There are always new things to learn about cooking, even if you are just cooking for your family. Even minor changes can sometimes transform a two-star meal into a four- or five-star meal that your family will want to eat again and again. Try some of these tips to make your meals interesting and exciting!
Use softened butter for baking instead of melted butter. If it is melted, pop the bowl into the freezer for a few minutes to harden it a bit, or refrigerate the dough after mixing the ingredients. Your dough will spread the right amount if the dough is cooler.
To have more juice come out of your citrus fruit, microwave the fruit some before juicing. Heat your orange, lemon, or other fruits for around ten seconds in the microwave. Once you take it out, roll it on your counter and then cut it to begin the juicing process.
Different recipes require different types of potatoes. Potatoes are designated into groups: all-purpose, waxy or mealy. The best choice for potatoes to mash are the mealy type, which have a dry texture and flavorful taste. One popular mealy type is the russet potato. An all-purpose potato, great for any dish, is Yukon gold. Those with a seemingly waxy outer coat stand up better if you plan to boil or steam your potatoes. The common white and red potatoes are examples of a waxy potato.
Slice meat thinly on the bias for stir-fry dishes. This can be a bit difficult, and it takes some time to do it right. When the meat is not quite frozen, take it out of the freezer and slice it against the grain at an angle of 45 degrees.
When chopping fresh herbs, try shaking a small amount of salt on your cutting board first. This gives the herbs a little more flavor, but more importantly, it makes the herbs stick to the board better, so that they don’t fly everywhere as you chop them. You don’t need to add extra salt to the food you are preparing. This will over-salt the dish. The salt that is used on this board gives your herbs some extra flavor because it sticks to them.
In addition to the oven timer, set the timer on your wristwatch or stopwatch. Using the alarm on your watch will help make sure that you hear it go off, and prevent from overcooking your food.
Try using saffron when you cook. Saffron lends a sunny flavor not available from other sources. Saffron is an herb that has been around forever, and still one of the most popular. It is a highly sought after spice, but it’s also the most expensive one.
You need to be careful not to overcook or under cook a cake. Recommended baking times are just that, recommendations, and can sometimes be misleading because simple things like elevation can change the baking times of the cake. To test for doneness, insert a clean toothpick into the center of the cake. If it removes cleanly, it’s done; if batter is on it, it needs longer to bake.
There are several ways to properly heat tortillas. One way is to heat them up in a preheated, 350 degree oven. Place the tortillas right on the oven rack, and bake until crispy. You can also place a tortilla directly above the flame of the grill. Cooking the tortillas in these manners will help to make it tastier and fresher.
If you want to get a better hand in cooking, you have to use the advice and tips that are offered to you. The tips given by this article could be a fantastic way to help improve your cooking skills for your family, a party, or even just yourself.