If you’re not an experienced cook, you might wonder where to start. Even though some people are naturally just good cooks, for most people cooking is a learned skill. Everyone can learn to cook, though. As with anything, there are techniques and tricks that you must learn to excel at cooking. In this article, we will offer you good advice to get you started.
To remove the odors of fish, garlic, onions or other strong ingredients from your hands, rub them on stainless steel for a minute before washing them. A spoon or the side of the sink will do the trick, or a ready-made “soap bar” made of stainless steel. This technique will eliminate odors and keep hands fresh-smelling as well.
If you are preparing stir-fry, be sure to slice the meat on the bias and very thin. This can take a lot of time and be hard to do. Remove meat when firm but no longer frozen, and slice it 45 degrees across the grain.
Don’t use bitter, sour, or tasteless wine in your recipes. Wine that you don’t like or haven’t tried can ruin the way you feel about the food. When in doubt, use a wine designed for cooking.
Use only a very small amount of fat when sauteing a food. It will add too much moisture, which steams the food and doesn’t allow it to saute or get crispy. Always saute over a low flame or low setting on your stove-top.
A charcoal grill should be prepared and the charcoal lit ahead of the time you plan to cook. It takes approximately 30 minutes for the grill to heat to the proper temperature for cooking. The coals need to be around medium heat and covered in ash. This is the best temperature for grilling.
Boiling and other long preparation methods tend to eliminate key nutrients in vegetables. To retain these nutrients, rely on cooking methods that don’t take a lot of time, including steaming or sauteing. You can even eat them raw if you have the taste for it.
Whenever possible, try to eliminate excess fat from your stews and soups. If you have prepared a soup or stew that has a lot of fat in it, try this trick. Allow the meal to become completely cool; any fat will slowly rise to the top. Place the ice cube on the spoon and lightly rub it across the top. The fat will collect on the ice. Another method is to blot away the fat using a power towel.
There are many different kinds of potatoes, and they cannot be equally substituted for each other. Waxy potatoes are good for boiling or using in potato salads, but they make poor french fries or mashed potatoes. For those culinary exercises, you should use potatoes that are fluffy, such as Russets.
Grilled fruit is a particularly savory treat. Slice up nectarines, melons and peaches and then thread them onto a skewer. Make sure the grill is clean, and cook the fruit until it shows grill marks. Place atop grilled pound cake or on ice cream to serve.
You should store your spices and herbs in a cool dry space out of direct sunlight to avoid flavor loss. Humidity and heat, in addition to light, will cause spices and herbs to lose their flavor. When stored correctly, your spices can stay spicy for up to a year. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. The length of time that they stay fresh depends on how they are stored.
Not everyone is born to be a professional chef, but by following certain directions pertaining to cooking in the kitchen, you can be a great amateur chef in a short time. Doing so is actually simpler than you might assume. If you apply the tips you have learned here, you’ll be unstoppable.