Nak menang peraduan atau pertandingan memasak? Dapatkan 30 tip di bawah.

One of the greatest things about cooking contests is that they are scrupulously fair and impartial. Still, there are those who have risen to the top of the contesting world and stayed there. Over the years they have been kind enough to share with me their secrets to consistently winning. Also, judges have confided what it is they are looking for when they are comparing the relative merits of the dishes they are tasting. I have combined all of this knowledge, along with my own experience, into a list everyone can use as a guide to success in this wonderful hobby. By following the advice of those who have won before, you will greatly improve your chances of creating a winning recipe. The top thirty tips are included in this section, but you will find equally important suggestions from winning cooks scattered throughout the book. The first rule, of course, is to have fun. Cooking contesting is the one thing you can do in your own home with ingredients you already have. It is also something you can share with your family and get immediate feedback from the looks of satisfaction on their faces.

1. Read and follow directions carefully.
2. Creativity is the key. Watch food trends and adapt your recipe accordingly.
3. Do not use abbreviations.
4. Simplicity and ease of preparation make winning recipes.
5. Use accurate measurements.
6. Garnish is very important. Always remember–eyes eat first.
7. Feature the contest sponsor's product. Make the product the star of the recipe.
8. Analyze recipes that have won previous contests.
9. Be sure ingredients used are readily available.
10. Keep up with current diet and health trends.

11. Write preparation directions in complete sentences.
12. List ingredients in order of use.
13. Study your favorite cookbook.
14. Be creative when naming your dish.
15. Streamline a recipe by combining steps.
16. Adapt a recipe for a different occasion.
17. Create a recipe using ingredients that were once considered unusual but are now readily available in your grocery.
18. Consider a dish's versatility.
19. Look for ways to enhance flavor.
20. Create a new shape or appearance for an old recipe.
21. Include the size of any dish, pots, pans, or casseroles used.
22. State the cooking temperatures and time needed to cook the dish.
23. Give the number of servings. Be realistic. "Serves four" is different from "four servings."
24. The recipe should have wide appeal.
25. Type or print your recipe.
26. Double-check the contest rules.
27. Make a copy of your recipe. Always make a copy of your recipe for your files.
28. Use a separate envelope for each recipe entry.
29. Your recipe must be original. An original recipe is the product of one's own mind and is not a copy or imitation. If the recipe is derived from a previously published one, it must have at least four (4) significant ingredients that are different and the method of preparation must be changed to qualify.
30. Ask yourself the following questions:
[list]Does the dish taste as good as it could or should?
*What can I do to make it taste better?
*Is the garnish right? Does it look as good as it should?
*Is the aroma good?
*Is the texture what it should be?
*Will I make this dish on a regular basis?[/list]

Now that you know how to cook well and win, how about an "eating" contest?

Source: The Cooking Contest Cookbook: More Than 120 Prize Winning Recipes by Joyce Campagna