If cooking is a new adventure for you, realize that you just need to get started. It’s true that some people are born with natural talent when it comes to cooking, but most people aren’t. However, the ability to master the craft of cooking is something that any person can do. Becoming the best cook you can is all about learning as much as you can! Here are some great tips to get you started with cooking.
When preparing mashed potatoes, stir in hot (not boiling) milk to mix them. Using hot, rather than cold, milk results in more fluffed-up and lighter mashed potatoes. No one wants to eat lumpy mashed potatoes that taste bland!
Keeping waffles or pancakes warm after you have prepared them can be a challenge. Warm your oven to 300 degrees. Keep the food on a plate in the oven so that it will stay warm.
Use leftovers for a delicious fried rice, soup or a hearty stew. You’ll want to use day-old rice if possible, but if you only have fresh rice on hand, cut back on the water slightly so the rice is a bit drier. You can cook the vegetables and meat in a small splash of oil, and then mix in rice, soy sauce and other flavorings such as ginger and garlic.
Save leftover meat and bones from poultry. Instead, cut it up, place it into a an airtight container, and put it in the freezer. Doing this will keep the turkey fresh for several weeks, and it can be made into a sandwich or a salad whenever you want.
Sprinkle salt liberally into the boiling water that is used to cook pasta. This is so that the seasoning will set into the pasta. Salting cooked pasta will not have the same effect.
For crispier French fries, let raw potatoes stand for 30 minutes in a cold pot of water. Letting sliced potatoes soak up additional cold fluids reinforces the fibers in the vegetable, so that when you deep fry them, they can better withstand the heat without breaking down completely.
Cutting Board
Applying some salt on a cutting board when chopping fresh herbs is a good idea. Salt will not only add flavor to your herbs, but it will keep the herbs on the cutting board. Don’t over-salt your foods. The salt that is used on this board gives your herbs some extra flavor because it sticks to them.
Cut down on cooking time by doing your prep work in advance. Many ingredients can be prepared a few days before you actually cook the meal for which they’re needed. In some cases, you will find the longer preparation window will make your end result a flavorful masterpiece. Once you start preparing your foods well in advance, you may never want to cook another way.
Boiling vegetables is a cooking process that decreases valuable nutrients in them. To preserve their healthy reputation, choose quick cooking methods such as sauteing or steaming – or better still, enjoy them in their natural, raw state.
If you’re going to be barbecuing, it’s a good idea to prepare your grill beforehand so that it’s already ready for you when you need it. The grill should be prepared 30 minutes before it is used for cooking. You should keep the coals at a medium heat and covered with ashes. Grilling at this temperature is highly recommended.
One very simple yet effective way to cook new and interesting foods is to simply change the spices and sauces that you use. Using different spices or adding new sauces will give boring recipes dramatic, new flavor. One way to get unique sauces and spices that isn’t well known is shopping at the foreign food shops in your area.
When you want to add a bit of protein to your diet, tofu and beans are a great source of it. They can be bought at pretty much any grocery store. Fry up the tofu with seasonings to get a great meat alternative. For a tasty bean dish, simply boil them with your favorite herbs.
There is a trick to save your hard work and be able to use it instantly. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more cornstarch until you reach the desired consistency. Slowly add this mixture to your simmering sauce to thicken it up. Make sure you stir your sauce and stop pouring the mix once your sauce looks better.
Enjoy hardy winter greens. Right after the first winter frost, broccoli rabe, collards and kale will taste much sweeter than normal. Go for the greens that have vivid colors and stay away from any that are turning color or have a limp quality to them. By nature, these greens are more prone to dirt collection, so wash them thoroughly and carefully before consuming them. Submerge your greens in a sink full of cold water, then rinse your greens until the water is clear, and shake off the excess water.
There’s an art to the simplest meals. For example, spreading mayonnaise evenly over bread improves the quality of your sandwiches. Often, people are hurried and just drop a dollop of it in the middle. If you spread it evenly, your sandwiches are complete with overall flavor.
Planning and preparing a large meal can feel completely overwhelming. The most important step, however, is to plan out everything in advance; many preparations can be completed the night before. In the very least, you can gather spices, measure ingredients, and prepare marinades.
If you have decided to serve salad with the meal that you are preparing for guests, be sure to serve the salad dry and serve the dressing on the side. People vary in the amount of dressing they like on their salad, so it is helpful to let them do this on their own. Also, try and include different types of dressings.
Not many people are born with a natural talent to cook, though if you are good at following directions, you can be an amateur chef quickly. It really is not as hard as it seems. The tips mentioned in this article will help get you started on the road to gourmet bliss.