There are some things you need to know in order to cook well. This article is here to help you learn more about the fine points of cooking. Read them in their entirety to ensure you can cultivate your cooking like a pro!If you put your meat in the freezer to make it a little hard, it will be easier to cut into thin strips. This is an especially strong technique for the meats called for in Asian meals. Uncooked meat is easier to cut when it is partially frozen. A word of caution, allow meat to completely thaw prior to cooking. This will ensure even cooking of your meat.Bake pie and tart crusts a longer than you think they should be baked. They should be golden caramel in color rather than pale blonde. The golden color results when the sugar from the crust has started to caramelize and this will give a sweet and crisp flavor.When using knives to prepare your food, it is critical that they all have a sharp edge. Dull knives make it harder to cut and are more dangerous to use. When you use a dull knife, you often have to force the blade through whatever you are cutting. Using a sharp knife is much easier and safer.Always keep your spices stored in a dark and cool place. Using fresher spices will make tastier meals.Do you feel bad when you throw away fruit that has gone bad? Is it safe to cut around that moldy area and save the remaining fruit for consumption? Sadly, there is really no safe method for using fruit that is partially rotten. Throw half-rotten fruit away, because mold can go much deeper than your eyes can see; you can get very sick from eating food with mold.It is absolutely essential that you have sharp knives are always sharp. Dull knives make it very difficult to cut with and they are also extremely dangerous to use.You can reduce the fat and calorie content of regular mashed potatoes by substituting part of the potatoes with mashed cauliflower. This won’t affect the taste but it adds a handful of nutrition. Cauliflower blends perfectly with your potatoes without changing the taste of your mashed potatoes. As a bonus, cauliflower is the same texture and color as potatoes, so no one will be the wiser when you improve the nutritional content and lower the caloric content of your mashed potatoes.To make your French fries crispier, try leaving the raw potatoes in some cold water for half an hour before you fry them.When you cook vegetables quickly over high heat, their quality is best. Though slow cooking is popular in some cultures, the process actually eliminates important nutrients and renders the vegetables tasteless. Vegetables cooked in these ways make healthier side dishes and ingredients in recipes. Learning to give them just a quick steam is the best way to cook them.
Fresh Basil
It is always better to choose fresh ingredients for your recipes instead of dried or frozen ones. Use whatever seasonal ingredients are available to create tasty dishes, which are also less expensive.Are you using fresh basil in your cooking? Put a bunch of it in a glass. Add some water until the stems. Keep on the kitchen counter and it will stay fresh for weeks. The basil will grow roots if you keep the water changed occasionally. Trim the basil regularly to encourage growth and you will be able to enjoy fresh basil!Make a lot of stock if you are going to make it ahead of time. Instead of making just what you need, make a huge pot so you have some to freeze and use later. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles, stews and other dishes. Once your stock is finished, cool it and put it in heavy freezer bags.
You can use this on things besides meat. Try roasted potatoes or chickpeas. People will be asking you for your secret ingredient is!When you are seasoning food, a good rule to follow is to add the seasoning a little at a time rather than adding it all at once in the beginning of the cooking process. Seasoning in this manner offers several advantages. First, you are maximizing the flavor of whatever you are cooking. Second, you are utilizing ingredients in the best way possible.Use fresh ingredients, as they bring out the flavor in a dish, and they may cost less over the long run.When you are going to make a dish that requires garlic, be sure to buy the freshest garlic you can. Usually, fresh garlic has a sweeter taste. Fresh garlic is hard, not wrinkled, or mushy-feeling.Do you know how long to leave your meat should be grilled? Use a meat thermometer (a digital one is more accurate) so that you can ensure the inside is cooked correctly.Choose a bone-in roast if you are short on cooking time. The roast will get done sooner because the bone will direct the heat right to your roaster. Once the roast has finished cooking, it is easy to go in there and remove the bone.This ensures that you have access to fresh fruit any time your heart desires. This also gives you have your favorite fruits during their off seasons.The odors of many spices and vegetables will stay on your cutting board and will be impervious to soap. Mark one end, or side, of each cutting board so that you know which is which.This will help to give your dish to become more flavorful.Organization while cooking is necessary in order to avoid disasters, like under done or burnt food. Just like with anything you do, the more organized you are, the more productive you will be. Get organized to cut back on unnecessary food waste.It is important to buy new spices around every six months. The flavor of spices fade just a few months after opening the container. If you purchase a spice that you don’t use very often, give some to a family member or friend.If you’re cooking mac and cheese, always follow the instructions on the box exactly as they’re written. Following the directions will make for a delicious, firm pasta and perfectly melted cheese. Serve it with a solid spoon to get all the cheese from the pot to the plate. Use pepper to add a little spice to your macaroni and cheese.The advice that was presented in this article can help even the most inexperienced cooks become cooking geniuses. Some people have a knack for cooking, while others have to learn the hard way. After you read this article, you can be on your path to cooking great meals!When you want to chop herbs, sprinkle some salt on your cutting board. This keeps your herbs on the cutting board and can add a bit of flavor, as well. Do not add more salt as you are cutting the herbs. Salt is known to boost the flavors of the items you use in your recipe, including herbs.
