Cook Like a Chef: Use Parchment Paper Lids Instead

Simmering or poaching food is a total pain sometimes. The problems are numerous: a layer exposed to air often dries out and creates a gross skin that can ruin the texture of the sauce, the poaching liquid evaporates too quickly and causes the poached protein to burn, and so on.

Thankfully, French cuisine has created a practical and very easy solution to these problems: the cartouche, otherwise known as a parchment paper lid.

Richard McGary/REMCooks

Why a Cartouche & Not a Regular Lid?

A cartouche slows the rate of evaporation while still encouraging an even, steady distribution of heat. Additionally, the vent in the center—as well as its flimsy edges—still allow for heat to escape, which is important when trying to maintain a steady temperature when poaching or simmering. Lastly, the cartouche is place directly on top of the sauce, soup, or protein that you are cooking; this prevents the off-color "skin" that often occurs from a sauce that dries out when in prolonged contact with the air.

ChrisBelgium/Chef Talk

A lid, while perfectly useful for most purposes, tends to fall a bit short when involved with methods that require more finesse. When fitted tightly, the lid traps the heat inside of the pot or pan and causes the contents to cook more rapidly—not really beneficial when trying to gently cook ingredients.

Additionally, the trapped steam under the lid condensates and creates water; this cools areas of the pot where the water tends to concentrate, based on the shape of the lid. And "venting" the lid by leaving it slightly ajar over the pot or pan also creates uneven heating.

Lids are good for a lot of things... just not everything.

Of course, all of these lid issues can be remedied with constant focus on the ingredients in question. But if you're cooking more than one dish at once, that kind of attention is impossible. That's what makes the cartouche such an amazing tool: it allows us to use more delicate methods of cooking without a lot of fuss or attention.

How to Make a Cartouche

Making a parchment paper lid is just as easy as it sounds—all you need is parchment paper and scissors. Richard of REMCooks has a fantastic step-by-step guide that includes pictures. If you're like me and prefer a video demonstration, thecoolcook has a very clear and easy-to-understand video below:

A Versatile Lid

Of course, a cartouche can be used for more than delicate cooking techniques: anything that requires low and slow cooking, such as sauces, soups, jams, or braises, benefits by using this temporary lid. A parchment paper lid, like I mentioned earlier, also prevents skins from forming on the top of surfaces.

Creamy soups are especially susceptible to nasty dried-out skin on top.

However, a cartouche is not a lid to rule all lids. I would recommend staying away from using a cartouche when boiling is required; also, when a sauce needs to reduce, the loss of moisture in a short amount of time is necessary and using a cartouche would hinder the process.

Less Dishes, Less Problems

Using a parchment paper lid allows you to still enjoy the fruits of your labor when using more delicate cooking techniques—without a lot of the labor.

It provides a great lid substitute if you don't have a lid or purchased the pan separately. It means you have one less thing to wash after dinner is cooked. And lastly, you can tell your friends that you cooked with un cartouche for their soup at dinner and watch them either nod with approval or blink in confusion. There really are no cons to cooking with it—so give it a go!

Other Interesting Food Tool Hacks:

• 10 Brilliant Substitutions for Specialized Kitchen Tools
• How to Squeeze Juice from Citrus Fruits Without Any Special Tools
• Why Chopsticks Are the Best Cooking Tool You Aren't Using
• Why Kitchen Shears Are the Best Tool You Aren't Using
• Use Your Grater on These 10 Foods for Easier, Better Cooking

Cover image via Ashley/Stir and Tell