Have you ever eaten something at a five-star restaurant and wanted to buy the secret recipe? Did you ever try to recreate that specific dish at home? The tips provided in this article will help you figure out how to create your most-loved meals, as well as discover new favorites. All kinds of people find cooking a form of relaxation and even a good time.
Apples are a mainstay of fall and winter cooking, but they will spoil quickly if not stored properly. To keep apples at the peak of perfection, store them in your refrigerator or basement. One rotten apple will spoil the whole bunch, so check each one occasionally to see if you should throw any away.
Some green vegetables are much more flavorful and enjoyable in the winter time. When bitten by the season’s frost, many vegetables like broccoli, collard greens and kale can be infused with sweetness. When you are picking your greens, chose ones that have a bright, strong color and stay away from those that appear limp or yellow. Wash greens thoroughly as they tend to have a significant amount of dirt on them. Use the submersion and rinse method to wash winter greens. First, push the greens down into a bowl of cold water. Then lift the greens and shake excess water off of them. Finally, put the greens under the faucet and rinse them. They are clean when the water running over them appears clear rather than cloudy or dirty.
Sticking a citrus fruit in the microwave can help when you’re trying to juice it. Heat your fruit for just a short time — usually about ten seconds. After microwaving, you will want to roll it back and forth on the counter before you cut and start juicing.
Hot milk can transform your mashed potato recipe. Simply add this hot milk to your potatoes prior to mashing. Your mashed potatoes should come out fluffy and light. This technique also minimizes lumps. No one wants to eat lumpy mashed potatoes that taste bland!
When preparing a dish that calls for garlic, purchase garlic that is as fresh as possible. The sooner you use fresh garlic, the better and sweeter the flavor of it will be. Fresh garlic is firm, not shriveled or soft.
If you are working with foods that have strong odors, such as fish, garlic or onions, remove the smell from your hands by rubbing them on something that is stainless steel, prior to washing them. You can keep your hands free from odors no matter the source, by using stainless steel rubbed onto your hands. Try the side of the sink or a spoon.
It is vital for cooks to have their supplies organized when cooking. You will consistently find it difficult to locate necessary items in a disorganized kitchen. Try keeping similar items in one area. For instance, place parsley and basil in one cabinet, since both are spices.
Invest in a knife sharpener to make cutting any ingredient simple. Dull knives make cutting very difficult, and this makes them much more dangerous than sharp knives. With a dull knife, you may have to struggle to cut a vegetable, making it more likely that you will get injured in the process. Using a sharp knife will make it easier to cut that vegetable, so you are less likely to get hurt.
If you’ve followed the tips in this article your cooking skills should be much improved. Allow your creativity to help you invent new recipes. Since you have all this great food from other cultures, there is no limit on the variety and originality of food you could make.