Simple Packet Cooking

By Leah Holzel

March 26, 2013

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

The steamy climate of a parchment pouch means food cooks gently but quickly, so dinner's on the table fast. Oh, and did we mention almost zero cleanup?

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3 Steps to Parchment Packets

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Step 1: Fold sheet in half to form a 15"x12" rectangle. Now think back to elementary school and cut out a heart. (This shape is much easier to seal than a rectangle or a circle.)

Watch our video on packet cooking

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Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Step 2: Unfold the paper and arrange your ingredients, as instructed in the recipe, on one half of the heart. Fold the other half over and line up the edges.

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Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Step 3: Starting at the top of the heart, fold over about 1/2 inch of the edge, pressing down to make a crease. Continue working your way around the edge of the packet, making overlapping folds (like pleats), always pressing firmly and creasing the edge so the folds hold. Twist the tip of the heart and tuck it under the packet to finish.