If you do not know how to cook, you have come to the right place. Most people don’t naturally know how to cook. You can learn how to cook. There are basic techniques and information that will help start you on the path to becoming a good cook. There are some wonderful ideas that will set you onto the road of success.
Instead of using water, you should consider using beef or chicken stock. This helps add flavor to all types of foods including mashed potatoes. Alternatively, you can use the water the recipe calls for, but add in bouillon cubes as well. This process adds another layer of flavor to your food, in addition to giving it the required amount of moisture needed to cook.
A good hard winter green is a food you should enjoy. Following the year’s first frost, you will discover that collards, broccoli and kale become sweeter to the taste. Avoid limp, yellowed bunches in favor of those with rich, brightly colored leaves. Since greens have a tendency to be coated with a layer of dirt, wash them carefully before cooking them. First, fully submerge each bunch in cold water. After removing the greens, shake them off and rinse thoroughly.
People use apples for cooking many things during the holiday season, but the apples must be stored properly. Apples rot in dry warm air, so store them in loosely tied plastic bags in the refrigerator or a cool basement. But remember that one bad apple really does spoil the bunch; check on them regularly.
Switching up your flavorings in your dishes can be a great way to change up your meals. Tastes can be drastically altered by simply adding some new spices or using other sauces for marinating. Have a look inside some of the ethnic food stores locally, you’ll be surprised at the range of sauces and spices that they have available.
Try going to a library or buying a cook book if you are wanting to cook different foods. Create at your own pace and allow for patience as you get the trick of cooking down.
Follow your recipe in selecting the right type of potato. There are three categories: mealy, waxy and all-purpose. If mashed potatoes are on the menu for you, try using ones with a mealy texture. The russet is a common example of a mealy potato. Yukon gold potatoes are “all-purpose”, which means they are suitable for most dishes. Waxy potatoes hold their shape very well and are suitable for boiling or steaming. Waxy varieties include white and red potatoes.
Find a dark, cool area in which to store herbs and spices. The flavor of herbs and spices will be diminished if they are subjected to humidity, heat, or light. In general, herbs and spices that are ground will retain their flavor for up to one year. Whole spices usually keep their flavor for around 3 to 5 years. When spices are stored in the correct manner, they will stay fresh for much longer.
Garlic, like lots of other foods, has the unfortunate characteristics of absorbing into your hands. If you have a stainless steel sink or other utensil, rub your hands over the inside of the sink to remove the smell. This works for onions as well. This will clean your hands, while preventing any odors from being transferred to the next food item you touch.
Cooking doesn’t come naturally to most people, but improving your skills in the kitchen can be as simple as following directions. Cooking is neither a complicated nor difficult activity. There is no end in sight for you if you keep what you have read here in mind.