Cooking is a handy skill to have in your repertoire. If there’s one thing everyone likes to do, it’s eat. That goes double when the dish is home-cooked. Being a really good chef requires practice and knowledge. Below are a few hints that can help you to become better at cooking.
When preparing a meal for someone who is important such as a new date or your boss, you should cook something that you are really good at making. You don’t ever want to try new ingredients or recipes that you don’t have experience with. This will ensure that your cooking experience is stress-free.
Enhance the flavors in a simple dish by using fresh ingredients, herbs and seasonings. Dried herbs lose flavor as they cook and are fine to use in recipes that are filled with a variety of flavors. But remember that freshness is key when cooking, so herbs that are actually alive and freshly picked will make all the difference in the final product. Maintaining a small indoor or outdoor herb garden is one easy way to guarantee you always have those fresh herbs when you need them.
A pie crust should be baked a little bit longer than you would think. They should not be a pale blond color, they need to be golden brown. This is because the golden color lets you know that the sugar from the crust has caramelized, which give it that sweet, yet crisp taste.
When you will be cooking a pumpkin, stand it up and then slice it down the middle. Lay the cut halves on individual baking pans. Sprinkle some water onto the baking sheets, and proceed to bake the pumpkin at 350 degrees for about 60 minutes.
Have you found yourself regretting disposing of moldy fruits? Is it possible to save the fruit by cutting the bad part out of it? It is impossible for you to save fruit that has already begun to rot. After a certain point, the fruit may become moldy, though you may not be able to tell by looking at it. Consuming the fruit could make you very ill.
Strain the excess fat from soups and stews. If you have a lot of fat in the soup, you should have the dish completely cooled so that the fat is able to come up to the top. Place an ice cube in your spoon and skim it along the surface. The fat will adhere to the ice so you can remove it. You can also simply blot the fat with a paper towel.
Making a simple dish of fried rice is a great way to make use of the leftover meat and vegetables in the refrigerator. Using rice that has cooled for a full day is best. If you do not have any rice already cooked and cooled, you can make it fresh and just cut back on the amount of water you add to the pot. Saute the vegetables and meats in some oil, then place the rice in the pan and add soy sauce and other spices to taste.
Try using ketchup as a secret batter ingredient for your fried foods. The ketchup can replace milk or egg in your preparation. Dip the food in ketchup before rolling it in breadcrumbs or flour. The ketchup adds a whole new dimension of flavor to fried foods.
As you can see, cooking can be easy. With the right techniques, creating delicious dishes for family and friends can suddenly become a breeze! Now that you have been introduced to these great tips and tricks, you just need to make the time to go and give them a try!