Cooking 101: How To Cook Like A Pro
Many people have a natural inclination to be a cooking pro but find that they are intimidated by the skill set required.The thing with cooking is that progress can be charted in baby steps, and by following the tips in this article, you will be cooking with the best of them in no time.
Always bake pie and tart crusts for longer than the recipe specifies for best results. They need to be a golden caramel color rather than pale blonde. The darker color results when the sugar from the crust has started to caramelize and will have a much sweeter and crisper flavor.
Bake pie crusts for a little longer than you would think is really necessary. They need to be a light golden brown instead of pale blonde. The darker color indicates that the sugar in the pie crust has caramelized and this will have a much sweeter and crisper flavor.
Preparation is one of the most important things that you will have to do before you cook a meal for your friends or family. Look at your recipe, and ensure that you aren’t missing any ingredients. Set all of the non-perishable ingredients and utensils out the day ahead. Being prepared will settle your anxiety and ensure that you are ready to create a fantastic meal.
There is a way to save your dish and be able to use it instantly. Mix 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch into a small bowl. Add this mix to the sauce while it simmers in order to thicken it up. Make sure to introduce the starch slowly while stirring constantly to make it not be too much.
When you season meats, try cooking a little piece prior to the entire piece. Certain foods require very careful seasonings, especially dishes like meatballs, meatloaf and burgers. You do not want to try cooking the whole thing right from the get go. Cook a bit of the mixture before you continue to cook the entire batch to ensure that the seasonings are correct. Then, you could either cook it like that or add more seasonings accordingly.
Tofu and beans are excellent sources of protein that can be easily added to any diet. Both can be purchased at any grocery store. Try frying tofu with some interesting seasonings and you will have a tasty alternative to meat. Beans can always be cooked with herbs for a delicious protein source.
When preparing a meal for someone who is important such as a new date or your boss, you should cook something that you are really good at making. You should never attempt to cook new or extravagant recipes you have not already tried when you are cooking for someone that you want to impress. This can help decrease any stress you may feel.
Recipe Calls
Crispier fries come from potatoes that have been left to soak in ice cold water for about 30 minutes. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
If the recipe calls for water, switch it up by using a broth, beef broth, or cooking liquids. If a recipe calls for milk, try substituting with buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. Using different liquids can add nutritional content to certain dishes and more nutritious.
Vegetables should be cooked rapidly to obtain peak results. Slow-cooked vegetables lose nutritional value and taste. These cooking techniques will yield vegetables that are healthier and taste great as well. Adapting the principle of faster cooking times is a crucial element in serving better quality vegetables to your family and friends.
Don’t use a type of wine in your meals that is a kind you wouldn’t drink. There is wine available that are used just for cooking.
Regardless of what you cook, it is always better to use fresh ingredients as opposed to those that are dried or frozen. Whenever possible, incorporate fresh ingredients; they enhance the flavor of other ingredients and may even be less expensive.
Prepare things the night before to save time and headaches. Cut up veggies and make marinades or sauces before so you can save time. You will feel less stressed and more eager to cook when you wake up.
Mushrooms soak up water that you don’t want to be added to the recipe. Get a soft, clean and wet cloth to wipe the dirt off each individual mushroom for better results.
You can make dried tomatoes. You can do this by cutting ripe tomatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices, or ripe tomatoes sliced about a half inch thick. Dried tomatoes could also be put in a jar containing fresh herbs and olive oil. Place this in the refrigerator and consume within 2 weeks.
Use airtight containers for storing flour, sugar, and baking mixes in the kitchen. These airtight containers can keep your food fresher for a longer period of time, as well as protecting your food safe from insects and pests. You can find them at many stores, and they are well worth their inexpensive price.
Never throw away your leftovers whenever you have cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving or another meal. Cut it up and freeze it in airtight containers. The turkey can stay fresh for making sandwiches or as a salad ingredient.
Sauteing vegetables in a little chicken broth is a healthful way to cook them. The vegetables will take on the broth flavor, and reduce the oil that is used when sauteing. You will love this cooking style if you just give it a try!
To avoid mistakes like burning your food while you are cooking, stay organized. An organized cooking station is a much more productive kitchen. If you aren’t organized, it is easy to lose track of things and waste your money and delicious food that you could have been eating!
Always make sure you measure the cooking oil! To make sure the fat content in your food is as low as possible, carefully measure the oil you cook with instead of just eye-balling it. Doing this lets you be very mindful of just how much oil you are actually using in your cooking.
Always follow instructions to the directions for cooking mac and cheese. The macaroni will be perfect and is to die for once the nice velvety cheese is melted on top of the noodles. Serve your dish with a solid spoon. Use a dash of pepper as the spice on your mac and cheese.
Tomatoes can be easily dried. You can do this by cutting ripe tomatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices, or by cutting Roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Lay your tomato slices across a cooling rack with the cut-side facing up, and salt them lightly. Next, position a full rack on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 190 degrees. Dry for approximately 10 hours. The tomatoes can then be placed in plastic bags and stored in the freezer. Also, you can put those dried tomatoes straight into a jar or can filled with fresh herbs and olive oil. Kept in the refrigerator, these tomatoes will keep for a couple of weeks.
If you want to cook a complex meal, reduce your stress by doing the prep the night before. Get everything together beforehand; ensure you have all the ingredients, measure and chop all spices or herbs and make sure that you have what the recipe requires.You can reduce a lot of recipes to a matter of mixing everything together when it’s time for you to cook.
Always make sure that the cooking utensils you are about to use are clean before starting any cooking. This is a basic but very important rule for any cook. Any residual food matter missed during washing can spoil the dish you intend to cook. There is a possibility this may introduce bacteria into the food.
Cutting Board
Bundle your fresh herbs together and cut the appropriate amount off with scissors. This is preferable to chopping the herbs because they will be less moisture laden, making them lighter and fluffier.
It is important to take proper care for your wooden cutting boards. A cutting board made from wood can crack and warp if it is exposed to excessive moisture, heat or dryness.Do not immerse the cutting board in water, but instead, clean it using a sponge and warm water. You can find oil designed for this purpose.Make sure that your board is completely dried before you use it.
If you want to cook a complex meal, try doing prep work the night before so you are less stressed. Get everything together beforehand; ensure you have all the ingredients, and chop or measure anything you can in advance. When the time comes to prepare the meal, you will now only need to assemble the ingredients and cook it.
Fresh herbs and different types of natural seasonings can add a kick to the simplest dish. Dried herbs aren’t quite as conspicuous in more complex dishes. Fresh herbs have a better flavor.
Before chopping fresh herbs sprinkle some salt on the cutting board. This will add some flavor and the herbs will stay on the board. Do not add too much salt to your dish. That salt on the board adds some flavor since it sticks to the herbs.
Whether your desire to cook a meal for your family or impress a date, the ability to create great meals will always be an asset. All around the world, people sit down with family and friends to share a meal. Become a better cook and host a great dinner party by applying the tips in this article.
If you are cooking a simple meal, add some seasonings and fresh herbs to add some flavor. Dried herbs, such as oregano and basil, can work if your dish has many complex flavors. For a simpler dish, fresh herbs are more efficient because their flavor is much stronger. Growing your own herbs in an herb garden, is an easy way to add fresh herbs to a meal anytime.
