A simple few secrets could make you a much better cook. The information contained in this article can help you to be the best cook that you can be. Read them in their entirety to ensure you learn exactly what it takes to get cooking like a pro!
TIP! Cut your meat as thin as you can if you are using it in a stir-fry. However, this can take a lot of time while also being very tricky.
If you want to start cooking more, go to the bookstore or library and get a cookbook of simple and basic recipes that appeal to you. Pick out a few recipes to try and decide after it has been eaten if it is a recipe you want to add to your permanent collection. Be sure to be patient as you try these new recipes.
Here’s a trick you can use to save your sauce fast! In a medium sized bowl, mix together 1 tblsp water and 2 tblsp corn starch. Stir this solution into your simmering thin sauce until it thickens. Make sure you combine them gradually and consistently so as to prevent the sauce from thickening too much.
TIP! Freezing meat will make it more solid, and easier to cut into thin strips. The thin sliced meat is great in many dishes including many Chinese and Thai meals.
Popular French fried potato recipes suggest soaking the potatoes in water for 30 minutes before cooking them. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
Fresh Ingredients
TIP! Do you feel like you’re wasting money when you throw away a piece of moldy fruit? Is it possible to save the fruit by cutting the bad part out of it? Never try to salvage fruit that is past its prime. Mold grows deep into the fruit, and by eating it you will risk illness.
Fresh ingredients are much better to use in all of your cooking than those that are frozen or dried. The more fresh ingredients you use in your cooking, the better your dishes will be. Fresh ingredients have more flavor, and are less costly than frozen and canned ingredients.
Garlic is a great ingredient but it can leave a strong smell on your hands and utensils. If you have a stainless steel sink or other utensil, rub your hands over the inside of the sink to remove the smell. This works for onions as well. This will clean your hands of the smell that can get onto to the food that you have to handle next.
TIP! Are you partial to using fresh basil in your cooking? Try putting a bunch of basil that is fresh inside a glass. Submerge the stems in water.
Always use airtight containers to store sugar or flour. Airtight containers allow your food to remain safe from the elements and also prolongs their freshness. You can easily find affordable containers and you will save money by eating leftovers.
If you use skewers for any of your dishes, be sure to soak skewers made of wood in water for a minimum of a half hour before using them. That way, they will not burn during the cooking process. Prevent softer food from falling into the coals by using two parallel skewers rather than a single one.
TIP! Mushrooms will soak up a large amount of water. Wipe them off with a damp cloth to clean them.
When purchasing your ingredients for preparing a recipe, you should read all of the labels. A lot of cooking supplies contain ingredients that could be unhealthy. You must make sure that your ingredients are not high in either sodium or sugar because these may cause health problems if consumed in large amounts.
Get the freshest garlic you can when making a dish that you must add garlic to. When garlic is fresher, it will not taste as bitter. Stale, or old, garlic may be bruised, shriveled or soft.
TIP! If you are making a meal that requires garlic, buy fresh garlic or grow your own. Generally speaking, the freshest garlic will also have the sweetest taste.
When you have a big meal to prepare, get a head start by doing the prep work the night before. Chop veggies, prepare a sauce, or marinate meat before heading to bed. With so much already prepared, you will likely be less stressed.
In order to keep herbs and spices fresh and flavorful, keep them stored in a cool, dark area. When you store your herbs out on the kitchen counter, they will lose their flavor quickly and become stale.
Ethylene Gas
Put any of the unripened fruits you buy in a plastic bag with small holes on the bag. As they ripen, they will create ethylene gas. Placing fruit in a perforated bag allows air circulation in the bag, retaining ethylene gas and keeping the fruit tasting good.
TIP! Head to the store and replace your unused spices every six months. A lot of people keep spices too long, which makes them not taste very good.
Always follow the directions on the box when making a simple mac and cheese. The macaroni will turn out perfectly if you do this, and you will have an amazing dish once the cheese is completely melted on the noodles. To serve the macaroni and cheese, a solid faced spoon works just fine. Try spicing the macaroni with pepper.
As we have shown, there are many tricks and secrets that will help you hone your cooking skills. To some it comes naturally, but for others, they need as much advice as they can get. Think of this article as a starting point in your education.
A simple few secrets could make you a much better cook. The information contained in this article can help you to be the best cook that you can be. Read them in their entirety to ensure you learn exactly what it takes to get cooking like a pro!
If you want to start cooking more, go to the bookstore or library and get a cookbook of simple and basic recipes that appeal to you. Pick out a few recipes to try and decide after it has been eaten if it is a recipe you want to add to your permanent collection. Be sure to be patient as you try these new recipes.
Here’s a trick you can use to save your sauce fast! In a medium sized bowl, mix together 1 tblsp water and 2 tblsp corn starch. Stir this solution into your simmering thin sauce until it thickens. Make sure you combine them gradually and consistently so as to prevent the sauce from thickening too much.
Popular French fried potato recipes suggest soaking the potatoes in water for 30 minutes before cooking them. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
Fresh Ingredients
Fresh ingredients are much better to use in all of your cooking than those that are frozen or dried. The more fresh ingredients you use in your cooking, the better your dishes will be. Fresh ingredients have more flavor, and are less costly than frozen and canned ingredients.
Garlic is a great ingredient but it can leave a strong smell on your hands and utensils. If you have a stainless steel sink or other utensil, rub your hands over the inside of the sink to remove the smell. This works for onions as well. This will clean your hands of the smell that can get onto to the food that you have to handle next.
Always use airtight containers to store sugar or flour. Airtight containers allow your food to remain safe from the elements and also prolongs their freshness. You can easily find affordable containers and you will save money by eating leftovers.
If you use skewers for any of your dishes, be sure to soak skewers made of wood in water for a minimum of a half hour before using them. That way, they will not burn during the cooking process. Prevent softer food from falling into the coals by using two parallel skewers rather than a single one.
When purchasing your ingredients for preparing a recipe, you should read all of the labels. A lot of cooking supplies contain ingredients that could be unhealthy. You must make sure that your ingredients are not high in either sodium or sugar because these may cause health problems if consumed in large amounts.
Get the freshest garlic you can when making a dish that you must add garlic to. When garlic is fresher, it will not taste as bitter. Stale, or old, garlic may be bruised, shriveled or soft.
When you have a big meal to prepare, get a head start by doing the prep work the night before. Chop veggies, prepare a sauce, or marinate meat before heading to bed. With so much already prepared, you will likely be less stressed.
In order to keep herbs and spices fresh and flavorful, keep them stored in a cool, dark area. When you store your herbs out on the kitchen counter, they will lose their flavor quickly and become stale.
Ethylene Gas
Put any of the unripened fruits you buy in a plastic bag with small holes on the bag. As they ripen, they will create ethylene gas. Placing fruit in a perforated bag allows air circulation in the bag, retaining ethylene gas and keeping the fruit tasting good.
Always follow the directions on the box when making a simple mac and cheese. The macaroni will turn out perfectly if you do this, and you will have an amazing dish once the cheese is completely melted on the noodles. To serve the macaroni and cheese, a solid faced spoon works just fine. Try spicing the macaroni with pepper.
As we have shown, there are many tricks and secrets that will help you hone your cooking skills. To some it comes naturally, but for others, they need as much advice as they can get. Think of this article as a starting point in your education.