Definition, use, and examples of the word pinch.
For further reading, check out “What’s the Difference Between a Pinch, a Dash and a Shake?” by Kate Ellsworth from Taste of Home.
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Research by Alicia Book
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I’m Jenn de la Vega and this is your culinary word of the day.
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Today’s word is pinch
It is spelled...P-I-N-C-H
According to Merriam Webster: a pinch is
“an act of pinching : SQUEEZE
b : as much as may be taken between the finger and thumb
c : a very small amount”
Jennifer Armentrout from Fine Cooking writes,
“Pinches are usually reserved for strong ingredients, and while you definitely don’t want to overdo it, a pinch is so small that a little variation one way or another isn’t likely to spoil the soup. The average person picks up roughly the equivalent of 1/16 teaspoon by pinching together thumb and forefinger. If a recipe calls for a “big pinch,” then it's probably asking for a three-finger pinch.”
Finally, Emma Christensen from the Kitchn explains,
“The healthier “three-fingered pinch” is a better way to incrementally amp up the seasoning without either a) taking forever or b) accidentally over-salting the dish. It’s also close to how restaurant chefs and trained cooks think about salting their dishes.
The first time you sprinkle a healthy three-fingered pinch of salt into a dish, it can feel like you’re really adding a lot! To put things in perspective, the actual amount is only somewhere between 1/4 teaspoon and 1/8 teaspoon depending on the size of your hands and your general enthusiasm.”
For further reading, check out “What’s the Difference Between a Pinch, a Dash and a Shake?” by Kate Ellsworth from Taste of Home.
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I’m your host Jenn de la Vega and with research producer Alicia Book.
This has been your culinary word of the day.
Next time on Culinary Word of the day, a searing inquiry.
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