Although many people relish the idea of a culinary career, few are willing to endure the entire training and placement process. You will be able to cook a great meal in little time, if you just go slowly and take it step by step.
Has it ever seemed like you were wasting food when you threw away fruits that were moldy? Should you save fruits by cutting out moldy parts? Never try to salvage fruit that is past its prime. Throw them away because mold grows much deeper than you can see and moldy food can make you very sick.
Do not use a random amount of cooking oil. Measuring amounts into a cup when cooking instead of pouring guess amounts straight from the bottle lowers the fat you put into your dish. By carefully doling out the oil, you will know the true amount of fat you getting when you cook.
This way, you’ll have fresh fruit to use for cooking all year long. This process also gives you easy access to seasonal fruits at times when they would not normally be available.
One great spice to try is saffron! Saffron can create a sunny, delicious flavor that you can’t get from anything else. Many people enjoy this ancient herb with their food. It is the most treasured and expensive spice.
Anytime you know you will be short on cooking time for the following day, give yourself a head start on dinner by prepping some of the ingredients the night before. You can chop up any vegetables for a stir-fry, assemble a lasagna and put it in the fridge, or marinate the meat that you will be using. By doing these steps ahead of time, you will save time the next day, and also reduce stress and still serve your family a wonderful meal.
Add lots of salt to your water for cooking pasta. This helps to add flavor to the pasta while it is boiling. If you salt the pasta once it is cooked, you will not get as much flavor when you add the seasoning.
A meat thermometer is a great way to show you are cooking meats properly. There is a minimum internal temperature to which a meat needs to be cooked so that it is safe to eat. Cooking meat thoroughly is the only way to kill the bacteria that naturally exist on meat. Unchecked, these bacteria can cause illnesses if consumed.
If your family enjoys corn, but you find it grows boring as a side dish night after night, change things up a bit. Coconut flakes can be added to corn to create a Thai inspired dish that the family is sure to love.
Add a little salt to your cutting board whenever you are slicing up some herbs. The salt helps to keep the herbs on the cutting board during chopping and also adds some extra flavor. You don’t need to add extra salt to the food you are preparing. This will over-salt the dish. The salt will stick to the herbs and make their flavor stronger.
Always use airtight containers to store sugar or flour. Keeping food fresh and bug-free is simple with these containers. These containers are affordable and are available at most grocery stores.
If you are on a diet or perhaps just health-conscious, you can easily make a flavorful, low-fat soup or stew. First, you will need to purchase a fat-free stock or broth. By using lean meat and plenty of vegetables, you will add very little fat to the soup. Once it is ready, stick it in the fridge to chill. Any fat that is remaining within the soup will float to the top and congeal. Use a spoon to carefully scoop out this layer of hardened fat and throw it away. For each tablespoon of fat that you remove from the soup, you will save roughly 100 calories.
No matter who you are cooking for, being able to cook well is a valuable tool. Eating with family and friends is a custom that transcends place and culture. If you use the above tips, you will become an awesome cook and everyone will ask you to cook for the next big family event.