Everyone knows how to eat, but everyone definitely does not know how to cook. The tips below will teach you how to improve your culinary skills. There is no reason to fear the stove, the groceries in your pantry, or your cooking equipment. Cooking is a pretty useful skill, and it can be fun, too. Let these tips inspire you to pursue new culinary heights.
When cooking with skewers, be aware of some important facts. If you are using metal skewers, the square or twisted kind are much better than round ones for holding food in place.
If you have decided that you might like to cook more food at home, look for a great book that can help you. These books can be found in many places: the library, online or even a family member. Create at your own pace and allow for patience as you get the trick of cooking down.
Here is a little trick that can help you save your sauce so that you can use it right away. Put some corn starch into water and mix it in your sauce. Stir this solution into your simmering thin sauce until it thickens. For a sauce that’s too thick, add more liquid.
When trying to cut strips of meat, partially freeze it for a more firm cut. This technique is especially important if you are making Oriental dishes. By partially freezing the meat, it can be sliced with much less effort and with little damage, too, as the fibers will will be less likely to tear. But, if you use this technique make sure that the meat strips thaw out again before you cook them.
When making food for someone whom you want to impress, stick to a familiar dish that you are confident preparing. You are taking a risk if you want to try something new. This will take the stress out of your meal preparation.
Dull Knife
Every cook needs access to a set of sharp knives. Dull knives are difficult to use and they are dangerous to cut with too. You will be more apt to cut yourself with a dull knife than a sharp knife, as you’ll spend a lot more time trying to force that dull knife through the food you are cutting.
People want to use apples very often in fall and winter, but unless they are stored properly, they will spoil rapidly. Heat and oxygen spoil apples, so place them in plastic bags in a cool spot. Your fridge is ideal. However, if even one apple becomes rotten, it will quickly spoil all apples in the same bag.
Vegetables should be cooked rapidly to obtain peak results. Slow-cooked vegetables lose nutritional value and taste. These speed-cooking techniques usually produce vegetables that are more nutritious overall. Only cook vegetables as much as you have to, in order to preserve their taste and nutritional value.
This can be applied on many other foods other than just meat. Experiment with adding it to roasted seeds such as sunflower or pumpkin, or even sprinkle into salads and egg dishes. All your guests will be left wondering where the delightful flavor came from.
It is possible to lower the fat and calorie content of mashed potatoes without impacting the taste or texture by replacing some of the potato content with cauliflower. You will not taste the blandness of cauliflower, but notice a new interesting flavor instead. At the same time, cauliflowers mash into the same color and texture as potatoes, giving you a fail-proof way to add vegetables and subtract calories from a classic mashed potato dish.
Garlic is amazing, but comes at the cost of smelly hands. You should rub your hands along the interior of your stainless steel sink whenever you have come into contact with garlic. Not only does this remove the smell of the odoriferous food ingredient from your hands, it also keeps this odor from passing to other foods that you are about to handle.
Ice Cube Trays
Mushrooms absorb large amounts of water, and this excess water will go into whatever you are cooking with. Wipe off each mushroom with a clean wet cloth to prepare them for cooking.
If you find yourself with leftover homemade sauce, freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays. Then, at a later date, it is a simple process to reheat the cubes on your stove top in a pan. Do not worry, the sauce will still be edible after it has been in the ice cube trays!
Flour, baking mixes and sugar should be stored in airtight containers. Airtight containers are best because they prevent bugs from getting into your food and also allow it to stay fresh for a longer time. These are carried in many stores and make a wise investment.
Once in awhile, burgers stick to the cooking surface making it nearly impossible to get them off in one piece. To prevent this, brush the grill with a bit of vegetable oil to keep your foods from sticking.
When you are making chicken stock, think in terms of high volume. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. Homemade chicken stock adds great flavor to everything from soups to casseroles. Once your stock is cooked, let the leftovers reach room temperature, then portion them into freezer bags.
Beans or tofu are excellent sources of protein that you may not have yet considered adding to your diet. Both can be purchased at just about any grocery store. Tofu can be seasoned and pan-fried, and then served in lieu of a meat dish. Boil beans with a sauce or herbs, or add them to a salad to serve up some additional protein.
Use airtight containers for flour, sugar and baking mixes in the kitchen. Airtight containers keep your food fresh and protect it from bugs and bacterias. You can easily find affordable containers and you will save money by eating leftovers.
Many liquids are interchangeable within a recipe; try replacing the water or milk with something new. In place of water, try adding beef or chicken broth, juice or even water used to cook vegetables. If your favorite recipes call for milk, try substituting with buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream. Changing up the liquids in your recipes can add nutrition, while livening up a standby dish.
Dried Tomatoes
It can be very useful to think large when making your favorite chicken stock. Plan on preparing a large batch so that the excess can be frozen and used later. A rich chicken stock makes a savory base for soups, stews and other dishes. Make certain the stock is cooled, and then you can portion it into heavyweight Ziploc freezer bags and place in the freezer.
Try drying your own fresh tomatoes. Drying them is easy – simply cut Roma tomatoes in half, or cut larger tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Take a cooling rack and place the tomatoes on it. Sprinkle them with salt. Next, the tomatoes need to spend about 10 hours in an oven set to 190 degrees. Put a cookie sheet under the rack before it goes in. The dried tomatoes can be put in plastic bags and frozen. You can also pack dried tomatoes in a jar with some fresh herbs and olive oil. This jar should be used within 2 weeks and kept refrigerated.
Store your herbs and spices in a dark and cool place so that their flavors are preserved. If you keep spices above the oven or in hot places, they will lose their flavor.
If you are intending to use skewers when you cook, do not forget to soak them in water for at least half an hour before you use them if they are wooden. This will prevent them from burning while you are cooking. Use two parallel skewers as opposed to a single skewer to keep food intact.
It’s necessary for a cook to organize all cooking supplies. If you are not well organized, you’ll be a disaster in the kitchen. Keep things that are similar in the same place. For instance, spices can be placed in the same compartment.
There is no need to be afraid of cooking. Making food at home is a money saver, much more healthy, nutritious and fun. Apply these tips the next time you go grocery shopping or cook. Cheers to home cooking and enjoy your meal!
When you will be cooking a pumpkin, stand it up and then slice it down the middle. Next, set each of the two pieces on a separate baking sheet, taking care to place each one cut side down. Make sure you sprinkle some water on the sheets. Bake the pumpkin for an hour.
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