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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2020 - 07 - 05 - ID#hlqxgl
10
Learning to cook advice (self.Blind)
submitted by liamjh27
Hey everyone. Looking for some advice on learning to cook. Can anyone point me to any good resources for blind people.
As a second question, anyone got any ideas for making pancakes without a hob or having to flip them?
PeapodFroggie 9 points 3y ago
Hi there!
I don't have any good resources for you, but am happy to answer any specific questions you have! I haven't given myself food poisoning yet or anything, and I love cooking and baking.
I do have a tip for you about pancakes though! I made so many patches of blobby-looking, weird pancakes because I couldn't really get the hang of flipping unless I got out my extra large skillet. So you could always try getting like a 14inch one so you have lots of flipping space. But what I do, is make a skillet pancake. I heat up an oven-safe skillet, melt a little butter in the bottom of it, and then dump in my pancake batter. The amount you need depends on what size skillet you use. Then with a 350degree oven, I bake it, again depending on the skillet size but it usually ends up being about 25 minutes. The pancake puffs up in a fun way, and you can slice it up into wedges, and put butter and syrup on the pieces. You may not like it, it's not identical to regular pancakes, but it's very easy and I love it.
IdeaMe1961 2 points 3y ago
About resources, unfortunately much advice is about "survival" cooking with prefab foods, simple control of microwaves, etc. The best advice I can think of is to seek out alternative methods, of which there are many approaches. About flipping pancakes, use a larger skillet if you can, and use a measure for the batter. Always choose designated places for each pancake. For example, one right by the handle of the pan, and another immediately across from it. Leave more open space than a sighted cook might have, to accommodate where the flipped pancake should land. Two cakes per pan is a good start. If you are afraid to touch the edge of the pan to assure alignment, consider having a dedicated pair of rubber gloves handy. Slipping one on your guide hand will give your fingers enough protection for a quick touch. Note that rubber gloves themselves aren't protective enough for real hot things like taking items out of the oven, but they will give enough protection for touching as you gain confidence. And don't forget that everything just needs practice. Good luck, and ask away.
Ant5477 1 points 3y ago
I have a talk show where I feature blind people showing their mobility skills and cooking is definitely one, would you be interested in the link?
daniellem1227 1 points 3y ago
So, how do you feel about a waffle maker? It's not pancakes, but it's another option. I own a Belgian waffle maker (the cheap kind, not those fancy ones like you find in hotels/cafeteria). There is no flipping necessary. Alternatively, I recommend something like a George Foreman grill for the same reason.

I'm legally blind and have some usable vision, so I know I'm not the best one for giving cooking advice here.
RJHand 1 points 3y ago
I'd be interested to know as well. Any general advice that is.
achromatic_03 1 points 3y ago
Depending on where you live, there are actually organizations that will help you with that. If you are in the US, I think it's even paid for through your state's department of rehabilitation. I would start by getting in contact with them, and hopefully they will find a local resource for you. Trained professionals can teach you a lot of great techniques and help you find tools that are specifically made for blind cooks!
bradley22 -4 points 3y ago
If you type in cooking for the blind in to google you should find something.
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