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Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

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Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#821

Post by baroomba »

msluyter wrote: post #818
baroomba wrote: post #684

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heh, I run into a lot of recipes where they have you cook in a tiny amount of oil and dump the pan out a couple times but you're still supposed to be "sautéing" whatever's in the last batch. Yeah, OK. Double the initial oil, add it again after each dump since there's still none left after the first time. Or else we're not doing what you claim we're doing, recipe. Which may also be fine, but still. Or high-heat nonsti…

Weird, I've never had any problems on this front, so I'm guessing it's the latter. I use All-Clad non-stick pans.

A lot of the time I'll see recipes call for heating non-stick on a medium- or medium-high flame with so little fat in ("one teaspoon of oil" or some similarly-way-under-enough quantity) them that it only covers like 1/4 or less of the pan surface, so most of the pan is heating dry, which AFAIK is a great way to turn the coating into a gas that's fairly bad for you. Though maybe that's folk-wisdom and it's actually fine to heat a nonstick pan empty? IDK.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#822

Post by andrei_says_ »

samsolomon wrote: post #699
Xcelerate wrote: post #662

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love cooking and have recently become obsessed with it, but doing it well is extremely time consuming. The best equipment is all meant to be washed by hand (knives, aluminum baking sheets, cast iron and stainless steel skillets, etc.) and cleaning all this easily takes over an hour per meal, never mind the time to actually cook the meal (which, depending on what I’m cooking takes 1-4 hours of active prep time). Als…

A few tips I learned from a professional chef that changed everything: — Mise en place (Get everything you need prepped) — Clean as you cook Get a bunch of small glass dishes and get all the ingredients you need measured, chopped and placed into those dishes. This will make combining them effortless when cooking. If you've done prep, you'll have some down time while cooking. As you finish using pans and utensils wash…

Also sharpen your knife before prepping. Night and day :)

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#823

Post by [deleted] »

alexfoo wrote: post #480
astura wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I have friends who eat out every single meal of every single day. I have friends who do too but it's not because they don't know how to cook, it's because they don't like to and don't wanna bother and can afford the luxury of having someone else to do it for them.

> can afford the luxury of having someone else to do it for them. Sure, but for my situation it works out that by cooking the majority of the time I'll be able to retire 1-2 years earlier. Save $10 a day on food most days ~= $3000/year, over 20 years ~= $60k. I also enjoy eating out more as it is more of 'treat' (and less of a chore to some extent).

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#824

Post by jelliclesfarm »

galacticdessert wrote: post #792
FranzFerdiNaN wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a Dutch person, I find it hard to believe your cooking is cheaper than a piece of bread with some cheese on it. Better tasing, for sure though.

My two sentences were disconnected actually. 1. Cooking causes awe in Dutch people 2. Eating healthy is cheaper that eating out, and easier that many may think. BTW, you Dutch guys should stop putting butter on everything, eating hagelslag by the ton, and drinking yogurt instead of water. It might be cheap, but terribly unhealthy :).

Butter and yogurt. That sounds healthy to me! (Don’t know what hagelslag is..)

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#825

Post by rat_melter »

samsolomon wrote: post #699
Xcelerate wrote: post #662

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love cooking and have recently become obsessed with it, but doing it well is extremely time consuming. The best equipment is all meant to be washed by hand (knives, aluminum baking sheets, cast iron and stainless steel skillets, etc.) and cleaning all this easily takes over an hour per meal, never mind the time to actually cook the meal (which, depending on what I’m cooking takes 1-4 hours of active prep time). Als…

A few tips I learned from a professional chef that changed everything: — Mise en place (Get everything you need prepped) — Clean as you cook Get a bunch of small glass dishes and get all the ingredients you need measured, chopped and placed into those dishes. This will make combining them effortless when cooking. If you've done prep, you'll have some down time while cooking. As you finish using pans and utensils wash…

I've lived by this advice for years and I can attest to the benefits.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#826

Post by gassiss »

relativeadv wrote: post #586
localhost wrote: post #291

I would say focus on building a solid, functional body vs. say focusing on goals like "how much can I lift?" or "how much do I weigh?" or "how fast can I go?". Those goals, while laudable, can also cause you to break down your body in your quest to achieve them. An example from literally yesterday. Over the past few months, I struggled with medial knee pain that was limiting my ability to walk up stairs and do other…

