Becoming a great chef is easier than you might think. Feel free to experiment with food and recipes, and find out what you’re best at making. This information will allow you to become a better cook and give you new things a try. Use this advice to further your cooking skills.
You can add new flavors for your meals by trying different liquids when recipes ask for milk or water. Juices, beef broth, or vegetable broth can all be used as a substitute for water. As an alternative to milk, try using thinned sour cream, yogurt, soy milk or buttermilk. Using different liquids is an easy way to make an old dish more interesting and more nutritious.
If you want crispier and crunchier French fries, then soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for a period of at least half an hour before use. Soaking potatoes accomplishes two important things for your French fries; it takes out sugar and starch during the soaking process.
Prep your grill in advance of your barbecue cookout. This should be done about 30 minutes prior to putting any food on it. Your coals should be kept at a medium heat range and covered with a layer of ash. Grilling at this temperature is highly recommended.
Don’t start cooking until your preparations are finished. This will stop you from having your oven or stove on for too long, and will also give you an extra safety level if you are using oil on a hot pan or other dangerous cooking techniques.
When measuring sticky substances, try a little cooking oil! Prior to measuring, put a little bit of a low-flavor cooking oil on the spoon (canola works well here). This way, the food you are measuring will easily slip off the spoon. This stops you from wasting food and having to clean up afterward. This works for honey and peanut butter too.
If you are looking for a new, exotic seasoning, try cooking with saffron. It brings a vivid blast of flavor which cannot be found in other spices. It’s popularity has stretched over centuries; it’s never lost its charm. It’s highly sought after, and is the most pricey spice globally.
Your butter should always be soft before you cream them with sugar when you bake cookies. Place it in the freezer if the butter is melted or put the dough in the fridge once it is mixed. A dough that has been cooled will keep the cookies from spreading more than you want.
Don’t forget to skim the unwanted fat from your simmering stews and soups. If your stew or soup contains too much fat, let it cool completely so that the fat can rise to its surface. If you place an ice cube onto your spoon you can skim it over the surface. The fat should stick to the ice cube. You can also just use paper towels to absorb the fat.
Use air tight containers to store baking mixes, flour and sugar. Avoid exposure to moisture and insects by sealing food in airtight containers. It is possible to buy these containers almost anywhere and they are well worthwhile.
When preparing chicken stock, make a large amount. If you make a large pot of stock, you can freeze it and store it for future use. There are a variety of recipes that call for chicken stock, so having it on hand is always a good idea. Freeze premeasured amounts of your stock in freezer proof containers or bags when cool.
Use these tips and see how much they help your cooking skills. Try each tip you’ve learned, even if it is only one time. Figure out the ideas that work best for you. Come up with a few tricks of your own. You’ll become much better at cooking in a short amount of time when you apply these tips in your kitchen.