Have you ever eaten something at a five-star restaurant and wanted to buy the secret recipe? Have you actually gone ahead and tried to duplicate it yourself? Use the advice in this article to help you learn about making your favorite meals for all occasions. Cooking is an enjoyable hobby in which anyone can participate.
Have you found yourself regretting disposing of moldy fruits? You may have wondered whether you should just cut out the part that had mold and use the rest. You can’t save a piece of fruit that has begun to rot. Mold grows deeper than on the surface, and because it can make you sick, you should throw away any partially rotten fruit.
Oven Timer
Use another timer in addition to the oven timer. You are assured of knowing when the oven timer goes off wherever you may be if you also set the timer on a watch you are wearing on your wrist or a stopwatch you are wearing around your neck.
You can cook oysters in a variety of fresh, exciting ways. The most common way to consume oysters is to sprinkle them with lemon juice and eat them raw, but there are other methods of preparing them. Place opened, in-shell oysters onto a broiler pan, then coat them with a dollop of cream. Drop fresh black pepper and Parmesan on top of them, and place under the broiler until they start to bubble. Another quick and fantastic way to prepare oysters is to saute them. Dredge oysters with some seasoned flour then fry in heated butter until golden, or about two minutes. Cook oysters right in their shells. Lay the oysters on a cookie sheet and cover with a little butter and breadcrumbs. Use a cooking temperature of 425 degrees for five minutes till the breadcrumbs begin to brown. After the liquid in the dish reaches the point of bubbling, serve immediately with a fresh, crispy and crusty loaf of bread.
You can make a fat-free stew or soup by using fat-free soup stock or broth. Soup is also lower in fat when it includes veggies and lean meat. When the soup is ready to eat, place the soup in the refrigerator and let it chill. The remainder of the fat will rise to the surface and congeal. This will make it easy to remove and discard the hardened fat. There is approximately 100 calories per tablespoon of fat, which can make a big difference!
Fish is a very healthy food to eat, not to mention that it’s tasty and easy to cook. If someone has the time, they might want to think about catching their own to save money and to take advantage of the freshness. Fishing is a great way to get fresh meat at no cost. Make sure you clean the fishes you have caught thoroughly.
Chicken Stock
When you make chicken stock make as much as you can. Fill a large pot of stock and freeze it for later. A rich chicken stock makes a savory base for soups, stews and other dishes. Simply cool the stock, and then freeze it into Ziploc, heavyweight freezer bags.
In order to get the most out of your selection of spices, you should store them out of the light and heat. Your spices will not last as long if they are exposed to light, heat or humidity. Keeping your spices in darkened, cool areas will lend extra longevity and flavor. You can prepare tastier meals if you use fresher spices.
If you want to use the meats and vegetables in your refrigerator before a shopping day, try using it in fried rice. Cold, day-old rice works great, but if you desire to use fresh rice be sure to use less water to make the rice drier. Fry your veggies and meat in a little oil and then put rice, ginger, soy sauce, garlic in with it.
To ensure that your shells stay firm when making twice baked potatoes or loaded potato skins, use thick-skinned potatoes, such as russets. Varieties such as Yukon Gold or red potatoes have thin skins that aren’t sturdy enough for heavy fillings.
Cutting Boards
Keep your wood cutting board in tip-top shape. Wooden cutting boards can warp and split if they are exposed to heat and moisture or if they are stored in an excessively dry area. It is important to never immerse a wooden cutting board entirely in water. Using a sponge soaked in warm, soapy water is the best way to clean it. Bring a damaged wood board back to life with regular oiling, using only oil made for cutting boards. Let it dry for a while after oiling.
You need to make sure you fix all ingredients before you start cooking. By getting ready in advance, you will never be left without an ingredient half way through. While not saving any real time by pulling out the ingredients early, you’ll definitely save yourself some aggravation along the way with this preplanning.
A lot of preparatory work can be done ahead of time in order to speed up time spent cooking. Look through any recipes you make before you begin and prep accordingly, this can save you time before you cook letting you concentrate on your task when the time comes. You can make a lot of your preparations a day or more in advance. Prepping before you cook can make even advanced recipes fun and accessible.
Baking mixes, flour and sugar should all be stored in airtight packaging. Storing food in containers that are impermeable to air helps the food last longer, and keeps insects out. A variety of plastic containers, bags and decorative canisters will protect your food.
With the above advice you can be a better chef right at home! Allow your imagination to go wild, and start having fun experimenting in the kitchen and coming up with delicious new recipes. The amount of creativity and variety in cooking is nearly limitless because of the many foods from many cultures.