michelin star
- Order is everything in the kitchen. Make sure your freezer is well organized and keep the oldest items either at the top or front. Separate raw and cooked goods. - Chef Anita Lo, 1 Michelin star
- You don't have to buy all of your cooking ingredients. Check the ones that you can grow in your kitchen garden. All you need is good quality compost. - Chef Raymond Blanc, 2 Michelin stars
- The butchering process is fundamental as it determines how long you'll have to cook your meat. Ensure you butcher your meat in the correct measurements per the dish. - Chef David Shim, 1 Michelin star
- Ensure you have all the ingredients you need before starting to cook. This might sound simple but it’s essential! - Chef Jane, 1 Michelin star
- Use a cake tester to test whether meat, fish, or vegetables are done. - Chef Daniel Humm, 3 Michelin stars
- Cook what you enjoy eating and slowly add variations. - Chef Berwyn Davies, 1 Michelin star
- Meatballs can be softened by adding milk, eggs, and bread. - Chef Ollie Dabbous, 1 Michelin star
- Wrapping greens loosely ingreens loosely in damp paper towels and placing them in resealable plastic bags keeps them fresh for longer. - Chef Hugh Acheson, 1 Michelin star
- Why buy pasta when you can create your own from scratch? All you need is flour, oil, water, salt, and resting time for the dough. - Chef Brad Carter, 1 Michelin star
- Making a chocolate soufflé is not complicated, it all comes down to melting chocolate, folding in eggs, and making a great meringue. - Pastry Chef Dan Kleihandler, 1 Michelin star
- Want something you can use in several dishes and sandwiches all week? Try a braised or slow-roasted whole beef or pork shoulder. - Chef Anita Lo, 1 Michelin star
- Use ingredients that give your salad a balanced taste. Corn adds sweetness and can be paired with radish or arugula. - Chef Srijith Gopinathan, 2 Michelin stars
- For the best poached eggs, use fresh eggs, a pan filled with water, and a sufficient amount of white wine vinegar. - Chef Michael Tweedie, 1 Michelin star
- Don't throw away the bread crust, shred it and leave it at room temperature and you have a panko base for coating poultry or vegetables. - Chef Hiroki Odo, 1 Michelin star
- Keep it simple, buy ingredients from the farmers market, and follow your instincts. - Chef Tony Mantuano, 2 Michelin stars
- Leave your chicken unwrapped in your fridge overnight to dry the skin for a crispy top. - Chef Paul Liebrandit, 2 Michelin stars
- Tired of eating overcooked eggs? After removing your eggs from the heat, add cold crème fraiche. This cools them and adds a creamy flavor. - Chef Gordon Ramsay, 7 Michelin stars
- It is vital to break down every dish into smaller bits. Make sure you do the prep work over a couple of days, especially during major holidays. - Chef Michael White, 2 Michelin stars
- Choose iron-cast cooking pans. They offer an even cooking surface and are easy to clean. - Chef Linton Hopkins, 2 Michelin stars
- Making mashed potatoes is a delicate business. Try boiling them with their skins on and peeling them while they are still hot. That way, the potatoes won't absorb too much water. - Chef Gordon Ramsay, 7 Michelin stars
- When baking chocolate goodies, make sure you don't add too much sugar so that the chocolate flavor stands out. - Chef Alain Ducasse, 21 Michelin stars
- Don't get frustrated when chopping garlic! Add a pinch of salt to help break down its fibers. - Chef Gordon Ramsay, 7 Michelin stars
- The key to making a beautiful risotto dish is staining the rice. This can be done with ingredients such as walnut sauce, cherry sauce, or Gorgonzola cream. - Chef Enrico Bartolini, 8 Michelin stars
- When browning meat, blot the surface dry with a paper towel to ensure it doesn't release moisture when it touches the hot oil. - Chef Charlie Palmer, 13 Michelin stars
- For an amazing potato purée, use butter instead of cream and cook the potatoes seasoned in milk. Take your time and gently mash all the ingredients together. - Chef Alain Ducasse, 21 Michelin stars