Cooking methods which will result in a great dining experience are diverse and varied. While some are very simple, others require a more technical touch. No matter what kind of cook you are, the helpful tips and solid advice in the article below will help you be a better cook.
It is important to cook your meat properly, so always have a meat thermometer on hand. Every meat has a certain internal temperature that needs to be reached in order for it to be safe to eat. There is bacteria present in the meat, and to make sure you do not get sick you will have to cook it thoroughly.
Be careful not to overcook or undercook your cake. There are recommended cooking times, which are guidelines only. These times can be a bit misleading because there are factors, such as your elevation, that help to determine the cake’s cooking time. Instead, test the cake periodically by inserting a toothpick into the middle. The cake is finished if the toothpick comes out completely clean. If it does not, and has some batter on it, it needs to be cooked longer.
Have you ever had a hard time figuring out the grilling time of your meat? It is always good to use a meat thermometer to determine when your meat is properly cooked. If the meat is thick, such as more than 1.5 inches, try closing the grill’s lid to cut down on grilling time.
A cool, dark storage area will preserve your herbs freshness for the longest period of time. Humidity, light and heat can cause your spices and herbs to lose their flavor. Generally speaking, properly stored herbs and ground spices can keep a good portion of their flavor as long as one calendar year. Whole spices can keep their flavor for up to five years. Storing spices in glass containers with a tight-fitting lid will keep them best.
Fix the crust of your pie! If you overworked the pie dough, that could cause it to get cracks. After putting a little cold water on the crack, repair it by gently rubbing the dough together using your index finger. If cracks appear in the top portion of the crust you can brush it with some milk and then sprinkle a little sugar over the cracks. Baking will cause the sugar to form a beautiful glaze over the top of the pie and make any crust issues disappear.
Potatoes should be mixed with hot milk (not boiling) when they are ready for mashing. This causes the potatoes to become lighter and fluffier, compared to using cold milk. Boring, lumpy mashed potatoes are for the birds.
Many veggies and herbs have a scent that remains on cutting boards even after they are washed. Mark your chopping board using indelible ink in order to keep track of which side you used.
If you cook with chicken stock or beef stock instead of water, you can enhance the flavor of everything you cook, from mashed potatoes and rice, to soups and stews. If you don’t have stock on hand, go ahead and use the water, but add a bouillon cube or two. This way, the food will have the correct moisture content with an added flavor burst.
If you cook using herbs and spices, keep them stored under dark, cool conditions to preserve their freshness and flavor. If you keep herbs and spices in an area that is close to the stove, they will lose their flavor very quickly and just be a waste of money.
Avoid the temptation to make everything too complicated when it comes to preparing meals. When you follow simple recipes accurately, however, it is easy to create delicious healthy meals. Using the guidelines here, you can have a good understanding of how to cook making each meal better than the previous one.