Many people look at cooking as simply a chore that needs to be done. It can also help to contribute towards a healthier style of living. A good cook will always continue to learn new and innovative methods, this article will deepen your knowledge of cooking and help you to enjoy your time in the kitchen.
Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Try your hand at several recipes that pique your interest, and forgive yourself for any mistakes you may make along the way.
Keep herbs and spices in a location that stays room temperature. If your spices are exposed to moisture, humidity and heat are present, their flavor will begin to weaken. Most spices will keep their flavor for about a year. Whole spices may retain flavor for about three or five years. Storing spices properly can help you achieve a
Keep all spices stored out of the sunlight. Putting them in a warm, lighted area can reduce their useful life, due to light and heat exposure. Spices last longer and taste better when stored in cool, dark locations. This will help every meal that you prepare taste better.
Bake pie crusts for a little longer than you think they should be baked. They need to be a golden caramel color rather than pale in color. The golden color indicates that the sugar from the pie crust has caramelized and will have a much sweeter and crisp flavor.
Lengthy cooking processes such as boiling remove many of the important nutrients found in vegetables. To preserve a vegetable nutritious value, cook quickly by either steaming or sauteing it. Ideally you should consume the vegetable in its raw state.
Slice meat thinly on the bias for stir-fry. This is not easy to do and does tend to take some time.
Texture and taste don’t have to suffer when you are trying to lighten up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower makes for a great substitute to help drop the fat and calorie content. Since cauliflower is bland, it will mix right in with the potatoes along with the other ingredients. You’ll still be able to enjoy mashed potatoes, but with less fat and calories!
You can avoid stress of trying to make something that you have ever done before. This will allow for an easier cooking more enjoyable and less stressful.
Cook your vegetables quickly to retain quality and nutrients. If you slow cook your vegetables, they will lose their nutritional value. These methods usually create healthier vegetables. Discovering how to quickly cook veggies in a safe manner is an important step in preparing more nutritious vegetables.
Moldy Fruit
While garlic imparts a delicious flavor to your cooking, it may also leave a residual odor on your hands. Rub your hands on the stainless steel interior of your sink to get rid of the smell right away. It both cleans your hands and helps to avoid transfer the odor to other foods.
Have you felt sorry for throwing out some moldy fruit away? Is it safe to save a portion of fruit after removing the mold? There is no two ways about it; rotting fruit that has begun decomposing. Mold goes a lot deeper than you see and it can make you sick so throw moldy fruit in the garbage.
Always make sure that your flour, sugar and baking additives are stored in airtight containers. Airtight containers offer the advantages of keeping bugs out of your food products and keeping your food fresh for a longer period of time. You can find these containers in a variety of sizes online or at local stores. Regardless of where you purchase them, using these containers is a choice you are unlikely to regret.
Ice cube trays are fabulous for freezing sauces. This makes it easy to prepare a quick meal by reheating the sauce using a later time. The sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!
If you are on a diet, try cutting down the amount of oil you use in your food. There is a lot of fat that are not needed in butter and oil. Try using nonstick cooking spray instead: this product does not contain anything unhealthy and works just like oil.
Always use an airtight container to store sugar or flour. Keeping your food in airtight containers will stop them from spoiling or being infected with bugs.These containers can be purchased at almost any store and make for a wise investment.
This ensures that you have access to fresh fruit year-round. You also have the added benefit of having fruits out of season whenever you want them.
Plan to make a large batch so you can be frozen and used later. Good chicken stock that you make at home makes a great starter for soups, casseroles, casseroles and more.
Know how much cooking oil to use. Pouring straight from a bottle does not give you an accurate idea of how much fat you are using, which can result in overindulgence. This will allow you to closely monitor the exact amount of oil that you are using.
Fresh Garlic
If you are serving a salad with a meal where you have guests, do not pour the salad dressing on the salad, keep it on the side. Some people like to put more salad dressing on their salads than other people do; let your guests put their own salad dressing on. Make sure you have a wide selection of dressings to choose from as well.
Always get the freshest garlic for it. A rule of thumb is that fresh garlic will have a sweet taste to it. Fresh garlic usually has a firm skin and no bruises or soft to the touch.
Do not use any kind of wine in your cooking that you haven’t tasted on your own. Using cheap or unfamiliar wine puts the flavor of your food in danger. Look for wines that are specifically used for cooking.
Never throw away your leftovers after cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving or another meal. Cut it up and put it away in an airtight container. The turkey meat will keep its freshness and can later be used for weeks this way.
You need to stay organized when you are cooking, so that you can be sure the food is as great as it can be and that nothing burns. Organizing your kitchen cooking area creates a more productive kitchen. Stay organized, as it will help you keep up with what you have and you won’t be wasting food or money.
Many popular veggies and herbs give off a strong residual odor which tends to leave your cutting boards well after use. Use a permanent ink to mark one end of the cutting board to identify which is which.
Prepare the perfect sandwich for your guests by spreading the mayo evenly everywhere on the bread. Oftentimes when people are rushing, they simply drop a dollop of mayonnaise in the center of the bread. An even spread will ensure that every single bite tastes as it should.
Place unripened fruits in a plastic bags you buy them. If you put them in the bag with holds the air will go through the bag, the air can circulate and assure that the gas is retained, helping the fruits retain their wonderful taste.
Complete your prep work before you start cooking a meal. Otherwise, you might use the stove longer than you need to, and waiting can also make it safer and harder to burn food.
If your meals include fresh herbs like dill or parsley, consider bunching them together and cutting them with scissors while preparing your next meal. This will keep the herbs drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.
There are several different methods you can use to heat tortillas. The first way requires you to place them into a preheated oven, at 350 degrees, and bake them to your liking. Grill tortillas by putting them on the grill plates right above the flames. This will make sure you have a more tasty and fresh tortilla.
Use salt in the water when making pasta. This is so that the salt to be absorbed by the pasta. Salting cooked pasta after cooking will not be as effective in enhancing the same effect.
Keep your spices and herbs fresh by not exposing them to humidity and light. Spices quickly lose their flavor when they are exposed to excessive light, humidity, or heat. These areas are not good because the spices will get exposed to flavor losing elements.
Sulfurous Gas
When cooking with fruits and vegetables that you have never used before, gather as much knowledge about them beforehand as you can. When you’ve done some research, you might be surprised to learn how versatile a particular new food is. You will be able to find the best way to cook this new ingredient and have more fun.
There is sulfurous gas in freshly cut onions. The taste of fresh salsa can be ruined by this gas. Rinsing the raw onions gets rid of the sulfurous gas.
Don’t try out a new recipe on important guests or a special occasion. Whether you are preparing a meal for your boss, a new date or your in-laws, your cooking is most impressive when you prepare great dishes you feel very confident with. Guarantee success by preparing something you could cook with your eyes closed.
As previously mentioned, in order to be a successful cook you need to know the ins and outs of cooking. Learning about different cooking methods and types of foods is half the fun of cooking. Sharing your cooking skills with others is also part of being a good cook. Cooking is not just a skill to learn, but a gift that is meant to be shared with others.
Use beef or chicken stock in place of water to give almost everything from soup to mashed potatoes some extra flavor. Alternately, you can use bouillon in the water called for in the recipe. This will ensure that the food you cook is as flavorful and moist as it can possibly be.
