A lot of people think cooking involves a life of drudgery spent chained to the stove, and they try to avoid it as much as possible. The following article is filled with hints and tips to turn your dread of cooking into eager anticipation.
TIP! A great tip to follow if you use oil to cook is to put it on the sides of the pan while cooking, so it’s already heated by the time it reaches the food. This will help your food be more flavorful.
If you’re trying to start making more food yourself, try looking at basic cookbooks in your local library or bookstore. Experiment with a few, and be patient; remember, you’re learning new skills.
Apples are very popular in cooking in fall and winter, but the spoilage rate is high if they are not stored correctly. Keeping your apples in a cool, dry place will keep them from rotting. Keep checking on them though, otherwise one rotten apple will spoil the bunch in no time at all.
TIP! Do not season all the meat immediately: try a small piece first. Meats such as meatballs, hamburgers and meatloaf need to be seasoned carefully.
While garlic is excellent for cooking, it can also be absorbed into your hands. Rub your hands on the stainless steel interior of your sink to get rid of the smell right away. Doing this will remove the scent from your hands, and keep it from spreading to the next food you touch.
Chicken Stock
TIP! Cooking vegetables for a long time in a boiling liquid will remove nutrients that are found in them. To retain these nutrients, rely on cooking methods that don’t take a lot of time, including steaming or sauteing.
When preparing chicken stock, it is best to make a large batch. 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. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.
To prep a pumpkin for cooking, set the pumpkin upright, and then cleave it down the center, effectively cutting it into two halves. Put both halves of the pumpkin on different baking sheets with the cut side down. Sprinkle your baking sheets with a little water, and roast the pumpkin halves for an hour at 350 degrees.
By doing this, a year-round supply of fresh fruit can be maintained. In addition, you’ll get to enjoy out-of-season fruits when no one else can!
Fresh Garlic
TIP! To give your food vitality, prepare meals using fresh ingredients instead of frozen or dried ingredients whenever possible. When you use fresh ingredients you can bring out the true flavor of your food, and they can sometimes be cheaper in the end.
When cooking a recipe calling for garlic, use the freshest garlic for the best results. Fresh garlic tastes much sweeter than does garlic that is not fresh. Fresh garlic usually has a firm skin and no bruises or soft spots.
If you want to cook a roast but don’t have enough time, you should keep the bone in. The bone acts as a conduit, transporting heat through the center of the meat. Once the meat is done, you then just cut the meat off the bone and enjoy.
TIP! Whenever you have a meal to cook, if you do your all your prep work ahead of time, it will be much less stressful and quicker. Peruse your recipes and look for things you can do ahead of time.
If you’re feeling stressed at the idea of making dinner for the family, consider doing much of the prep work the evening before cooking. Make your sauces, cut your ingredients or marinate meat the day before. You will be more relaxed and better prepared to cook the following day.
Dried Tomatoes
TIP! If you make sauce, freeze it into ice cubs to use later on. This will make reheating the sauce easy, as you can pull out as many cubes that you need for the next meal.
You can make dried tomatoes yourself. Slice tomatoes 1/2″ thick to dry. Romas should be cut in two lengthwise. Place on a cooling rack, cut-side up and lightly salt them. Heat your oven to 190 degrees and place the tomatoes inside for as long as ten hours. You can store your dried tomatoes in a plastic bag in the freezer. Zing up your dried tomatoes and conserve them at the same time by canning them in olive oil and herbs. Tomatoes stored in this fashion will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
If you are going to use fresh herbs, such as dill or parsley in your meal, put them together to form bunches and use scissors to cut them. This will keep them drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.
TIP! Do you have a difficult time figuring out how long you should grill your meats? When grilling, use a good quality meat thermometer. A digital thermometer is best and will ensure that meat is cooked thoroughly and safely.
While engaged in cooking, get in the habit of cleaning dishes as you finish using them. If you have a double bowl sink, fill one side with hot, soapy water and the other side with clear water for rinsing. Utensils that have been used recently, will be easier to clean if you leave them in this water.
