Tasting while you are cooking

If and when I do cook from scratch, I am a taster for sure. (And a smeller )

If he doesnt agree with tasting things while they are cooking, how does he know if the spices are just right?  Or doesnt he care if the spices are right?

He thinks that you should be able to figure that out over time and eventually you will know how much goes in what.  He admits we are not quite at that stage yet (we're relative novices) but hopes we will get there sometime.  He doesn't care if the spices are exactly right...but he can tell when they come out good.

The most annoying thing is that HE doesn't taste things when he's cooking so they sometimes come out without salt or sugar at all!  So then I have to add tons while I'm eating.  It's so much nicer when the first bite you have of a meal is just yum....rather than oh, needs salt/sugar/pepper/etc!

DEFINITELY!  Jamie Oliver's golden rule:  never serve something you wouldn't eat yourself.

For us, that's part of the joy of cooking - good tunes on in hte background, a glass of wine or beer, and a little taste, sniff, stir, etc. 

Everything's better w/a little tweak here or there.

Has he even watched a cooking program?  Most often you will see even one of the famous chefs tasting!

Has he even watched a cooking program?  Most often you will see even one of the famous chefs tasting!

Yeah I know...but this is more of a cultural thing I think....I am going to find that link he sent me and post it for you all!

Modified:  here it is!
http://www.sanatansociety.org/indian_vegetarian_recipes/indian_food_not_tasting.htm

Interesting link. Thanks for providing it. When it comes to cooking you MUST taste.
But from the hygiene point of view,one should not double dip while tasting!

I have a set of spoons that I use just for tasting, that I can use once and then they go in the dishwasher.  I always taste!  How can you "tweak" otherwise. 

Both Jamie and I test... I try not to because I always eat too much. Whenever I see a chef show, I notice they always test with their pinky finger.

Dh and I both test. Actually, if he likes it, he does more than just test.  I can't imagine cooking without testing - how could you get the salt right?

I originally thought your husband thought tasting was just gross - if it is for spirital reasons (keeping the food pure until you can offer it) then I suppose I understand not tasting.  But I still think it would be hard for me to get seasonings right. 

I originally thought your husband thought tasting was just gross - if it is for spirital reasons (keeping the food pure until you can offer it) then I suppose I understand not tasting.  But I still think it would be hard for me to get seasonings right. 

Hmmm yeah it's a bit of both - he is generally not that hung up on spiritual things his religion thinks are right.  But he also thinks it's gross - even though I told him I don't put the spoon back in it.  Like in Hinduism you're not really supposed to share food or a plate with others - impurity reasons again.  But when you get married you actually eat off the same plate at your wedding reception to show that you are united and one.  In my family we constantly ate each other's leftovers, drank out of the same glass, etc.  He would think that is seriously gross!  But now he at least will eat my leftovers once in a while...if he is hungry.    I tease him that now we are married, he has to do it!

I am mostly hung up on the practicalities of it!  It is so hard to get the taste right without trying things along the way!  And I am really surprised that he just finds it so unusual!  Guess it shows who the cook is in our family. 

My friend's 2 year old once tipped his mug of half drunk orange juice into the cake she was making (as his contribution to the ingredients). With a hungry family of 4 children she wasn't going to waste that cake mix - apparently it tasted fine.

geeta, what if you DH took some out of the pot into a dish and then tasted.  Would that be considered contamination?

geeta, what if you DH took some out of the pot into a dish and then tasted.  Would that be considered contamination?

I don't think he really worries about the physical contamination but more like he just doesn't like the idea of tasting it while you're cooking - he (somehow) thinks you should be able to make it properly and to the right taste every time by knowing how much of each spice to put in and when.  Thus there is no need for tasting since you know get it right already! 

..of course!  We all know that you are perfect!!  Your DH is very smart!