Before applying innovation to prepare your food, do pause for a moment. Think about how the innovative technique would help your cooking. Given today’s frantic lifestyle, some common questions that people ask while cooking pertain to –

• Will this innovative method improve the quality and nutrition of the dish?
• Will it help save time, energy and money?
• Will it appeal to everyone and motivate them to ask for more?

Whether you cook for yourself or for others, coming up with a well-prepared meal does call for some improvising. If successful, it satiates the senses, and creates fond memories that linger for years afterwards. More importantly, such a platter need not take hours at a stretch to prepare. All you need to do is to select a method that ticks all the boxes, and this is where innovation comes in.

How Innovation Helps with Everyday Cooking

Unlike the common impression, you don’t need to be professionally trained to use innovative methods while cooking. Anyone can innovate and improvise while preparing their favorite recipe, and transform the outcome.

Take for example, a breading mix. As opposed to the time-consuming and traditional method of using separate bowls for eggs, flour, crumbs, and so on to prepare fried chicken, a readymade breading mix is so much more convenient. Not only is it quicker, but also just as effective. Another example is that of using pressure cookers and microwave ovens instead of traditional kilns. These contemporary gadgets represent the efficient and time-saving aspect of applying innovation to prepare food.

Even without specific examples, applying innovation helps everyday cooking. It impacts the following aspects –

Lifestyle dynamics

Eating habits stem from lifestyle, and the current trend reflects an on-the-go mindset. Gone are the days when people used to sit around the table to enjoy a leisurely multi-course meal for hours. In today’s world, it is normal to rush around, even while eating. Since no-one has the time to savor an elaborate meal, the alternative is to prepare food that does not take up much time and can be had on the run.

Applying innovation implies making changes to suit the present-day lifestyle. It entails simplifying and shortening the process of preparing food without compromising on the flavor, texture or quality. As a result, the outcome takes less time to prepare, fits into the busy schedule and also provides nutrients.

Introducing new flavors

Living in a world which is fast assuming the character of a global village impacts every aspect, especially food. You may have travelled to a different part of the world and brought back pleasant memories of an aroma. The best way to relive the experience entails preparing the dish in your kitchen. It requires both creativity and innovation, not to mention the courage to try new ingredients or an unusual combination.

Using a new blend/mix for the first time may cause hesitation. But as long as you are confident enough to experiment and innovate, bringing the world into your kitchen is just a step away.

A multi-ethnic cuisine stirs interest due to several reasons. Firstly, it offers something new and exotic that reminds you of a distant country/culture. Secondly, it breaks the monotony of having the same kind of food on a daily basis. Thirdly, the variety might have a positive impact on health. So, try applying innovation to create new flavors, and you might just end up concocting something unique, healthy and surprisingly enticing.

Honoring traditions

There is no denying the cultural significance of food. Some recipes carry a timeless charm that has endured for centuries, and continues to evoke nostalgia. However, preparing them in this contemporary era might seem challenging, particularly in terms of taste and techniques. With cooking methods and the ingredients having altered and evolved, replicating a traditional recipe does seem intimidating. Unless you decide to innovate.

Rather than panic and fret, use innovative ideas to select and blend raw materials to create a familiar taste. You may not have granny’s stove, but you can always use modern kitchen appliances in a certain way to achieve the same outcome while saving time and energy. Soon, you will have figured out how to preserve and cherish age-old family recipes via contemporary cooking techniques.

Respecting diversity

Today’s cooking is all about catering to individual tastes and preferences. Unlike the yesteryears, there is no one formula that fits all. Now the focus has shifted to providing options in terms of flavors and taste to suit each palate. Such a scenario calls for innovative thinking in terms of providing choices and alternatives.

Not everyone can stand garlic, spices or salt in their food. In sharp contrast there are people who like strongly-flavored food, and high spice levels. The trick lies in applying innovation to create raw materials that can cater to different tastes. Something as simple as fried chicken can taste different depending on the type of breading mix that is used for coating. So, all you need to do is use a spicy mix to add an extra zing, a garlic-laden mix for a strong flavor, or one with reduced salt while cooking for someone with health issues.

Innovation makes it possible to respect diverse tastes, so each person can have what they like.

Upholding nutrition

The basic purpose of food is to supply nutrients. That being said, look and flavor also play an important role. So, the challenge entails coming up with a preparation which provides nutrition while tasting, smelling and looking appetizing. Innovative cooking techniques play a crucial role at this point. A judicious selection would seal the nutrients while softening the texture and optimizing the flavors.

Dietary requirements vary from one person to another. In this situation, innovation serves as a tool that facilitates customization to satisfy every individual’s nutritional levels. You can apply innovation to pick a method of processing food in a particular way that optimizes nutrition. Innovative combination of ingredients ensures a delectable outcome, thus resulting in a culinary delight that is wholesome in every way.

Impact of Applying Innovation

Some of the most visible impacts of applying innovation to food are –

• Growing a vertical vegetable garden in your balcony, which not only ensures a constant supply of fresh raw ingredients but also proves good value for money;
• Availability of readymade products that can be used instantly and also offer various options to cater to diverse tastes;
• Acceptance of algae as an enriched protein source, and a possible alternative option to the traditional sources of protein;

Final Thoughts

To innovate is to change, and in terms of cooking it means changing the existing norm for the better. Over the years, people have started viewing food as something the satiates while being quick and simple. This has led to experimentation, which in turn led to improvising of the age-old techniques. The challenge has been to adapt new methods while retaining the rustic charm of exotic, ethnic and traditional recipes. Applying innovation has rendered this possible in more ways than one.

Courtesy of innovation, now there are readymade products in the market that cater to the current trends of taste and health. The good news is that these are not just limited to high-end diners or specialized outlets. Anyone can pick them up at a retail store in a quantity that suits them. Regardless of whether it is for a family meal, or a large-scale banquet, innovative products and techniques hold the key to create a memorable yet healthy culinary wonder without much of a hassle.