Many people look at cooking as simply a chore that has to be done. Something that should be enjoyed is cooking. It offers an excellent opportunity to follow a healthier lifestyle. In order to be a good cook, you should continue to learn. The following article will help you learn some things you may not have known about cooking.
Keep your spices and herbs fresh by not exposing them to humidity and light. Exposing them to humidity, light or warm environments will dry them out more and dissipate the flavors and aromas. Being so close to the heat will only cause the flavors of your spices to fade.
Stay organized in the kitchen to avoid easy mistakes, like overcooking or burning your food. Having an organized cooking area will ensure that you are productive when cooking. You can lose track of your things and waste your food and money if you’re unorganized.
In addition to the oven timer, set an alarm on your watch. Using a timer on your watch or a stopwatch around your neck will guarantee you hear the beep no matter where you are.
Measure out your cooking oils carefully. You never want to pour oil straight from the bottle. Most oils are very high in fat, so when you measure them with care, you can keep the fat content lower. In this way, you can be in control of the quantity of oil that goes into your meals.
Be sure to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before using. This helps them avoid burning when you cook. Instead of cooking food on a single skewer, opt for two parallel skewers. This prevents the ingredients from sliding off into the fire.
You can make your own dried tomatoes. Cut tomatoes in thick slices or in half, depending on their size. Place on a cooling rack, cut-side up and lightly salt them. Next, the tomatoes need to spend about 10 hours in an oven set to 190 degrees. Put a cookie sheet under the rack before it goes in. You can store your dried tomatoes in a plastic bag in the freezer. You can also store them in jars packed with herbs and olive oil. The tomatoes will need to be refrigerated and should be consumed within a couple of weeks.
You will need to repair the pie crust! Overworking a pie dough can lead to cracking. Remedy these cracks by sprinkling cold water on them and using your finger to rub the dough together. If the cracks appear in the top part of the crust, brush on a bit of milk along with a sprinkle of sugar. This way, your crust will look glazed once it comes out of the oven.
If you are a lover of fish, consider heading out to a local river, stream, or lake and catch fresh fish for dinner. Of course, this depends on if you have the available time to do so. When you catch your own meal you can always know that it is fresh and nutritious, offering a wonderful benefit to your family.
Tortillas can be heated up in several ways. The first way you can heat tortillas is in the oven. You need to have an oven that is heated to 350 degrees. Place the tortillas on a rack until they are as crispy as you want them to be. Try placing the tortilla on the gas stove’s grill over the flame too. When you use these methods, your tortillas will taste crisp and fresh.
As you have seen, the key to becoming better at cooking is continuing to learn all you can. The beauty of cooking is that it is not just about the physical act, but also about different types of food and cooking methods. It is also important to pass off your knowledge to others. Cooking tips should be shared, not only learned.