Ice Bath Shock

Drop hot food into ice water the moment it is done. The cooking stops right there.

Difficulty: 1
Heat: none

Key Points

Use more ice than you think. Move the food within 10 seconds. Keep it in until cold to the touch.

Common Failures

Too little ice turns the water warm fast. Tap water alone lets the yolk keep cooking.

Do this

Fill a bowl with ice and cold water. Move the food in the moment it leaves the pot. Leave it until it feels cold.

Why it works

Hot food keeps cooking from the stored heat. Ice water pulls that heat out in seconds. The texture stops right where you wanted it.

When to skip it

Skip it for stews and roasts. There you want the gentle carryover heat.