How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
TIP! Prep work can be done way ahead of time. Save time by doing the prep work before you begin cooking the meal.
Keep herbs and spices in a location that is cool and dark. Humidity, heat, and light all affect the flavor of your spices. Usually herbs and ground spices tend to stay fresh for about a year. Spices that are whole will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. If you keep them correctly, they will last a lot longer.
The prep work comes first. Having everything prepared before you begin cooking is important. Cooking with a deadline to meet can become stressful. Begin your meal preparations as soon as possible to avoid last minute stress.
TIP! Here is a little trick that can help you save your sauce so that you can use it right away. In a medium sized bowl, mix together 1 tblsp water and 2 tblsp corn starch.
bake tart or pie crusts longer that you think they should be baked. The crust should have a nice golden color to be fully cooked. This indicates the sugar has turned to caramel. Your crust will have a sweeter and crispier flavor.
Store your spices in a cool, dark place. When spices are exposed to light and heat, they lose their flavor and it reduces their storage life. Keep spices fresh by storing them away from light and humidity. Your food will be even more delicious if your spices are fresher.
TIP! Test a small sample of your seasoned meats prior to cooking the full dish. Certain foods require very careful seasonings, especially dishes like meatballs, meatloaf and burgers.
Soaking raw potatoes for 30 minutes prior to frying will produce the crispiest French fries. The fibers of raw cut potatoes that have been soaked in cold water prior to hitting the deep fryer, are stronger and can handle the heat better without breakage.
For healthier, lower-calorie mashed potatoes, add some cooked cauliflower to your tubers. Since cauliflower is bland, it will mix right in with the potatoes along with the other ingredients. Your mashed potato dish will also look the same if you add cauliflower, allowing it to retain its color and texture while taking the calories out of your potatoes.
Fresh Basil
Are you preparing a dish with fresh basil? Put a bunch of fresh basil in a glass. Pour water in the glass until the stems of the fresh basil are completely covered. Next, place the basil and glass on the kitchen counter; the herb will remain fresh for a week or more. The basil will grow roots if you occasionally change the water. You should also trim the basil once in a while so it grows even more.
TIP! Adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes is a great way to reduce the amount of fat and calories they contain. You should use equal portions of potatoes and cauliflower when making this delicious side.
Whatever you may be cooking, using fresh foods is always better than canned, dried, or frozen. Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can help bring a lot of flavor out of your dish.
Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. This will make reheating the sauce easy, as you can pull out as many cubes that you need for the next meal. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!
TIP! Once in awhile, burgers stick to the cooking surface making it nearly impossible to get them off in one piece. Try brushing a thin coating of vegetable oil on the grill or pan to keep food from sticking.
Want to add more protein to your diet? Consider incorporating beans and tofu! These can be found at most grocery stores these days. Try frying tofu and adding seasoning to replace meat. To add some tasty protein to your plate, boil some beans with a touch of herbs for seasoning.
If your recipe calls for a liquid, try using something other than water or milk. This will add a spark to that tired old dish. If the recipe has called for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. Instead of using milk, you can substitute yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream. Using liquid substitutions in your cooking can increase nutrition and give a standby dish a new flavor.
TIP! Use airtight containers whenever you store unused baking mixes, flour or sugar in your pantry or kitchen. 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.
Now that you’ve read this article, take this advice, and apply it to your meals. Once you try them and experience how good your dishes taste, you will begin to love cooking even more! In fact, you might start looking forward to it; ultimately, you might find yourself trying all kinds of recipes and dishes. Try cooking from home.
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How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.
Keep herbs and spices in a location that is cool and dark. Humidity, heat, and light all affect the flavor of your spices. Usually herbs and ground spices tend to stay fresh for about a year. Spices that are whole will retain flavor longer, closer to 3-5 years. If you keep them correctly, they will last a lot longer.
The prep work comes first. Having everything prepared before you begin cooking is important. Cooking with a deadline to meet can become stressful. Begin your meal preparations as soon as possible to avoid last minute stress.
bake tart or pie crusts longer that you think they should be baked. The crust should have a nice golden color to be fully cooked. This indicates the sugar has turned to caramel. Your crust will have a sweeter and crispier flavor.
Store your spices in a cool, dark place. When spices are exposed to light and heat, they lose their flavor and it reduces their storage life. Keep spices fresh by storing them away from light and humidity. Your food will be even more delicious if your spices are fresher.
Soaking raw potatoes for 30 minutes prior to frying will produce the crispiest French fries. The fibers of raw cut potatoes that have been soaked in cold water prior to hitting the deep fryer, are stronger and can handle the heat better without breakage.
For healthier, lower-calorie mashed potatoes, add some cooked cauliflower to your tubers. Since cauliflower is bland, it will mix right in with the potatoes along with the other ingredients. Your mashed potato dish will also look the same if you add cauliflower, allowing it to retain its color and texture while taking the calories out of your potatoes.
Fresh Basil
Are you preparing a dish with fresh basil? Put a bunch of fresh basil in a glass. Pour water in the glass until the stems of the fresh basil are completely covered. Next, place the basil and glass on the kitchen counter; the herb will remain fresh for a week or more. The basil will grow roots if you occasionally change the water. You should also trim the basil once in a while so it grows even more.
Whatever you may be cooking, using fresh foods is always better than canned, dried, or frozen. Fresh ingredients are often inexpensive, and can help bring a lot of flavor out of your dish.
Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. This will make reheating the sauce easy, as you can pull out as many cubes that you need for the next meal. The frozen sauce will keep extremely well until the next time you need it!
Want to add more protein to your diet? Consider incorporating beans and tofu! These can be found at most grocery stores these days. Try frying tofu and adding seasoning to replace meat. To add some tasty protein to your plate, boil some beans with a touch of herbs for seasoning.
If your recipe calls for a liquid, try using something other than water or milk. This will add a spark to that tired old dish. If the recipe has called for water, you could easily use chicken broth, beef broth, or juice when suitable. Instead of using milk, you can substitute yogurt, buttermilk or sour cream. Using liquid substitutions in your cooking can increase nutrition and give a standby dish a new flavor.
Now that you’ve read this article, take this advice, and apply it to your meals. Once you try them and experience how good your dishes taste, you will begin to love cooking even more! In fact, you might start looking forward to it; ultimately, you might find yourself trying all kinds of recipes and dishes. Try cooking from home.