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  • Making a pan sauce
A hot pan being deglazed with red wine, a dramatic sizzle creating steam, brown bits lifting from the fond.

Making a pan sauce

The Strategy

Those little caramelized bits clinging to the bottom of your skillet after cooking are pure flavor gold just waiting to be claimed. Swirling a splash of liquid into the warm pan lifts all that savory goodness, while a final pat of butter gives the sauce a gorgeous, glossy finish. It's a quick way to show your family some extra love at the supper table.

Technique Summary

Transforming pan drippings into a velvety reduction brings a touch of elegance to simple seared meats. A smooth, butter-enriched sauce is a quick way to elevate your everyday cooking.

Chef’s Checkpoints

  • Watch for the liquid to reduce until it leaves clear trails behind your spoon as you stir.
  • The sauce should coat the back of a spoon in a smooth, velvet sheet without separating.
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