“Saute” is french for jump, or jumped. Sauteing is this action: media.tenor.com/…/cozinhando-cooking.gif
It’s a method of frying in the sense that “stir frying” is a method of frying. Sauteing is frying in a pan, such that you’re turning the stuff over regularly by this tossing action.
One of the outcomes of sauteing is that your stuff gets browned in a randomized, pleasantly-varied manner, since with each toss-and-catch some items flip over and others end up on the same side again.
ccunning@lemmy.world 4 months ago
I think they can be used synonymously; sautéing may imply stirring or shaking the ingredients in the pan similarly to stir-frying.
BackOnMyBS@lemmy.autism.place 4 months ago
Ah, thank you! I always found those terms confusing. I learned to cook in Spanish, so when I would describe a recipe that included “sautéing” to Anglophones, I would say that I “fried” it because that’s how it’s said in Spanish, and I guess the context helps if you are familiar with the cuisine. Anglophones would think something like deep frying, which would cause confusion or hesitation. Whereas any Latino would know that no one is deep frying sofrito.
BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 4 months ago
Sautéing doesn’t use anywhere near as much fat as frying does.
To fry something (pan frying) you need at least enough fat to ensure strong contact between the entire surface of the food and the pan. Something like 1/8" (about 5mm).
Now things like pan fried chicken will take more, about half the height of the chicken pieces in the pan.
Deep frying, well, the food should submerge/float.