The technique
Method
1
Remove the cooked meat or vegetables from the hot pan and set aside; leave the browned bits (the fond) behind.
2
Off the heat or over low heat, pour in your liquid - wine, stock, or even water.
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
Let it bubble and reduce by about half, concentrating the flavor.
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