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TechniquesDeglazing a Pan

Deglazing a Pan

Mediummain-course

The technique

Method

  1. 1
    Remove the cooked meat or vegetables from the hot pan and set aside; leave the browned bits (the fond) behind.
  2. 2
    Off the heat or over low heat, pour in your liquid - wine, stock, or even water.
  3. 3
    Return to medium heat and scrape the bottom of the pan firmly with a wooden spoon to lift the fond into the liquid.
  4. 4
    Let it bubble and reduce by about half, concentrating the flavor.
  5. 5
    Finish with a knob of butter or a splash of cream off the heat for a quick pan sauce.

Those browned bits stuck to the pan after searing meat are pure flavor. Deglazing lifts them into a liquid, turning a dirty pan into the start of a sauce.

By Alistair Crawford