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BEHIND THE SCENES

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REDUCTION DEDUCTION

We’ve all seen recipe instructions such as “Reduce sauce to ½ cup” or “Simmer until broth is reduced to 2 cups.” Those directions are clear, but when you look into a pan of sauce, can you really discern volume? Unless you have wizard-like abilities, the answer is probably “No.”

Here in the test kitchen, we know that getting the right amount of sauce can make or break a dish, and to be sure of success we keep a heatproof liquid measuring cup next to the stove. As the sauce appears to be getting near the targeted amount, we pour it into the cup to get an exact measure. If it needs more time on the stove, back into the pan it goes until just the right amount is obtained. No guessing, no problem.