Even the kitchen at your own house can seem rather boring from time to time. If you decide to cultivate your cooking skills, though, that all changes. Your kitchen then becomes a place you enjoy, and the end product is a wonderful meal that you can share with others. The following tips can give you a start toward becoming an excellent cook.
Utilize other types of timers in separate sections of the house. By using two different timers, it does not matter what your location is in the home. You will hear the beep from somewhere.
Fresh ingredients are always preferable to dried or frozen ones in all of your recipes. You will save plenty of money by buying fresh vegetables and other ingredients, and your food will also taste more flavorful.
Try adding cauliflower to your mashed potatoes to lower the fat content. Cauliflower blends perfectly with your potatoes without changing the taste of your mashed potatoes. At the same time, cauliflowers mash into the same color and texture as potatoes, giving you a fail-proof way to add vegetables and subtract calories from a classic mashed potato dish.
Sauteing vegetables is an extremely healthy method of cooking them. Consider adding chicken broth for some added flavor. The chicken broth adds to the taste of the veggies and, you will not have the extra fat. This method of cooking vegetables will be tasty and rich in nutrients.
If you put your meat in the freezer to make it a little hard, it will be easier to cut into thin strips. This method is great for oriental meals that require small strips. When you freeze meat, it makes the slicing much cleaner because it prevents the meat from being as flexible. Just remember, though, to let the stripped meat completely thaw out before you start cooking. This keeps the meat from cooking unevenly.
Did you ever regret throwing moldy fruit away? Have you ever thought to just remove the moldy section by cutting it out? It’s a shame, but partially rotten fruit can’t be saved without being unhealthy. These foods can cause you to become ill, as mold goes much deeper than the eye can see.
Save spicy or unusual spices for after you cook the meal. Garlic powder, salt, cayenne and pepper are all great spices that can be added to foods after they have been cooked. Most people only like certain spices. You can take the guesswork out of spices by making them available during mealtime, so your guests can customize their food to their tastes. Each person can personalize their own dish.
Use cooking oil when you are measuring out things that are sticky. Coat a spoon with a flavorless oil like canola, then use it to measure out the ingredient. The oil will allow the ingredient to slide right off the spoon, which makes cleanup a snap. This will work great for things like peanut butter and honey also.
If your regular serving of frozen veggies just is not cutting it any longer, shake things up a bit. Try mixing coconut flakes in your corn for Thai-inspired flavor adults and kids alike will enjoy.
Potatoes come in many different varieties, and you can’t always substitute one for another. You can make potato salad with waxy potatoes, but you should use a different kind for fries or mashed potatoes. If you plan on making these types of recipes, you should use Russets potatoes as they are made specifically for these.
Use the ideas presented here as a jumping off point for your own ideas. You should be able to prepare foods that your family and you thoroughly enjoy eating. Cooking is a hobby that can enrich both your diet and your life. Make eating a pleasure instead of a necessity.