We all eat with our eyes first. If the plate of food in front of you is balanced and perfectly placed, it makes you even more excited about the meal. When things are thrown about and look uncared for, it tends to make the meal less appealing.
Did you know there is a science behind perfect plating? Keep reading to learn how you can always have your plates looking delicious!
Plating Basics
Balance
One of the first techniques to learn about plating is balance. Balance doesn’t just mean proportion sizes but also colors, textures, and space. Some tips would be to use the correct plate size so the food looks appropriate, such as desserts and appetizers on smaller plates. Also, use contrasting colors—for example, bright orange roasted carrots on a white parsnip puree.
Space
Along with balance, you want to ensure you have the right amount of negative space on a plate. An overfilled plate will almost always look like a jumbled mess, but placing food items on a plate while maintaining some negative space will make them pop, causing a higher appeal.
Focal Point
You’ll want to create a focal point, the first place your eye lands once a plate is set in front of you. Using a chicken entree as an example, you’ll want to build a bit of height and place the chicken on top as the focal point, with some small garnishes or sauces around the sides to bring your eye right to the center.
Tools and Techniques
Tools
If you’re a home chef looking to make your plates a bit more appealing, you won’t necessarily need any specific tools. But in Michelin-star restaurants, you’ll find a ton of specialty tweezers, squeeze bottles of perfectly blended purees, and even ring molds to keep items perfectly symmetrical.
Stacking
Stacking isn’t just about creating height and layering flavors together for a cohesive bite. For example, you have baked a stunning New York-inspired cheesecake. Place a homemade raspberry sauce on the dessert plate, followed by a slice of cheesecake, then top with a bit of the crumbling crust to get the perfect amount of every flavor together.
Garnishing
Everyone’s favorite is garnishing. One of the top-tier rules is always to ensure your garnishes are edible. There is nothing worse than putting an item on a plate that has your guests wondering if they should be eating it.
Microgreens, edible flours, sauces, jams, there are tons of options when it comes to garnishing. Do so artfully with specifically placed garnishes and still paying attention to balance and color.
Wrapping Up The Art Of Plating
Plating your dish is a fun way to add some extra expression to your plate and ensure your guests (or family) will be beyond impressed. Take your time and try new things. Start an Instagram or TikTok, and scroll through Pinterest. You may just find your new cooking niche in plating!
