What is a Roux commonly used for in cooking?

A Roux is a mixture of flour and fat, typically butter, that is cooked together to create a thickening agent used primarily in sauces and soups. The process involves cooking the flour and fat to remove the raw flour taste and develop a certain flavor profile depending on the cooking time; it can range from a light roux to a dark roux, each used for different purposes in dishes.

In sauces, the roux acts as a stabilizer that helps achieve the desired consistency, allowing the sauce to coat other ingredients evenly without separating or becoming too thin. This is crucial in classic preparations like béchamel or cheese sauces, where the right texture significantly impacts the final dish's quality. Therefore, its primary function as a thickening agent solidifies its role in culinary techniques.

While enhancing flavor in meats, marinating vegetables, and tenderizing meats are important techniques in cooking, they do not directly relate to the primary purpose of a roux.