Everything But The Chef’s Hat: Cooking Tips

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Are you getting tired of having to constantly cook for your family? Do not let your lack of cooking skills get you down. This article will give you some helpful tips for hassle-free, easy to prepare meals. The advice given here will make you realize that you have waited too long to learn how to make cooking much easier.

TIP! Spices should be stored in a dark and cool place. If they are exposed to light, moisture, or heat, they will lose much of their flavor.

Raw potatoes should rest in chilly water for approximately 30 minutes. This will help them to be crispy and delicious. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.

Skewers should always be soaked in cold water for a minimum of 30 minutes before they are used in cooking. That way, they will not burn during the cooking process. To prevent food from falling from the skewers, use two parallel skewers rather than just one.

TIP! 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. Try a few recipes, and be patient with yourself as you are mastering this new skill.

When you want to add a bit of protein to your diet, tofu and beans are a great source of it. Most grocery stores stock these items. Pan fried tofu, lightly sprinkled with your favorite seasonings, is a delicious substitute to meat. The beans can be boiled with some herbs for a flavorful protein source.

Many liquids are interchangeable within a recipe; try replacing the water or milk with something new. For instance, you can use broth, stock, juice or a bit of wine to replace the water in a recipe. Buttermilk, yogurt and sour cream can be great substitutes for milk. Using different liquids can add nutritional value, while at the same time punching up bland, old recipes.

TIP! Here’s a way to turn that thin sauce around. Mix one tablespoon of starch from corn and two tablespoons of water together in a bowl.

When you have an upcoming dish that has garlic as an ingredient, go out and get the freshest available garlic that you can find. Garlic that is fresh is sweeter than garlic that is not. If it isn’t soft, bruised or shriveled and it has some firm skin then you know that the garlic is fresh.

Cutting Board

TIP! The overall quality of vegetables is affected by the length of cooking time. If you slow cook vegetables they will lose nutritional value and taste.

Many herbs and veggies make odors on your cutting board no matter how many times you clean it. Mark one end, or side, of each cutting board so that you know which is which.

Be sure to refresh your spices every few months. Spices do not last forever. They will eventually lose their flavor. If you find yourself buying a spice that you aren’t going to finish, split it and give half away to a friend.

TIP! You can sprinkle it on many other foods besides meat. It can add flavor to all manner of foodstuffs, such as scrambled eggs.

Before preparing any sort of dish, you must ensure that your utensils are clean. Any leftover food residue can ruin the food you are preparing. It could promote the spread of bacteria.

When using fresh herbs like parsley or dill, gather them into bunches and cut them with scissors. This will prevent them from clumping together and they will be drier than when you chop them.

TIP! When cooking vegetables, try cooking them in chicken broth. By using chicken broth instead of water, you will add extra flavor to your vegetables.

Directions should be followed closely when you are making macaroni and cheese. The macaroni cooks perfectly when you do this and is nothing short of spectacular after the nice, creamy, melted cheese is poured over the noodles. To serve the macaroni and cheese, a solid faced spoon works just fine. Use a dash of pepper to finish off the dish!

Save a little bit of your pasta water when making pasta sauce. Set aside around a quarter of a cup of water. Add some of it in as you mix the pasta with the sauce. Amalgamation will take place in your sauce when you add the pasta water. The starch will give it the “creaminess” you desire.

TIP! When preparing a dish that calls for garlic, purchase garlic that is as fresh as possible. For the most part, this ensures you will be getting the sweetest-tasting garlic.

When chopping fresh herbs, try sprinkling a bit of salt over the cutting board before you begin. Doing this not only adds some flavor, but it also ensures that the herbs are right where they need to be, which is on the board. Just make sure you don’t add salt to your dish afterwards as the herbs already contain it. The salt you put on the board will stick to the herbs and add a bit of flavor.

Cooking for other people, especially family, can be quite a hassle. Fortunately, there are many shortcuts and tricks to make cooking for a family quick and easy. Try to relax when you enter the kitchen next time.

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