The night before you are scheduled to prepare a large, multi-course meal, complete as much prep work as possible. You can double-check the availability of everything required, get your ingredients together, chop herbs and vegetables, and measure out quantities in advance. As you begin your masterpiece, just put it all together and cook as necessary.
TIP! Always use airtight canisters or containers to store your dry goods, such as flour and sugar. 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.
As pointed out in this article, cooking can be fun and entertaining. Follow the easy tips laid out in this article to turn cooking from a bore into something you’ll look forward to.
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A lot of people think cooking involves a life of drudgery spent chained to the stove, and they try to avoid it as much as possible. The following article is filled with hints and tips to turn your dread of cooking into eager anticipation.
If you’re trying to start making more food yourself, try looking at basic cookbooks in your local library or bookstore. Experiment with a few, and be patient; remember, you’re learning new skills.
Apples are very popular in cooking in fall and winter, but the spoilage rate is high if they are not stored correctly. Keeping your apples in a cool, dry place will keep them from rotting. Keep checking on them though, otherwise one rotten apple will spoil the bunch in no time at all.
While garlic is excellent for cooking, it can also be absorbed into your hands. Rub your hands on the stainless steel interior of your sink to get rid of the smell right away. Doing this will remove the scent from your hands, and keep it from spreading to the next food you touch.
Chicken Stock
When preparing chicken stock, it is best to make a large batch. 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. Allow the stock to cool before freezing it in durable, Ziploc bags.
To prep a pumpkin for cooking, set the pumpkin upright, and then cleave it down the center, effectively cutting it into two halves. Put both halves of the pumpkin on different baking sheets with the cut side down. Sprinkle your baking sheets with a little water, and roast the pumpkin halves for an hour at 350 degrees.
By doing this, a year-round supply of fresh fruit can be maintained. In addition, you’ll get to enjoy out-of-season fruits when no one else can!
Fresh Garlic
When cooking a recipe calling for garlic, use the freshest garlic for the best results. Fresh garlic tastes much sweeter than does garlic that is not fresh. Fresh garlic usually has a firm skin and no bruises or soft spots.
If you want to cook a roast but don’t have enough time, you should keep the bone in. The bone acts as a conduit, transporting heat through the center of the meat. Once the meat is done, you then just cut the meat off the bone and enjoy.
If you’re feeling stressed at the idea of making dinner for the family, consider doing much of the prep work the evening before cooking. Make your sauces, cut your ingredients or marinate meat the day before. You will be more relaxed and better prepared to cook the following day.
Dried Tomatoes
You can make dried tomatoes yourself. Slice tomatoes 1/2″ thick to dry. Romas should be cut in two lengthwise. Place on a cooling rack, cut-side up and lightly salt them. Heat your oven to 190 degrees and place the tomatoes inside for as long as ten hours. You can store your dried tomatoes in a plastic bag in the freezer. Zing up your dried tomatoes and conserve them at the same time by canning them in olive oil and herbs. Tomatoes stored in this fashion will last for two weeks in the refrigerator.
If you are going to use fresh herbs, such as dill or parsley in your meal, put them together to form bunches and use scissors to cut them. This will keep them drier and less heavy than if they are chopped.
While engaged in cooking, get in the habit of cleaning dishes as you finish using them. If you have a double bowl sink, fill one side with hot, soapy water and the other side with clear water for rinsing. Utensils that have been used recently, will be easier to clean if you leave them in this water.
The night before you are scheduled to prepare a large, multi-course meal, complete as much prep work as possible. You can double-check the availability of everything required, get your ingredients together, chop herbs and vegetables, and measure out quantities in advance. As you begin your masterpiece, just put it all together and cook as necessary.
As pointed out in this article, cooking can be fun and entertaining. Follow the easy tips laid out in this article to turn cooking from a bore into something you’ll look forward to.