Prep & Assembly
Shape
Form dough or mixtures by hand into their final form
Shaping forms dough, ground mixtures, or pastes by hand into their finished form — rounding a boule, rolling meatballs, or forming patties. Consistent shapes cook evenly and look intentional. A light touch and even portions keep everything uniform.
Shaping forms dough, ground mixtures, or pastes by hand into their finished form — rounding a boule, rolling meatballs, forming patties. Consistent shapes cook evenly and look intentional. A light touch and even portions keep everything uniform.
- Difficulty
- Easy
How to do it
- 1
Portion the mixture into equal pieces, ideally by weight.
- 2
Cup and roll or fold each into its final form.
- 3
Create surface tension for bread; pack lightly for meat.
- 4
Rest or chill if the recipe calls for it before cooking.
Common uses
Tips & pitfalls
- Wet or lightly oil hands to stop sticky mixtures clinging.
- Don't overpack meatballs and patties — they turn dense.
- A bench scraper helps round bread dough into a taut ball.
Good to know
- Tool
- Hands, bench scraper, light flour
- Best for
- Bread dough, meatballs, patties, cookies
- Cue
- Uniform size and a taut, even surface
Also called
form
Dishes that rely on it
Related
Whisk
Beat ingredients smooth and aerated with a looping wire motion
Sift
Pass dry ingredients through mesh to aerate and remove lumps
Strain
Pour through mesh to separate solids from liquid for a smooth result
Filter
Pass liquid through fine material to clarify out the smallest particles
Rice
Press cooked potatoes through small holes for fluffy, lump-free texture
Mash
Crush soft cooked food into a rustic, creamy purée
Grind
Crush food into a coarse to fine texture, from spices to meat
Grate
Shred food into fine bits against a sharp-toothed surface