There is beauty to the simple goal of "I want to lift x amount one day." Instead of worrying yourself to death over whether you are "functional" or not. I've seen so many regulars at my gym over the years still doing the same stuff, still looking the same, still lifting the same, still doing kettlebell goblet squats and farmers walks and step-ups and whatever else have you. I realize what an elitist knob this makes m…

Nothing wrong to be exercise regularly without progression. I wouldn't be surprised if this was even better than going ham on the gym because of how little exercise the human body actually needs to be considered healthy.

Not saying there is nothing wrong with having lifting goals either. But there are definitely diminishing returns to your health in regards to the amount/intensity of your exercise routine for sure.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#827

Post by gassiss »

clSTophEjUdRanu wrote: post #438
localhost wrote: post #291

I would say focus on building a solid, functional body vs. say focusing on goals like "how much can I lift?" or "how much do I weigh?" or "how fast can I go?". Those goals, while laudable, can also cause you to break down your body in your quest to achieve them. An example from literally yesterday. Over the past few months, I struggled with medial knee pain that was limiting my ability to walk up stairs and do other…

Funny. When I shipped to Marine boot camp I was frightful my minor knee pain would get worse. Turns out I was just a wimp. Pain disappeared with exercise. I also had acid reflux and stomach problems for years that disappeared. Every single ailment that I've had that is not an injury disappeared when I got into shape (and read Sarnos book).

I've been feeling pain in my right elbow for a couple of years now. Doctor diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome.

You know the picture. Spent tons of time playing video game and works in an office since forever. I can't afford physical therapy, but working out + good posture makes the pain goes away "magically".

I say "magically" because I am not doing anything to target it, just go to the gym and literally do whatever for 30-40 minutes every other day.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#829

Post by bluntfang »

LaGrange wrote: post #715
bluntfang wrote: post #525

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you have a history of abuse. I am so sorry and hope you're able to get the help you need. As I'm sure you know, not everyone trying to socialize is out to get you. Not everyone has the same social needs as you. But I can see how difficult that could be if you've been a victim of abuse. I think it's good to note that not everyone has the same hang ups as you do, and many people do actually enjoy meeting…

> As I'm sure you know, not everyone trying to socialize is out to get you No, I mean, it might be hard to imagine to a person who believes into might makes right as strong as you apparently do, but a couple of tiny restrictions actually makes it _easier_ to make friends. And, y'know, no, I don't have much of history of abusive. I knew a few abusive people, but they mostly focused on others. Another thing that might…

>might makes right

I'm not sure what you mean here, can you explain? What did I say that makes you think this?

I actually am a victim of abuse. It took me a long time to understand that strangers who talk to me aren't trying to hurt me. It really took a lot of work, and still takes a lot of work.

I enjoy making friends almost anywhere, unless I'm on a date. Life is boring and meaningless without human connection and community. I believe your mindset is in the minority, and I suggest you find a therapist to work on why you think all strangers are abusers.

Re: Ask HN: What Skills to Acquire in 2020?

#830

Post by shpongled »

nkozyra wrote: post #731
shpongled wrote: post #730

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Re: cooking - What are you guys eating if you're not already cooking/eating leftovers 4+ nights a week? This is absolutely mind boggling to me... I eat out maybe 1-3 times per month, I don't think I would even want to go out more than that. Are people actually eating out 3 or more times a week? I'm convinced that you aren't actually saving that much time vs cooking.

I cook most nights and frankly am starting to see the appeal of frequent dining out. I cook for three and that's generally in the 10 minutes prep, 20-45 minutes cooking, 15+ minutes cleaning. And that's dinner. It adds up. Eating truly fast food takes 5-15 minutes. If fast food were reliably better for you I think it would be a wash. Financially I used to order out in NYC and get two+ days meals out of a single India…

I guess it depends on how much food you're making. My girlfriend and I typically alternate cooking and will make enough for ~3 days of food, so really we only cook 2-3 times a week, and when you alternate the task it's not much time at all. I also don't mind eating the same thing for days in a row, so that helps too.
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