Not too many people don’t enjoy sitting down for a nice meal. It can be even more fun when the person making the food is good at cooking meals. The advice in this article can be used for both beginners and experts.
Don’t forget to skim the unwanted fat from your simmering stews and soups. To eliminate any extra fat in your stew or soup, allow the dish to cool completely so that the fat will rise to the top. Next, take a spoon and place one ice cube on it; skim the spoon along the surface of your soup or stew. You may be surprised to see that the excess fat will accumulate on the surface of the ice cube. Alternately, use a paper towel to blot the fat.
Find a convenient cool dark place for storing herbs and spices. When you store your herbs out on the kitchen counter, they will lose their flavor quickly and become stale.
Sauteing vegetables in chicken broth is very healthy. The chicken broth will make the vegetables taste a lot better, and you will be able to avoid using other oils that may add fat and calories. You will love this cooking style if you just give it a try!
When creating a meal for someone you are friends with or fond of, try making what you already are good at making. Don’t experiment with recipes or ingredients that you’ve never used before. Doing this will take some of the stress out of cooking.
Do not use any kind of wine in your cooking that you haven’t tasted on your own. If you select wine that you do not enjoy or use a bottle that you have never tried, you may not like how your food turns out. When in doubt, use a wine designed for cooking.
When baking crust for pie or tarts, leave them in the oven to bake a little longer than you planned. The crust should have a nice golden color to be fully cooked. That deeper color shows that the sugar has caramelized. This creates a crisp crust, which is also sweeter.
When you are cooking for an occasion where you want to impress someone, it is best not to try out a new recipe. It may be a boss, new in-laws, or a new love interest that you want to astonish with your cooking. You will be better off pleasing them if you cook something that you know you will come out good.
Try experimenting with saffron. Saffron can lend your cooking a bright, sunny flavor that you cannot get in other ways. Saffron is a herb that has been around forever, and does not seem to have lost its delight. This spice is quite popular around the world, and often comes with a high price tag attached.
Purchase quality utensils for your kitchen. Sharp knives are less time consuming, easier, and safer to use. More accidental cuts occur when using a dull knife, instead of a good sharp one.
While garlic imparts a delicious flavor to your cooking, it may also leave a residual odor on your hands. After using garlic or other foods with odors that stick to your hands, all you need to do is rub your hands on a piece of stainless steel, like your sink. This will clean your hands, while preventing any odors from being transferred to the next food item you touch.
Sitting down and having a good meal is a great feeling. These tips can have you cooking a meal in no time. Any person really applying themselves can become a good cook. Upon reading this article you should be well on your way to great cooking adventures.