This is a common practice with caterers, who frequently ‘mark’ chicken or steaks on the grill prior to an event and then complete the cooking process on site.
Par-cooking can be used to cook different ingredients to the same level of doneness. This is especially handy when making a meal that has multiple components, such as a stir-fry, soup, or a big holiday meal.
Many restaurants have used par-cooking to ensure diners get their meals quickly for years in recipes from fried chicken to risotto.
Par-cooking also allows one to take advantage of different cooking techniques. For example, one method of preparing french fries:
The potato is placed in boiling liquid for short time so that it is outside becomes soft. The cooking process is the completed by using another method which is frying the potatoes, so they have a crisp exterior and fluffy interior.
In stir-fries or other mixed dishes, meats, root vegetables, and other foods that take a long time to cook, will be par-cooked, so they finish at the same time as other foods.
Par-cooking
